Introduction: the marketing of biblical prophecy has become a multi-billion dollar business. Many fictional novels have been published about Jesus' second coming, the tribulation and the anti-christ. Full-length feature movies have been made. Television and radio preachers specializing in prophecy are common. People have always been interested in predicting their own futures, stock-market futures and so on. Millions read the prophecies of Nostradamus, and go to fortune tellers, palm readers, tea-leaf readers, astrologers, spiritists and mediums, trying to find out the future. What about the prophecies of the Bible? What do they mean, and how can the ordinary Christian discover what they mean? This morning I will give you five principles that will help you understand the prophecies of the Bible.

I. The Chief Purpose of Prophecy is Edification. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

A. The prophecies of the Bible were not written to provide you with a personal horoscope, or to give you stock-market predictions, or to entertain or fascinate. Although there are some prophecies that predict future events, even that is not the main purpose of prophecy. Prophecy was given to edify believers.

B. The prophets call God's people to repentance.

C. The prophets encourage God's people in hard times.

D. The prophets lead us to worship God, by exalting His Sovereignty over the nations.

II. The Bible Often Interprets Its Own Prophecies.

A. Some prophecies carry built-in interpretations (for example, Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a metallic statue. Daniel interprets the dream, and explains it in detail.)

B. Many Old Testament prophecies are explained by the New Testament (for example, Isaiah 9:1-2 is explained by Matthew 4:13-17 as predicting Jesus moving from Nazareth to Capernaum).

III. The Bulk of Bible Prophecies Have Already Been Fulfilled.

A. The largest body of prophetic literature (428 pages) is contained in the five major and 12 minor prophets of the Old Testament (turn to NIV contents page). Most (not all) of these prophecies have to do with Israel, Judah and the surrounding nations in their historical context from 700 to 400 BC, and have already been fulfilled.

B. Even some of the New Testament prophecies have been fulfilled, for example the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, in Luke 21:5-24. Revelation 1:1 says that the prophecies in that book must "shortly come to pass." Some commentators think Revelation was written during the reign of the emperor Nero, who died in 68 AD, and that much of Revelation was fulfilled at the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.

C. Study and read carefully do determine which prophecies are yet to be fulfilled in the future. Note, the disciples asked a question in Matthew 24:3 which was not recorded in Luke: "What will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?" Seems to be explained in Matthew 24:29-30.

IV. Many Prophecies Are Not Meant to be Taken Literally.

A. Much of the Bible is written in poetical, exaggerated language, For example, Isaiah 55:12: "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

B. Metaphors and Similes are used frequently: For example:
"Jesus is the door"
"Jesus is the lamb"
"Jesus is the Lion of Judah"
Galatians 4:22-26, Hagar and Sara, Sinai and Jerusalem
The church is called the "bride of Christ," and many other examples could be found.

C. So, when approaching, for example, the book of Revelation, we should be aware that the 144,000 (12,000) from every tribe, may not be literally 144,000 people, but may symbolically represent the people of God from all ages. The streets of gold of the new Jerusalem may not be actual streets of real gold, but may symbolize the holiness of the redeemed Church.

D. There is an "Apocalyptic Formula" not meant to be taken literally, but to lend force to what is being said (sun darkened, moon to blood, stars fall from heaven).
1. Judgment on Babylon (Is. 13:1, 9-10, 17-19)
2. Judgment on Egypt (Ezekiel 32:1-8)
3. The coming of the Spirit (Acts 2:14-21)

V. Don't Be Dogmatic About Prophetic Details.

A. There are a few prophetic statements that are basic, and true, and accepted by everyone: Jesus is coming back. Good will triumph over evil. Jesus will reign from sea to sea.

B. But there are many "schools" of prophetic interpretation. There are three views of the millennium: pre, a and post. There are three views of the "rapture." Pre-trib, mid-trib and post-trib. These six views can be fit together to make various permutations. Some Bible students are both pre-trib and pre-mil, and some are post-trib and pre-mill, and so on. Some people think the events of Revelation are still in the future. Others think they were fulfilled in 70 AD at the destruction of Jerusalem.

C. The study of prophecy is so complex, that everyone must humbly say, "This is what I think it means, but I may be wrong." Don't allow yourself to be dogmatic about latter days, or the Tribulation or the Battle of Armageddon. Authors of fiction, movie producers and TV preachers speak with 100% assurance that they know everything, but they may all be proved 100% wrong. The element of humility is lacking.

Conclusion: You may now be saying to yourself, "This is all too complex, too hard to understand. Why should I study prophecy at all?" I have two answers for you: First, you must study prophecy because as a Christian you should read the whole Bible, not just parts of it. You will come across books of prophecy. Second, remember that the primary purpose of prophecy is not to give you a timetable of future events, but to edify you. As you read prophecy, ask yourself these three questions: 1) How do these words call me to repentance? 2) How do these words comfort me in hard times? 3) How do these words move me to worship God who is Sovereign over the nations. By applying these principles, you will understand more of God's prophetic Word, and you will find it sweet as honey from the honeycomb. Amen.