Proposals, Predictions and Prophecies
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© November 19, 2017
Last week we began a study of several basic themes in 2 Peter. We discussed “Supernatural Meaning” which also included the maturity of growing in Christ. The Apostle Peter gave us seven Spiritual traits which should be added to our Christian life and developed in our walk with the Lord, in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
Developing Christian Maturity
Faith
Goodness
Knowledge
Self-control
Perseverance
Godliness
Brotherly Kindness
Love
2 Peter 1:5-7
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Having a “Welcome” Before God, Not Failure
Peter encourages us to be eager to grow in our faith by adding these Godly qualities to our lives; because, if we do, instead of failure, we will receive a rich welcome into Christ’s Kingdom!
2 Peter 1
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Knowing the Future!
Today we are continuing on in 2 Peter to include understanding and knowing about the future. Isn’t “future watch” something everyone wants to know about?
There are few things bigger than knowing what is going to happen to our world, and what happens after we die. If we knew what was going to happen, then we could plan wisely and appropriately, and not be caught off guard! Unfortunately, there are lots of predictors of the future and not many of them are accurate. How do we know who is right? It would be disaster if we made the wrong decision!
Today there are many spiritual forces, media personalities, world manipulators, religious gurus, philosophers, and self-proclaimed prophets who would like to capture the world’s attention, loyalties and faith about what is going to happen in the future.
There are lots of “prognosticators” these days! Everyone seems to want to tell us what the future holds so we will follow their lead!
How do we discern who and what is right?
Who should we believe?
Our beliefs direct our decisions, and our decisions direct our life.
Those decisions in life affect eternity.
In the past few days and weeks there have been a number of interesting proposals, predictions and prophecies that have come to light. All of them are seeking to direct our belief system and our future. Some desperately want the world to act on their proposals for the survival of the world itself.
Compelling proposals, predictions and/or prophecies.
All of them want to direct our belief system and our future.
Some desperately want everyone in the world to act on their proposals for the survival of the planet.
Others want to promote a wonderful, rich and technological life while we are here.
HOW TO SAVE HUMANITY:
15,364 scientists recently signed a warning letter to humanity, published in BioScience – last Monday.
These experts are warning humanity for the second time, following up from a similar letter in 1992.
They are warning against catastrophic biodiversity loss and widespread misery if their warning is not heeded.
They are pleading for humans:
to cut greenhouse gas emissions,
phase out fossil fuels,
reduce deforestation, and
reverse the trend of collapsing biodiversity.
To estimate a scientifically defensible and sustainable population size for the long term and,
Address wealth inequalities.
“Moreover,” the authors write, “we have unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years, wherein many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century.”
They are not alone…
Stephen Hawking has predicted five ways the world could end
According to Professor Hawking, we’ve got less than 600 years before a “ball of fire” engulfs the earth.
Professor Hawking thinks due to climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, humans will need to find a new planet to populate within a single lifetime.
In another warning he said human aggression, combined with technological advances in nuclear weaponry, may lead to the end of humanity.
Prof Hawking warned that genetically engineered viruses could wipe out entire populations.
He also signed an open letter warning that artificial intelligence weapons could create “a global arms race”.
He said: “We are not going to stop making progress, or reverse it, so we have to recognize the dangers and control them.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/stephen-hawking-predicts-end-world-13886639
Saudi Arabia wants to build a $500 billion mega-city spanning 3 countries
•“Neom” is planned to extend over multiple nations and to dwarf New York City at 33 times its size - extending over 10,231 square miles . The costs are expected to be half a trillion dollars or more, and it is already attracting investments from some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world.
•"All services and processes in NEOM will be 100% fully automated, with the goal of becoming the most efficient destination in the world," the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund said in a statement.
http://www.wnd.com/2017/11/last-days-babylon-now-on-drawing-board/
http://cnnphilippines.com/world/2017/10/29/Saudi-Arabia-500-billion-mega-city.html
What Is Going to Happen?
There are those who are totally convinced the world is plunging toward global disaster and only we can stop that plunge.
There are many who are investing in the world’s Real Estate in hopes that the future will be bright and noble…
but the destined outcome of the world will not stop, nor will it be rosy as some predict.
Something else is actually going to happen.
Jesus Christ also spoke Prophecies Regarding the End of this Age
Matthew 24:4–14
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of
wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
o7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
o8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
ï9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death,
and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
ï10 At that time many will turn away from the faith
and will betray and hate each other,
ï11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
ï12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
ï13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
ï14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
We should be proactive caretakers of the world, but should this be our sole priority and underlying motivation, following the pleading of the 15,364 scientists who are certain that a mass extinction will occur unless we take matters into our own human hands?
Are You motivated to be transported to another planet in order to save humanity?
Believers in Christ rely on a secure hope by God’s Sovereign help and deliverance.
Psalm 44:3
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
Psalm 44:6–7
6 I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
Philippians 4:6–7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What about investing in and moving to the 10,231 square miles of “paradise” in Saudi Arabia’s new projected city of Neom?
Or how about buying a home in Bill Gates’ 25,000 acre, proposed smart city of Belmont, 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix where you will be interconnected with all the latest wizardry and gadgetry of the modern digital age until you die?
What are some checkpoints that we could consider for world predictions?
Supernatural Being? Does the underlying belief system of those who support the proposal or prediction include those who believe in a Supreme Being – God?
Dominant Leader? Is there a need for the rise of a world-wide leader to implement the proposal to the level needed for success?
Human Ingenuity Alone? Are their proposals built solely on the belief in humankind’s ingenuity and expertise without any spiritual interaction?
Conditional on Future Technologies? Are these proposals conditional on the development of future technologies or biological breakthroughs that may or may not ever exist?
Accuracy? What percentage of their predictions have proved accurate?
Doable? Do you believe they can attain viable and long-term success in what they are proposing?
Elite Only Accepted? Will their proposal potentially help an elite and exclusive percentage of the world who can afford it, or any in the world who are willing to accept it and act on it?
Viable Evidence? Do those who claim their predictions have viable evidence that what they say is true?
Outcomes? What will be the outcome if one did not accept a human-based proposal or prediction?
Death? How does belief or nonbelief in this prediction affect those who die prior to the outcome of that which is predicted?
Afterlife? What hope of afterlife is related to this prediction?
Peter’s Clarification of the Truth of Christ’s Coming at the End of this Age
2 Peter 1
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Christ’s Redemption, Resurrection and Return is not a Cleverly Invented Story
God: God IS, Jesus died to redeem us from our sins and rose from the dead, and He is coming again in Power and Glory. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Length of Prophecies’ Evaluation: How long has the prophecy of the Suffering Messiah and Coming Savior been given?
oSince the beginning of time… for thousands and thousands of years.
Not Conditional on Technology: The Gospel of Christ is not conditional on the development of future technologies or biological breakthroughs that may or may not ever exist.
All Generations: Every generation known to humankind has considered supernatural forces and afterlife.
Accuracy: Scriptural Prophecy must be 100% accurate.
Every Nation: The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers eternal hope for people from every nation, tribe, language and people in every generation in the world.
Anyone: The Scripture’s proposal and prediction is not for an elite or exclusive people, but for any who embrace and accept God’s Salvation by faith.
Viable Evidence: Do those who give predictions or prophecies have viable evidence that what they say is a statement of truth?
oThe Apostle Peter recounted the evidence that Jesus is God’s Son, the Messiah, when he, James and John witnessed God’s confirmation of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration:
2 Peter 1: 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
oDo those who deny or misrepresent God have credible evidence for their interpretation of His non-existence? Or, have they been deluded? Credible evidence has consistently been recorded throughout the Bible.
The Dead: Belief or disbelief affect the living and the dead.
Eternal Hope: Biblical prophecy offers the supreme hope of afterlife; a profound eternal relationship with Almighty God; and, an amazing place in His Everlasting Kingdom.
Outcome: The outcome for not accepting Scriptural Messianic redemptive prophecy is dire indeed.
oFrom their own belief system, what happens to an individual believing a philosophy, “truth,” or politically correct ideology in a non-afterlife state?
The Words of Biblical Prophets are Certain
2 Peter 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and
you will do well to pay attention to it,
as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
20 Above all, you must understand that
no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
ï21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
To Whom Do You Want to Trust Your Eternal Soul?
2 Timothy 3:12–17
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
As the world rushes to its determined end, and as nations, leaders and organizations scurry to have more power, success, and dominance. As people determine a belief system that they feel will stably hold and support them in an unstable age, and as knowledge exponentially increases. As people live their daily lives, go to school, work their jobs, pay their bills, put food on their table, and try to get along.
Truth from God’s Word becomes increasingly necessary as part of a Believer in Christ’s daily life.
We look to the End of the Age and nations war and threaten to war, hurricanes devastate, fires scorch the land, earthquakes destroy, and famines decimate. Persecutions of believers are prevalent, and Christ’s Words are proven true.
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
One day He is Coming.