One of the questions I’ve found myself asking these last few years is how it was exactly the Apostle Paul knew specific things concerning future events. Had Paul heard directly from the Lord? was it discerned? did it come from study of the written word? Was it a little of all of these things?
Paul stands out in the New Testament, apart from Christ, as a man who gives us incredibly detailed insights into future events.
One example would be concerning the day of the Lord. Paul speaks as though these things ought to be obvious to all. In the Thessalonians account for example, Paul says “but of the times and seasons you have no need that I write to you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night”
So far this is a given, yes we all know that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. Jesus spoke about this event on many occasions. But then the Apostle gets a whole lot more specific and gives us some detail; “For when they say Peace and Safety, sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall by no means escape”
The reason that Paul’s prophetic words are so interesting is that he gives us clear timing markers to look for which can be used to determine where we are in the overall scheme of the prophecy. Where as Christ spoke often about the Day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night, His words seem far more open to times and seasons. Paul gets very specific and draws a line in the sand by relating the event to another specific event. In this example, people of faith are looking for the “peace and safety” issue to manifest as a clear indicator of the Day of the Lord.
So where did Paul get his understanding about prophetic events? It’s a point worth noting and something which I’ve only recently realized. Paul’s prophetic writings are always based on the words of the prophets. Paul was not writing anything new in this particular context, he was simply restating those things which have been written by the prophets. This was a revelation that I have found helpful when interpreting his prophetic writings.
I need to tell you why I believe that this is so important. Because when you find the OT prophet or prophets, who write about the very same event, the OT prophet will generally have committed significantly more on the subject, which in turn gives the reader a much clearer understanding of the context of the prophecy.
Using Paul’s Peace and Safety issue as one example. One aspect which stumped me for some years was who exactly is it that will be saying “Peace and Safety” Who is the they in Paul’s prophecy? This is a question I have tossed backwards and forwards.
A vast amount of explanation by many concerning this event presumes that it’s the world leaders at the end of the age, with the world in a perilous state of affairs, threats of warfare and rumours of catastrophe. Declaring to the world that they intend to usher in a new world order to make it better. You have probably seen the footage of George Bush Senior speaking about a new age that ushers in an era of “peace and safety”
Thing is however, if you pick up the “peace and safety” issue from the prophets, both Ezekiel or Jeremiah, they are never speaking about the world, but rather the relationship between God and His people. The following is but one example.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
So to answer the particular question which arises from Paul’s prophecy; who is the they in “for when they say peace and safety”. One would have to conclude according to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who both wrote on this subject, that it was and is and shall be the prophets, the priests and the pastors of the modern day church who continue to comfort the flock with a lie, that the Lord overlooks our wicked deeds. Saying we have peace and safety in Christ, when there is no such thing for those who act wickedly toward the covenant. The covenant has been corrupted with flattery.
In the latter days, you shall understand it perfectly!
Daniel 11:31 “The king of the North will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Everything Paul wrote underscores that which the prophets wrote, it is not new. Simply a restating of that which was written for our admonition.
