To encourage a young preacher named Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). His wise counsel remains as relevant today as it was then. Christianity is a learned religion. To be a faithful disciple, studying God’s Word is essential. A key area that should be included in one’s efforts to increase their knowledge of Scripture is a diligent study of Bible prophecy.
It is a rather extensive topic because many scholars estimate that the Bible contains as many as 1,200 prophecies in the Old Testament and more than 500 in the New Testament. Analyzing so many prophecies individually requires a significant effort, but it will certainly be worthwhile, as such knowledge only strengthens the foundation for one’s faith. In fact, that is exactly why Jesus taught some of His disciples, “ ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45) On that particular occasion and throughout much of His ministry, Jesus frequently explained how prophecies were being fulfilled in Him and in His actions. (cf. Luke 4:21; Matt. 5:18, 13:14, 26:56; Mark 1:15, 14:49; Luke 21:22, 22:16; John 13:18, 15:25, 17:12).
While the sheer number of prophecies may seem overwhelming, it is possible to more easily digest them by “dividing” them into manageable categories. For example, of all the prophecies in Scripture, a large majority point directly to the Christ. This grouping is known as “Messianic Prophecies” and can be subdivided by His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection (cf. Deut. 18:15; Isa. 53; Ps. 22; Mic. 5:2). Another large classification relates to the various milestones of God’s “Scheme of Redemption.” These include the destruction and restoration of the promised land and the remnant of Israel within the rise and fall of empires (cf. Isa. 44:28-45:13; Jer. 32:36-38; Ezek. 37:1-28). A third, large grouping of prophecies is known as “End of Time” predictions (cf. Matt. 24:36-25:46; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Pet. 3:10). Alternatively, prophecies can be categorized by speaker or by the book in which they appear. The books with the highest density of prophecy are: Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Revelation. Categorizing Biblical prophecies also provides a more comprehensive view of the Bible’s purpose and message.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of studying Bible prophecy is how it can increase one’s faith, as it provides clear evidence of the Scripture’s divine inspiration and reliability. For example, consider Daniel’s prophecy, which predicts a future fourth regime in which the Messiah would establish His kingdom (Dan. 2:39-44). History reveals that the Roman Empire was the fourth kingdom after Babylon. Thus, it happened exactly as was foretold, confirming its divine inspiration and producing further trust in the Scriptures. In addition, the more one studies Bible prophecy, the more one will see the truth of what King Solomon once declared, “Blessed be the LORD, … There has not failed one word of all His good promise, …,” (1 Kings 8:56). If one simply considers the numerical probability of “not one word” of the many prophecies failing, the odds are so astronomical that they strongly reinforce the trustworthiness of the Bible.
Indeed, Paul’s advice to “be diligent” in one’s study is still relevant to Christians today. One can certainly increase one’s faith and knowledge by examining Bible prophecy. The Lord’s fingerprint is apparent in every one of them, aiding His disciples in understanding the Father’s will and enabling them to “present themselves approved to God, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed.
-Troy Spradlin