Last week we held another successful World News and Prophecy seminar in Fairview Heights, Illinois. We had nearly 200 interested readers of the publication attend the all-day seminar put on by senior writer Robin Webber and myself. We always enjoy these opportunities to interact with our audience, gaining feedback from them as well as giving out some valuable information on Bible prophecy and world trends.

I gave a short introduction and overview about prophecy that I think would be good to share with you. I went into the words of the apostle Peter in his second letter. In the first century Peter saw some of the same issues that still cloud the subject of Bible prophecy for a lot of people. Let me mention just two.

People like to study prophecy and form their own conclusions about future events. They will study chronology, history and the Bible to find obscure statements—then stretch them into a future scenario. In an attempt to unravel a puzzling segment of prophecy, some will make a scripture from Isaiah or Revelation sound like a riddle, the kind of riddle you have for a treasure hunt. Conclusions will be drawn and an entire prophetic scenario constructed. But it is most likely wrong.

We don't read prophecy like we are on a treasure hunt. Peter says, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Let the Bible interpret the Bible. Listen and learn when the Bible speaks loud and clear on a subject. When Scripture is less clear, resist the temptation to inject your own ideas.

The second issue Peter addressed has to do with a world that denies the authority of the Bible and God. He said, "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?'" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

The first century had many who denied the inspiration of Scripture, just as we do today. We live in a world that sees a constant assault upon the authority of the Bible, the divinity of Christ and the existence of God. And though many people profess to be believers, it is evident this constant spiritual assault has worked to loosen the bonds of morality, ethics and righteousness in society.

Prophecy should awaken all of us to the urgency of our times and the need to change our lives. Peter uses the dramatic reality of the Day of the Lord to make his key point in the letter. "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11). There it is, "holy conduct and godliness." That is the ultimate end of the study of Bible prophecy: To be a better person. To be motivated to live by God's laws every day of our lives.

So why do you study prophecy? Is it to try to figure out knowledge that has eluded others, therefore making you seem smarter—having more Bible knowledge? If so, be very careful. You will miss the real lessons to be learned from studying the Scriptures inspired by God to assure us His great and glorious plan will be brought to pass. God will bring His plan together according to His timetable. As you and I live godly lives, we will be prepared for that time of glory.

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