PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:
Heard any good news lately? Prophecy comprises about one-third of the Bible, and believe it or not, most of it is good news! The prophecies
of the first coming of Messiah were certainly good news. And the massive amount of Bible teaching about the Millennial age and beyond,
is unquestionably positive!
But admittedly, much of "end-time prophecy" is depressing. We should remember that Jesus called this phase of
the future "labor pains." Just as the birth of a baby is preceded by difficult and painful labor, the birth of the Millennium, and after
that, the glorious New Heaven and Earth, is preceded by the Tribulation.
We need to balance our study of prophecy with a reminder that God is still on His throne. He is the loving, all-powerful creator and the
designer of our incredible salvation.
The Gospel is the "Good News." The Bible is His love letter to us. The incredible Creation is His handicraft. The Family is His idea.
Israel is still His chosen people. And the Church is the greatest expression of His power and purpose during this age.
Additionally, the Bible tells us repeatedly not to be afraid! So let's check out the good news today!
July 30, 2018 - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of a Religious Liberty Task Force.
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel... said the “establishment of a Religious
Liberty Task Force is an historic and positive step by the Trump administration to protect religious freedom and the rights of conscience.”
June 19, 2018 - On the MTV Awards program, Chris Pratt, star of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” offered some inspiring rules, including:
“You have a soul, be careful with it.”
“God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that. I do.”
Grace if a gift... paid for with someone else’s blood.”
June 11, 2018 - Tens of thousands of eager listeners heard evangelist Greg Laurie bring a message of hope in Dallas' ATT&T; Stadium'
Against the backdrop of shocking news about the suicides last week of fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, Laurie offered
faith in Christ as an alternative.
"You'll never be alone in life again, and you'll know that you'll go to heaven when you die."
“Sometimes people will say ‘Oh, we can‘t understand Bible prophecy.‘ Yet the Scripture says ‘Let the reader understand...
the very word ‘revelation,‘ as in the Book of Revelation, means unveiling,” he said.
May 27, 2018 - During a suprise appearance at the 2018 Watchman on the Wall conference sponsored by the Family Research Council,
Vice-president Pence encouraged pastors to "share the good news of Jesus Christ.”
“Keep preaching the good news. Keep preaching in season and out of season as the Bible says. Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have," he continued.
Apr. 26, 2018 - This article explains why modern science arose in the Christian West.
Surely one reason is the Judeo-Christian doctrine of creation, which saw the universe as God’s work and not itself divine, unlike many
other religions that saw things in the universe as themselves gods — the sea, the sun, the moon, even birds and animals.
A shocking act of terrorism leads to one of the most daring hostage rescue missions ever attempted in 7 Days in Entebbe,
a riveting thriller inspired by true events. In the summer of 1976.
March, 2018 - Hal Lindsey responded to a remark by someone "not to have so much gloom and doom” ...
"I don’t like gloom and doom. I prefer good news. In fact, a major emphasis of my ministry has been on
the grace of God. And, believe me, the news of grace is as good as news gets."
However, he explains that the Gospel means "Good News", but as a “watchman.” (Isaiah 21:6) he has to be honest about morality
and Bible prophecy. In that calling, he has to warn the world that God’s judgment is coming.
Jan. 29,, 2018 - New research from scholars at Harvard University and Indiana University Bloomington shows that Christianity is actually
growing in the United States. While mainline churches are losing members, research shows that their members are going to more
meaningful Christian venues.
The percentage of Americans who attend church more than once a week, pray daily, and accept the Bible as wholly reliable and deeply
instructive to their lives has remained absolutely, steel-bar constant for the last 50 years or more,
Jan. 1, 2018 - Here are some of the good news stories from a Christian perspective in 2017.
1. The Museum of the Bible opened in Washington D.C.
2. The Trump Administration officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital
3. Little Sisters of the Poor won at the Supreme Court
4. Weekly Bible Studies at the White House
Other topics include exposing sexual misconduct, Christian aid to hurricane victims, diminishing ISIS in the Middle East,
and the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.
- Philippians 4:8
Unfortunately, most of the headlines here at Prophecy Central are negative. That is inevitable since our purpose is to track the progress
toward God's ultimate plans for the earth. Those plans are clearly revealed in Bible prophecies that certainly appear to be coming to pass right
before our eyes.
The wonderful reality about God's revealed plans is that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to establish His Kingdom. He will rule in
righteousness over an indescribably fabulous age. The problem is that before He returns as King of Kings, the Earth must go through a dreadful
period of disasters known as "The Tribulation" (Matthew 24:9-28). And Jesus, who taught us about these coming trials, said there would even be
big problems in the generation leading up to the Tribulation. He called this period of time, "The beginning of sorrows [birth pains]" (Matthew 24:4-8).
This could very well be a reference to our own troubled times.
Looking for the good in every situation is not a denial of reality. It is the proper way for a Child of God to respond to the serious problems
we face. (Be sure you are a born-again member of God's family.)
Every shock, and every new installment of bad news, should cause us to consciously focus our attention on what God is allowing or doing in human
history. Things that look bad have a divine purpose (Romans 8:28). And God has given us supernatural resources to employ at times like these. He has
promised that believers will have supernatural wisdom (James 1:4), the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), His own love flowing
through them (Romans 5:5-8; 1 John 4:19), joy and the other qualities listed as the "Fruit of the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Looking for the good in whatever is happening is not just positive thinking or self-help religion. We can recognize what is bad in this sinful
world, but by faith, we should remember that God is good, and He is in control.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28
This is the Thanksgiving season. It would be a great time for each of us to see every personal or world-wide problem in the light of this command to look for the truth and goodness that can result from everything that happens.
After teaching about the Rapture of the Church and the destructive Tribulation (Philippians 4:13-5:11) the Apostle Paul wrote:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18