PROPHETIC PROFILE
The Intent Of Biblical Prophecy!
Conclusion

By Ken Humphries

It seems without doubt God’s countdown has begun, and its not a simple chorus to sing I am thinking of just now, but a real fact of Scripture. Could it be indeed that God has an appointed time marked on his prophetic calendar that is looming ever nearer and yet we either do not believe this prophetic timepiece or are simply indifferent to it? “But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3v8). Please remember, God’s calendar is not to remind Himself of a specific date He must fulfil but a date which humankind should recall continually they must keep with God therefore we should look intelligently at all God says in His precious about this appointment and be constantly encouraged to prepare for such a special day.

It is absolutely assured that God has a plan for humankind, a plan that began, in the public arena at least, with the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, followed by His burial in Joseph’s tomb, His bodily resurrection from death and the grave, His ascension to heaven, the beginning of the church at Pentecost.

This was indeed God’s clock beginning to run for mans benefit as much as anything else, the above events and many more not mentioned are clearly stated in many different Scriptures as I have already indicated in my thesis, but there is one chapter in the Bible that more clearly sets out God’s amazing plan and time scale than any other, Leviticus Ch.23. Here is a panorama of prophecy for the sincere student of the Word of God to be studied thoughtfully, thoroughly and truthfully.

While this timepiece was in fact, given first to Israel, the events listed reach right through to the present church age. When we study any passage of Scripture we should look for three things says Dr. Lehman Strauss in his book “God’s Prophetic Calendar”

A remarkable book by the way which is worthy of your best attention.

(1) The Primary Association of the Passage:

To whom was it spoken? Why did God speak in this manner? We know that Leviticus 23 was given originally to the Jewish people. In its primary association, these rules and regulations were drawn up by God Himself and intended for the nation Israel. “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel…” Leviticus 23vv1-2.

(2) The Prophetic Anticipation in the Passage:

Does it contain a prediction of the future? Does its message have an immediate and future fulfilment? Does this ancient chapter in the Bible tell us only what God has done, or does it include what He is doing now and what He is going to do in the future?

(3) The Personal Application in the Passage:

Is there a message for the Christian today in the book of Leviticus? The New Testament teaches, “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…”(2 Timothy 3v16). Can we assume, therefore, that basic principles of behaviour as recorded in the Old Testament are applicable in the lives of Christians today? Have God’s basic rules for worship changed? Leviticus sets forth some God-given absolutes for a godly lifestyle. These moral, social, and ethical basics never change. They stand for all of time and are apropos to us today.

In speaking of the two Testaments, someone has said that the New is the Old concealed, and the Old is the New revealed.

The point Dr. Strauss is making of course is, you must study Old Testament and New Testaments closely together to fully understand what God wants us to know and that we must study both Testaments under the control of the Holy Spirit who has promised to lead us into all truth.

We are not simply to be led by another through reading a book or hearing their sermons however precious both may be to us, but we are under God to study His precious Word Daily, Devotionally, Diligently, Determinately and of course Dispensationally. Then, and only then, can we with deep satisfaction know we have been good workmen unto God in the study of His Word.

The Apostle Paul writing to young Timothy makes this appeal: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4vv14-16).

Christians have fallen into the habit of accepting the noisiest and most notorious among them as the best and the greatest. They too have learned to equate popularity with excellence, and in open defiance of the Sermon on the Mount they have given their approval, not to the meek, but to the self-assertive; not to the mourner, but to the self-assured; not to the pure in heart who see God, but to the publicity hunter who seeks headlines. A. W. Tozer.

Dear Christian, follow the Saviour; be led by the Spirit and study the Scriptures.