Author : Keith Sharp
The “Left Behind” series has been immensely popular. The counterpart to “Left Behind” of a generation ago was the mega best seller, The Late Great Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey. Lindsey and all premillennialists make Old Testament prophecy read like the daily newspaper. He claimed, “The astonishing thing to those of us who have studied the prophetic Scriptures is that we are watching the fulfillment of these prophecies in our time” (Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth. 10). How fascinating! How false! This leads us to inquire, How should we study the Old Testament prophets? Here are seven keys taken from the Scriptures themselves to unlock the meaning of the ancient prophecies.
1. Let the Scriptures themselves interpret Old Testament prophecy. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Premillennialists offer their guesses which actually contradict what the Bible itself plainly teaches. As Lindsey put it, “It is conjecture on this writer’s part, but…” (Late Great. 147). In contrast with these spectacular speculations, we must turn to the New Testament “this is that” (Acts 2:16, King James Version).
2. Old Testament prophecies should be preached as evidence of God, the Bible, and Christ, not as current events.
For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done… (Isaiah 46:9-10).
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). The Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ have been fulfilled and constitute evidence to support our faith (Acts 3:19-26; John 5:39). To deny this is to deny the plain word of the inspired apostles of Christ and to remove one of the major blocks in the foundation of faith.
3. To reject human theories about prophecy is not to reject prophecy. “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Hal Lindsey and other premillenialists equate rejection of their theories with rejection of the prophetic Scriptures.
He (Peter – KS) even warned that in ‘the latter times’ men posing as religious leaders would rise from within the Church and deny, even ridicule, the prophetic word [II Peter 2:1-3; 3:1-18]…. If you pass this book around to many ministers you’ll find how true this prediction has become (Late Great. 55-56].
4. The only men who had special insight into the prophetic word were inspired men. Jesus personally instructed His apostles in the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies about the Christ (Luke 24:44-45). Who today has been directly instructed by the Master? He sent the Holy Spirit upon them to guide them into all truth (John 16:13-15). None today can claim this. Lindsey makes a half hearted, wholly false claim to divine guidance. This writer doesn’t believe that we have prophets today who are getting direct revelations from God, but we do have prophets today who are being given special insight into the prophetic word. God is opening the book of the prophets to many men (Late Great. 78). He and those like him are some of those false prophets and false teachers Peter and John warned about.
5. The key that unlocks Old Testament prophecy is the New Testament “this is that” (Acts 2:16) The Holy Spirit revealed to the apostles and New Testament prophets meanings of Old Testament prophecies hidden even from angels and the prophets who wrote the messages (1 Peter 1:10-12). In contrast, premillennialists claim, “The key that would unlock the prophetic book would be the current events that would begin to fit into the predicted pattern” (Ibid. 170). Why does each school of premillennialists in each generation differ so much on which current events apply? Does “666” (Revelation 13:8) refer to Hitler, Henry Kissinger, Saddam, or ______ (fill in the blank with the latest headline grabber). The answer is (drum roll) – none of the above.
6. Many (although far from all) of the prophecies are symbolic and have spiritual application. Although this key is anathema to premillennialists, they are forced to admit its truth. Was Messiah (Christ) to literally be David (Ezekiel 37:24) or One whom David prefigured? For the answer, read Acts 2:29-31. Was John the Baptist a civil engineer (Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:1-6)? Are there or are there not lions in the kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 35:9-10)? Yes, the kingdom of Old Testament prophecy is spiritual in nature (John 18:36; Romans 14:17). Lindsey claims, “The real issue between the amillennial and the premillennial viewpoints is whether prophecy should be interpreted literally or allegorically” [Late Great. 165). No, the real issue is, are the blessings in Christ spiritual (Ephesians 1:3), or will there “be a chicken in every pot and no one will steal it” (Late Great. 166)? If that’s the nature of the kingdom, and, thankfully, it’s not, I’d rather have a steak on every grill.
7. Finally, The last days began almost two thousand years ago (Acts 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 1:20-21). The last days or the last age is the age when God speaks through His Son (Hebrews 1:1). The Old Testament prophecies of the Christ pertain to this age (Acts 3:24). The Old Testament prophecies of Christ and His kingdom have been fulfilled (Acts 3:18) We should use the prophets to preach Jesus from the prophets, not vainly, wildly and idly speculate about current and future events (Acts 8:30-35).
