WHY DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

1-HOW IS IT THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
THE TIMES WE ARE IN?
Jesus upbraided the people in His day, because they did not correctly understand, through the Scriptures, that it was the time when the Messiah should appear. It is the same today. Even though the Scriptures give us over 360 prophecies of events that would be in place showing that the Tribulation was approaching, people would still be going about business as usual as if nothing was about to take place. Most were blind and deceived in the days of Jesus as to the times that they were in. Most are blind and deceived today concerning the times that we are now in.
Regarding the soon coming Tribulation, there are so many witnesses (or prophecies) that it is very near, so that we should lay aside every weight (every distraction that hinders us from wholeheartedly following the Lord).
Lk 12:54-57-AND HE (Jesus) SAID ALSO TO THE PEOPLE, WHEN YE SEE A CLOUD RISE OUT OF THE WEST, STRAIGHTWAY YE SAY, THERE COMETH A SHOWER; AND SO IT IS.
AND WHEN YE SEE THE SOUTH WIND BLOW, YE SAY, THERE WILL BE HEAT; AND IT COMETH TO PASS.
YE HYPOCRITES, YE CAN DISCERN THE FACE OF THE SKY AND OF THE EARTH; BUT HOW IS IT THAT YE DO NOT DISCERN THIS TIME?
YEA, AND WHY EVEN OF YOURSELVES JUDGE YE NOT WHAT IS RIGHT?
Ro 3:3,4-FOR WHAT IF SOME DID NOT BELIEVE? SHALL THEIR UNBELIEF MAKE THE FAITH OF GOD WITHOUT EFFECT?
GOD FORBID: YEA, LET GOD BE TRUE, BUT EVERY MAN A LIAR; AS IT IS WRITTEN, THAT THOU MIGHTEST BE JUSTIFIED IN THY SAYINGS, AND MIGHTEST OVERCOME WHEN THOU ART JUDGED.
Heb 12:1-WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US. Even though Heb 12:1 is not referring to the 360 plus prophecies, its advice would be good for all to follow.
1 Cor 13:13-AND NOW ABIDETH FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY (or love), THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY (or love).

2-WHY PARABLES?
AND THE DISCIPLES CAME, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY SPEAKEST THOU UNTO THEM IN PARABLES? HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN UNTO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT TO THEM IT IS NOT GIVEN. THEREFORE SPEAK I TO THEM IN PARABLES: BECAUSE THEY SEEING SEE NOT (they think they understand, but they do not); AND HEARING THEY HEAR NOT (they hear and think they perceive, but they do not), NEITHER DO THEY UNDERSTAND. FOR THIS PEOPLE’S HEART IS WAXED GROSS (or become calloused), AND THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; LEST AT ANY TIME THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM. BUT BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES, FOR THEY SEE: AND YOUR EARS, FOR THEY HEAR-Mt 13:10,11,13,15,16.
So great is the blindness some people have toward the Gospel that the Scriptures tell us, BUT THOUGH HE HAD DONE SO MANY MIRACLES BEFORE THEM, YET THEY BELIEVED NOT ON HIM: THAT THE SAYING OF ESAIAS THE PROPHET MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH HE SPAKE, LORD, WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT (or message)? AND TO WHOM HATH THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED? THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE, BECAUSE THAT ESAIAS SAID AGAIN, HE HATH BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HARDENED THEIR HEART; THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, NOR UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM-Jn 12:37-40.
Therefore, Jesus spoke in parables, so that those whose hearts were right toward God would understand, and those whose hearts were not right toward God would not understand. As it is written, AND SOME BELIEVED THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN, AND SOME BELIEVED NOT-Acts 28:24. Of those that do not understand, once again, the Scriptures give us these words, HEARING YE SHALL HEAR, AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND SEEING YE SHALL SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE: FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE IS WAXED GROSS, AND THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES HAVE THEY CLOSED; LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM-Acts 28:24,26,27.

The Scriptures tell of Jesus speaking to the people, BUT WITHOUT A PARABLE SPAKE HE NOT UNTO THEM (He did not say anything to them without using a parable-NIV)-Mk 4:34. As it is written, WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET, SAYING, I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN KEPT SECRET FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD-Mt 13:35. THE LEGS OF THE LAME ARE NOT EQUAL: SO IS A PARABLE IN THE MOUTH OF FOOLS-Pv 26:7. AS A THORN GOETH UP INTO THE HAND OF A DRUNKARD, SO IS A PARABLE IN THE MOUTH OF FOOLS-Pv 26:9. God’s Word further confirms, AND NONE OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND-Dan 12:10.
How can we understand the parables? As it is written, HOW THEN WILL YE KNOW ALL PARABLES?-Mk 4:13. Unto some it is given to know and understand these parables. As it is written, THE HOLY GHOST SHALL TEACH YOU-Lk 12:12; THE COMFORTER...HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS-Jn 14:26; BUT THE ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE RECEIVED OF HIM ABIDETH IN YOU, AND YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU: BUT AS THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHETH YOU OF ALL THINGS, AND IS TRUTH, AND IS NO LIE, AND EVEN AS IT HATH TAUGHT YOU, YE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM-1 Jn 2:27.
It is written, UNITED IN LOVE, SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE FULL RICHES OF COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING-Col 2:2 NIV.

The Bible gives another example of how people will not be able to understand the mysteries of the Scriptures, unless their heart is right toward God.

THE LORD HAS BROUGHT OVER YOU A DEEP SLEEP: HE HAS SEALED YOUR EYES (THE PROPHETS); HE HAS COVERED YOUR HEADS (THE SEERS). FOR YOU THIS WHOLE VISION IS NOTHING BUT WORDS SEALED IN A SCROLL (or words of a book that is sealed). AND IF YOU GIVE THE SCROLL TO SOMEONE WHO CAN READ, AND SAY TO HIM, "READ THIS, PLEASE," HE WILL ANSWER, "I CAN'T; IT IS SEALED." OR IF YOU GIVE THE SCROLL TO SOMEONE WHO CANNOT READ, AND SAY, "READ THIS, PLEASE," HE WILL ANSWER, "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ." THE LORD SAYS: "THESE PEOPLE COME NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME. THEIR WORSHIP OF ME IS MADE UP ONLY OF RULES TAUGHT BY MEN-Isa 29:10-13 NIV.
Because their heart is not right toward God, they cannot understand the true meaning of the Scriptures. They cannot truly understand that if they do not receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and obey the Gospel, they will perish. They may think they understand the light, but the light that they see is really darkness. For it is written, BUT IF THINE EYE BE EVIL, THY WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEREFORE THE LIGHT THAT IS IN THEE BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS!-Mt 6:23. For HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS, AND WALKETH IN DARKNESS, AND KNOWETH NOT WHITHER HE GOETH (he does not know where he is going-NIV), BECAUSE THAT DARKNESS HATH BLINDED HIS EYES-1 Jn 2:11. People’s ways are right in their own eyes. As it is written, EVERY WAY OF A MAN IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES-Pv 21:2. Consider a person that is fully persuaded he understands God’s truth (the Light), but he really does not. If he is positive that he is following the Light (Jesus), but is really following the darkness (Satan), then HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS! The darkness in him is very, very great. He is walking in darkness (he is following Satan) but is totally unaware of it. He does not understand or believe that he will perish, because the darkness (or Satan) has blinded his eyes (or his understanding).
When they hear God’s Word (which is the Seed), the fowls come and devour the Word. The Word of God becomes trodden down. They hear but do not understand, as the wicked one takes away the Word that was sown in their heart-ref Mt 13:4,19; Lk 8:5. But they do not understand even this.
As the Lord says, THESE PEOPLE COME NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME-Isa 29:13 NIV. How hard it is to reach the religious man that believes he is a good person and has done no wrong! How hard it is to reach the person that is positive he is saved, but is not.
It is written, 1 Cor 2:14-BUT THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM (or he cannot understand them), BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. This depicts one that is arrogant, drawing conclusions that are not based upon truth. "Spiritually discerned" conveys that the natural man is incompetent. He is not equipped to operate in the realm of faith, neither does he seem able to truthfully examine the facts. He cannot recognize or correctly understand the things of the Spirit of God.
There will be disagreements on very difficult passages regarding Bible prophecy among God’s servants, but there is still love and a childlikeness in searching God’s Word.
Among those in darkness, many are sure they are right, but their love for God’s servants is often not as it should be. They are usually not childlike when receiving correction. There is confusion in their understanding of prophecy, though they cannot recognize it.
The words of Jesus give us further understanding. It is written, Mt 11:25,26-AT THAT TIME JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID, I THANK THEE, O FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, BECAUSE THOU HAST HID THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT (or learned), AND HAST REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES (or little children). EVEN SO (yes), FATHER: FOR SO IT SEEMED GOOD IN THY SIGHT (or this was your good pleasure-NIV). We see the words of Jesus as He says, I THANK THEE, O FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THAT THOU HAST HID THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT (or learned), AND HAST REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES: EVEN SO, FATHER; FOR SO IT SEEMED GOOD IN THY SIGHT-Lk 10:21.
Lk 18:16-BUT JESUS CALLED THEM UNTO HIM, AND SAID, SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME, AND FORBID THEM NOT (or do not hinder them): FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD (or the kingdom of God belongs to such as these-NIV). Those that are humble and childlike to God’s Word will hear, understand, and receive God’s Word. The kingdom of God is made up of such as these.
Those that are the children of God will hear and understand God’s Word; however, those that do not hear, believe, and understand do so because they do not belong to God. As it is written, Jn 8:46,47-IF I SAY (or tell) THE TRUTH, WHY DO YE NOT BELIEVE ME? HE THAT IS OF GOD (or belongs to God) HEARETH GOD'S WORDS: YE THEREFORE HEAR THEM NOT, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF GOD (or you do not belong to God-NIV).
Jn 18:37 NIV-FOR THIS I CAME INTO THE WORLD, TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH. EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH LISTENS TO ME." EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE-KJV.

3-SOME SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND
To them, it is not given to know

These are fools

They are wicked

They are wise (or prideful)

They are prudent (or learned)

They have an evil eye

They hate their brother in Jesus

Their ways are right in their own eyes

They come to Jesus with their mouth

They honor Jesus with their lips

A stranger’s voice teaches them; though this can sound like the voice of God, it is the voice of deception


They see but see not: they think what they see is correct, but it isn’t, neither do they understand this

Their eyes have closed to the truth

He blinded their eyes

They see, but do not perceive


They hear but hear not: they think they hear correctly yet are wrong and do not understand this

Their ears are dull of hearing the voice of truth; instead, they hear another wrong voice (the voice of the devil) in their ears and in their mind but do not recognize or believe this

They hear, but do not understand


They shall not understand

They do not understand

They do not understand with their heart

They should not understand with their heart

They cannot read a parable with correct understanding

They are as one that cannot read the Bible with correct understanding


They are as a lame man whose legs are not equal

They are as a drunkard when a thorn goes up into his hand

To these a parable is as words that are sealed


Their body is full of darkness

They think light is in them, but it is really darkness

The darkness is great

They are in darkness

They walk in darkness

They do not know they are in darkness

The darkness blinds or deceives them


Their heart is waxed gross

Their heart is calloused

He hardened their heart

Their heart is far from Jesus

They are not converted

They should not be converted


They are not healed

They should not be healed


They saw the miracles but still believed not

They could not believe

Some believed not

Esaias (Isaiah) said, Who hath believed our report?


God hid these things from them

4-SOME SHALL UNDERSTAND
To you, it is given to know

God has revealed these things unto babes

These have the love of God from which are the full riches of understanding

They understand


The Holy Ghost shall teach you

The Comforter shall teach you

The Anointing teaches you


Blessed are your eyes

Your eyes see correctly

They see with their eyes


Blessed are your ears

Your ears hear correctly

They hear with their ears


They become converted

They become healed

They abide in Jesus

They believe

5-GOD’S WORD GIVES MORE CLUES AS TO WHO MAY
OR MAY NOT GET SAVED AND UNDERSTAND
It is written, 1 PET 5:5-LIKEWISE, YE YOUNGER, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO THE ELDER. YEA, ALL OF YOU BE SUBJECT ONE TO ANOTHER, AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY: FOR GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, AND GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

ACTS 13:16-THEN PAUL STOOD UP, AND BECKONING WITH HIS HAND SAID, MEN OF ISRAEL, AND YE THAT FEAR GOD, GIVE AUDIENCE.
ACTS 13:26-MEN AND BRETHREN, CHILDREN OF THE STOCK OF ABRAHAM, AND WHOSOEVER AMONG YOU FEARETH GOD, TO YOU IS THE WORD OF THIS SALVATION SENT.

Luke 16:27-31-THEN HE SAID, I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, FATHER, THAT THOU WOULDEST SEND HIM TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE: FOR I HAVE FIVE BRETHREN; THAT HE MAY TESTIFY UNTO THEM, LEST THEY ALSO COME INTO THIS PLACE OF TORMENT. ABRAHAM SAITH UNTO HIM, THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS (or it may be said they have the Bible, God’s Word); LET THEM HEAR THEM. AND HE SAID, NAY, FATHER ABRAHAM. He recognized that they would not repent by just hearing God’s word, so he continued by saying—BUT IF ONE WENT UNTO THEM FROM THE DEAD, THEY WILL REPENT. AND HE (Abraham) SAID UNTO HIM, IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS (or if they hear not the Bible, which is God’s Word), NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

Why do so many even fight against Bible prophecy being taught? The answer lies in many verses, including this one. Dan 12:9 ends with the words, THE TIME OF THE END. Verse 10 tells us, MANY SHALL BE PURIFIED, AND MADE WHITE, AND TRIED; BUT THE WICKED SHALL DO WICKEDLY: AND NONE OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND; BUT THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND.

Regarding the end times, note the words:
Group one
NONE OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND.

Group two
THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND.
Thus, we might ask, can everyone understand the Scriptures dealing with the times we are now in? Can everyone understand that Jesus is soon to return? Only a select group can understand. That group has just been identified by Daniel.
They are also identified, in 1 Cor 2:14-BUT THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.

Rev 1:1. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, TO SHOW UNTO HIS SERVANTS THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS; AND HE SENT AND SIGNIFIED IT (or made it known) BY (sending) HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN.
Rev 1:1. THE REVELATION. Note, it is singular. This book does not contain different revelations, but one extensive revelation that makes known the subject of the entire book.
OF JESUS CHRIST. The information that is to be given is of Jesus Christ, not of John.
WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM. The Father gave it to Jesus.
TO SHOW UNTO HIS SERVANTS THINGS. One of the purposes of the Revelation is to show the servants of Jesus Christ certain things. The Revelation is not for unbelievers, but for those, who, when the Lord comes, shall be found watching and doing.
WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS. The Revelation gives future events that are absolutely certain to come to pass. Even as the Revelation was being written, some of the prophecies were already beginning to transpire.
AND HE SENT AND SIGNIFIED IT (or made it known)
BY (sending)
HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT JOHN. The Father gave it to Jesus. Jesus delivered it to the angel. The angel revealed it to John, and John makes it known to the servants of God through the written Word. John is shown here as the writer of the Revelation.
In Rev 22:16, it is written, I JESUS HAVE SENT MINE ANGEL TO TESTIFY UNTO YOU THESE THINGS IN THE CHURCHES. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, THESE SAYINGS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE: AND THE LORD GOD OF THE HOLY PROPHETS SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHOW UNTO HIS SERVANTS THE THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY BE DONE-Rev 22:6.
Clearly, Jesus is showing that the Revelation is to be taught in the churches. These things, which must shortly come to pass, are to be taught to God’s servants.

Hundreds of more verses could be used to cover this subject. These few, however, should convey the message