Some people think that seeking to understand prophecy is not that important. They argue that we should instead concentrate on making sure our lives are right with God each day. While I agree that we should indeed concentrate on how we live our lives and getting to know God more each day, understanding prophecy is also important.
Prophecy is the Word of God and makes up something like one-third of all the Bible. We are also told that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Further we are taught to hear the voice of Jesus our shepherd.
Revelation 19:10
Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
If understanding prophecy didn’t matter, then we could throw away one-third of the Bible and think of all the paper saved from printed Bible’s that were two-thirds in size.
Of course as you can see from the two scriptures above, prophecy is very important. We should seek to understand it with all our hearts and minds. The reason is this. It prepares us for what will happen and when it comes to pass, we know what season of God we are in. Further, when we see these things come to pass as they were written, we know that God is true, that he is in control, and that it is a sure word. This relates directly to Jesus. Prophecies spoken by him that come to pass is confirmation that he is who he says he is.
Jesus said this in John 13:19: “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am”.
If you still do not think it is that important, then read these scripture below to remove all doubt..
Revelation 1:2-3
who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:6-7
And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book“
Matthew 24:15
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel–let the reader understand
Luke 11:28
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Proverbs 8:34
Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
Daniel 12:11-13
“From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”
Luke 11:27-28
While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”