Sermon Central
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Predictions And Prophesies
Contributed by Shawn Rose on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Do you know the difference between a prediction and a prophecy? If you don’t, my prayer is that you will before I finish this sermon.
When Christ came the first time, He came as a humble servant born to a poor virgin in Bethlehem. But when He comes again, He will come in power in glory and as a conquering King. When He came the first time, He came as a Savior. When He comes the second time, He will come as a Judge.
Remember, these are prophesies, not predictions. They were given to us by God Himself. Just like all the prophesies about His first coming were fulfilled, all the prophesies about His second coming will be fulfilled as well. God already knows how the story will end, and He has shared some of it with us.
The challenge that stands before us today is the same challenge that has faced all of mankind throughout the ages. The reason that God shared part of the ending of the story with mankind is so that we could be prepared for it. He told the Old Testament prophets that a Savior was coming so that they could relay the message that God would forgive them for their sins. They looked forward to His first coming, and when He did, their sins were all forgiven. Today, He is our Savior, and He is willing to forgive anyone that wants to ask Him to. He is our Christmas gift from God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God gave you the free will to decide whether you will call upon Him or reject Him.
He has given us the prophecies about His second coming to warn us that there will be a punishment for those that reject Him. The Bible says that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” These prophesies will be fulfilled sometime in our future. Maybe 50 years from now, maybe 200 years from now, or maybe today. We don’t know when. God has decided not to share that part of the story with us. He expects us get ready now, while we know that we have the time. This Christmas season, please take a moment to thank God for the first coming of Christ, and another moment to prepare for His second coming if you haven’t already. Let Him become your Savior today. Don’t wait until He comes the second time to be your Judge.
Now…do you know the difference between a prediction and a prophecy?
