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When did you first learn about God's prophetic Word?
For me it was 1993. I was almost 27 years old. I'd been in church all my life and could not remember any sermons or lessons based on Bible prophecy. Sure, prophecies related to Christ's First Advent were mentioned at Christmas, but in 26 years I was never encouraged to appreciate the significance of prophecies saturating the Word of God.
When I first learned that God has revealed so many things that have come to pass—and others that await fulfillment still—I felt like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. As the Scriptures were opened to me anew, my heart began to burn within me (Luke 24:32).
That sparked a fervent desire to study the entire Word of God. It put stories that had been presented to me as mere historical anecdotes or morality tales in context, and affirmed that God is still very much at work in the world today. Prophecy gave me tremendous appreciation for the scope and sweep of His plan for mankind and assurance that He will fulfill every promise.
Ironically, in hindsight, I was thankful that I had not been handed a stilted framework of interpretation by some tradition of man. When I began studying Bible prophecy for myself, I was able to read it at face value. I found that I did not need an advanced degree in hermeneutics for the plain sense to make sense.
Bible prophecy also made me realize that in addition to all the promises God has made to me as a follower of Christ, He has also made promises to the Jewish people, to the Creation, to Satan, and especially to Jesus Christ. Just as I can trust that His promises to me are guaranteed, I can be certain that He will keep every promise in the fullness of time.
Take a moment to consider all the promises of God that you can recount from memory. And thank Him that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Praise Him that in Christ all His promises are "Yes and Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20).
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