Christian Living

THE PROPHET SPEAKS

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
06/05/20
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PROLOGUE

Airplane travel is certainly not my preferred mode of travel, with the scheduling, the long inspection lines, the hurry up and wait, the transferring, and on and on. Before my retirement, by the very nature of my work, I would often travel throughout the Southeastern states. Some of this travel required flying.

I never quite figured it out. Invariably, my journey would take me through one of the busiest airports, which necessitated my moving from one end of the concourses to the other, usually with no time to spare. I was certainly not able to grab a quick cup of coffee while waiting. Many a time, I would be the last to board my transfer, with sweat dripping from my brow as I wrangled my carry-on down the airplane aisle to my seat.

Having these airport experiences behind me, with the experience of meeting all types of people, I knew there had to be a spiritual fiction adventure here somewhere. Here we see an Old Time Religion Bible professor who suddenly has an airport encounter with a modern-day prophet, whereby he gets a sudden educational boost on the End Times events. Please continue reading “The Prophet Speaks.”

(Please read the blue highlighted Scriptures as you move through this blog)

My classroom work was over, thank goodness, until we started back in the Fall. That gave me the entire summer to pick and choose my final graduate thesis paper. For now, I think I’ll take about a week of total rest; no books, no computer and no research for me.  

Think I’ll take advantage of my free airline rewards build-up and take a quick vacation in the mountains. The changing foliage and scenery will be just great. I’ll call the travel agency and make the arrangement tomorrow, but first a little much needed shut-eye.

I guess that’s when it happened. I had a vision. I’m used to dreams, I have them all the time, especially when I’m really tired. This was different. It was a real vision of purpose. And it had special meaning for this old worn-out Bible college professor. 

Suddenly I found myself in the midst of a large over-crowded airport concourse. People were milling about. Some were at the ticket counter, some sitting calmly in the customer lounge, watching the news monitors, reading or simply making conversation with a neighbor. Some were eating and drinking at the food bar, while others were hurrying down the concourse to catch their flights.

It was in the customer lounge where it all started. Scanning around, my eyes were suddenly fixed on a particular passenger. He was sorely out of place, dressed as if he had appeared straight out of an eighteenth-century church setting.

He was dressed in a long, black, open-tail jacket, neatly starched white shirt, topped with a short, black string tie. To top it all off, he was holding a large, black, leather-bound Holy Bible, which he seemed to be reading in deep thought. For some unexplained reason, it was as if I was divinely pulled toward this possible preacher.

Approaching this gentleman rather cautiously, and feeling led to conversation, I asked, “Good morning Sir, you seemed to be engrossed there in Scripture.  Are you a pastor, my good man?”

“A modern-day prophet,” he replied.

“Prophet? Just to whom, and to where do these so-called predictions or forecasts of yours take you?” I demanded rather spitefully.

Recognizing my demeanor, he quickly responded, “My friend, these prophecies which I am reading, were not mine to give, but simply were His explanation of our future. (II Peter 1:20-21) As to where and to whom they were given, it was here, there, and everywhere. What better place, what better time, and what a better people, than today’s secular populist world?”

Well, his Old English style of discourse surely did fit his fashion, that of an Old Time Religion preacher. If he had just pounded the seat or thumped his Bible, I would have sworn he was a legitimate Gospel preacher, I thought to myself.

Motioning me to sit down, he began to read softly, so as to not disturb the other fellow passengers. First he read (II Timothy 3:1-9,13), then followed with (II Timothy 4:3-4) And finally he finished up by reading (II Peter 3:3-4)

That’s how this unplanned meeting started, but this was only the beginning of what I call my spiritual awakening. I really don’t know which was more revealing, our meeting or what happened after his initial Bible reading.

Perhaps it was by divine inspiration, but I was so taken aback with it all, that I was suddenly overcome with the thought of keeping a journal.  Pulling out my iPhone, I recorded as much as I could in the limited time we had together.

It was good that I did, for all of a sudden, he was gone. He vanished into thin air from his seat, and was nowhere to be found. (Hebrews 13:2)The following is an account of our brief time together, as best I recall it.   So, where do I start?  Why not with his preacher-like remarks, given after the Bible reading.

“Today you must open your mind to that which you don’t know but of which you were told, which will surely come to pass. Some have already begun. There will come a time, and which is, when mankind will fall away from the faith.”

Suddenly, as if by divine concert with this so-called preacher’s remarks, the normal airport lounge monitor newscast was interrupted with a series of breaking news stories.  The first one related to this most unusual modern-day prophet’s Scripture reading of apostasy. (II Timothy 3:1-9, 13)

A rather large group of individuals, all carrying protest signs, were milling around a large church, shouting out their displeasure in accord with their signs of protest. Then there was one interview, which I was able to catch. Wow, was she angry!

“We are all fed up with this religion stuff!” she shouted. ”We all have a mind of our own and we all are determined to speak our piece. This religion stuff may have been all right in the past, but it is long out-dated. The Bible is no longer valid for today’s culture. No narrow-minded religious dictates for us! There’re more ways than one to get to Heaven, and it’s our personal choice which way we may choose!" 

I think the television interviewer was surely taken by surprise by her actions and words.

The breaking newscast continued with additional Scripture-related examples of people who were no longer content to hear the sound teaching of God's word but who were compelled to turn to many different teachings of untruth. (II Timothy 4:3-4). 

“We are longer content to hear these so-called teachings of the Bible!" the protesters shouted. "We now want our own teachers who will teach what we now believe and want to hear!”

This interview apparently brought with it a so-called rebuttal from a church pastor who had just stepped out of the church and on to the scene. 

“I want to thank TV news for being so prompt," he said. "I would also like to think these concerned church parishioners for giving their input here today. If I’ve done anything, or said anything displeasing to their opinions of religion, I apologize. I will make sure in the future that the Scripture does not contradict their religious philosophy. Now, those of you who belong to our sanctuary, please don’t forget to place your offering in the wall collection box as you leave”

The breaking news seemed to be winding down. However, the final spot was right on with the airport preacher's last Scripture reading. (II Peter 3:3-4) There came a final comment.

“We all want you TV people to understand. This Bible is outdated. It’s all up to us citizens to determine our future. We must do our part in making sure this old world continues to move on.  People have been saying the world’s coming to an end for centuries, ever since the start of the world’s evolution.", the interviewee exclaimed.   

The news bulletin ended with an apology of sorts from the interviewer, “Thank you all, for allowing this special telecast. More comments and film at eleven.” 

The news flash was over. The reporter really didn’t seem sincere. I think he was actually afraid of being attacked or having his valuable equipment damaged. 

I suddenly awoke and strangely enough, I found myself sitting in my bedroom lounger wide awake. How long I had been there, I don’t rightly know. I must have been more tired than I realized.

Nonetheless, I'll never forget the prophet's last exhortation to Me.

^" Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."(Revelation 1:3)

What did I do next, after awaking from my vision, and gathering my senses? Simply put, I went straight into my prayer closet and didn’t come out until I had the victory. Amen!

EPILOGUE

I trust you enjoyed this little fiction blog. I really enjoy prophecy. Prophecy does come upon us in the most unusual places, and under the strangest circumstances. One need only parallel today’s news media with Scripture, as did this blog.

Was the airport preacher trying to tell us something? Oh, I know, it’s a most weird fashion of sorts, this parable; an earthly story with a heavenly meaning highlighting End Time prophecy.

Much like the disciples, we are still asking the same questions of His return.  (Matthew 24:3) But as Jesus told His disciples, no one, not even the angels nor Himself, but only the Father knows when the end will come. (Matthew 24:36) However, the Bible gives many subtle signs of the end times, so I trust you will think on this following personal insight.   

I believe in the “fig tree” generation approach to end times prophecy. In (Matthew 24:32-34) and in Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus tells us, “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”  However, the Greek word for “generation” also means “race’ or “family”, which makes good sense. It is my belief this fig tree generation probably started being measured when Israel became a nation in 1948.

And we see in (Psalm 90:9-10) a generation could possibly be 70-80 years. Let’s do the math. Given the best-case example of 80 years, and accounting for the Tribulation period of 7 years, we could conceivably be looking at year 2021.

Notice the closing phrase of (Psalm 90:10) ”For soon it is gone and we fly away.” 

Does this phrase reference the coming Rapture in (I Corinthians 15:51-52) and (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) ? 

I personally believe the Rapture will happen on the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, with the blowing of the trumpet, as mentioned above. This feast of Trumpets normally takes place in the month of September.  

There again, Scripture warns us against setting dates. We are to only compare events and happenings with today’s events.  I’ll end this little discussion with a bit of humor. The old parson once said, ”If I were Him, and someone guessed my return, I’d have to change it.

Nonetheless, it pays to be ready, for He will come back when we least expect Him. (Matthew 24:42-44) Are you ready to meet Him, my friend?  Amen!

^" He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!(Revelation 22:20)

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