Gems
From time to time, I’ll be talking with someone and they’ll express that they don’t really like getting into Bible prophecy. I think what they mean is that they don’t enjoy trying to interpret the minute details, especially trying to figure out in advance what will happen in the “last days” – the time just before and after the return of Christ.
Others, of course, love getting into the details.
To the first group, I say: Don’t forget that the promise of the Lord’s return is prophecy. The establishment of God’s Kingdom to fill the earth is prophecy. Being raised from the dead and being granted immortality is prophecy. These things are our hope; they are fundamental to our faith. I know you know this! I hear someone saying, “You know what I mean,” and it’s true, I do.
However, since prophecy makes up a solid third of the Bible, I think it must be pretty important. If we don’t pay attention to the prophets, we are going to miss things like this:
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:16-17)
Every time I read this passage I am deeply moved. To be considered God’s treasured possessions! Some versions say “jewels”. Let that sink in. Not just to be taken as His personal possession, but deemed by Him to be gems of immense value. What puts us into the book of remembrance, to be brought out and included in His collection? Fearing the Lord, esteeming His name. And from the context of the whole book, this includes living in ways that reflect reverence for Him. (Read the whole book—it’s quite short.)
Malachi isn’t alone. Haggai says:
For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:6-7)
What is the treasure of all the nations, which God will shake loose and incorporate into His house, filling it with glory? It is us! It is His people. This prophecy is quoted in the New Testament (Hebrews 12:26-28), so we can be sure it’s relevant to us. So, okay, we had to get into it a little bit, to perceive the meaning. But it wasn’t hard. And these prophecies, these promises, are take-your-breath-away awe inspiring.
Another, this one from the New Testament:
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)
This is prophecy! I can’t imagine any believer saying they don’t really get into this. To be in God’s gem collection. To be built into His house. To be His own children now, and much, much more later.
If. If we heed the context; please do! In Malachi, speaking with one another about God, revering Him and living in reverence. From the Hebrews quote of Haggai, heeding the one who calls, showing gratitude and offering acceptable worship. From John, purifying ourselves, turning away from sin.
We aren’t spectators on the sidelines of prophecy. These prophecies aren’t to be casually skipped over with a shrug and, “I’m not really into that.” We’re involved, active, in fact we’re the subjects of the prophecies. That is, if we want to be written in the book of remembrance, if we want to be gems in His collection, in His glorious house, if we want to see him as he is.
Love, Paul