True prophets receive direct revelations from God and predict events with certainty because the Source never fails. Biblical tests for a prophet require affirmative answers to whether the individual claims to speak in God's name, whether predictions come to pass, whether signs and wonders occur, and whether teachings align with God's Word. Herbert Armstrong never claimed to prophesy or to receive direct revelation from God by dream, vision, or voice. His statements on future events constituted speculations derived from biblical interpretation applied to world conditions rather than authoritative prophecy. Speculation on prophetic timing carries no sin when recognized as based on insufficient evidence. The sense of urgency in such preaching aligns with statements by Jesus Christ and the apostles.

Prophecy has long served as a significant element within the teaching of the church, functioning as the means by which many received their initial calling through exposure to messages on topics such as the beast, the false prophet, Daniel's visions, the book of Revelation, the Olivet Prophecy, and various Old Testament prophecies. Booklets addressing these subjects consistently ranked among the most requested resources, underscoring prophecy's role in the overall work. Prophecy constitutes approximately 30 percent of God's Word and provides evidence of His sovereignty, demonstrating that when He declares a future event, it is fulfilled without returning empty, thereby confirming His active involvement in human affairs and bolstering faith through the reliability of His promises. It further motivates preparation for Christ's return by enabling recognition that the time is near when prophesied events begin to occur. Nevertheless, prophecy remains subordinate to doctrine and Christian living, which form the basis for God's judgment rather than knowledge of speculative details such as the identity of the false prophet. While prophecy must continue to be preached, written about, studied, and considered, all such efforts, apart from elements already fulfilled in Scripture, are highly speculative and subject to revision. Human understandings, including those of Herbert W. Armstrong, represent expert opinion grounded in the biblical framework yet limited by changing times and incomplete knowledge, and they must not be elevated to the status of revelation. II Peter 1:19-21 establishes that no prophecy of Scripture originates from private impulse or human will but comes from holy men moved by the Holy Spirit, rendering the prophetic word sure because its source is God Himself. This certainty directs attention to the Scriptures over human interpretations. Prophecy is deliberately presented in symbolic language to obscure its meaning from those outside the mysteries of the Kingdom, and even among believers, full understanding, particularly of timing, remains partial. I Corinthians 13 reinforces this perspective by noting that prophecies will fail and that present knowledge and prophecy occur only in part, with the greatest abiding quality being love, which encompasses the commandments and the development of God's character. This framework encourages prioritizing growth in love over excessive focus on prophetic matters as the Passover approaches.

Prophetic understanding requires humility because no prophecy of Scripture originates from private interpretation but comes as holy men spoke under the Holy Spirit's direction. Biblical prophecy stands more certain than eyewitness testimony and must be heeded as a guiding light until Christ returns, yet this demands recognition that personal views remain partial and subject to correction since God's thoughts exceed human ones and present knowledge occurs only dimly. The gospels illustrate the peril of misinterpretation through the Pharisees' narrow approach to God's law and through first-century Jewish expectations of the Messiah that contradicted clear Old Testament statements such as Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 9:1-2. Even John the Baptist wrestled with preconceptions until Jesus pointed to fulfilled signs from Isaiah 61. Judas Iscariot's misunderstanding proved most destructive: influenced by Zealot notions that the Messiah would immediately overthrow Rome and establish an enduring kingdom, he rejected Jesus' repeated declarations of His coming death, stole from the money box, and ultimately betrayed the Savior, only to recognize his error too late when the prophecies unfolded exactly as foretold. Jesus therefore repeated that He announced events beforehand so that when they occurred belief would follow, underscoring that prophecy yields its greatest confirming power after fulfillment. Speculation about details such as timing or personalities remains permissible only when anchored in Scripture, tested against clearer passages, and offered without pride, for the goal is always to glorify God rather than exalt human insight. When studied with an open heart that seeks God's instruction, prophecy validates His plan, strengthens faith, and encourages perseverance toward the Kingdom.