You may feel like I’m not talking to you, but even if you don’t recall an end time sermon in your repertoire, you already interpret and teach end time prophecy. Let me prove it with the goal to bring down the walls that are associated with modern preaching and end time prophecy.
I get introduced at events as a prophecy author and teacher, and even after doing this since 2014, I still cringe. I’m one of those wackos. I’m a tin foil hat guy. That’s not what I wanted to be nor is it how I view myself. I see myself as a pastor and Bible teacher trying to teach the whole counsel of God accurately. Teaching the whole counsel includes making sure the end of the story isn’t left out nor that one-third of the Bible which is prophecy is neglected.
I share this because for many years while pastoring I avoided Bible prophecy because of the divisiveness and presumed inability to gain certainty from the Text. I failed my congregation. A friend recently told me they weren’t allowed to teach a Bible study at their church because the church did “discipleship not eschatology.” I hear this often, fellow pastors avoid the topic like I once did—typically because it seems irrelevant, but also because of a fear of not being able to teach it. I don’t know where you fall in that spectrum, but I want to encourage you—pastor, you already interpret and teach prophecy.
You might not remember when you preached on the Antichrist or Armageddon. You may know you haven’t had that in your preaching schedule—ever, but I have no doubt you have preached on the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection. You’ve gone to Old Testament prophets like Isaiah to point to the virgin birth. You’ve turned to Micah to where we find Jesus being born in Bethlehem. The list could go on. We’ll stop there for brevity’s sake.
As you’ve preached funerals, you’ve likely read from 1 Corinthians 15 on the resurrection. The ESV notes that prophecies of Daniel are in mind in those passages.
Jesus’ virgin birth and the promise of the resurrection are mainstream Christian truths—you’ve interpreted them and taught them. You’ve done so easily and without hesitation.
Therefore, as I said, you already interpret and teach end time prophecy.
The basic core of end of the age prophecy is the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His Kingdom. Hand in hand with that core truth is that the righteous would enter into His Kingdom through the resurrection.
Though you may be like I was for many years—avoiding the end of the age prophecies—you’re already teaching half of the Day of the Lord narrative running from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22. You’re covering the positive half. Do you see how naturally you’ve worked the prophetic into the Gospel you preach? It’s not as hard as we make—you already interpret and teach end time prophecy.
It’s not that prophecy is avoided, but rather only half of the narrative is presented.
The core narrative is that God’s people will be in trouble. A leader somehow associated with Satan arises, deceives the world, and seeks to perform genocide on the Jewish people. The promised Messiah appears—defeats this leader, the Antichrist. The Messiah then establishes His Kingdom, and the raptured and resurrected saints enjoy it with Him forever.
As I’ve shown, you’re already preaching end of the age concepts, but for some reason we don’t treat the other half of the narrative the same as we do the Messiah prophesies. It’s crazy. What if we used the same consistency that we do regarding the Messiah and the resurrection to the rest of Bible prophecy? I believe the result could be better equipped, more engaged, and more motivated followers of Christ in our congregations. The end of the story matters.
You may not be a tin-foil-hat-wearing-wacko like me, but believe it or not—pastor, you already interpret and teach end time prophecy.
Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
