It’s the end of December, which means it is time for four things: returning ugly sweaters to the store; making resolutions to lose weight; making summaries of the past year’s events; and issuing predictions from self-appointed “prophets” about the new year.
So, what do these “prophets” see for 2023?
- One says, “Looking at 2023 clairvoyantly, I am seeing its energy vibrate at yellow.” and “we are all going to go through a blossoming growth period.”
- Another says, “We will make climate progress by government working with indigenous peoples.”
- Still another predicts, “a fire in a royal palace or presidential home.” and “humans being born in a lab.”
- Followers of the mystic Nostradamus claim he predicted humans would walk on Mars this coming year.
- A numerologist says, “The year 2023, which totals up to 7, will be full of ups and downs for people with number 8.” (Huh?)
Most of these prophesiers (I can’t call them prophets) make logical assumptions based on current trends. Others imagine they are hearing from God, or have psychic abilities to see the future. One televangelist quotes God as saying that our country “will look better, do better and be stronger than you ever dreamed it could be.” Nice to hear.
In the spirit of the day, I have decided to make my own predictions of what will happen in the new year of 2023. You may want to print the list and post it on your fridge. Show the list to your visiting family and friends, who will be amazed. Then, as the year goes on, you can check off each item as it comes true. By the end of the year, my record should be 100%. So here goes. I predict:
- There will be at least one war between two countries, and some people will be killed. (Jesus said so in Matthew 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.”)
- We will see TV reports of earthquakes and other natural catastrophes. (Luke 21:11 says, “There will be great earthquakes . . .”)
- And there will be outbreaks of disease, and maybe pronouncements of a new pandemic. (Also Luke 21:11 “There will be . . . famines and pestilences.”
- Sexual perversions will increase to unknown levels. (Romans 1:26-27 says, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
- Christians will be mocked, marginalized, and persecuted, even to death in some places. (Jesus warned in Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”)
- There will be fake televangelists, spouting heresies and bilking people for money with false promises. (Matthew 24:11 says, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” And Luke 20:47 warns of religious workers who “devour widows’ houses.”)
- People will becomes even more selfish, self-centered, “selfied,” and nasty to each other as they turn further away from God. (2 Timothy 3:2-3 says, “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good.”)
- An evil person will shoot, stab, or run over a random group of people. The authorities will respond with banning guns, knives, or cars, or by blaming social problems. They will ignore that “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19).
How do I know these things will happen? Because the Bible tells me so.
I could go on and make predictions about inflation, political corruption, celebrity scandals, energy shortages, automobile recalls, etc., but those are too obvious, even though not specified in Scripture. So I will stop here. Except to remind everyone that one day, whether in 2023 or later, Christ will return, bringing with him those who have died in him. Will he return in 2023? Maybe, or maybe not. But it will happen one of these days, so let us make sure we are ready for his return (or for our going to him!). The next to last verse of the Bible quotes Jesus, who says, “Surely I am coming soon.” That’s one prediction we can count on! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you,the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Read: Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Revelation 22:6-21.