PROPHETS AND PROPHECY IN TODAY'S CHURCH
By Rev. Jim and Carolyn Murphy

Table of Contents...

PART FOUR - WHAT ABOUT END-TIME PROPHECY?

CHAPTER 23
WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE

What should be the principal lesson learned from this historic review of end-times prophecies? I believe the lesson the Lord wants His church to learn is not to focus on various end-times scenarios. It wastes too much time and energy. And we can't know anyhow! In fact, Jesus Himself specifically told us that we can't know! In response to the disciples' question about the time that Jesus is going to establish His kingdom on earth:

He (Jesus) said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the father has set by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7 NIV).

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matt 24:36-37,42 NIV).

Thus, because Jesus told us, we know with certainty that we will not know the dates, the times, or the sequence of end-time events with any degree of accuracy. Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God . . . .” Certainly knowing the end-time events with a degree of certainty is one of the “secret things” which only God knows.

I believe we also have very good direction from the Apostle Paul on this issue. Some of Paul's writings make it fairly clear that he caught a glimpse of the end-time events when he was caught up in the heavenlies and was taught by Jesus. (See Gal 1:12, II Cor 12:2). Paul also stated:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (I Cor 15:51-52 NIV).

He also wrote:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (I Thes 4:13-17 NIV).

These verses of Paul's give us rather definite statements as to at least some of the events at the end of time. Yet, how much focus did Paul give to end-time events in his writings? How much energy did he give to trying to fit the current events of his day into some end-time scenario? He gave almost no thought or writing space to it, did he? Rather his entire being was dedicated to the building up of the church of Jesus Christ as it awaited Jesus' return. Paul took to heart Jesus' words and fulfilled the great commission powerfully, didn't he?

Where Then Should Our Focus Be?

I believe our focus should be exactly where Paul's was. As Christians, our energy, time, and money should be on spent on personal holiness and on evangelism. And I believe all Christians should be so directed, including today's prophets.

1. Personal Holiness

God has called each and every believer into a personal relationship with Him and into a holy and sanctified life. He has directed us to, “Be holy, because I am holy.” (I Pet 1:16 NIV).

We are also told to, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14 NIV).

2. Evangelism

In additional to personal holiness, I believe every Christian is called to fulfill the great commission:

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt 28:16-20 NIV).

These were the last words of instruction by Jesus as recorded in Matthew's gospel before He was taken up into heaven.

Let's look again at the first chapter of Acts, when Jesus was talking to his disciples after His resurrection:

On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. . . .(Y)ou will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:4-5,8 NIV).

Thus Jesus' last directives to his followers were to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. In other words, to go into all the world, to preach the good news of Jesus Christ, to lead people of every language, nation, and tribe to Jesus, and then to make disciples of them by nurturing, teaching, and discipling them. It is in this way that the world wide church of Jesus Christ is and will be established and strengthened.

Please don't misunderstand me. I believe that we all should be aware that we are in the end-times. Indeed, I like the saying, “Live as if Jesus is going to return today, but plan as if He is not returning in your lifetime.” If we live this way, and if we each do our share, then the focus of every Christian will be on personal holiness and reaching the lost in our generation.

To the extent that anything, any person (including “prophets”), any doctrine, or any current, trendy end-times prophetic word deflects us from these two goals, we have lost our way.

Conclusion

We Christians are involved in an epic battle. Every believer is unquestionably called to join the army of the living God and to play a part in accomplishing His eternal purposes and plans in this generation. The church is privileged to have God's prophetic word and His servants, the prophets of today, play such a vital role in this endeavor. Let me close by quoting one of the most powerful prophets in Scripture, Elisha. In this passage Elisha has angered the king of Aram who has sent his army to capture him. For me this passage sums up all the vision, power, and spiritual authority one finds in God's truly mature prophets.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don't be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (II Kings 6:15-17 NIV).

Yes, the church of today does need its prophets!

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