The Subject of Prophecy

The subject of biblical prophecy is not the church, nor is it Israel and the Gentile nations of the earth, although both will be blessed as a result of the fulfillment of God's purpose. The subject of prophecy is the Lord Jesus Christ. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). Prophecy deals with the earth, for it is the place God has chosen to fulfill His will concerning His Son. Consequently, Israel and the nations (whose portion and destiny are on the earth) are dealt with in prophecy, but they are not in themselves the subject of prophecy.

Prophecy was not given merely to satisfy the human intellect regarding future events, but to bring glory, honor and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we read the prophetic Scriptures we should seek to see what the Spirit of God is presenting concerning Christ and His glory, for He is the subject of prophecy. Many Christians seek in the Word of God what it has to say about themselves, and certainly God has much to tell us about our walk and manner of life. But we should truly seek the Word of God first to see what He has to say about His beloved Son and all that concerns Him, for His glory is the key to the understanding of all Scripture, and only then should we seek to know what its application is for us (Luke 24:25-27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 17:2-3, 11; 1 Pet. 1:11). When God, through His Spirit, wrote the Scriptures, He had His Son before Him, and if we would understand what is in His Word we must also have His Son before our hearts. May God grant that we be found in communion with Him and with His Son, as we study the prophetic Scriptures. "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).