FOREWORD
Every word from God is important, because it is backed by the authority of heaven. A man is a fool indeed to challenge the veracity of the Almighty. “The Scripture cannot be broken,” said the Lord Jesus Christ. They who reject and deny the Scripture shall be broken.
Since every word from God is important, the prophetic portion of Scripture must partake of the same quality. Indeed, in view of the passing years and the distinct possibility that time is running out, it must bear increasing relevance to our day.
Sad indeed is the condition of the man who has no divine blueprint as to God's purposes in the world. Such an individual is shut up to the idea of a purposeless world or to the empty hope of a man-made millennium. God has spoken about the future. Only God can speak authoritatively as to the future. His challenge to others claimed as gods is recorded: “Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come. Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods . . .” (Isaiah 41:22, 23). God has met His own challenge. His program is set. His Son must reign. The believing student of the Word sees all things moving inexorably according to schedule.
But the study of prophecy not only informs, it inspires. Said our Lord, “. . . now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe” (John 14:29). Fulfilled prophecy assures us that we may count on God's predictions. Current movements in the world seem definitely to fit the prophetic pattern.
Prophecy for the believer should incite action and prompt obedience and discipleship. More than one servant of God has testified that an understanding of the doctrine of the coming of Christ released him from unspiritual aspirations.
The Prophetic Word In Crisis Days is a great theme for this hour. Instruction, inspiration, assurance and the call to discipleship are all involved in the development of this subject. In view of the signs of the times, perhaps it is not too much to take the words of the Lord Jesus concerning the events connected with His first coming and apply them to this day:
“For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them “ (Matthew 13:17).
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
“For yet a little while, He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37).
William Culbertson
Moody Bible Institute