The correct interpretation of scripture and the prophecies contained therein, is of the utmost importance to every person, for we need to know where we are in the stream of time. The Bible warns us of private interpretations, meaning that whatsoever conclusions we draw should be in line with what God originally intended, and the only way for us to make these deductions, is for us to first follow all the scriptural guidelines given for proper interpretation and exegesis.
There are several stipulations that must of necessity be followed and before we get into the study for this afternoon, we would like to innumerate them, so that we may understand why certain conclusions are arrived at. (1) Any interpretation of the Bible must be preceded by prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide us as we study. The reason for this is because all scripture was given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and therefore we have to go back to Him in order for us to be guided in right paths. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
(2) The entire canon of scripture must be used in arriving at correct conclusions, for there is currently a tendency to believe that certain portions of scripture were not inspired, while others were. This line of reasoning goes directly against what the scriptures teach, for the entire Bible represents the inspired word of God. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
(3) The line upon line method of interpretation must at all times be applied when studying the Bible, for if this method is disregarded, the door is opened for any and every type of false doctrine and interpretation to spring into life. In other words, we should never take one text out of its original context, and build a doctrine or an interpretation, without stacking several other passages of scripture together, that deal with the same subject matter. Let’s read:
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.
28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little.
It is critically important when studying the prophecies of the Bible to implement this line upon line method, the reason being that many Biblical prophecies are written in highly symbolic language and imagery, and if a person suffers from a vivid and agitated imagination that’s not controlled by The Holy Spirit, then the symbolic representations can be taken to extremes, and any and every meaning can be put on the plainest utterances.
For instance many people right here in America got all riled up over the Mayan calendar and the so-called prophecies which pointed to something cataclysmic in the year 2012 and 2013. The consequent agitation got several reviews from the National geographic channel, Fox news, and also CNN, in addition to which there was a buying frenzy, where many people began buying and building doomsday bunkers, and stock piling large quantities of food, water and ammunition in order to survive whatever was expected.
Now although the Bible teaches us that we are
indeed living in the twilight of earth’s history, yet
The Lord makes it abundantly clear that the overwhelming majority of people across the entire globe, would not be expecting the end of all things when it does occur, for the world in general would have been lulled into a state of carnal security. Let’s read:
1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Mark 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Again the necessity for using line upon line in the interpretation of scripture is urged upon on Bible students, for its so easy to take a passage of scripture, separated from its original context, and thus arrive at very extreme views. For instance, the following passage has often been misinterpreted, because other scriptures pertaining to the same subject matter were not adequately researched, or in some instances never read. Let’s read:
Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
A literal interpretation of the word “Compel” means
to use force, but the Bible is not here authorizing
Christians to go out and strangle unbelievers in forcing them to accept the gospel. As a matter of fact, the genius of true Christianity is that it allows every person to choose whether or not to serve God, and if anyone chooses not to, we are not to eagerly look forward to their destruction, but should rather wish them well, by praying for their conversion.
But under no circumstances is the Bible condoning the use of force in the dissemination of the gospel. We arrived at our conclusion by using the line upon line method of stacking several passages of scripture in order to get the real picture. Let’s read:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Isaiah 56: For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
(4) Another very important instruction to observe when interpreting prophecy, is that we should always kook for the historical precedent, if there are any, for the Bible teaches us that history repeats itself, and therefore we can read in the past experiences of those who have gone before, what our own experiences, both present and future will be, based on our decisions. The world runs in cycles of sevens, and what took place already is just waiting its turn for a repetition to be made. Let’s read:
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.
Question: Why does the scripture stipulate the exact number of one thousand years? Why not 981 or, 776 or even 687? Why exactly one thousand? In order to answer this question correctly we would have to go back to the scriptures and observe the historical precedents, for in this way we can avoid the snare of private interpretations, by allowing the Bible to explain itself. Let’s read:
Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
Exodus 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
23:11 But the seventh [year] thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, [and] with thy oliveyard.
23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
Leviticus 25:3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;
25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
It is apparent that the cycle of sevens is beginning to take shape, but let’s continue to be absolutely certain. Let’s read:
Leviticus 25: 25:3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;
25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
25:5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: [for] it is a year of rest unto the land.
25:6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,
8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Leviticus 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
26:34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye [be] in your enemies' land; [even] then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.
Now according to this scripture, a period of
desolation and judgments proceed the Sabbatical rest here spoken of, and the next verse confirms that conclusion. Let’s read:
Leviticus 26:35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
And then we go to the literal historical precedent given in the Bible, describing the literal experience of the Hebrews after they had desecrated the Sabbath rest for many years. Let’s read:
2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.
36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand.
36:19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: [for] as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
It is evident that a period of destruction immediately preceded the seventy years of Sabbatical rest that was due. Now let’s go back and observe carefully what is written in Revelation chapter nineteen and twenty, to see if the same historical pattern will emerge again. Let’s read:
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
19:13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
19:14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
19:16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.
19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
It sounds as if this is a prophecy of impending judgments in which those who have rejected salvation would be slain, and we’re probably wondering what comes next. Let’s read:
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.
And so the reason why the exact number of one thousand years is given is because the earth is only about six thousand years old, and therefore if the land is required to have one year of Sabbatical rest for every six years of work, then six thousand years of incessant labor will automatically call for one thousand years of rest. This sacred truth utterly refutes the claims of evolution and the “Big Bang theory, which mistakenly calculate the age of our planet to be millions and millions of years old, a theory that will come to naught when Christ shall appear in power and great glory.
And that’s why it’s so very important for us to also include any historical precedents when interpreting the scriptures and any Biblical prophecies, for the cycle of repetition is often made evident in all of the experiences of the human family. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.
1:10 Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
And so we now turn to the scriptures for a practical example of how we should go about arriving at the correct interpretation of prophecies. Let’s begin with the transfiguration, in which Christ was transformed gloriously before three of His disciples. Let’s read:
Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
This experience absolutely stunned the three disciples, for here they saw Elijah alive and well, talking with Moses and Christ yet Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the one sent from God. This apparent conflict of the sequence of prophetic events greatly disturbed the disciples and consequently prompted them to ask Jesus the following question. Let’s read:
Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
This meant, why do the scribes say that Elijah must first come before the appearance of the Messiah, and this deduction they had correctly derived from the scriptures. Let’s read:
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].
So it was a valid concern that the disciples expressed, and in order to set the record straight, Jesus saw it fit to answer their question, and we also should pay very close attention to His answer, for it tells us of things to come. Let’s read:
Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
According to Christ’s answer, Elijah the prophet must make three appearances, the one on Mt Carmel, The one via John the Baptist, and the third one just prior to the second coming of Christ. The problem why the disciples and the scribes and Pharisees did not discern the second appearance of Elijah is because of the method of interpretation that was employed back then, for it is obvious that they knew who was to come, but the problem was recognizing him. The irony of the whole situation is that the second Elijah had actually baptized some of Christ disciples, and had died and been buried, yet the disciples knew him not.
In order for the correct interpretation to be arrived at, they would have had to go back and examine carefully any historical precedents, pointing to the work of the first Elijah, and not merely looking for only external features, although in some instances these can play a minor role, for in the final analysis, spiritual things are always spiritually discerned.
1st Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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.
And so we will compare scripture with scripture, as the Bible says we must do. Let’s read:
1st Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel?
18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
It is obvious that the commandments of God took center stage in the great national revival that was about to take place, for the first Elijah explicitly stated that the departure from God’s known laws was the cause of the nation’s woes, and so we can safely expect the second Elijah to walk in the same shoes, by uplifting the down-trodden law of God. Let’s read:
Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages.
In our day the prophet Elijah is to again make an appearance before Christ’s appearing, and we can safely expect that God’s forgotten law, especially the one that starts with the word remember, will also take center stage, for just as it was in the days of the first and second Elijah, the world will be saddled with irreconcilable difficulties and troubles, and the cause is a none other than a national and individual departure from the written and revealed laws of God. Let’s read:
Revelation12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The issue for us in our day, both individually and on a national level, is whether or not we will recognize the work of the third Elijah when he begins to sound across the globe with a loud voice. Would he be translated to heaven without seeing death as the first Elijah was, or will he be beheaded like the second one. It is worthy of note that in the experience of the first Elijah, is was a woman,
namely Jezebel that called for the execution of the prophet, and also in the experience of the second Elijah, it was a woman again who called for the death of John the Baptist, and in both instances their trump card was the commandments of God.
Let’s read:
1st Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
19:3 And when he saw [that], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which [belongeth] to Judah, and left his servant there.
Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
14:8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
14:9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded [it] to be given [her].
14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
14:11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought [it] to her mother.
14:12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Could it then be, that according to the line upon line method of interpretation, and the use of the historical precedents, that another woman will again seek the death of the third Elijah, when the commandments of God are again proclaimed across the globe? Let’s first observe carefully what a woman represents in scripture. Let’s read:
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.
5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
So it’s obvious that a pure woman represents the true church of God, but sadly, there is also another profligate woman or church, brought to view in the scriptures, who wages relentless war against the kingdom of Christ and His saints, including the three Elijahs who preach the everlasting gospel, inclusive of the Ten Commandments. Let’s read:
Revelation 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
17:5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
It then becomes necessary for us to let the Bible speak for itself, and be its own interpreter, when it comes to the issue of correct interpretation of prophecy, so that we would not be moved by the myriads of false doctrines and private interpretations which now abound in Christendom. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls for a renewed study of God’s word, without bias or preconceived ideas, so that the sacred oracles of holy writ can be ours for time and for eternity. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2:16 But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
May God bless the study and doing of His every word. God bless!