Christians Are Not Called To Fear The Future, They Are Called To Understand It
December 1, 2025
By Mark Henry
Reprinted from Harbinger’s Daily
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Bible prophecy”? Do you picture old people in the ancient past, clothed in ragged robes, declaring, “thus sayeth the Lord”? Perhaps the word prophecy itself causes you to bristle with thoughts of doom and gloom awaiting humanity in the future. Maybe you think of modern-day social media influencers who self-proclaim to have received a word, vision, or message from God. Or could it be that not much at all crosses your mind when you encounter the word “prophecy,” viewing it as a subject that’s outdated, unimportant, or even irrelevant when compared to other issues and priorities with which Christians should be concerned.
Indeed, it has become commonplace among many churches and Christian circles to avoid and even dismiss the subject of Bible prophecy. The rationale behind such a decision is often motivated by fear of teaching on matters that can be viewed as controversial or contentious. Instead of expounding on prophetic Scripture that may be viewed as difficult or having the potential for objections and debate, some churches choose to simply overlook, omit, and neglect these portions of God’s Word.
In response to such a mistaken approach, I would like to offer ten reasons why you should be studying Bible prophecy, hoping you will see the benefits and blessings that result from doing so:
1. Prophecy is God’s Word: In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Included in the phrase “all Scripture” is Bible prophecy.
This means that God chose to include prophecy as part of His Word for a reason. It isn’t there by happenstance. God specifically and willfully expressed His thoughts and ideas for a purpose, and if He deemed them important enough to be included in the pages of Holy Writ, it would be a perilous mistake for His followers to neglect studying what He has communicated. This is especially true when one considers that the Scriptures testify of Jesus (John 5:39).
Disregarding Bible prophecy is essentially ignoring what the Bible has to say about Christ, and considering that almost a third of Biblical content is prophecy, overlooking this topic is an egregious mistake.
2. Prophecy Helps Us Understand Current and Anticipate Future Events: The Bible has much to say about the state of the world prior to the return of Jesus. It describes the general deterioration in moral character among humanity (2 Timothy 3:1-5), the increasing hostility toward God resulting from escalating futility and depravity in man’s thinking (Romans 1:18-32), the status and condition of Israel (Ezekiel 38, Romans 11:25-31), and ultimately, the conclusion of history yet to occur (Revelation 21).
The more one studies Bible prophecy, the better equipped they will be at understanding the times in which we live. It should be unsurprising to students of the Word that political and racial division is on the rise. It is to be expected that wars are breaking out across the globe and pressure is being increased to divide Israel. Sexual immorality, gender confusion, and the breakdown of the traditional family unit is likewise predictable. Bible prophecy helps bring clarity and offers guidance regarding subjects such as artificial intelligence, biogenetic engineering, the rise of global governance, the impact of a digital economy, and the supposed effect of climate change, which might otherwise spur anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and even hopelessness.
3. Prophecy Proves God’s Existence and Omniscience: Unlike any other literary work ever to exist, the Bible contains countless predictions about events, individuals, and circumstances with a track record of perfect accuracy and astonishing precision. Validated by history, archaeology, extrabiblical testimony, and other scientific disciplines, the unrivaled ability of God’s Word to declare what is to take place prior to its occurrence necessitates and conclusively demonstrates the existence of a Deity superseding our temporal reality.
Furthermore, disclosing knowledge about that which has not yet occurred is a feat that transcends the limitations of created beings and therefore corroborates the omniscience of God. This unique ability reserved to God is touted by God Himself, declaring, “…For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done…” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
This exclusive attribute of God should offer reassurance to every follower of Christ that if God knows history in advance, He is also intimately familiar with the circumstances of your life.
4. Prophecy Offers Hope: Many people avoid studying Bible prophecy because they think it is scary or they simply deem it irrelevant to their life. This is unfortunate because, just like the rest of God’s Word, there is tremendous hope and reassurance to be found in Bible prophecy. As we look to God’s promises about future events, it becomes clear that good things await those who have placed their faith in Jesus!
Christians are promised a glorious bodily transformation as they are completely changed into the likeness of Christ when He reappears (1 John 3:2), they will be rewarded for their deeds performed in Jesus’ name (2 Corinthians 5:10), and they will rule and reign with Him for a thousand years (2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:6). Not only will they participate in His administration as He governs on earth, but they will also be involved with dispensing His judgement over heavenly angels as they dwell together with Him for eternity (1 Corinthians 6:3).
Additionally, prophecy offers hope to believers, knowing that the day is coming when Jesus will conclusively deal with and repay all the injustices and injuries that have inflicted harm and suffering, yet remain unpunished.
5. Prophecy Reinforces Godly Living: Every follower of Jesus should be living each day with eager anticipation that Christ could return at any moment. Referred to as the “doctrine of imminency,” Jesus promised His followers that one day in the future He would return at a time unknown to anyone, not even Himself, and when it is least expected (Acts 1:11, Matthew 24:36, 25:13).
While the precise timing remains unknown, Jesus disclosed to His disciples a list of various signs that would occur prior to His reemergence and would herald His soon arrival in the latter days (Matthew 24:4-8). As one familiarizes themselves with these prophetic signs and compares them with current events, they become indicators of the ever-shortening proximity of Jesus’ reappearing and, in so doing, motivates believers toward godly living.
Christians rejoice knowing their sins have been forgiven, but with that, they are also called to bear witness and glorify Jesus through living pure and holy lives reflecting His character. Therefore, having a constant expectation for the Lord’s appearing at any moment is only reinforced when seeing prophetic signs unfolding in the world around us. Should one be fortunate enough to live at the time of Christ’s return, it is certain they’ll want to be found doing His will to avoid experiencing shame when looking upon Him for the first time (1 John 2:28).
6. Prophecy Highlights the Importance of Israel: Often referred to as “God’s prophetic time clock,” Israel plays a central role in Biblical prophecy related to the last days. Thus, ignorance of the Bible’s predictions of forthcoming events and circumstances related to Israel will almost certainly discolor and distort one’s perception of current affairs in the world, particularly those involving the modern state of Israel and the Jewish people.
Among the many prophecies concerning Israel in the latter days, Scripture foretells of major wars against, covenants with, and significant events concerning the nation of Israel. More importantly, it is from Israel that Jesus will establish the headquarters for His messianic kingdom and reign over the peoples of earth.
At His return, Jesus will literally once again tread upon the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem from where He departed during His first coming, splitting the mountain in half at the arrival of His second coming to commence His millennial reign over the Earth (Zechariah 14:4, Acts 1:11). We see then that by having an accurate understanding of Biblical prophecy about Israel, it helps to decipher the significance and appropriate perspectives on current events involving the nation, while at the same time revealing the nearness of circumstances related to history’s culmination.
7. Prophecy Motivates Sharing the Gospel: Just as Biblical prophecy ought to spur Godly living, it should also be a source of motivation for sharing the Gospel. People matter to Jesus! Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all the nations. This mission also applies to you and me. Yet, the window of time to accomplish this objective will not be open indefinitely.
Understanding Biblical prophecy helps students of the Word to recognize the nearness of Christ’s return, and with it, the urgency to proclaim the Good News.
Each person is only given a limited amount of time to make the greatest impact for Jesus in their sphere of influence. Not only that but sharing the Gospel aligns with God’s heart that all people would repent and be saved as He patiently withholds dispensing His justice (2 Peter 3:9). Having an accurate grasp of the prophetic events foretold in God’s Word that increasingly seem to align with current circumstances highlights the necessity to seize every opportunity presented to share Christ with others. Additionally, it becomes a powerful tool for helping others decipher the chaotic and seemingly unrelated incidents occurring in the world, though anticipated by Scripture for thousands of years, and how they herald the nearness of Jesus’ return.
8. Prophecy Protects Against Deception: It is evident that there is no shortage of information, opinions, and narratives bombarding us each day as we stream, scroll, and listen to countless voices and personalities hoping to sway our thinking in a particular direction. The overabundance of media cycles, political talking points, and cultural views has become so prolific that an entirely new profession comprised of individuals known as “influencers” has arisen in recent years.
This raises the question, which commentators and pundits should one trust? Thankfully, the more one understands prophecy, the more clearly they can discern the truth about controversial issues of the day. Knowing that the Bible has spoken ahead of time on topics related to racism, “climate change,” sexual immorality, globalism, geo-politics, economics, etc., enables believers to sift through the plethora of voices, views, and opinions, and differentiate those that are speaking truth from those that are disseminating misinformation or are speaking from ulterior motives.
9. Prophecy Validates the Authenticity of Scripture: The Bible is truly a miraculous book, having been written by about forty different authors living in different eras that spanned over 1,600 years, separated geographically across three different continents. These factors made it impossible for the Biblical authors to speak with, collaborate, or corroborate the content penned by one another. Astonishingly, in spite of such things, throughout the pages of Scripture there is perfect harmony and consistency in God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The fact that hundreds of prophecies written about Jesus Himself, prominent historical figures, various empires, and different circumstances have been fulfilled with perfect accuracy proves the authenticity of Scripture having Divine authorship as its origin. Furthermore, based on its consistent track record and source in God, it leads one to anticipate and expect that Biblical prophecy remaining unfulfilled will also at some point unfold with the same degree of certainty.
10. Prophecy Promises Spiritual Blessing: There are many benefits to studying the Word of God and applying Biblical wisdom to one’s life. But if that weren’t enough, God actually promises His blessing upon those who study and heed the words of prophecy (Revelation. 1:3, 22:7). Prophecy is one of the ways that God reveals His will and plans for the future ahead of time. In doing so, it provides opportunity for specific individuals or even collective groups to turn from sinful behavior, it encourages preparation for and understanding toward coming events, thus alleviating surprise or shock, and it helps to counteract fear about what’s to come.
Most importantly, as part of God’s word, all prophecy ultimately points to Jesus. Therefore, when one studies Biblical prophecy and lives accordingly, it helps individuals grow and deepen in their walk with Christ naturally produces fruit in one’s life, resulting in spiritual blessings from God.
As you reflect on all the reasons above for why you should study Bible prophecy, my hope and prayer is that you are able to see that you need not fear what God has revealed in His Word. Instead, may it be a source of comfort knowing that God has not left you ignorant about things to come, a reason for hope as you anticipate Jesus’ soon return to dispense justice and bring forth righteousness in this dying world, and an inspiration for godly living and proclaiming the Good News of Christ, knowing God’s promised blessings upon those who keep His Word. Maranatha!
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