Whose spirit is speaking through you? That's not the Holy Spirit, is it? Actually, I suspect it's the same Spirit Who motivated Paul to recommend that the Judaizers should take another slice with their pernicious knives. Who motivated Ezekiel to caricature those who were about shaft Israel as having the genitalia and emissions of farm animals.
What is the point of "prophecy teaching?"
Since so much of it is dedicated to events alleged to occur after we're no longer around? Since so much of it is alleged to have no relevance to those to whom it was originally addressed? "Prophecy
experts" would have us believe that Jesus was not talking to the folks listening to Him when He spoke of/to "this generation." John was not writing to the seven churches in Asia. Both were padding out the pages of Holy Writ with material that was addressed, not to those to whom it was addressed, but to we who live in the "terminal generation." Somehow, the numbers always get adjusted to ensure that said generation doesn't include them, but us!
To answer my own question ...
- The "point" of "prophecy teaching" appears to be the self-pleasuring of the addicts to this addled genre. A psychologist who spent a few years among "the apocalyptics" discovered a common denominator: most had experienced horrific pain in their lives -- and used "prophecy teaching" as a way to externalize the trauma, to imaginatively project it out, against the big screen of fantasies of cosmic retribution.
- The "point" of "prophecy teaching" appears to be compensation for persistent failure in our own lives. If God Himself has decided to take a dive, and let the other team have a few free kicks,[1] then why should I try very hard to get anywhere, or to achieve anything, in my life?
- The "point" of "prophecy teaching" appears to be generating income for the purveyors. Hey, it helps Hal Lindsey pay alimony to three (at last count) discarded wives!
- The "point" of "prophecy teaching" appears to be making the Gospel look imbecilic in the eyes of those who God so loved, and sent His Son to die for. When we use lamestream media, rather than God's own Word as a tool for understanding the Bible, we set ourselves up to look like lunatics decade after decade, as our solemn pronouncements and prognostications are discredited by events.
- The "point" of "prophecy teaching" appears to be the discouraging of God's people from "attempting great things for God. Expecting great things from God."
A scheme of interpretation that undermines the faith of God's people, that asserts that God can not be expected to work in, through, and for us in miraculous ways today, that mentally consigns all of creation to the devil -- at least, for 3.5 or 7 years, is sub-optimal. And will, I trust, be looked back about with amused horror a century from now. "What were those people thinking? How could they fall for this
dung?" (another word the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to use, BTW.)
[1] In an effort to internationalize my audience, I'm using a soccer term today, rather than the baseball idiom, "uncontested turns at bat" -- and three innings later, the other ethnic group won.
Actually, I suspect it's the same Spirit Who motivated PaulYou're still bragging. Your lack of humility makes it a stretch to believe you are today being motivated by the Holy Spirit. That doesn't sound like the Holy Spirit. Too much big talk and bluster...no humility.
We all make mistakes (me most of all)...but you might get off your high horse long enough to look in the mirror.
Your original comment was embarrassing.
>>Actually, I suspect it’s the same Spirit Who motivated Paul to recommend that the Judaizers should take another slice with their pernicious knives.<<
To what scripture text are you referring there?