Why The Silence in the Pulpits?

In Terry James’ new book “Deceivers” Jan Markell writes, “Hundreds of people have told me that they cannot find this message (preaching on Bible prophecy) in a single church in their community.”

Could this be true? I think it is.

Ask yourself, when was the last time your pastor preached something that had to do with bible prophecy, i.e. the second coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, the tribulation period, restoration of Israel, great white throne judgment, the New Jerusalem, etc?

The bible teaches that Jesus will give a crown of righteousness to those that love His appearing (II Tim. 4:8); the return of Jesus is the Christian’s blessed hope (Titus 2:13); the return of Jesus is the Word of the Lord and a message of comfort (I Thess. 4:13-18); it is a message that causes people to give up their sins (I Jn. 3:3), etc. If these words are true, why is there silence in so many pulpits?

Since 40% of the Bible is prophecy, why do so many preachers avoid the subject like a plague?

Here are two things to consider: First, there is fulfilled prophecy (history) and unfulfilled Bible prophecy (future events) in the Bible. Obviously, all prophecies were unfulfilled when God gave them, but that is no longer the case.

The Christmas story, the Easter story and the gospel were all prophecies at one time. Preachers are preaching these subjects all the time. So, the problem isn’t that some preachers aren’t preaching on Bible prophecy; it is that they are only preaching on fulfilled Bible prophecy (history), and they are content to remain willingly ignorant (and to let their church members be ignorant) of unfulfilled Bible prophecy (future events).

The fact that Jesus condemned the Pharisees and Scribes for watching the weather and not the signs (Matt. 16:1-3); the fact that Jesus wept because the Jews did not know the day of His Triumphal Entry (Luke19: 41-42), and the fact that Jesus told us to watch over and over again is casually brushed aside like it doesn’t matter whether people watch or not.

So why is preaching on future prophecy so important?
For one thing, in the Great Commission Jesus said teach all of the things that He commanded (Matt. 28:20). “All of the things” includes Bible prophecy.

For another, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, etc. (II Tim. 3:16). Since God inspired the prophecies, they shouldn’t be ignored.

For another, the idea that God doesn’t want people to know the prophecies before they are fulfilled is ludicrous. Why would God promise someone a crown for loving those Scriptures, if He didn’t want preachers to preach on them? Why would God not want preachers to preach on something that is the Church’s blessed hope? Why would God not want preachers to preach on something that will cause people to give up their sins?

Those that have been called to preach the Word have been called to preach all of the Word, not 60-75% of it.

So why are pastors and preachers silent on delivering a message on Bible prophecies? Simply: Preachers are only going to swim in waters that they are most comfortable in. They are only going to ascend mountains that are easy to climb. For many pastors and preachers, the number one reason they do not tackle bible prophecy (future events) is that they are ignorant of such and feel it is out of their league. Second, they do not see the relevance in knowing bible prophecy. Third, it is too controversial.

Meanwhile the sheep are left with a huge void in their soul that will not be filled by the man they come to hear faithfully every Sunday.

What does the Bible teach? “All (not 75%) Scripture is inspired by God and it profitable for teaching. . .” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Maybe the real reason for pastors not teaching on Bible prophecy is that they have a low view of the Scriptures.