Reasons for studying Prophecy

1)     We are commanded to watch – Mark 13:32-37

2)     We are to look for it and haste unto the coming – 2 Peter 3:12

3)     We are to look for our savior's coming – Phil. 3:20

4)     We are to wait for His coming – 1 Thess. 1:10

5)     We are blessed to study Revelation – Rev. 1:3

6)     We are to look for the blessed hope – Titus 2:11-15

7)     We are to preach the word in earnest as His coming draws near – 2 Tim. 3:4-8

8)     We are to occupy until He comes – Lk. 19:13

9)     We are not to forsake the assembling (attendance at church) – Heb. 10:25

10)     We are rewarded for loving His coming – 2 Tim. 4:8

11)     God gave it to us in the Scriptures; to know the end from the beginning” - Isa.

      46:10

12)     1/3 or 27% of the Bible is prophecy, 8352 verses out of 31,124 – to ignore or not

      bother is to reject 1/3 of God's Word to us.

13)     Entire books speak of prophecy – Major and Minor prophets (17 books), 2

      Thess., 2 Tim, Jude, Rev., Daniel

14)     Entire chapters speak of prophecy – Mt. 13; 24, 25, 2 Thess. 2

15)     Confirms Christ's deity – Isa. 9:6, 35:5,6; 61:1-2; Lk. 4:18-19, Mt. 9:5,6; 16:21

16)     Clarifies difficulties, explains “why?” – Isa. 46:10

17)     Demonstrates the truthfulness of God, His power to fulfill, and He promise

      keeping – Mt. 24:35

18)     Cleanses and purifies believers – 2 Peter 3:10-11, 13-14; 1 John 3:3

19)     Confirms God's control of world – Isa. 46:10

20)     Offers comfort to believers – 1 Thess. 4:18; Jn. 14:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Jas. 5:7-11

21)     Answers many of the questions of life – why am I here, where am I going

22)     Explains the evils in the world to day – Isa. 14:11-14

23)     It was the subject of Paul's dying words to his protégé, Timothy – 2 Tim.3:1-4:8

24)     It was the final subject of the Old Testament – Mal. 4:5,6

25)     It was the final subject of the New Testament – Rev.

26)     It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction – 2 Tim.

      3:16,17

27)     It educates us – Isa. 48:4-6; 2 Tim. 2:15

28)     Jesus taught it for 40 days with His disciples – Acts1:3

29)     He used it to teach on the Emmaus road – Luke 24:13-27

30)     The Lord promised that when the Spirit came He would lead them to

       understanding (literally: disclose) of the “things to come” (John 16:13) –

       apparently based upon verse 14, this understanding would bring Christ glory.

31)     Psalm 145:10-12 indicated that speaking of Christ's coming kingdom (v. 12)

      blesses God the Father. Note, two kingdoms are referred to in this passage.

32)     Understanding the nearness of the coming of Christ establishes correct priorities

      for Christians. The need to evangelize and to place things and activities of life in

      their proper place, relative to eternal things.

33)     Reveals the completeness and ineffable wisdom of all God's purposes.

34)     Proper study and exegesis reveals the clear logic of God's plan of history.

35)     Daniel 12:9 suggests that the “run to and fro” means “to peruse a book.”

       Hence, in the latter days studying Daniel would aid in the interpretation and

       understanding of events. [Charles L. Feinberg, Millennialism: The Two Major Views (Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1985), 31.]