Professor J is vacationing and taking in a prophecy conference or two! This summer vacation series of blogs is meant to encourage you to read, listen to, study, and become knowledgeable about end times prophecy, and to encourage you to discuss your findings with others. The ultimate goal of summer series of blogs is to bring you to a closer relationship with the one Hebrew names: Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. Yeshua’s return is imminent – the season of His return is upon us.
Why Study Prophecy? Yeshua Commands Us To Do So
Nearly one third of scripture is prophetical in nature. If Yahweh thinks it is important enough to spend that much time on prophecy, shouldn’t we? But even more importantly, Yeshua commands us to do so!
Luke 19:41-44 states: “As Yeshua came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God’.” [Bold emphasis mine]
Because the people did not recognize the “season”, forty years later the Temple was destroyed and the Jews scattered to the ends of the earth. The word time, kairos, [καιρo’ς G2540] means: a set or proper time, opportunity, or season. It always designates a fixed or special occasion.
Matthew 24:32-33 — “Learn a lesson from the fig tree: When its branches become green and soft and new leaves appear, you know summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come.” [Bold emphasis mine]
The word know, ginosko, [γιvωtσκω G1097] is a prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely). It means: to be aware of, to have knowledge of, to perceive, to be resolved, to be sure, to understand.
Again, in Matthew 24:42-44, Yeshua says: “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” [Bold emphasis mine]
The word translated keep awake, grēgoreō, [γρηγορέω G1127] is an active verb meaning: to be awake, to watch, to be alert, to keep watch, to keep watching, to be keeping alert, to stay on the alert, and to stay awake. It expects active and concentrated behavior, to be continuously seeking. This is repeated in the phrase “Therefore you also must be ready”; houtos [οὗτος G3778] hetoimos [ἕτοιμος G2092] which means: to be especially prepared, ready. Twice in one paragraph Yeshua commands us to be on the alert and ready, to know when the time is near.
Mark 13:33-36 puts it this way: “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the morning; in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, Be on the alert!” [Bold emphasis mine]
Four times in one paragraph Yeshua commands us to be on the alert, to know when the time is near, once using the word blepō [βλέπω G991] and three times the word grēgoreō, [γρηγορέω G1127].
Luke 21:29-36 affirms this stating: ‘Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man”.’ [Bold emphasis mine] Again, two warnings to be alert, to be on guard.
Warnings That Prophecy Is Important
1 Thessalonians 5:20 – Do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant.
2 Peter 1:19 – You do well to be attentive to the prophetic messages.
Numbers 12:6 – Hear my words; I make myself know through visions.
Deuteronomy 18:15 and 19 – I raise up prophets; listen to them.
2 Chronicles 20:20 – Put your trust in the prophets and succeed.
John 6:45 – It is written in the prophets. The well-being of those who listen will be great.
Acts 3:22 – You shall give heed to everything the prophet says to you.
Warnings For Not Listening:
2 Chronicles 24:19-20 – I sent prophets, you didn’t listen, you didn’t prosper.
Jeremiah 25:3-6 – I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
Jeremiah 29:19-23 – Those who prophecy falsely will be disciplined.
Jeremiah 35:15 – I sent prophets, you didn’t listen, disaster is headed your way.
Jeremiah 37:2 – I sent prophets to you again and again, you didn’t listen.
Zechariah 1:4 – Don’t be like your fathers who didn’t listen to the I sent prophets.
Zechariah 7:12 – I sent prophets, you didn’t listen, disaster is headed your way.
Acts 3:23 – Every person that does not heed the prophet shall be utterly destroyed.
Conclusion
So, why study end times prophecies, why be alert to the season, why be able to recognize the nearness of the Kingdom? Because . . . . one third of Scripture is prophetical in nature and Yeshua commands us to do so!
The Summer Series
Summer Series 2
Summer Series 3
Summer Series 4
The Fall Series
Fall Series 1
Fall Series 2
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