"Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Leave yourself open!

Some people have taken my interpretations of Bible prophecy as gospel fact--incontrovertible and unchangeable--instead of the theories I intended them to be. That's why I try not to be dogmatic and say it has to be this way or that way, because my interpretations could be wrong.

When I teach classes on Bible prophecy, I often suggest possible interpretations other than the ones I believe to be right; then I say, "But I believe such and such." Presenting more than one interpretation helps people be better informed and causes them to think for themselves. Also, that way their faith will be less likely to be shaken if the interpretation I favored and taught turns out to be wrong.

Even if you think you can support your view by Scriptures that deal explicitly with a certain Endtime event, and even if you've had a direct revelation from the Lord, you'd better always give Him room to clarify things as time goes on.

Don't get so dogmatic or so set on your interpretations that you can't change when the Lord shows you something different! You may later find out that your interpretation was wrong, as I have at times. If you don't leave yourself open for other interpretations--especially when the ones you hold to be right are merely somebody else's guess or theory, or your own--you are going to be stuck in a rut and resistant to any new idea or thought that God tries to give to you, and He'll have a mighty hard time getting through to you. Leave yourself open!

What if your interpretation turns out to be wrong?

When Jesus was telling His original disciples about the signs of His second coming, He said, "This generation"--meaning the people who would see the signs He had just finished telling them about come to pass, us who are seeing these things happen today--"this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34). Jesus' original disciples apparently thought He was talking about them, which shows how wrong people can be if they don't interpret things right! If they so easily got the wrong interpretation, it can happen to anyone.

Bible prophecy is important, but love is the most important thing!

So don't be discouraged if some interpretation you held to be true turns out to be wrong, and don't throw away your Bible or everything you've learned about Bible prophecy. When you find a brown spot on a piece of fruit, you don't throw away the whole thing; you just cut out the little bad spot and keep the rest that's good.

I'd much rather change when God shows me something than, through pride or fear of embarrassment, refuse to change my stance on some point of prophetic interpretation. I would rather suffer a blow to my ego and be right, than to refuse to admit I was wrong and stay wrong! A wise man is wiser tomorrow than he was yesterday!

Is Bible prophecy the most important thing?

It is not absolutely necessary that Christians see eye to eye on every detail of Bible prophecy. It is only important that we agree on salvation through Jesus, the basic authority of God's Word, and our obligation to witness His truth to others so they, too, may experience His love and receive His gift of salvation.

A lot of people have gone astray when they got more interested in splitting hairs over interpretations of Bible prophecy than they were in evangelizing the world. Don't be led away from the simplicity of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3). "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Children don't waste most of their time arguing over theological details!

Few people are won to the Lord through esoteric interpretations of Bible prophecy, and those who are stand a much greater risk of losing faith if the interpretations they've been taught prove to be wrong. "Whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away" (1 Corinthians 13:8). You may have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but without love it's nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

What is the greatest commandment?--To understand every detail of Bible prophecy?--No! The greatest commandment is to love God, and the next greatest is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Bible prophecy is important, but if you don't have love, it's just cold, dead facts and figures. Bible prophecy is important, but love is the most important thing!

So don't ever get your eyes so much on the details, doctrines, and dogmas of Bible prophecy that you lose sight of the real goal: to reach the world with the message of God's love in Jesus!

Jesus Himself knew all about the future, but His main mission was to love the world and His main message was the Good News of God's love and salvation. And what was His last message to His disciples, just before He was arrested, beaten, and crucified?--He spoke to them all about love, that love was the most important thing (John 13:3-17, 34-35; 15:9-13, 17).

May God bless you and make you a blessing to others by helping you spread the Good News--and He will if you will.