I believe the Bible teaches that prophecy will become clearer as we get nearer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Thus, it is imperative that we be willing to change our views with the passage of time. Now, this is not to imply in anyway that the truths of the Bible change, but only that biblical predictions will become clearer as ancient prophecies are fulfilled in our present-day world.

Our willingness to be open-minded about biblical prophecy is especially essential when it comes to difficult passages like Revelation 11:1-14. Such difficult passages may never be fully understood until the time arrives for their fulfillment. When they actually begin to manifest themselves before our very eyes, they will become much clearer to us than to previous generations who strained to see them from afar.

What biblical evidence is there that prophecy will  become clearer as the time of its fulfillment approaches? There’s actually quite a bit! For instance, let’s consider the divine forewarnings of the great flood.

The name Methuselah is normally associated with longevity, not biblical prophecy. Methuselah was the son of Enoch (Genesis 5:21). He was also, as far as we known, the oldest man who ever lived, living to the ripe old age of 969 (Genesis 5:27). However, it’s not Methuselah’s unequaled longevity, but his usual moniker that serves our purposes here.

The Hebrew name “Methuselah” actually means “when he dies it shall come.”A quick computation of biblical dates reveals that the flood came in the same year that Methuselah died. Granted, Methuselah’s cryptic moniker failed to specify what was coming or to pinpoint the exact time. It only forewarned that whatever it was would occur whenever he died.

Later prophecies concerning the flood were much clearer. For instance, God specifically warned the pre-diluvian world that it had 120 years to repent (Genesis 6:3). He also precisely pinpointed to Noah that in seven days it would begin to rain for forty days and nights (Genesis 7:4). Notice, as the flood drew closer God’s prophecies concerning it grew clearer and clearer.

Many times in the New Testament we are told that the disciples did not understand prophecy until the time of its fulfillment. What the prophets had predicted remained unclear to them until Christ fulfilled what was prophesied, and even then it often took Christ’s explanation of it or the disciples later looking back on it  through the eyes of the Spirit with 20/20 hindsight (Mark 9:31-32; Luke 9:43-45; 18:31-34; 24:1-8, 25-27, 44-48; John 2:18-22; 12:12-16; 14:25-26; 16:4). Likewise, much of the Bible’s unfulfilled prophecy may remain unclear to Christ’s present-day disciples until we  approach the time of its fulfillment.

Once all of the pieces of the prophetic puzzle begin falling into place it will become easier for us to see the whole prophetic picture more clearly. Jesus intimated this very thing in Matthew 24:33-34 when He  said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” 

The closer we get to the end, the more signs of the times will appear, and the easier it will be for us to read  the signs and to know with an ever-increasing certainty that the coming of Christ is imminent. The generation that sees all of the biblically predicted signs of the times in its time will be the generation within which Christ will return. Its like going on a long trip. When you first start out there are no signs along the road telling you  about your destination. As you get closer, however, signs about your destination begin to appear. Finally, once you arrive, all of the signs are about your destination.

As soon as all of the signs of the times appear, we’ll know that we’ve arrived at the end of time.  Furthermore, we’ll be able to better interpret the signs of the times as we see all of the pieces to the prophetic puzzle falling into place before our very eyes. It is this generation that will not only see prophecy fulfilled, but will also be far more capable of figuring it out than all previous generations. Still, until then, each succeeding generation should see prophecy clearer than the generation that proceeded it; unless, of course, they’ve closed their minds, shut their eyes and dug in their heels when it comes to all of their preconceived ideas. By the way, this is why most of Christ’s generation missed the fulfilling of biblical prophecy at the time of Christ’s first Advent!

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