[Note: Our guest contributor, Dr. Ron Rhodes, is the founder and president of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries and a beloved guest on our television program, Christ in Prophecy.]
Many today, including some Christians within the Church, have raised objections against Bible prophecy. Some criticize prophecy in general, while others specifically challenge the concept of the Rapture. In what follows, I will briefly evaluate a sampling of these objections. (My recent book, Bible Prophecy Under Siege (Harvest House Publishers), offers a more comprehensive examination of these and many other related issues.)
Sensationalism
Some argue that Bible prophecy is too sensationalistic to deserve serious attention. I offer the following perspectives in response:
1. Popular misinterpretations of biblical prophecy fuel sensationalist perceptions. For example, modern apocalyptic movies and TV shows can lead uninformed viewers to wrongly believe that “Bible prophecy” is merely a playground for fanatics.
2. Serious Bible students believe the proper interpretation of prophecy requires careful attention to its biblical context, the original languages, and historical and cultural factors. Such methodology safeguards against sensationalism.
3. Many biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled in verifiable historical events, thus countering the notion of sensationalism. For example, over 100 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled with the arrival of Jesus in New Testament times. Just as these Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in a non-sensationalist way, so too will the prophecies of Christ’s Second Coming be fulfilled.
4. Unlike typical sensationalism, biblical prophecy emphasizes ethical living and spiritual preparedness. For example, Jesus’ prophetic teachings in Matthew 24–25 urge vigilance, humility, and faithfulness, focusing on personal transformation rather than sensationalistic end-times speculation.
5. Far from treating prophecy as a sensationalistic matter, Paul (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4; 2 Thessalonians 2), John (the book of Revelation), and Peter (1 Peter 1:5, 10-12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2:1-9; 3:3-14) wove prophecy into their core teachings.
Prophecy was clearly a part of “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Disregarding the substantial body of prophetic truth in Scripture—over one-fourth of the Bible—is simply not an option.
6. Finally, we must distinguish between Bible prophecy, which is not sensationalistic, and a small minority of prophecy writers whose works exhibit varying degrees of sensationalism. Some of these writers are guilty of “newspaper exegesis.” Others attempt to pinpoint specific dates for prophetic events. Either way, this should not deter us from studying Bible prophecy; instead, it should motivate us to study it even more to attain a proper and balanced understanding. Avoiding Bible prophecy altogether because of a few sensationalists is like refusing to eat fruit because some apples are rotten. You don’t throw out the entire orchard—you simply inspect the fruit and reject the bad.
A Distraction
Some within the Church claim that Bible prophecy distracts Christians from fulfilling the Great Commission. Yet as I noted previously, over one-fourth of the Bible is prophetic. Are we to believe that this extensive portion of the Bible is a distraction from fulfilling the Great Commission? Such a view does not hold up to scrutiny.
In truth, Bible prophecy contributes to fulfilling the Great Commission and plays a crucial role in evangelism worldwide. I am living proof of this. My exposure to biblical prophecy in the 1970s directly led to my conversion to Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote extensively on end-times prophecy (for example, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) while relentlessly spreading the Gospel across the Roman world (via three missionary tours in the book of Acts). He saw no problem in both proclaiming Christ’s return and fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission.
Peter used prophecy in his evangelistic sermon on the day of Pentecost. People visiting Jerusalem had just witnessed supernatural phenomena, after which Peter affirmed in his sermon, “This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). Peter shared prophecy and then launched into his evangelistic appeal. Some 3,000 people became believers that day (Acts 2:41).
I spent an afternoon with the late Hal Lindsey, author of The Late Great Planet Earth. Hal said he had thousands of letters in his file cabinets from people all over the world who became Christians after reading his prophecy book.
Far from being a distraction, biblical prophecy reminds us that time is short and the stakes are eternal. It stirs urgency to share the Gospel before Christ returns (2 Peter 3:10-12). It doesn’t sideline the Great Commission—it energizes it.
