We say seeing is believing. But Jesus said, believing is seeing. So, who's right? Actually, we're both right. You see, Jesus was talking about spiritual things. He was saying if we want to see correct spiritually, we have to believe in Him. So, what Jesus was actually asking people to believe in was material -- something they could both see and touch. He was asking people to believe in Him. 

Jesus arrived on the scene in a day when Israel's Messiah was anticipated. For evidence that He was the Expected One, Jesus pointed to the prophecies of Scripture and how He fulfilled them. These were proofs that all could see. Nevertheless, the Bible tells us Israel's religious leaders rejected Jesus and His claims. For these leaders, seeing wasn't believing. And as a result, even their believing wasn't seeing. Paul's says a veil covered their spiritual eyes.

Yes, most of Israel's spiritual leaders failed their God-given mission. By the time their long-awaited Messiah finally appeared, they had become blind to true spiritual things. Now, let's fast forward 2000 years. As you may know, I suspect prophetic history may be repeating itself. I fear some of our modern religious leaders may have become as those long ago in Israel. Although seeing, they're not believing. And in their believing, they're no longer seeing. And if that's the case, we must ask why.

Perhaps here is one answer. At the end of Revelation we find this warning:

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19 New American Standard Bible).

Some may ask if this warning only applies to the book of Revelation, or to the whole of the Bible. Although good arguments can be made either way, I'll share my view. I believe this particular warning may apply to the whole of prophetic Scripture, which some say makes up about a quarter of the Bible.

In Scripture, we often read about a little book that's connected with the revelation of prophecy. And we know that prophecy, like any doctrine of Scripture, must be taken as a whole. In Revelation chapter 5, we find a "strong angel" and a sealed book that's about to be opened. We find the "strong angel" again in Revelation chapter 10, but this time the angel is holding a little book that has been opened. And the angel says:

... but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets (Revelation 10:7).

There is so much to learn here. For example, the "strong angel" and the "little book" of Revelation is also found in Daniel chapter 12.  And when the prophet Ezekiel is given the scroll (book) to eat, he's instructed only to prophecy to Israel (Ezekiel 3:1). However, when the Apostle John is given the book to eat in Revelation, he's told to prophecy concerning "many peoples and nations and tongues and kings" (Revelation 10: 9-11).

Although the little book in prophecy is worthy of more attention, we must stay with our two questions; Does the warning in Revelation apply only to that one book, or the entire Bible. And, why are our modern religious leaders not seeing and believing. I may have already answered the first question. Because of the things I mention above, and because the warning comes from the angel of prophecy, I believe this particular warning specifically applies to the whole of the prophetic portion of Scripture -- beginning in Genesis, and ending in Revelation.

And concerning why some of our modern religious leaders are no longer seeing and believing, I suspect it may have something to do with that warning in Revelation. You see, it's not only our religious leaders who are having trouble seeing. We all are. Why? Because, instead of expecting the fulfillment of the actual Scripture anymore, we've come to expect the fulfillment of all our expectations. And some of our exceptions have been shaded by things like books and movies.

Here's my point: We are warned not to add to, or take away from, the prophetic word of Scripture. Yet, aren't we all guilty? When we add a requirement that's not in the Scripture, haven't we added something. And when we remove a requirement, haven't we taken something away?

For example, this morning I noticed where I may have done this in my overview. I say:

In my religious circles, it is commonly believed the passage above foretells the rise of a new leader from out of a revived Roman Empire who will confirm, strengthen, or make strong, a covenant, agreement, or treaty, with many for a period of seven years. Israel will be included in this covenant. As far as Israel is concerned, the leader will terminate his covenant 3 1/2 years later.

As I read this, I suddenly realized the prophecy doesn't actually say the leader will terminate his covenant. All it says is he will put a stop Israel's sacrifices and grain offerings (Daniel 9:27). Now, from related passages, we may assume he will break his covenant. But, technically, to fulfill this prophecy, all he has to do is stop the sacrifices and grain offerings. And as a member of our discussion board points out, Jesus only told the Jews who are in Judea to flee when they saw the antichrist in the Temple, not all Israel. And according to my understanding, it's the religious settlers in the West Bank (Judea) who are most likely to want to keep the whole land and restore the Temple Mount sacrifices -- not all, secular Israel.

Of course, the prophecies could all still happen exactly as we have expected. But, in light of both history and the facts before us, I strongly doubt that that will be the case. In fact, I fear it may be today as it was back in Jesus' time.

When seeing isn't believing, and believing isn't seeing.