Are we really supposed to interpret Prophecy of Scripture? Does the Bible give us any instruction regarding this subject? Let's see if we can find some Biblical instruction.
The Apostle Peter said...for we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty...II Pet. 1:16. Peter had first hand knowledge of the first coming of Jesus Christ, so what he says about prophecy of scripture can be trusted. Peter went on to say...no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...II Peter. 1:20-21. Why do we disobey the Apostle Peter?
Did Jesus explain to us the purpose of prophecy of scripture?
1. Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass you may believe that I am He.
John 13:19.
2. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.
John 14:29
3. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told.
John 16.4.
Can you find anywhere in these words of Jesus, explaining the purpose of prophecy of scripture, where He instructs us to interpret His prophecies? So why do human beings insist on interpreting prophecy of scripture? I wish I knew, but I am sure that pride, competition and greed play a part. Thousands of books and movies on this topic have flooded the market, generating millions of dollars for the producers, making millions of famous people. Men still clamor to be the first to be credited with "all knowledge" -- the one who cracked the code, so to speak.
What did God say regarding His promises...now the just shall live by faith; and if any man draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him...Heb. 10:38. If we draw back from living by faith, God will have no pleasure in us. God doesn't ask us to interpret Him, He asks us to trust Him with our future. No wonder Jesus said...when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?...Luke 18:8. This is a very sobering statement - one we should meditate on.
Most of you know that Sir Isaac Newton is an acclaimed scientist. But did you know that he was an avid researcher of prophecy of scripture? In the pursuit of prophetic understanding he made a profound statement in 1692, which perfectly confirms our study at this time. He said, "The folly of interpreters has been, to foretell times and things, by this Prophecy, as if God designed to make them Prophets. By this rashness they have not only exposed themselves, but brought the Prophecy also into contempt. He (God) gave the Prophecies, not to gratify men's curiosities by enabling them to foreknow things, but that after they were fulfilled they might be interpreted by the event and His own providence, not the interpreters--the event predicted many ages before, will then be a convincing argument that the world is governed by Providence.
Sir Isaac Newton said that the folly of interpreters is to foretell time & things by using this Prophecy, as if God designed to make them Prophets. He understood clearly, and aligned his opinions regarding prophecy of scripture with the Apostle Peter, and Jesus Christ. When the prophecy is fulfilled it is interpreted by the fulfilled event - and God gets all the praise and glory for foretelling His plans for men on the earth. Now isn't this exactly what Jesus said about the purpose of prophecy of scripture?
We must study prophecy of scripture, because some of the verses are clear as a bell as to their meaning, but we still won't know the time of fulfillment, unless of course, that prophecy has already been fulfilled and historically documented. We are allowed to define the metaphors, enigmas, riddles and esoteric imagery in prophecy of scripture in order to unlock the message of the prophecy and identify the participants. God wants us to understand, reveals to His friends some things, so we can cooperate with Him, rather than work against His plans and purposes for us.
It is up to us to search historical documents to find where prophecy has been fulfilled and place it in its proper sequential date of fulfillment, so we can sort out unfulfilled scripture from fulfilled scripture
When we were last together I asked, "Do we have a more detailed description of the End of the World generation than we did of those who perished in Noah's flood?" Yes we do, and more signs of the times are appearing on a daily basis. Yet, Jesus said...But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only...Matt. 24:36. Flee from anyone who gives exact dates for the return of the Lord Jesus and the end of the world. But we are to be discerners of the times by watching the signs of the times.
When the apostles asked Jesus what events will signal His return and the end of the world, He went into great detail about the signs they should watch for -- many false teachers; wars--nations will turn against nations; earthquakes in various places; famines & pestilence; fearful sights & signs from Heaven; signs in the sun, moon & stars; distress of nations on the earth with perplexity; men's hearts failing them from the expectations of these things coming on the earth; persecution of His Church...Luke 21:7-28.
We know that the apostles believed that Jesus would return in their day, producing the end of the world. While the apostles did experience some of these things, Jesus was explaining in detail what must precede His return so they could write it down, so future generations would watch for these signs, and be prepared for His return - someday He will return.
Rather than seeking God, many in the 21st century are seeking guidance from spirit guides, psychics, and mediums. Is this a sign of the times? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
When Jesus walked the earth He revealed to His apostles that He was the only way to the Father in Heaven...I am the way, the truth, and the life...no man comes to the Father except through Me...John 14:6. In today's society we hear there are many ways to Heaven, but do not listen to false prophets. God is not a man that He should lie...Num. 23:19. We must repent of our sins, accept the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross of Calvary, and we will enter Heaven.
Did the apostles of Jesus Christ ask Him about the End of the World? When will this happen?...the disciples asked Him later, as He sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives...what events will signal Your return, and the end of the world? Matt. 24:3.
In this text, Jesus and His apostles had just left the temple of worship in Jerusalem. His apostles were full of questions about the future. People in the 21st century have the same questions on their minds as did the people in His day. Jesus said to His apostles, as they observed the buildings of the temple...Do you not see all these things?...assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down...Matt. 14:1-2.
With exuberance the apostles prodded...When will this happen...what events will signal Your return, and the end of the world? We know that during the war of 70 A.D. Solomon's temple was thrown down, not one stone was piled on another - complete destruction of all buildings of the temple, as far as the eye could see. His description did not include anything built underground. This portion of His prophecy has been fulfilled.
Next, the apostles wanted to know...What events will signal Your return, and the end of the world? Did you notice how their question connected His return with the end of the world? After Jesus explained to them what must take place before He returns, culminating with the end of the world, He told them...But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only...Matt. 24:36.
The apostle Peter gives a very clear description of the end of the world, who also connects the return of the Lord Jesus Christ with the destruction of the earth. Just after Peter told the followers of the Lord that Jesus is not slack in the promise of His return, but is not willing that any should perish, he went on to say...but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Peter 3:10.
Reread this statement by Peter, erase everything someone has told you it says, then ask yourself if his statement is ambiguous in any manner? Even though this is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, it is very clear language -- the day the Lord returns will be like a thief - unexpected - just as in the days of Noah the people were carried away by the flood...Matt. 24:39. On this same day - Day of the Lord - the heavens pass away with a great noise, the elements will melt with fervent heat - both the earth and the works in it will be burned up.
Peter admonishes us to be found in peace, without spot and blameless, as we look forward to the return of Jesus and the end of the world, because untaught and unstable people will twist prophecy, as they do the rest of scriptures - beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked. Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells...II Peter 3:13-18.
How do we know when the end is near? As in the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be...Matt. 24:37. Two major signs for destruction from the days of Noah, that are evident in our society worldwide are:
1. Violence & moral degeneration
2. Eating, drinking, marrying - society living normally, yet rejecting their Creator.
While we don't have many details about Noah's generation, the books of Genesis and Job describe a civilization on the earth prior to the Garden of Eden event. When God told Adam & Eve to replenish the earth, it is obvious that something took place on the planet before they arrived, since replenish means: fill again. God placed Adam & Eve in the garden to show the nations how well He can take care of human beings if they will only surrender their allegiance to Him.
Rather than being an example of righteousness to the nations, Adam & Eve sinned against God, and corruption eventually covered the whole earth, wherever men journeyed. Earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence...so God looked upon the earth and indeed it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth...Gen. 6:11-12.
And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart...so the Lord said...I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them...Gen. 6:6-7. We who study the Bible and historical documentation, even from secular sources, know that a great flood covered the earth and destroyed everything on it, except those on the Ark.
If you think these things are true, or just possibly true, join me in this series on the End of the World so we can find out the truth of the matter. Do we have a more detailed description of the End of the World generation than we did of those who perished in Noah's flood? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrine of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
I have been on a spiritual journey - from the east coast, back to the west - where I belong, so God can fulfill His promises to me from long ago. Even though I have been away from my blog for over a month, I am amazed at how many new followers have found my blog on Twitter, BlogSpot, WordPress and Facebook. I so very much appreciate the ones who have stayed with me these past 3 years, and I welcome the newcomers, their questions and comments.
Today we begin a new subject - End of the World. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus has recorded for us that God shared with Adam how the world would be destroyed twice - once by flood and the other by fire. Those of us who believe the Bible know its accounting of the flood of Noah's day.
When Jesus walked on the earth He linked Noah's day with His return when He said...but as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son the Man be...for as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark...and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be...Matt. 24:36-39.
After Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His disciples, presenting Himself alive, after His suffering, for 40 days sharing things about the Kingdom of God. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight...And while they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said...Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven...Acts 1:9-11.
Jesus is confirming the flood of Noah when He equates His second coming to that event. Jesus explained how men won't even be aware that the end of the world is near - life will be going on as usual with no thought that the world would actually ever end - they pay no attention to those radical doomsday preachers - dismissed them as crazies! Jesus told us that in the days of Noah the people did not know until the flood came and took them all away that it was too late to repent, even if they were so inclined, so they were swooshed right into Hell.
The two bright shining angels told the disciples of Jesus 2,000 years ago, Jesus would return, but many will not even know until the end-time fire takes them all away. We have the Old Testament example of Noah, confirmed by Jesus in the New Testament - no wonder the whole Bible is debunked by the learned professors of government universities - in fact - radically & viciously condemned!
It is amazing, isn't it, how these rabid professors have no problem accepting as absolute truth the historical documentation about such notables as Socrates, an Athenian philosopher 470-399 B.C., or Plato, an acclaimed Greek philosopher 427-347 B.C., or Hippocrates a celebrated physician of Greece 460-377 B.C. Even Cleopatra and her love affair with Marc Antony, both ending their lives by suicide by 30 B.C. are acclaimed as absolute truth.
But, since so many centuries have passed without Jesus returning or ending the world, millions of people assume that historical documentations found in the Bible are merely allegories, myths, or fables. These naysayers insist that ancient Biblical manuscripts have been discredited because the information has been manipulated or distorted - cannot be trusted, let alone believed. These self-proclaimed scholars completely disregard the hundreds of Biblical prophecies that have precisely and accurately already come to pass - have been fulfilled!
None of this took the Apostle Peter by surprise since he was well aware of the sinful nature of men. He said...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying...where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation...for this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water...by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water...but the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for the fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men...but, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day...the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance...II Pet. 3:3-9.
Now we have the Apostle Peter confirming the historical documentation of the historian Flavius Josephus, when he said that God told Adam the world would also be destroyed by fire. We will find confirmation about God's plans and purposes if we ask Him to show us. God wants us to know, so we will be prepared.
All of the apostles, including Paul, believed that the Lord would return in their day. So of course, everyone to whom they preached this message, also believed in the imminent return of Jesus Christ because they preached it was the last days. We have lived in the last days since Jesus came upon the scene. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers of the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds...Heb. 1:1-2.
Let that sink in a bit - we have been living in the last days since Jesus appeared on the earth. But God wants none to perish, so is long-suffering while insolent and defiant human beings speak indignities against His name, blame Him for all the evil upon the earth, curse Him, or flat deny His existence. He loves His human family so much, that He chooses to endure every insult and curse, in order to save His beloved human beings from the wrath of His judgment against idolatry and immorality.
Did the apostles ask Jesus about the end of the world? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
