Bible Prophecy: The Overarching Theme

Bible Prophecy: The Overarching Theme

The Bible is filled with prophecies, and thousands of books have been written about Bible prophecy – many of them contradicting each other.

As we examine the question of Bible prophecy, we must ask: What is the primary purpose of prophecy? Some believe prophecy is given so that we can glimpse the future, predict events of tomorrow, perhaps drawing a timeline. But Jesus said:

I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe (John 14:29 NIV84).

Here, Jesus suggests that the primary purpose of Bible prophecy is not to prognosticate, but to increase our faith, confidence, belief, and trust in God once the prophecy has been fulfilled. It is not primarily so that we can predict future events in detail, but when events happen, we can see that God foreknew, that His plan is being carried out, and, therefore, we can trust God with our lives today and our unknown future.

While we may not know the details of events that will transpire in our lives tomorrow, next week, or next year, we do know that the Bible promises us a new heaven and earth in the end. I would like to suggest that Bible prophecy – essentially all Bible prophecy – is focused upon the war between Christ and Satan informing us that God is acting and will act in the future to eradicate sin, heal sinners and restore His universe to perfection.

While different prophecies give different details and focus in different places in human history, the overarching theme of Bible prophecy is the same: Messiah is coming to save!

Consider each of the prophecies below and ask: What is the theme or end-goal of each of these prophecies:

The Scenario The theme
God speaking to the serpent in Eden: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
Prophecy to Abraham: “I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven rand as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:17, 18 NKJV). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To David: “The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: ‘When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. … Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:11–16 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isaiah 9:6, 7 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
Zechariah’s prophecy in chapter three about Joshua the high priest being accused by Satan and God taking away his sin and giving him new clothes; what is it about? Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Zechariah: “Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two’” (Zechariah 6:12, 13 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. … The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:6–9 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Joel: “Afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:28–32 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Jeremiah: “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:10, 11 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Daniel: The prophecy of the multi-metal man in chapter two, which ends with God’s kingdom destroying the kingdoms of the world. Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
Daniel’s vision of beasts in chapter seven ends with: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13, 14 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Malachi: “‘See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver” (Malachi 3:1–3 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
To Malachi: “‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 4:1–3 NIV84). Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24 Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
The apostle Paul’s prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2 concerning the second coming and the man of sin Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
The prophecies to the seven churches in the book of Revelation – what does each one end with? A promise to the overcomers! Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
The prophecies of the seven seals – ends with what? Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people
The prophecies of the seven trumpets – ends with what? Jesus destroying sin and Satan and saving people

What is the focus of essentially all Bible prophecy? The coming Messiah to defeat Satan, cleanse us from sin, and restore this world and His universe to perfection.

While we may not know the specifics of tomorrow, next week, or next year, God wants you to know that if you trust Him, your eternal future is secure. Jesus is coming again, all sin will be destroyed, and His people will be saved. So when you see chaos in the world – don’t fear but “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28 NKJV).


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Helen D., London, England

 

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Anthony L., CA, USA

 

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T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

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M.K., USA

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

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Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

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Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

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Nancy S.

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia