In one sense, I think I see what you’re saying LLC: when we understand the cause and effect relationship often seen in God’s Word, much of what we consider prophecy actually shows general principles to live by. A prophetic message is “a word fitly spoken” (Proverbs 25:11).
But I think you’re missing the **supernatural **nature of the gift. God knows everything, and can make pieces of the future known to us, as He deems appropriate, suited to the needs of the moment. For example, in Acts 11:28, we read, “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.”
You can’t study Scripture without studying prophecy. Prophetic passages are found throughout the Bible; for example, Ezekiel, Daniel, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation. In many cases we can see the fulfillment of prophecies in the historical portions of the Bible, and in the historical secular records. But in other cases, the prophecies are yet to be fulfilled.
Psalm 22 gives very great detail about the crucifixion of Christ, over a thousand years before the event, and over eight hundred years before the Romans ever began using that method of execution!
-The First Coming of Jesus Christ was prophesied, and fulfilled
-The Second Coming of Jesus was prophesied, and is yet to be fulfilled
Prophecy demonstrates that God is in control and there is a plan—but I believe the high level of apathy and ignorance of Bible prophecy is helping pave the way for a literal future Antichrist.
**
1 Cor. 14:1.**
The Bible is a finished book. BUT prophecy for the Church today is the “contemporary Word of God” to encourage and guide His people; it comes directly from God, and “he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” 1 Cor. 14:3. A fresh word of prophecy may be extra biblical, but it will not be anti-biblical.
Friends, I am not a cessationist, but rather a continuationist: these gifts are still available today. Reconsider the experiential steps laid out in Scripture:
-First, Jesus breathed on the disciples, saying, *“Receive the Holy Spirit” * (John 20:22), and they were then “born again.”
-Second, the disciples willingly received the Baptism-filling-immersion in the Holy Spirit, after which the Holy Spirit was able to flow out of them and manifest himself through imparted supernatural gifts. Acts 2.
(Of course, these two distinct experiences no longer have to be separated by time—if one is informed, and willing.)
In conclusion, to reiterate Peter’s warning about ignoring prophecy,
“Deliberately forget”? Sounds to me just like Darwin’s conscious choice to let go of the supernatural, in order to more fully embrace the natural.
Blessings.