It has been estimated that one third of the entire Bible is devoted to prophecy, or prophetic teachings. Many encouraging and comforting portions of Scripture are prophetic passages promising the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., John 14.1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17). For many years, in the apostolic movement, preachers proclaimed these prophetic passages with great fervor, exhorting saints to watch for the coming of the Lord, and to be ready for His soon return. Everyone could shout at such preaching. They loved that kind of preaching.

But in recent years, some preachers have embraced various prophetic interpretations that were not heretofore seen in the majority of apostolic ranks. Neither were these prophetic interpretations, for the most part, taught by the apostolic elders. Some of them claim to have obtained these prophetic theories from revelations given them by the Lord, but in truth most all of these teachings come from well documented writings and theories in the trinitarian literature.

The fact that trinitarians have considered or taught something does not automatically disqualify it from being truth. Otherwise, the Virgin Birth, the infallibility of Scripture, and many other doctrines could not be taught, simply because trinitarians previously discovered them and taught them. The "altar call", which is so beneficial in our churches, comes from the trinitarian churches. Shall we disavow the altar call because of its origins? I don't think so.  

Most prophetic interpretations being recently introduced to apostolic ranks do not have a solid Scriptural foundation. Many of these teachings are presumably "confirmed" by the non-canonical "book of Josephus", a Jewish historian, who was a traitor to his own people, and a Roman sycophant. Therefore, many of these prophetic interpretations appeal to historical events that do not apply to the prophecies indicated. For example, while justly critical of "wild guesses" of future anti-christs (e.g., Henry Kissinger), some of these prophetic theories have selected Nero as anti-christ, a cowardly mad man who committed suicide. Nero can in no way scripturally qualify as the anti-christ. Others, because they realize there is no man in history who could yet qualify as the anti-christ, reject the idea of the anti-christ being an individual.

Prophesied future cataclysmic events of worldwide importance are reduced to fanciful local events of the past, with a liberal use of biblical imagery and allegory. The literal interpretation of the Scripture (which was used by the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles in most cases to explain prophecy) is discarded, and the use of this interpretation for New Testament prophecies is even mocked.

There are number of results that I see developing from such prophetic interpretations: (1) In some churches the rapture of the church (the at-any-moment, soon coming of the Lord) is no longer preached like it was; (2) in other places I have noticed a "scoffing" at the preaching of the rapture (2 Peter 3.3,4), and (3) a "divisive spirit" concerning prophecy is developing, against brethren who are holding on to what their elders taught them.

I myself have been accused of teaching that animal sacrifices will be instituted in the Millennium as a means of salvation, when I do not teach that animal sacrifices could ever save anyone (Heb. 10.12-14). But I do believe the prophecies concerning a re-institution of animal sacrifices in the Millennium (Jer. 33.14-21; Ezek. 43.18-46.24, and Zech. 14.16-21). I do not understand the purpose of these prophecies, but I believe them. There is a skeptical, humanistic approach to prophecy today that rejects the Word of God just as much as those who reject speaking in tongues and miracles, saying that it is not for us today.

All of us admit that none of us knows all there is to know about prophecy (one third of the Bible). If we do not know all there is to know, then it behooves us to admit this and to hear what our brother has to say. It is true that in the last 30 years there has been a lot of sensationalism concerning the "endtimes". But the Word is still true.

Some brethren have even made money from prophecy. All of the stories about "red heifers", and "rebuilding temples", etc., have produced cynicism among many. It is this cynicism, I believe, that has caused a number of brethren to adopt more "humanistic" approaches to prophecy (particularly belittling the literal approach to interpretation). The pendulum has swung too far.

When I hear of churches that used to shout and rejoice over the preaching of the coming of Lord, but who now sit there with a dour face and a cynical spirit, I become concerned. We need to continue to be excited about the rapture of the church and the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I first received the Holy Ghost, He showed me immediately-before I knew anything about prophecy-that He was indeed coming soon! He is coming after those that love His appearing (2 Tim. 4.8).

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