The purpose of this study is not just to know and understand the biblical prophecies concerning these times, but to be prepared for the times. This week we will briefly look at how the message of the last two weeks is crucial for this. You can know what is going to happen and still not be spiritually prepared for it. You can be ignorant of what is going to happen, but be well prepared. However, it is better to both know and be prepared.

Two weeks ago we reviewed how it was crucial for Israel to learn how...

As the church begins to enter its Promised Land, it will demonstrate to the world the distinction between the citizens of the kingdom of God and those of this world. Presently, there is very little distinction in anything, including the morals, basic integrity, and therefore not surprisingly, the things which afflict Christians and non-Christians. This will not continue. There will be a pruning of those branches which are not bearing fruit, so that those who are bearing fruit will bear more.

As true apostolic and prophetic authority grows in the church, the benefits of being a citizen of...

As we covered some time ago, the first lesson Israel had to learn if they were going to make it across the wilderness to their Promised Land, was how to turn the bitter waters into sweet, as we read in Exodus 15:22-26:
 

As we studied last week, love is the essential foundation for all true discernment. This is why we teach our prophetically gifted people not to trust a negative revelation about anyone they have been hurt or rejected by, but rather resolve to pray for them, grow in love for them, and only accept positive revelation about them until they are healed of any rejection or resentment. Of course, this is a principle and not a law. Principles have exceptions, but we have found this to be one that rarely has an exception.

Likewise, some of the most diabolical...

We have briefly looked at some of the eschatological views developed from a historical perspective. However, we should keep in mind that not all of the Reformers held to the same views about the end-time fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Neither did the Catholic theologians all hold to the same views, and there is a diversity of views in almost every major camp of Christianity today. Why is this?

First, more doctrine than we would like to admit is colored by our circumstances. It is to be expected that the Reformers' views of the Roman Catholic Church were colored...