The work of the late Herbert W. Armstrong was a work of prophecy. It fulfilled a prophecy made by Jesus Christ nearly two millennia ago: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). This commission revolved around a prophecy being preached—a prophecy concerning a coming Kingdom of God.

Today, the Trumpet aims to fulfill a similar commission: Revelation 10:11 commands that we “prophesy again.” This work focuses even more on prophecy, with an emphasis on warning, because of the imminency of global destruction (see Ezekiel 33).

But does putting such an emphasis on understanding prophecy cause a Christian to miss out on practical godly training and personal betterment? Some certainly think so.

An Edifice of Character

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the governmental structure of the Church of God and relates it to a physical body. Each member has different strengths and functions (see 1 Corinthians 12). Later in the epistle, he shows how it is the same in the ministry—different ministers have different gifts, different strengths (see 1 Corinthians 14). But within this context is one of the most profound chapters of Paul’s ministry—the “love” chapter. He explains how godly love is central to Christian living. Love is God’s character. It is to become ours. And that supersedes every aspect of the work—that it is all to be motivated by love, or outgoing concern for others.

Notice verses 1 and 2: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Within chapters 12 and 13, Paul is gearing up for an in-depth discussion on speaking in tongues, and giving the members at Corinth the proper perspective on this gift. Lumped in with that is this discussion of the gift of prophecy. But notice, both gifts are meaningless if they lack God’s love.

In chapter 14, Paul begins, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (verse 1). The Moffatt translation states that more clearly: “Make love your aim, and then set your heart on spiritual gifts. Especially on prophecy.”

Yes, acquiring God’s nature must be our goal above all else—because it permeates every aspect of our Christian lives. But notice! After that, Paul says, seek the gift of prophecy next.

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (verse 2). Paul is contrasting the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues. What makes prophesying better than speaking in tongues?

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. … I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (verses 3, 5).

Paul says speaking in tongues may edify the self (verse 4), “but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”

Prophecy, if done with love, has everything to do with Christian development.

The word edification in verse 3 means “building, as in architecture and structure.” Consider an English root word of this: edifice. An edifice is a structure or building. God is making His Church an edifice of holy, righteous character. And prophecy is intended to be a part of that edification process!

Does studying prophecy preempt studying Christian living? On the contrary. Christ places such an emphasis on prophecy for the very reason that it helps the Christian grow in godly character and some of the more basic points of life. This work of prophecy and our character development go hand in hand! Understanding prophecy stimulates character development.

Of course, as with all things, there must be balance. Anyone can fall into the trap of investing too much energy and study into one spiritual area and neglect other things. Still, as Paul’s writings show, prophecy plays a major role in one’s spiritual development. The commission of the Church revolves around it.

Prophecy Motivates

Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish ….” Though perishing is the end result of having no vision, the word perish in this verse actually means to throw off restraint or to be unbridled. Without the vision—without this aspect of prophecy firm in our minds—we live lawless, sin-filled, unbridled lives. But with the vision, as the rest of the verse states, we keep God’s law and achieve true happiness.

The Apostle John wrote about this concept as well. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1-2). John follows the same formula as Paul. He discusses love first! Then he expounds on the vision—the prophecy of our awesome future.

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (verse 3). Then John continues as to how understanding this prophecy edifies the Christian. It causes him to keep the law more perfectly—to purify his life. Without this vision, without this prophecy, he would have no motivation.

It is the hope of this prophecy that stirs the Christian. The substance of that hope is faith, because we hope for something that is yet in the future. And this belief, John states once again, helps one overcome. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Having faith, having the hope of these prophecies—of this vision—gives victory! How tied to our salvation is the subject of prophecy!

Editor in chief Gerald Flurry writes in The God Family Vision, “Nothing will change your life more than having this understanding and this vision in your mind! It will cause you to stand up and face any difficulty, any trial, if you understand this from God’s perspective” (emphasis mine).

Another aspect of the vision that spawns overcoming and growth is the holy days. In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul wrote that they are a “shadow of things to come.” They are prophecy. And they teach how to live based on these prophecies. (For more on this, please read Pagan Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which?)

Notice Colossians 1:21-23: “[Y]et now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.” What makes the Christian “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” in God’s sight is that he continues in this faith—the hope of the gospel.

Verse 28 reads, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

God’s people are told to “watch … and pray always” as part of their duties (Luke 21:36). Why? Christ explains in the same verse: “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Understanding end-time events as they fulfill dreadful prophecies has everything to do with someone being able to stand with Christ at His return.

Peter explained how Christ will come when people least expect Him and the “heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

Verse 11: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” Understanding these prophecies can really cause someone to straighten up!

Not only that, but if these prophecies trigger greater growth, then the urgent, motivated Christian can actually speed up the fulfillment of them! “Looking for and hasting unto [literally: speeding up the presence of] the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (verse 12).

Then verse 14 reiterates Peter’s point about it stirring someone to greater growth: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for [Greek: anticipate, wait in hope for] such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

There should be no doubt that Peter’s prophecy here was for the edification of his flock, that the burden and the vision of which he spoke would prod his members to greater Christian development!

Prophecy Designed to Cause Action

Not only does prophecy motivate Christians to keep God’s law more perfectly, they know that even the law itself is prophecy. God told the Israelites in Leviticus 26 that if they kept God’s laws He would bless them beyond their imaginations. He told them if they did not keep His laws, however, then they would be cursed.

The same is true in the book of Proverbs on a more individual level. Solomon constantly is putting God’s wisdom forth in this form: If you live this way, then you will reap these things.

Our understanding of the law affects how we act. That is why prophecy edifies! It reveals the need to keep the law—because it reveals the outcome of NOT keeping it!

All this is why we don’t miss out on any spiritual development by throwing ourselves wholeheartedly into a work with such a focus on prophecy. It’s because God designed prophecy to cause us to act—to help build us into a glorious, spiritual edifice! Becoming grounded and settled in these prophecies, becoming students of prophecy—understanding both the burdensome events ahead and the glorious vision just beyond those events—will bolster our character-building process for life.