“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
Introduction: Intel from the Future
In every military operation, intelligence is critical. You don’t launch an assault or prepare a defense without first assessing the terrain, the threats, and the timetable. In the same way, Bible prophecy serves as spiritual reconnaissance—it gives believers advance knowledge of God’s redemptive plan, coming judgments, and final victory. But this intel is not meant to be hoarded by the Church like a top-secret file. It’s meant to be shared—urgently, boldly, and with compassion.
Bible prophecy is not merely a roadmap of the end times—it is a divine megaphone shouting to the world: “Jesus saves, and He’s coming back soon!” The growing convergence of prophetic signs isn’t just confirmation for those watching; it’s a wake-up call to mobilize and evangelize.
- Prophecy: The Ultimate Conversation Starter
We live in an age of anxiety. Wars, pandemics, economic instability, natural disasters, and societal breakdowns are dominating headlines…and hearts. People are asking, “What is happening to the world?” That’s where prophecy comes in.
Jesus told us to “watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42), and Paul echoed the urgency in Romans 13:11: “It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” When current events begin to line up with ancient prophecies, it opens the door for gospel conversations.
When you say to someone, “What we’re seeing in Israel, the rise of global governance, digital currencies, and the erosion of morality—all of that is in the Bible,” you’ve got their attention. You’ve gone from sounding like a preacher to sounding like a prophet—with evidence to back it up.
Prophetic evangelism is not fearmongering; it’s forecasting—warning others of what’s coming and pointing them to the only safe harbor: Jesus Christ.
- The Pattern of the Prophets
Throughout Scripture, God’s messengers used prophecy to call people to repentance:
- Noah warned of the flood for 120 years, building the ark while preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).
- Jonah reluctantly preached a prophetic message of impending judgment to Nineveh, and the entire city repented (Jonah 3:4-10).
- John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ by calling people to repentance in light of the coming Kingdom (Matthew 3:2).
In each case, the prophetic message was a call to action: turn now before it’s too late. Prophecy always carried with it the heartbeat of God—not to destroy but to redeem.
- Jesus Used Prophecy to Evangelize
When the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age, He gave them the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25, Mark 13, Luke 21). He didn’t shy away from describing the wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, and false prophets that would arise. But in the middle of that dire forecast, He said:
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
The prophetic timeline is interwoven with the gospel mission. Prophecy is not a separate subject—it’s a fuel source for evangelism.
Jesus also used prophecy to reveal Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). The prophetic word is not about charts and dates—it’s about Christ.
- The Apostles Preached a Prophetic Gospel
The early church exploded not just because of the resurrection but because the apostles proclaimed that everything happening was fulfilling prophecy:
- Peter at Pentecost quoted Joel 2, explaining the outpouring of the Spirit as the fulfillment of prophecy (Acts 2:16-21).
- Paul in Thessalonica reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures, “explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again” (Acts 17:2-3).
- John’s Revelation was not written to create fear—it was meant to embolden persecuted believers and call unbelievers to repentance.
In every case, prophetic fulfillment was used to authenticate the gospel. We should do the same.
- The Urgency of the Hour
“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Corinthians 5:11).
Too often, Christians view prophecy as an intellectual exercise or a hobby. But if we truly believe that the Rapture could happen at any moment (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and that seven years of tribulation will follow (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 6–19), then our response should mirror that of a soldier who has intercepted enemy battle plans—tell as many people as possible before it’s too late.
Ezekiel 33:6 says:
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned… their blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.”
We are not merely analysts. We are watchmen. And silence is not an option.
- Prophecy and the Heart of God
It’s easy to become focused on the geopolitical elements of prophecy—wars, alliances, earthquakes, false religion, and technology. But behind every judgment is a God who desires mercy. His warnings are born out of love:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Even during the Tribulation, the gospel will be proclaimed by 144,000 Jews (Revelation 7), two witnesses (Revelation 11), and an angel flying through the sky (Revelation 14:6-7).
If God is using every means possible to call people to Himself during the worst time in history, how much more should we be proclaiming Him now, while the Church is still here?
- How to Use Prophecy in Evangelism
Here are some practical ways to use prophecy as an evangelistic tool:
a) Start with Questions
Ask people: “Do you think the world is getting better or worse?” Then follow up with: “What if I told you the Bible predicted all of this thousands of years ago?”
b) Connect the Dots
Use headlines to highlight biblical prophecy—globalism (Revelation 13), immorality (2 Timothy 3), earthquakes (Luke 21:11), and apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1). Show them how Scripture speaks to today.
c) Keep the Focus on Jesus
Don’t get sidetracked by speculation. Always steer the conversation back to the gospel:
“This isn’t just about the end of the world—it’s about your eternity. Jesus took the wrath you deserve so you could have peace with God.”
d) Be Gentle and Clear
“Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense… with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
People don’t need a prophecy expert—they need a gospel witness. Be firm in truth but tender in tone.
- Every Believer is a Recon Soldier
Every believer is part of a forward reconnaissance mission—alerting people to the danger ahead, revealing the path to safety, and pointing to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As the darkness deepens, our light must shine brighter. As the world grows more deceived, our message must become clearer. The time is now. The harvest is ripe. The King is coming.
“He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). “And those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
Conclusion: The Trumpet is About to Sound
If Bible prophecy only leads us to argue or speculate, we’ve missed the point. Prophecy is the trumpet blast before the battle. It’s the final recon briefing before the mission begins. And the mission is clear: make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
Let the rise of the beast system push you to your knees in prayer and move your feet toward the lost. Let the signs of the times remind you that time is running out. And let the prophetic word not be a reason for fear but a reason for fire—a holy urgency to reach as many as we can with the gospel of grace.
Because while the wrath is real… so is the rescue.
Stay Awake! Keep Watch!
The post Prophecy as a Catalyst: Using the Future to Win Souls Today :: By Joe Hawkins appeared first on Rapture Ready.
Leave a Reply