How Practical Is Prophecy?

January 15, 2010 | From theTrumpet.com

Does putting a heavy emphasis on prophecy cause a Christian to miss out on
vital instruction for personal growth and character development? BY RYAN MALONE

T he work of the late Herbert W. Armstrong was a work of prophecy. It fulfilled a

prophecy made by Jesus Christ nearly two millennia ago: “And this gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”
(Matthew 24:14). This commission revolved around a prophecy being preached—a prophecy
concerning a COMING Kingdom of God.

Today, the Trumpet aims to fulfill a similar commission: Revelation 10:11 commands that we
“prophesy again.” This work focuses even more on prophecy, with an emphasis on warning,
because of the imminency of global destruction (see Ezekiel 33).

But does putting such an emphasis on understanding prophecy cause a Christian to miss out
on practical godly training and personal betterment? Some certainly think so.

An Edifice of Character

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the governmental structure of the Church of
God and relates it to a physical body. Each member has different strengths and functions
(see 1 Corinthians 12). Later in the epistle, he shows how it is the same in the ministry—
different ministers have different gifts, different strengths (see 1 Corinthians 14). But within
this context is one of the most profound chapters of Paul’s ministry—the “love” chapter. He
explains how godly love is central to Christian living. Love IS God’s character. It is to become
ours. And that supersedes every aspect of the work—that it is all to be motivated by love, or
outgoing concern for others.

Notice verses 1 and 2: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Within chapters 12 and 13, Paul is gearing up for an in-depth discussion on speaking in
tongues, and giving the members at Corinth the proper perspective on this gift. Lumped in
with that is this discussion of the gift of prophecy. But notice, both gifts are
meaningless IF they lack God’s love.
In chapter 14, Paul begins, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye
may prophesy” (verse 1). The Moffatt translation states that more clearly: “MAKE LOVE YOUR
AIM, and then set your heart on spiritual gifts. Especially on prophecy.”

Yes, acquiring God’s nature must be our goal above all else—because it permeates every
aspect of our Christian lives. But notice! After that, Paul says, seek the gift of PROPHECY next.

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no
man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (verse 2). Paul is
contrasting the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues. What makes prophesying better than
speaking in tongues?

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to EDIFICATION, AND EXHORTATION, AND COMFORT. … I would
that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that
prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may
receive EDIFYING” (verses 3, 5).

Paul says speaking in tongues may edify the self (verse 4), “but he that prophesieth EDIFIETH THE

CHURCH.”

Prophecy, if done with love, has EVERYTHING to do with Christian development.

The word edification in verse 3 means “building, as in architecture and structure.” Consider an
English root word of this: edifice. An edifice is a structure or building. God is making His
Church an edifice of holy, righteous character. And prophecy is intended to be a part of
that EDIFICATION process!

Does studying prophecy preempt studying Christian living? On the contrary. Christ places such
an emphasis on prophecy for the very reason that it HELPSthe Christian grow in godly character
and some of the more basic points of life. This work of prophecy and our character
development go hand in hand! Understanding prophecy stimulates character development.

Of course, as with all things, there must be balance. Anyone can fall into the trap of investing
too much energy and study into one spiritual area and neglect other things. Still, as Paul’s
writings show, prophecy plays a major role in one’s spiritual development. The commission of
the Church revolves around it.

Prophecy Motivates

Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish ….” Though perishing is
the end result of having no vision, the word perish in this verse actually means to throw off
restraint or to be unbridled. Without the vision—without this aspect of prophecy firm in our
minds—we live lawless, sin-filled, unbridled lives. But with the vision, as the rest of the verse
states, we keep God’s law and achieve true happiness.

The Apostle John wrote about this concept as well. “Behold, what manner of LOVE the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1-2). John follows the same formula as Paul. He
discusses love first! Then he expounds on the vision—the prophecy of our awesome future.

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (verse 3).
Then John continues as to how understanding this prophecyEDIFIES the Christian. It causes him
to keep the law more perfectly—to purify his life. Without this vision, without this prophecy, he
would have NOmotivation.

It is the HOPE of this prophecy that stirs the Christian. The substance of that hope
is faith, because we hope for something that is yet in the future. And this belief, John states
once again, helps one overcome. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Having faith, having the hope of these prophecies—of this vision—gives victory! How tied to
our salvation is the subject of prophecy!

Editor in chief Gerald Flurry writes in The God Family Vision, “Nothing will CHANGE YOUR
LIFE more than having this understanding and this VISION in your mind! It will cause you to stand

up and FACE ANY DIFFICULTY, any trial, if you understand this from God’s perspective” (emphasis
mine).

Another aspect of the vision that spawns overcoming and growth is the holy days. In
Colossians 2:16-17, Paul wrote that they are a “shadow of things to come.” They are PROPHECY.
And they teach how to live based on these prophecies. (For more on this, please read Pagan
Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which?)

Notice Colossians 1:21-23: “[Y]et now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveablein his sight: If ye continue in
the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the HOPE OF THE GOSPEL, which ye
have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul
am made a minister.” What makes the Christian “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” in
God’s sight is that he continues in this faith—the HOPE of the gospel.

Verse 28 reads, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all
wisdom; that we may present EVERY MAN PERFECT in Christ Jesus.”

God’s people are told to “watch … and pray always” as part of their duties (Luke 21:36). Why?
Christ explains in the same verse: “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Understanding end-time
events as they fulfill dreadful prophecies has everything to do with someone being able to
stand with Christ at His return.

Peter explained how Christ will come when people least expect Him and the “heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
Verse 11: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO

BE in all holy conversation and godliness.” Understanding these prophecies can really cause

someone to straighten up!

Not only that, but if these prophecies trigger greater growth, then the urgent, motivated
Christian can actually speed up the fulfillment of them! “Looking for and HASTING UNTO [literally:
speeding up the presence of] the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (verse 12).

Then verse 14 reiterates Peter’s point about it stirring someone to greater growth:
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for [Greek: anticipate, wait in HOPE FOR] such things, BE

DILIGENT that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

There should be no doubt that Peter’s prophecy here was for the EDIFICATION of his flock, that the
burden and the vision of which he spoke would prod his members to greater Christian
development!

Prophecy Designed to Cause Action

Not only does prophecy motivate Christians to keep God’s law more perfectly, they know that
even the LAW ITSELF is prophecy. God told the Israelites in Leviticus 26 that if they kept God’s
laws He would bless them beyond their imaginations. He told them if they did not keep His
laws, however, then they would be cursed.

The same is true in the book of Proverbs on a more individual level. Solomon constantly is
putting God’s wisdom forth in this form: IF you live this way,THEN you will reap these things.

Our understanding of the law affects how we act. That is why prophecy EDIFIES! It reveals the
need to keep the law—because it reveals the outcome of NOT keeping it!

All this is why we don’t miss out on any spiritual development by throwing ourselves
wholeheartedly into a work with such a focus on prophecy. It’s because God designed
prophecy to CAUSE US TO ACT—to help build us into a glorious, spiritual EDIFICE! Becoming grounded
and settled in these prophecies, becoming students of prophecy—understanding both the
burdensome events ahead and the glorious vision just beyond those events—will bolster our
character-building process for life. •

This content was printed online at: http://www.theTrumpet.com/index.php?q=4474.5189.0.0

Copyright © 2010 Philadelphia Church of God, All Rights Reserved