The Bible – God’s Love Letter to the Human Race

by Don Manley, PhD

God is our Creator and Sustainer. He is also the author of the best-selling book in history, the Bible. It’s His love letter to the human race. Here are some quotes from God’s great love letter –

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:7-8).

Why Study Prophecy?

We’ll come back to the subject of God’s love after exploring two questions often asked about Bible prophecy. You may be surprised to learn the connection between God’s love and Bible prophecy.

● Question #1: “What is Bible prophecy?”
● Answer: Bible prophecy is history written before it happens. Thousands of years ago,
when God wrote His great love letter, He foretold many things. He is the only one who can do that.

● Question #2: Why should I study Bible prophecy?
● Answer: The loving God included prophecies in the Bible for our benefit. If we want to receive these benefits, we must study the prophecies. The Changing Times newsletter is designed to help you learn more about the prophecies found in God’s Word. Look at the list below for some of the benefits God’s people receive simply by studying Bible prophecy.

Benefits of Studying Bible Prophecy

❖ Studying prophecy will give you a clearer understanding of what is happening in our country and our world.
❖ Studying prophecy will increase your self-confidence.
❖ Studying prophecy will intensify your belief that the Bible is true.
❖ Studying prophecy will increase your faith in God.
❖ Studying prophecy will increase your awe of God.
❖ Studying prophecy will increase your love for God.
❖ Studying prophecy will reduce your fear (1 John 4:18).

As you study Bible prophecy, you will learn that the increase in wickedness we see in our country and our world was prophesied by God many centuries ago. As God increases your knowledge about the future of our world, your self-confidence will soar because you will have a better understanding of what is going to happen. When you see some of these things begin to occur, you will be in awe of what our Creator and Sustainer is doing. As your faith and love for Him grow, your fears of the unknown future will dissipate (1 John 4:18). These are just some of the benefits of studying prophecy. There are more.

The Great Coming Event (the Rapture)

Jesus is coming soon for His bride – all true Believers. When He comes, He will deliver us from a world that will be spinning out of control and will take us to the magnificent place in Heaven He has prepared for us (John 14:1-3). If you are a Believer living on earth when Jesus comes, you will be “caught up” to meet Him in the air –

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(1st Thessalonians 4:17)

The words “caught up” in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 were translated from the Greek word “harpozo,” which means “to be snatched away by force” or “to seize or claim for one’s self eagerly.” In the Latin translation of the New Testament, “harpozo” was translated “rapturo” which is where we get the word “rapture.” The Webster’s Dictionary definition of “rapture” is “the state of being carried away with deep emotion, especially joy or love.”

No Punishment, Only Rewards

When we see Jesus, I think we will wish we had done much more for Him in this life. People sometimes ask, “Will we be punished in Heaven for our sins on earth?” The answer is “no.” Jesus paid our sin debt in full when He went to the cross. Our loving Lord, however, will reward each of us for what we did for Him while we were here on earth.

The Final Seven Years (the Tribulation)

After the Rapture, a terrible time of trouble is coming to Earth. Both the Old and the New Testaments describe this horrific future event. In the New Testament, it is called “the Tribulation.” The disciples asked Jesus when the world would end and what would be the sign of His coming to set up His earthly kingdom. Here is some of what the Lord told them –

And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars…nation shall rise against nation and
kingdom against kingdom: and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in
diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:6-8).

Jesus told us that while the coming tribulation period will be a dreadful time to be on earth, many people will place their faith in Christ as Savior during these unimaginable days (Mark 13:12 & 19).

The Coming Kingdom

The human race will be on the verge of destroying itself. There will be wars, including the Battle of Armageddon, which will be raging in the land of Israel. Then, as foretold, Jesus will return, and all the saints in Heaven will accompany Him riding white horses (Revelation 19:11-21). He will defend Israel, end all wars, and usher in a millennium of peace. In addition, He will judge all the unbelievers who will still be alive when He returns (Revelation 19:11-20:6; Mathew 25:31-46; Isaiah 2:1-4; Psalm 46:9; Zechariah 14:9, etc.) Finally, there will be peace for the human race.

How to Be Sure You’re Going to Heaven

Many of us who have lived our lives in service to Christ are convinced He is coming soon. When He comes, He will deliver those of us who have accepted Him as our Savior from the great trouble coming to earth. Friend, Jesus paid your sin debt by His death on the cross. Salvation is God’s gift to you when you put your trust in Christ as your Savior. You can do that with this prayer –

“Jesus, I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I, here and now,
accept you as my Savior. Thank you for saving my soul.”*

Conclusion

God’s final words to us in His great love letter, the Bible, are:

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)

*For more details on God’s love for you and His gift of salvation, watch my brief video presentation, “How Can I Be Sure,” on this website – https://donmanley.org/what-is-the-gospel/.