Quotable Quotes :: Spurgeon and prophecy

I am not a fan of believers and churches who are passionately devoted to the interpretation of biblical prophecy to the exclusion of much of the rest of their faith. While I would not want to ever exclude the study of portions of scripture, I do think we can become overly fascinated with portions that simply cannot be conclusively understood until they occur. That being said, I was reading through a book I have while laying in bed tonight and I came across a series of quotes from Charles Spurgeon on prophecy. They were so good, I had to jump out of bed and share them.

1. I think some ministers would do far more for the profit of God's people if they would preach more about the first advent and less about the second.

2. Our business is to save souls. You will hear me expounding Revelation one day, that is, when there is not another of the elect to save. When all the chosen are saved, we will preach on the deep mysteries of Daniel and Ezekiel, but so long as souls are unsaved, we mean to keep to the plain gospel - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

3. In many cases sheer fanaticism has been the result of exclusively dwelling on prophecy, and probably more men have gone mad on that subject than on any other religious questions.

4. I deeply regret when I see persons so taken up with prophecy that they forget evangelism. Trumpets and vials must not displace the gospel and its invitations.

...and the money quotes...

5. A man says to me, "Can you explain the seven trumpets of Revelation?" No, but I can blow one in your ear, and warn you to escape the wrath to come.  Another says, "Can you tell me when the end of the world will come?" No, but I can tell you how to be so prepared for it that you need not be afraid if it were to come tonight. I can urge you to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, so that you can await it with holy joy.

6. Nothing shall induce me to attempt to interpret the prophecies. By God's grace I will be content to expound the gospel. I believe it to be one of the most fatal devices of Satan to turn aside useful gospel ministers from their proper work into idle speculations on the number of the beast and the meaning of the little horn. The prophecies will interpret themselves by their fulfillment, but no expositor has yet arisen who has been able to do it.