Rarely do Christians think about Bible prophecy in connection with worshipping God. The tendency is to view prophecies as mysteries to be solved, or promises about the end times that aren’t relevant to us today. Those misperceptions are unfortunate, because prophecies—both those that have been fulfilled in the past and those about the future—are very relevant to us now, especially when it comes to our worship of God.
God reveals Himself to us on every single page in the Bible. Every passage—whether directly or indirectly—conveys information about who He is and what He does. This is true about the prophetic portions of Scripture as well. Every time we read a Bible prophecy, we learn more about God. And the more we learn, the richer our worship can become.
Before I share specific examples of prophetic passages that can inspire us toward worship, let’s consider the definition of worship. Many Christians associate worship with what we do in church on Sunday. It’s common for us to describe church services as worship services. Together, we sing to God, and we learn from His Word.
But worship is much more than that. Worship has to do with the state of our mind and heart toward God. It has to do with our thoughts about God and our response to Him. To worship God is to show reverence for Him and to admire His greatness. When we worship God, we proclaim that He is worthy of honor and glory and praise because of who He is and what He has done. Worship begins in the heart, and it involves a response to what we know about God.
As we reflect on what Scripture reveals to us about God, and as we see God’s greatness on display, our response ought to be one of showing reverence for Him, treasuring Him, pursuing Him, and making Him the primary love and focal point of our lives.
What are some examples of how Bible prophecy can inspire our worship?
We see God’s precise knowledge of the future on display in Micah 5:2. More than 700 years before Christ’s birth, God specifically declared that Jesus would be born in “Bethlehem Ephrathah,” near Jerusalem. The addition of “Ephrathah” distinguished this Bethlehem from another town in the region of Galilee that was also called Bethlehem.
Keep in mind that Joseph and Mary weren’t in Bethlehem Ephrathah near the time of Jesus’ birth—it took a Roman census to direct them there (Luke 2:1-6). God used a pagan governor to prompt His beloved servants Joseph and Mary to go to the place where He had ordained for Jesus to be born. Only an all-knowing, all-sovereign God could have made such an exact prediction so far in advance, and perfectly orchestrated its fulfillment. Isn’t that amazing?
In Psalm 96:13, we read the prophetic statement that the Lord “will judge the world in righteousness.” This reveals His judgments will be fair and precise toward every single person.
The fact the Lord is able to judge perfectly reveals that He is all-seeing. He knows people’s hearts and motives. It also affirms His holiness and wisdom. He can flawlessly discern right from wrong. And it tells us He is consistent. He will judge every person according to the same righteous standard. No person will be treated unfairly based on fickle whims.
Though the wrath of God is not a pleasant topic, the fact He will exercise perfect judgment tomorrow gives us reason to rejoice and worship Him today. We are comforted when we realize that the wicked will not go unpunished, and that ultimately, righteousness will prevail forever.
These are just a couple examples of how Bible prophecy can inspire us toward worship. Every part of Scripture is meant to increase our understanding of God, and that includes Bible prophecies. So anytime we read a prophetic passage, we ought to ask ourselves: What wonderful truths can I learn here about God? In what ways am I seeing His greatness on display? And how can I respond through praise, adoration, or thanksgiving?
Worship is not to be taken lightly. The Bible tells us that worship will be our primary occupation in heaven. So when we make a deliberate effort to engage in worship here on earth, we are getting practice for what we will do for all of eternity.
One of the great truths about worship is that we will never run out of reasons to adore God. Because God’s greatness is infinite, the reasons we have for worshipping Him are infinite. And it’s wonderful to live with the perspective that every single passage in the Bible can provide us with insights that lead to worship—if we’ll take the time to consider what God is telling us about Himself.
Steve Miller is a podcast host on Foreshadows Report and is the author of the book One Day Nearer: Daily Devotions in Anticipation of Jesus’ Glorious Return. This 365-day devotional surveys all the high points of Bible prophecy from Genesis to Revelation. You can find out more about Steve’s books at SteveMillerResources.com.