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RESPONSIBILITIES OF & REWARDS FOR THE STUDENT OF PROPHECY
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF & REWARDS FOR THE STUDENT OF PROPHECY

Jesus told the Parable of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-34): [Jesus answered] “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near— at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."

In this passage, "all these things" refers to all of Jesus' teachings in the preceding verses of this chapter (the Olivet Discourse) about His return in the clouds to bring His followers home to Heaven to be with Him forever. Two trees are used in the Bible to symboize Israel— the olive and the fig trees. The fig tree budded in the twentieth century, with the return of Jews to the Promised Land (Israel) in 1948 and most certainly with the capture of the Holy City of God (Jerusalem) in 1967. With tree budding in the spring, summer harvest is assured. What harvest? Jesus surely spoke of the harvest of souls (His Church) at the Rapture/ Resurrection. The Bible uses "generation" in different ways— from forty years to the period in which a generation dies off. Thus, the return of our Lord may be close at hand— today, tomorrow, next year, or in ten years— but it surely must be close. In this parable, Jesus told us to watch for the return of Jews to Israel (1948), because His return is imminent. Errors in prophecy interpretation— a date certain for "the end of the world" — have occurred because the self-proclaimed prophets have not understood this parable and Jesus' warning that only God the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus' return (see next paragraph).

Jesus taught (Matthew 24:36) that only God the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus' return, but He warned us to always be ready and watch for His return (Matthew 24:42, 44): [Jesus said] "“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. |...| Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Prophetic Scriptures refer to "the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled." The Greek, here, uses an accounting term. For example, a ship captain would not set sail until all berths were filled with sailors. This language suggests that God has a number of saved persons in mind, before it is time to close the Age of Grace.

Jesus taught other parables about the necessity of watching for and being ready for His return.

Again, let me emphasize: Bible prophecy is dismissed by many because "prophets" have erroneously predicted specific dates of Jesus' return.
• These "prophets" ignore Jesus' words (preceding paragraphs) that no one will know the day and hour of His return.
• Earlier "prophets" have not had a full understanding of Scriptures. The Jews must return to Israel (see Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37; other Scriptures) before the last days. Therefore, Jesus' return could not have occurred before May, 1948.
• Although Jesus said no one would know the day and hour He would return, He did want us to now the season of His return (see Parable of the Fig Tree). We are the generation which saw the fig tree of Israel bud, and some of us will be alive at the Rapture. As an example: No one knows when the day and hour a hurricane will strike, say, the United States' Gulf Coast. Meterologists are certain such a storm will strike this area in the future and they are certain it will strike during "hurricane season." Students of prophecy can assuredly know that Jesus will return and the season of His return can be at any time, but ignore anyone who prophesies a specific day. That person is a false teacher (a false prophet), not one who speaks for God.
• Again, ignore any person, whether minister or lay person, who sets dates. Jesus warned of false teachers and false prophets in the last days (see Matthew 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22). Paul warned against following false teachers (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
• Do not be caught up in believing silly Nostradamus predictions, which can be read with a number of interpretations. If anyone makes an error in his/ her prediction, he/ she is not a prophet of God (see Deuteronomy 18:22, Jeremiah 28:9, and other Scriptures).
• Incidentally, in the King James Version of the Bible, whenever the phrase "end of the world" is mentioned, know that this is a mistranslation. The Bible clearly teaches that the world is without end. "End of the world" is properly translated "end of the age" (that is, end of the Age of Grace, or Church Age).

One of God's principles is that we are to keep watch for others and sound the alarm for approaching danger (Ezekiel 3:17-21 and 33:1-6): The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be own his own head. ...If he had taken the warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'" (See also Joel 2:1.) You are called to watch for others, not to warn them of a coming army but to warn of death without salvation. Today's danger is not the first death by invading warriors but the second death by dying lost without God's grace.

The Holy Bible notes there are several rewards (crowns) which can be given in eternity for believers. One of these rewards (crowns) is the Crown of Righteousness for the believer who has faith in and who desires the return of Jesus to take him or her home to Heaven (2 Timothy 4:8): Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

There is a blessing for anyone who reads and accepts the prophecy in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:3): Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

There is also a horrible penalty for anyone who fails to accept in its entirety or attempts to alter the Revelation prophecies (Revelation 22:18-19): For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. EXPLANATION: Tree of life: since this particular tree grows in Heaven, this is another way of saying such a person may lose his or her place in Heaven. Holy City is New Jerusalem, or Heaven, which descends to earth after the Millennial Kingdom to be inhabited for eternity by God and believers.

You should study prophecy for at least the following reasons:

  • Prepare yourself to meet Jesus in the clouds when He returns (the Rapture). When the Rapture occurs, the Dispensation of Grace offered to you by God ends immediately— "in the twinkling of an eye." You must be prepared for your judgment, by accepting Jesus fully as your Savior and by seeking God's forgiveness of your sins.

  • Become a watchman for the return of Jesus, in order that you may "sound the trumpet" and warn others of Jesus' return. Jesus warned (Matthew 24:37-39) that when He returns, the people of the world will not be ready for Him— as were the people in Noah's time not ready for the flood, and they perished in the flood waters. Jesus also warned (John 4:35-36) that the earth is like a field full of ripe grain (lost persons), and believers— including you— must try to save as many perishing souls as possible while there is yet still time.

  • Study the prophecies for past generations, and marvel at how they were all fulfilled exactly as promised by God. Your faith in the inerrant accuracy of the Holy Bible and your faith in a just, all-powerful God will be strengthened. By understanding that God has faithfully fulfilled earlier prophecies, you can have faith that God will fulfill future prophecies.

  • Receive a blessing by studying and believing Bible prophecy. More than one-fourth of the verses of The Holy Bible relate to prophecy, and many of these verses concern the end of the age (the very time in history in which we live). This time is so special to God because soon Satan will be defeated and the struggle between the good of God and the evil of Satan will end forever. There is a blessing promised in The Holy Bible for any believer who reads, studies, teaches, and believes prophecy.

  • Earn the Crown of Righteousness by longing and watching for Jesus' return. Jesus told us to lay up treasures in Heaven for our eternal life. You can earn treasures only for what you accomplish for God while you live on this earth. Treasures are earned for faith in God and doing good for others for no reason other than you love God and your neighbor. Of specific rewards ("crowns") mentioned in The Holy Bible, one of them is the Crown of Righteousness given to believers who long and watch for the return of Jesus and who tell others about His return.

Revelation 22:20: He [Jesus] who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!