The object of Bible prophecy is not the Church, nor Israel, nor the Gentile nations of this earth, although both Israel and the nations will be blessed as a consequence of the realization of God's purposes. The object of prophecy is the Lord Jesus Christ. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, " Rev. 19.10. Prophecy deals with the earth as the place God has chosen to fulfill his purpose concerning his Son.
Therefore, Israel and the nations (whose destiny is earthly) are in view in prophecy, but they are not in themselves its object. Prophecy has not been given to merely satisfy the human intellect in matters of future events, but to bring glory, honor and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. As we read the prophetic writings, we must be attentive to what the Spirit of God is expounding concerning Christ and His glory.
Many Christians read God's Word to see what God says about them, and He certainly says a lot about our walk. But the truth is that we should be interested in what He says about His beloved Son and what pertains to Him, for His glory is the key to understanding the Scriptures and then seeing their application to us. Luke 24.25 to 27, 44, John 5.39, Acts 17.2, 3, 11, 1 Peter 1.11.
The object of Bible prophecy is not the Church, nor Israel, nor the Gentile nations of this earth, although both Israel and the nations will be blessed as a consequence of the realization of God's purposes. The object of prophecy is the Lord Jesus Christ. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, " Rev. 19.10. Prophecy deals with the earth as the place God has chosen to fulfill his purpose concerning his Son.
Therefore, Israel and the nations (whose destiny is earthly) are in view in prophecy, but they are not in themselves its object. Prophecy has not been given to merely satisfy the human intellect in matters of future events, but to bring glory, honor and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. As we read the prophetic writings, we must be attentive to what the Spirit of God is expounding concerning Christ and His glory.
Many Christians read God's Word to see what God says about them, and He certainly says a lot about our walk. But the truth is that we should be interested in what He says about His beloved Son and what pertains to Him, for His glory is the key to understanding the Scriptures and then seeing their application to us. Luke 24.25 to 27, 44, John 5.39, Acts 17.2, 3, 11, 1 Peter 1.11.
