Transcript: Understanding Bible Prophecy in the News: Separating Fact from Fiction

As I write the script for this video, there is global unrest and uncertainty surrounding Afghanistan's future. It's the top story on the internet at the moment. But by the time this script is made into the video you're watching now, there will likely be some other global issue which is attracting media attention. and attention from Christians who want to know how all these issues line up with Bible prophecy. As a Christian preacher with a YouTube channel, it's tempting to want to gain easy views by lining up the biggest news headlines with prophecies in the Bible. Such videos do tend to generate more views than the average Christian teaching video. But I think we preachers shoot ourselves in the foot when we do that. Here is a real-world example of what I mean. The COVID vaccines have been labeled by many preachers as being a precursor to the mark of the beast. Some have come right out and said that the vaccine is the mark of the beast, although I think some of those folks have been backing down in recent weeks, since the vaccine is only being required to buy things in certain situations, like dining in restaurants, And even that is only happening in some places around the world. Whereas in the Bible we're told that the Mark of the Beast will be required to buy and sell everything during the last days. And so precursor is a more fitting label for the COVID vaccines which are only being required to buy some things in some countries It sounds reasonable doesn it Technically, anything you need in order to buy and sell, including money itself, can be considered a precursor. On this channel, there is a video which specifically names RFID chipped bank cards as being a precursor to the mark of the beast. So, I'm not one to avoid preaching about precursors. However, there is a major difference between chipped bank cards and a vaccine, which is simply that a chipped card is used in order to buy and sell, whereas a vaccine is not. True, you may need to have the vaccine in order to go to the restaurant and purchase a meal, but that's true of more than just a vaccine. going to a restaurant without a shirt and shoes, and try to buy a meal, you will be denied service. So, would it be fair to say that shirts and shoes are precursors to the mark of the beast? I don't think anyone would take it that far. But it's really no different than labeling medicine as a precursor, simply because you need to take the medicine before you'll be allowed inside a restaurant. You see, when we label something as being a precursor to the mark of the beast or when we label any global event or issue as being even a partial fulfillment of prophecy we are saying that the event or issue is a very significant development which needs to be watched closely in light of what Bible prophecy teaches Think about that for a minute Declaring anything to be a fulfillment of prophecy is a huge responsibility We're asking the general public to tread carefully and to allow those of us who see where it is all heading to guide them through the dangers. But how can we do that when we can't really see where it is all heading? because we're being thrown to and fro by every sensational news story. This week, the vaccine is a precursor to the mark of the beast, but next week, fighting in Gaza is marking the start of the agreement to rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. We cheapen the message of Bible prophecy when we turn every global issue into a prophetic one, just so we can get people to start following us. When the event has passed, or when the issue is no longer an issue, the rest of the world will likely never follow us again. They'll look back and remember how reactionary we Christians were. We'll be like the boy who cried wolf, and the world will be skeptical of anything we say with regard to prophecy. We really can't afford that in these times, when the message of prophecy is more important than ever before. Can you see why I say that preachers shoot themselves in the foot when they try to capitalize on likes and views by linking every headline with prophecy? They are training the world to see Christians as kooks who spend their time scanning newspapers for secret messages And one day when we really will need to warn the world that the mark of the beast has become available or that the Antichrist has taken stage, or that the return of Jesus is days away, they'll think, just one more Christian with another fake prophecy, and they'll have every reason for thinking that way. Remember, the purpose of Bible prophecy is not to predict dates for the rapture or names for the Antichrist. The purpose of Bible prophecy is to point us to Jesus Christ. I know you've heard me say that more than once on this channel, but I'm going to keep saying it because it is so vital to all that we do and teach. The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. If you focus on the news headlines to the exclusion of the teachings of Jesus, the prophecies in the Revelation are of no benefit to you or the people to whom you are preaching. And if you focus on the teachings of Jesus exclusively, you'll be much more capable of discerning prophetic events when they happen. If you want to learn more about how the teachings of Jesus help us to understand and prepare for what is predicted in prophecy, Please click the next video. Thank you for listening. God bless you.