LESSON 1 – Understanding the Basics of Bible ProphecyWEEK 1:

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE PROPHECY

Prophecy has been given by God to have a positive effect on us in our everyday lives. It acquaints us with the most important subject of the ages which is God’s plan for man. We learn that the scriptures testify to the significant importance of the doctrine of things of the future; and we learn that studying Bible prophecy convinces or adds to the conviction that there really is a God.

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,

because the time is near.Revelation 1:3. (NIV)

1. What does it mean when we say “God is Sovereign”? How does biblical prophecy demonstrate the sovereignty of God? Read: Isaiah 40: 12-26.

2. How do Christians find hope in Bible Prophecy?

3. Name several ways in which Bible Prophecy shows the ‘Goodness of God’.

4. Does God really expect mortal man to understand Bible Prophecy? If not, why not? If yes, then how?

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LESSON 1 – Understanding the Basics of Bible ProphecyWEEK 2:

INTERPRETING BIBLE PROPHECY

There have always been many Christians who view Bible prophecy with confusion and thoughts that it is very complicated. They believe that it requires great gifts of insight or intelligence to understand and explain the many challenging details found in prophecy. We were created body, soul, and spirit by a loving God who has a detailed plan for our future, which is revealed only in the Bible. Not knowing that prophetic plan makes all people – even Christians – vulnerable to false teachings about our present day and the future. The only way to answer the convincing arguments of false teachers is to be armed with the truth about God’s plan for the future. Studying prophecy prepares Christians to avoid the deceptions of the many false prophets rising up in our present day.

Knowing this first that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were

moved by the Holy Spirit.2 Peter 1:20-21. (NKJV)

1. List and discuss the four principles for interpreting biblical prophecy.

2. Define covenant as viewed in Old Testament times.

3. What is the difference between conditional and unconditional covenants?

4. What are primary areas of the Abrahamic covenant?

LESSON 1 – Understanding the Basics of Bible Prophecy

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(Continued)

5. Was God’s covenant with Abraham conditional or unconditional?

6. Discuss whether the Palestinian covenant was it conditional or unconditional?

7. Discuss the basic provisions of the Davidic covenant?

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S IGN IF ICANT EVENTS OF H I STORY

(From: Charting The End Times by Tim Lahaye and Thomas Ice)

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