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In many cases our experience with these precious words has been within the context of the great meaning of their fulfillment. Thus, for many of them, we have seen them only surrounded with the correct details with which they would eventually be associated. By this historic association, these details have crept into our understanding of the prophecies themselves and have become an integral part of them, and rightly so. But stripped of these future details, they reveal quite a different picture - a much more mysterious, subtle, and in some cases, deceptive picture, than the one with which we are familiar. It is for this reason, to allow us to see through the eyes of the seeker at the time of Christ, that they have been compiled without commentary (14:4) I realize that the many prophecies presented below may prove uninteresting or even difficult when they are read at one sitting. If you prefer not to read them through at this time, I suggest that you at least read some of them to get a sense of what is being presented in this chapter. Feel free, however, if you desire, to skip directly to the following chapter, where further study of the nature and purpose of prophecy will be undertaken through the direct examination of some specific prophecies and their fulfillment. The prophecies compiled here can then be visited later if you wish (14:5) The reader needs to remember that the prophecies listed here do not present a coherent whole which is easily understood. Many of the prophecies require considerable concentration to understand, even by those who have already recognized Christ, and this fact underscores the utter impossibility - without the benefit of the New Testament - of someone's trying to predict from prophecies the manner of Christ's Coming. (14:6) If a thorough "study" of the prophecies, therefore, does not appeal to you at this time because of the effort and difficulty it involves, let me at least urge you, on some occasion, to simply read the prophecies with an open heart to experience their naked glory, the beauty of their depiction of Christ, the depth of their knowledge, and their exalted vision of the future
(14:7)
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