Fear Of Prophecy: Natural Response vs Biblical Response

Fear Of Bible Prophecy May Be A ‘Natural Response,’ But It’s Not Biblical

Mary Danielsen

The world is entering a time unlike any we have ever seen. No, we are not just entering it, we are neck-deep in it. I have been watching, waiting, analyzing, and digging into prophetic studies for decades.

But not everyone embraces this often weighty topic with joy; in fact, more and more, I get a reaction resembling fear and even panic. The ‘fear factor’ as it relates to prophecy is a very real condition, and I don’t want to make light of it because I don’t take it lightly. Prophetic passages can be very sobering in that human suffering will be ramped up considerably.

But I do want to offer some gentle suggestions to those who struggle with a very real sense of foreboding at the thought that ‘the end is near,’ with its accompanying birth pangs and global tragedies as outlined in the Scriptures.

Over time, I have learned that there are only two responses that stir in the heart of a believer when they hear that time is short, and that the human race is headed for certain “unpleasant” events on our way to redemption and the consummation of all things.

Suppose a believer grew up in a denominational tradition that never acknowledged the Bible’s tendency to predict the future with 100% accuracy. In that case, these Christians tend to react with the most incredulity that they were kept out of the future loop for so long. I was one of those who were religious but spoon-fed only those things my denomination deemed palatable or necessary for my possible redemption at my last breath. Note I said ‘possible’ redemption. The landscape has no shortage of churches that don’t even understand the gospel, let alone a vast subject such as prophecy.

Here, I want to address those who feel great discomfort at the mention of certain events on the prophetic horizon, things like global government and the accompanying dictatorship, famine, pestilences, wars, and financial insecurities or all-out ruin. The natural response to threats such as these would be fear, as we are all hard-wired to survive and give all we have for our lives. The Bible says that those on the earth at that season will literally experience their hearts failing out of fear of what is coming on the planet.

But the key phrase here is ‘natural response.’ To all those Christians who struggle with a fear response to any solid case presented for prophetic fulfillment, you need to know that while your reaction is natural and understandable, it is not Biblical.

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