Properly Interpreting Current Events and Biblical Prophecy Part 1
In the Bible there are prophecies concerning future events. Some are written in figurative language which can be misinterpreted and misapplied to current events. We have to be careful to see what God is actually revealing. Not all prophecies were meant for all mankind as some were limited to a particular nation and a specific time period.
Many times, there has been upheaval in the Middle East involving Arab Nations and modern-day Israel. During the 1967 war there were 6-days of battle as Israel was attacked by a union of Arab Nations. Israel repelled the attack and ended up gaining territory. People attributed their victory to proof of God blessing current day Israel. In the 1980’s others saw The Soviet Union, the Arab Nations, and Israel’s conflicts as proof of Armageddon happening soon. Then there was the soon forgotten book “88 Reasons Why the End is in 88” written using obscure Bible passages to teach the world would end in 1988. All are examples are writers speculating about future events while misusing Biblical Prophecies.
My aim is not to explain every Bible prophecy but to point out three basic facts which will hopefully help Bible students in their studies.
In the grand scheme of things, God made three promises to Abraham. “1 The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:1-3)
Other passages may state these a little differently but God promised Abraham land, which was identified as Canaan; a great nation or lineage which was the Nation of Israel, and lastly a great blessing in which all people will be blessed.
Two of these 3 promises are physical in nature and were fulfilled. Through Abraham came Isaac, through Isaac came Jacob, through Jacob came the 12 Patriarchs which became the 12 tribes of Israel. A group of people which Solomon said, “Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted.” (1 Kings 3:8) Thus Abraham became the father of a great nation/people.
The land promise was fulfilled as Israel took the land of Canaan during the days of Joshua. Joshua’s final recorded address to Israel says, “I gave you a land you did not labor for, and cities you did not build, though you live in them; you are eating from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.” (Joshua 24:13)
Later on Solomon elaborated further, “May the LORD be praised! He has given rest to His people Israel according to all He has said. Not one of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses has failed.” (1 Kings 8:56)
God also told Israel He would bless them as long as they remained faithful but He would punish them and remove them from this land if they broke covenant with Him. “Just as the LORD was glad to cause you to prosper and to multiply you, so He will also be glad to cause you to perish and to destroy you. You will be deported from the land you are entering to possess.” (Deuteronomy 28:63) The physical promises to Abraham were fulfilled.
The third and greatest promise to Abraham is the one in which through his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. “And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command.” (Genesis 22:18)
Later on this promise was made to David concerning one from his lineage, “He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:13)
God’s ultimate plan for man involved the spiritual blessing which would come through the Son of David. Matthew’s Gospel gives us the lineage of Jesus and starts with Abraham, “The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Paul points out Jesus being the fulfillment of the seed promise made to Abraham. “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)
Man’s salvation is not in the land of Canaan, it is not in modern day Israel but in Christ.
Dennis Tucker