Acts 1:7-8 – “He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  NASB

Let me say, at the beginning, I am not talking about the Minor Prophets in the Bible.  I am intrigued by many eschatological theories advanced in Christians circles.  However, if I understand this and other related passages of the Bible it is possible and even counterproductive to focus on Eschatology to the neglect of the Power of the Holy Spirit and the present work of God in the earth. 

Our mission is not to understand the times or epochs, getting all the prophetic ducks in a row, and know what is going to happen or when.  Our mission is to take the gospel of the Kingdom to the world and reap the harvest.  If that makes me sound like an Evangelist, I can live with that.  I love to teach and preach the word of God. I love seeing people developed and grow in the Grace of God, discover their gifts and calling, and mature in the faith.  I also love to see a person born into the kingdom and rejoice as do the angels when that transpires.

I have friends and acquaintances who spend all their time studying the Books of Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah and are so consumed with knowing who the ‘Man of Sin’ or the Anti-Christ is they neglect the manifestation of the Spirit of God.  They are focused on the “Man of Sin” and forget about the “Sin of Man.”  It is tragic when we make knowledge our focus rather than the demonstration of the Power of God that transforms souls and delivers from the darkness.

Let me give you the Roy paraphrase of what Jesus said.  I did not say translation but paraphrase.  Let me put it in my East Texas vernacular and way of stating it.  He said, “Fellows, knowing what is going to happen and when it is going to happen is not your assignment.  That belongs to the Father and He has it all worked out perfectly and does not require your help.  What you need to focus on is receiving the power of the Holy Spirit that I am going to send back when I get to heaven.  Once you receive that anointing you will have the ability to be my witness here at home, in the surrounding regions, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”  Paul declared to the Church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 2:4 that his message was not simply with persuasive words of man’s wisdom, not oratorical ability but in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and Power. 

Some contend that the miracles were needed to establish the church and those signs, wonders and gifts have ceased.  I suggest that if the Power of the Spirit of God once attracted the attention of people, drew them to Christ, and confirmed the gospel it still does.  We need the energy, strength, and power of the Holy Spirit to live daily and to witness effectively for Christ.  When God demonstrates His power and authority over the forces of darkness it gets people’s attention far more than oratorical discourse.

It may be captivating for the human mind and curiosity to present theories as to who the Man of Sin is when he is going to show up, and what is next on God’s Prophetic Calendar, but it does not transform the soul.  I am not opposed to studying Eschatology, in fact, I encourage it!  But I am far more interested in the result of the prayer Jesus directed in Matthew 6:9-13.  The prayer we call The Lord’s Prayer.  If the Kingdom or the Rule and Reign of God is manifest, and His will is done on this earth that will result in an incredible harvest of souls.  I’ve been praying for the LORD to enable me to win a million souls to Him in my life. 

God bless you as you receive His Power and fulfill His Purpose for your life.