Bible prophecy matters; it’s the key to understanding the day in which we live. We need a true Scripture-based perspective of what lies beyond this life in order to make sense of our journey through it.
Without it, we would struggle to understand how a sound biblical worldview intersects with the tragedies, senseless violence, corruption, and lawlessness that are so rampant in our day. How do we piece together the chaos of a fast-changing world apart from what God’s Word reveals about the end times?
I can’t imagine stepping out of bed each morning apart from the assurances of Scripture concerning the day in which we live. For me, it’s the essence of a sound biblical worldview because…
Bible Prophecy Reveals that the Lord Will Surely Punish the Wickedness We See
Perhaps the biggest frustration of our day is that evil, vile people not only escape justice for their crimes but continue to prosper. We know that many influential people of our day visited Epstein’s island, which is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the vast network of sex trafficking in the U.S.
The horrors of abortion grieve our hearts; we wonder if the perpetrators of this great evil will face the consequences for their mass killing of the innocent.
The Bible reveals that a day is coming when God’s wrath will spread across the entire planet. Of course, those behind the great wickedness of our day will face the Lord’s judgment after this life. However, those who understand Bible prophecy know that many of them will also experience His wrath in this life.
The Old Testament depicts the horrors of the day of the Lord in which the entire earth will feel the impact of God’s judgments (Isaiah 13:9-13, 24:123; Zephaniah 1:14-19). The book of Revelation adds details to this coming time of judgment upon the earth in chapters 6-18. The world has never experienced the cataclysmic events described in these passages; all these prophecies remain unfulfilled.
“If hell is real,” one might ask, “why is it necessary for the Lord to also deal with the ungodly in this life? A key reason for this future time of God’s visible judgment is that it will give sinners one last chance to call upon the Lord (Revelation 9:20-21). Though most people will continue in their rejection of the Savior, the Bible tells us that a great multitude will turn to the Lord Jesus during this time of God’s frightful wrath upon the earth (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17).
Bible Prophecy Focuses Our Hope Solely on Jesus’ Appearing
Regardless of how soon it happens, the Rapture adds a biblically sound context to our entire lives. Our hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing continually reminds us that as New Testament saints, this life is not all there is. Regardless of what cones our way each day, we know that a glorious future awaits us, one that could begin at any moment.
Paul summed up our eager anticipation in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” The word for “await” depicts a heightened eagerness and attentiveness for a future event.
Also consider the Lord’s comforting promise to us in 1 Corinthians 15:52-53: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
When the Rapture happens, even those who now enjoy perfect health will experience a physical wholeness they never thought possible. Our hope stretches our imaginations to the limit. When Jesus appears, He will not only take us to the place He’s preparing for us, but He will also radically transform us with an outward and inward wholeness beyond anything we can imagine. How can we not long for this day?
Bible Prophecy Provides a Context for Our Sufferings
Can you imagine what Joseph felt as he journeyed to Egypt bound in chains? Once there, the Midianites sold him as a slave. Even so, he prospered in the house of Potiphar until his wife falsely accused Joseph and Potiphar sent him to prison. Thirteen years after his brothers sold him, he went from a dungeon jail cell to second in command over all of Egypt.
Consider Joseph’s story in light of the promises that we will someday reign with Jesus in His earthly kingdom. Though he suffered greatly, his time managing Potiphar’s household affairs and even his leadership skills honed while in prison prepared him to later give wise advice to Pharaoh and succeed in preparing Egypt for the famine that was coming. The Lord used his thirteen years of suffering to prepare him for his meteoric rise to power.
We sometimes struggle to explain the wide variety of experiences that come our way, as well as throughout the body of Christ. Some face death because of their faith, while others experience no physical persecution. The degree of suffering from ill health and other matters varies widely among the saints.
What if the Lord is using all these things to prepare us for our future role in His glorious kingdom? What if we will never fully understand our experiences in this life, both the good and the bad, until we see what the Lord has for us in His kingdom? I believe we will someday see how all these things fit together when the Lord reveals the place He has for us in His Millennial reign.
For Joseph, his earlier dreams likely gave him hope of a better day as he languished in prison. For us, the Bible says we are “joint heirs with Christ” to a kingdom (Romans 8:17) and that we will someday reign with Him (1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 5:9-10). These promises provide the context for all that we experience in this life.
Most mornings when my feet first reach the floor, I’m not consciously thinking about the assurances of Scripture regarding my future. But deep inside, I have a calmness that comes from knowing that the Lord remains sovereignly in charge of my life and the affairs of the entire world. Someday His just and righteous rule will encompass the entire planet. The nations can rage all they want in the meantime, but Jesus is coming soon. Violent and lawless people may continue to succeed in our day, but the Lord sees and will surely intervene (see Psalm 37:1-20).
