With so many things going on in this world today, we feel that the Bible has no connections at all in present time. This article will explain, and reveal to you that the Bible The Word Of The Living God, has more to do with our time, more than ever before. In the first three chapters of Genesis, it shows how Adam and Eve, were taken out of the Garden due to sin, and taken away from the Holy presence of God. The good news is that the book of Revelation has the keys that will unlock Heavens gates, and enter us Back into paradise, where we will be able to live with Jesus the Son of God, and the King of Kings Forever, and
Ever!
However, a lot of us today do not understand the book of Revelations, and we then translate it into our own interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20 clearly says that “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation.”
So if it is not of private interpretation then how can I as an
individual understand Bible Prophecy?
1. Before Opening The Bible always say a word of prayer, and ask the Lord to provide you with wisdom, and understanding. In James 1:5 it says that “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given him.” So how do you know that you will be given the wisdom that you have prayed for? Numbers 23:19 says that “God is not a man, that he should lie.”
2. Search the Scriptures. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 In this scripture Jesus admonishes us to search the scriptures because the scriptures testify of Him Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The one that has died for our sins.
To understand the Prophecies of Revelation. We must first have a background. To obtain that background we must have knowledge of the Old Testament. There are a lot of people that says that the Old Testament has nothing to do with the New Testament. If you do not understand the Old Testament then you will never understand the New. There are 404 verses found in the book Of Revelation. Out of the 404 verses of the book, 278 verses refer to other stories, and prophecies in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is a platform for the first coming of Jesus. It sets the stage, and gives us examples of things
that would happen to Jesus when He comes, in the New Testament.
In the Old Testament we will review two stories, and then refer to them in the New Testament, and how they related to the Life of Jesus.
First we will review the story of Joseph. Joseph was one of 12 brothers. (Gen. 37:9 & Gen. 42:13) Joseph had his robe taken away from him; his brothers placed him into a pit where he did not have any food or water. Joseph was then sold for the price of slave.(Gen. 37:28) After he was sold, his brothers took his coat, and dipped it into blood.(Gen. 37:32) Even though Joseph went through this ordeal he still came out alive. What Joseph, and his brothers did not know was that God had a greater plan in store for them. God later used Joseph to save his family during the time of famine in the land of Egypt.
Now we will review the Life of Jesus, in the New Testament, and
see how it relates to the story of Joseph in the Old Testament.
Jesus had 12 disciples. (Matt. 11:1) Judas sold Jesus for the price of a slave, or 30 pieces of silver. (Matt. 27:3) Once Jesus was in the hands of the Chief Priests and Pilate, He was beaten and his clothes were taken away from him, which was splattered with his own blood. (Matt. 27:31) Before Jesus died he prayed for those who crucified him, and said “Father Forgive them for they no not what they have done.” (Luke 23:32) God too had a plan for Jesus. He came to save the world from sin.
Here in these two stories you will see that the prophecy was predicted in the life Of Joseph, and was fulfilled in the life Of Jesus Christ.
Some similarities that are found here are:
1. Both Joseph, and Jesus were sold as a slave.
2. Both, had their garments taken away from them.
3. Both forgave those who had sinned against them.
The Second Story that we will review is of Abraham, and Isaac. Isaac was a special child because Abraham’s wife Sarah could not have children, and in their old age God Blessed Abraham, and Sarah with a son, Isaac. (Gen. 21:3) God, testing Abraham’s faith, and told him to sacrifice his only son on the alter, as a burnt offering. (Gen. 22:2) Isaac, then carried the wood on his back for the alter. (Gen. 22:6) When they reached the mountain that the Lord had specified, Abraham, then made an alter, and tied Isaac to it. When he was ready to slay his son, he heard a Angels voice from heaven saying “Abraham, Abraham Do not lay a hand upon that lad, and do not do anything to him. (Gen.22: 9 – 12) With thanksgiving, and praise, Abraham, lifted his eyes, and saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Gen. 22:13)
Now we will compare the story of Abraham, and Isaac to the Story of Jesus, and God the Father. As Isaac had to carry the wood to the alter, so did Jesus carry wood, He carried the Cross. When Jesus died, he had a crown of thorns upon his head. (Matt. 27:29)
This story of Abraham, and Isaac is one of Importance. God knew that one day He too have to offer his Son as a sacrifice, a ransom, to pay for the price of sin. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that God the Father felt for his son dying on the cross. “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Matt. 26:56
All I can say is what a loving God we serve! He looked beyond all selfishness, and gave his only son for the sins of mankind.
So as you can see here with the two examples, I have given, a knowledge of the Old Testament is needed to open the stories or keys of the New Testament. If you are trying to understand Bible Prophecy then you will need to have a background. If you want to understand what is going, on in the world today, and try to unlock Bible Prophecy, then you need to know the history of the bible from the Old Testament.
I Pray that everyone that reads this article will be Blessed in the Name of Jesus!
Remember That GLves You, And So Do I!
