Understanding prophecy

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A journalist heard about an old Jewish man who had been going to pray twice a day at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, for a long, long time. Sensing a good story, she went to the wall and there found the old man walking slowly up to the holy site. She watched as he prayed. Then after about 45 minutes, as he turned to leave using a cane and moving slowly, she approached him for an interview.

“Pardon me, sir, I’m from CNN. What’s your name?

“Morris Feinberg,” he replied.

“Sir, how long have you been coming to the Wailing Wall to pray?”

“About 60 years.”

“That’s amazing! What do you pray for?”

“I pray for peace between Christians, Jews and Muslims. I pray for all the wars and hatred to stop. I pray that all our children may grow up safely as responsible adults who love their fellow man. I pray that politicians tell us the truth and put the interests of the people ahead of their own interests.”

“How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?”

“Like I’m talking to a brick wall!”

How sad. Yet, I’m sure we can relate. Sometimes prayer seems like talking to a brick wall – especially when praying about the Middle East. For the last two years, that region of the world has been in turmoil, in what has been called the “Arab Spring.” The struggle for democracy in one after another Arab nation has added more uncertainty in an already volatile region. How it will all play out is anybody’s guess.

However, it is not anybody’s prophecy. Whenever events start heating up in Israel and the nations that surround it, prophecy buffs and pundits start quivering. “Is this it?” they wonder. “It” being the series of events that some believe will lead directly to the return of Jesus Christ. Well, let’s hope they are right. But don’t get your hopes up too high. They have never been right before. But it is not for want of trying.

For the last 2,000 years, self-appointed prophets have been appropriating world events to trumpet their personal interpretations of prophecy. It is a dismal record of pride, false expectations and shattered dreams. You’d think they would have learned from history to be cautious. And you’d think the rest of us would have learned to ignore them.

Yes, some argue: “But this time they may be right!” Possibly, but maybe not. Maybe things will, once again, settle down to the uneasy tension that passes for “peace” in this troubled region. Or maybe events will escalate into another major war, with Christ still not returning just then.

However, even with our caution we need to be careful. Note the warning in 2 Peter 3:3-4: “You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'”

While we can be skeptical of any particular prediction about Jesus’ return, we cannot allow hope of his promised return to be squashed. Followers of Jesus do indeed live in hope—in the wisdom and timing of God—even if not in human predictions.

That is why, even though it is tempting to poke fun at the dismal track record of the prophets of doom and their frantic efforts to recalibrate their end-time scenarios, I try not to scoff. Many prophecies do make specific references to events that seem to align with biblical teaching related to Jesus’ return. At least, that is one way of looking at them. But it is not the only way. One thing is certain: no one can know for sure until God is ready to make his intervention plain and clear.

2 Peter was written to help us keep our balance, not to send us careening off-center with speculation and irresponsible knee-jerk reactions whenever hostilities flare up in the Middle East. If there is one thing that trying to figure out “where we are in prophecy” should have taught us, it is that we don’t—and can’t—know.

What we do know is that the entirety of the Old Testament points to Jesus (John 5:39). Jesus himself explained this to the Pharisees so they could recognize God’s faithfulness to his word demonstrated in his first coming. While they seemed to miss the point, there’s no need for us to follow suit. Jesus’ appearance two thousand years ago confirms that what God promises he fulfills. Therefore, we are not fools to have hope.

It may be, as some biblical scholars have thought, that Jesus completely fulfilled all the promises made in the Old Testament. But one way or another, hope is not built on predictability. We are called and permitted to hope in the promise of Christ’s second coming in much the same way ancient Israel was given hope for his first coming. We can be ready and anticipate the sure fulfillment of God’s word, not because we can predict when and how, but because all of God’s promises will be fulfilled in Christ, one way or another. We can count on the same Lord Jesus who fulfilled Israel’s hope at his first coming to fulfill all our hopes upon his promised return. Jesus himself is our ultimate hope.

Even the most “timely” prophecy does not cancel out the timeless teaching of the Bible. Just before the warning about scoffing, 2 Peter 3:2 exhorts us to “recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.” Those messages reminded God’s people that Jesus would return unexpectedly, taking everyone by surprise. For those who are unprepared, that return will seem like a catastrophe. Indeed, there will be “winners and losers.” But the winners will not be those who have been able to sort out the “coded messages” of prophecy. Rather, the winners will be those who by patient, consistent and diligent discipleship have become those who truly seek the life of the kingdom of God and its righteousness and live in hope of it.

In some ways, I hope that the “end time” panic merchants are right this time. I’d like to see the end of the suffering and repeated cycles of war and destruction. I love Isaiah’s vision where he saw Jerusalem not as an epicenter of contention and strife, but a source of peace and happiness (Isaiah 2:2-4). I’m not sure exactly what it means, or when it will happen. But whatever and whenever it is, it is something to look forward to.

In the meantime, we’d do well, as the psalmist said, to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). Because, whether this is “it” or not, people are being killed and maimed and lives and property are being wrecked while yet another generation is growing up knowing only a seemingly endless, bitter cycle of misery. We know that only Jesus, who has already broken into history and inaugurated the rule of his kingdom can and will bring his reconciling and saving work to its consummation.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Joseph Tkach