Why is the end-time prophecy important

• Reading and hearing the end-time prophecy brings a blessing.
  Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
• It forms part of Scripture, therefore useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)
• Jesus spoke of it:
  • Parables:
    • Matthew 20 eg parable of the landowner
    • Parable of the wedding feast Matthew 22 etc
  • Answered questions on it
    • Resurrection eg Matthew 22
    • Matthew 24 the disciples asked.
• Exhorted using prophecy: John 14
• The prophets, both new and old spoke of it: Daniel, Isaiah, John
• The inquisitive man or women asks the question – what next? Jesus answered these eg Mark 13
• To prevent being mislead: Matthew 24:4,5 (NKJV) And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
  The Church of Thessalonica had been misled – they thought the Lord had come and the rapture had occurred, leaving them very anxious: Paul set the record straight and pointed out:
  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 2 Thess 2 1-2
  And
  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)
• For encouragement of the hope of the coming glory: Luke 21:31 (NKJV) So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
• Understanding the fulfilment is confirmation of the inerrancy of the Canon of Scripture: Psalm 119:81 (KJV) My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Our understanding of the prophecies will alter the way in which we respond to the gospel and witness for Christ; it will shape our attitude to the Lord Jesus Christ.