Believest Thou The Prophets?

[Two articles from Rapture Ready competed for today's spot (hey, the site itself says it's ok to share whatever you find there, just scroll to the bottom of the home page!) but this entry won out over Jack Kelley's "Reuniting Priest and King" BARELY over this one by Daymond Duck heading Prophecy Plus Ministries because of its length -- it's shorter and you will likely take it in in one sitting -- as well as you don't need quite as much background for Kelley's work. I'd still read it though. -- David]
King Agrippa II traveled to Caesarea to visit Festus the governor of the area (Acts 25:13-27; 26:1-32). During the King’s visit, Gov. Festus told him he had a problem with a prisoner named Paul that he didn’t know how to handle. Festus said the Jews want Paul executed, but Paul has done nothing worthy of death. Paul is a Jew, but he is also a Roman citizen. And to make matters worse he has appealed his case to Rome. Festus said I have to send him to Rome, but:

"It seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner [to Rome] and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him" (Acts 25:27).

The next day, Paul was brought before Agrippa and given a chance to speak. Among other things Paul told Agrippa, "I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers (Acts 26:6)." This hope of the promise made of God to the early Jewish leaders involved two things: 1) God promised the first coming of the Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Dan. 9:27), and 2) God promised to raise the Messiah from the dead (Psa. 16:10; Acts 2:31). Paul said the twelve tribes of Israel served God day and night because they believed God’s promise. He said this is why the Jews want to kill me. I have been preaching that Jesus is the Messiah, that he was crucified and that he was raised from the dead.

Then, Paul asked Agrippa a very pertinent question, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead" Acts 26:8)?Why is it incredible to believe the Scriptures, incredible to believe that God will keep His promises, incredible to believe that God can perform miracles, incredible to believe that God can raise the dead, incredible to believe that the prophets and Moses foretold these things (John 1:45)?

Paul continued, "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:That Christ should suffer,and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:22-23). Paul was saying, I am only repeating what the prophets and Moses said. They said Jesus would be crucified and raised from the dead. It happened just the way the prophets and Moses said it would happen.

As the trial continued, Paul asked Agrippa a second question, "Believest thou the prophets" (Acts 26:27)? Good question. This is crucial because the prophets and Moses prophesied the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. That is the gospel (Rom. 1:1-6; I Cor. 15:1-5). The gospel is actually a message about fulfilled Bible prophecy. If you had lived 2,000 years ago, do you think you would have believed the prophets and Moses (the gospel) or would you have been like those who didn’t believe the prophets and Moses (those who rejected the gospel)? The consequences of believing or rejecting the prophets and Moses (the gospel) are awesome and eternal.

It amazes me that so many church members choose to be willingly ignorant of Bible prophecy. God put 18 books of prophecy in the Bible (5 Major Prophets, 12 Minor Prophets and the book of Revelation). The apostle Paul wrote 13 or 14 books in the New Testament and his writings contain dozens of prophecies. Jesus was a prophet (Deut. 18:17-18; Jn. 6:14; Acts 3:22). Why would anyone who studies the Scriptures and claims to be a Christian make themselves willingly ignorant of Bible prophecy?

But I want to fast forward to our generation. The prophets and Moses were required to be right 100% of the time (Deut. 18:10). The apostle Peter said their prophecies are sure and we would do well to heed them (II Pet. 1:19). But the prophets and Moses did more than prophesy the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. They also prophesied the Rapture of the Church (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5; II Kings 2:11-18) and the Second Coming of Jesus (Psa. 96:13; Isa. 64:2; Zech. 14:4).

Do not take this lightly. The prophets and Moses were right about the incredible death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, so it seems unreasonable to think they are wrong about the Rapture of the church and the Second Coming of Jesus. As spokesmen for God, it seems unreasonable to believe that some of what they said about Jesus is true and some of what they said is false. No! They delivered their message with the precision of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). It has to happen.

Believest thou the prophets? They said many things that seem to indicate that we are running out of time.