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Why This Site Exists
Because of a love for God, the Bible, and humanity When I first began exploring the Bible and various religious traditions decades ago, I had no formal Bible training. Raised Catholic, I assumed that most churches were essentially the same—places where sincere people gathered with good intentions, all seeking to know who God is. Over the years, I visited many denominational and non-denominational churches, as well as groups some consider cults. Because they all studied the Bible, I expected a degree of consistency. That assumption, I later realized, was naïve. Why Interpretations Differ I gradually learned that many prophetic interpretations and doctrines are not formed by an open search for truth, but by established interpretive frameworks developed within Bible colleges, seminaries, and religious institutions. Whether amillennial, postmillennial, pre-tribulation rapture, post-tribulation rapture—or others—these frameworks often determine what is considered acceptable within a given community. What does not fit the framework is frequently filtered out, reinterpreted, or dismissed—not because Scripture forbids it, but because the system does. As a result, there is often little room for personal study, comparison, or conscience. This became especially evident when studying prophecy. Apocalyptic literature is commonly surrounded by hundreds of hedging phrases: possibly, it could be, maybe, it seems, the consensus is, I think, many believe, etc. In some cases, people have even been disciplined or excommunicated for disagreeing with speculation presented as certainty. Because these differences often lead to controversy, many churches—by some estimates over 80%—avoid teaching prophecy in depth. And that is understandable. Yet I became convinced there is a way to study and teach prophecy without speculation, church division, or dogmatism. C hristianity’s Tower of Babel These frameworks have let to differences within Christianity encompassing perspectives on the Trinity, 10 Commandments, Sabbath observance, festivals, the Ten Lost Tribes, creation timelines, medical decisions, wartime neutrality, dietary practices, and more. Additionally, the selection of wording of some Bible translations is fiercely debated even among Greek linguists. Yet, prophecy, when left unadulterated, speaks clearly about Christ, God’s character, doctrine, Christian values, and hope. The difficulty arises when those truths challenge an established denominational system. When approached honestly, prophecy is not a weapon. It is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity—meant to enlighten, strengthen faith, and offer hope, not illusion. If prophecy becomes something people argue over—or something that must be silenced—then it is not being handled in the spirit of Christ. Room for Conscience While core truths are clear—creation through God’s Son, Christ’s sacrifice, the resurrection, and His return—the Bible was never meant to be enforced with uniformity. Only cults can impose and demand uniformity. Along with the gift of Scripture, God has given us conscience—meant to be educated, not overridden. There are many matters the Bible does not define with precision, which is why a Bible-trained conscience is necessary. The apostle Paul addresses this clearly in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8–10. In such matters, conscience belongs between the believer and God. Aim Because of a love for God, the Bible, and humanity, this project exists to encourage sincere prophecy study that fosters understanding rather than division—study that enlightens us about God, strengthens faith, and remains free from speculation and doctrine-driven interpretation. © Prophecies.ca |