The Literal Fulfilment of Prophecy
By David Mc Millan.*
[*NOTE. (This message was given at an S.G.A.T. meeting in
It
is of immense importance for regenerate Christians to see and understand that their
position in Messiahs millennial
kingdom does not come with price of Redemption but must be
earned! Rev. 2: 27 & 28; Rev. 3: 21; 1 Cor. 9: 24-27. This may refer to a total REJECTION (by the King), of some
because of their disbelief, false interpretations, cowardly behaviour and by
refusing to disclose Millennial Truths to others. Ed.
See alsoThe Difference Between Application and
Interpretation by Stephen A Toms.]
-------
I would ask you to open the Scriptures at 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17, For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain* unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them that are
asleep. For
the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise**: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord.
[*For a description of those who will have previously
been judged worthy to escape Antichrists end-time persecutions, see Luke 21: 34-36 & Rev. 3: 10.
** Strange words for Christians who believe they can
ascend into Heaven immediately after the time of their Death - (one at a time) -
and before
the Resurrection of the holy dead (Rev.
20: 6),
at Christs Second Advent! See Matt. 12: 40; Luke 16: 23-31; Luke 23: 43; John 3: 13; 14: 3; Acts 2: 34; Rev. 6: 9, 11, etc.]
Two Major Problems
There
are two major problems today that are connected with Bible prophecy and I would
like at the commencement to emphasise these.
The
first has to do with the consideration
of Bible prophecy. It is a sad thing to
have to say but there are very few people today who have any interest in the
study of Bible prophecy. You only have
to see this meeting that is held regularly, well advertised, and think of how
few are interested in considering the study of the prophetic Scriptures. And sadly, just to take that a step further,
very few people feel the need to study the prophetic Scriptures. They have the idea that that is a part of the
Truth of God about which they do not need to concern themselves. Peter said, We have also a more sure word of prophecy and then he added the words, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed. I would like
to emphasise that. The prophetic part of the Word of God is an aspect to which we are
exhorted to take heed. We ought to
consider and study these things.
The
other problem with regard to Bible prophecy has to do with the interpretation; that is to say, the meaning of the prophetical passages
in the Scriptures. That is the question
that concerns us especially in this meeting.
Think of the words to Timothy that we are to study to show ourselves
approved to God. That is an interesting
statement. We should give ourselves to
study. People do not like to study. Life is made too easy for us today; we like
the easy way out. But we are to study,
and that involves time and labour. We
are to do that, not to show off before men but so that we can shew [show] ourselves approved unto God. If you have
any doubts that labour is involved, he [the Apostle Paul] says, we need
to be a workman. There is to
be work; you are to be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed; and sadly, many will be ashamed when they stand before
the Lord to answer to Him for the things that they have taught. Then he said, rightly dividing the word of truth. And this
concerns us, the interpretation or meaning of the prophetical passages in the
Scriptures. The sad thing is that much preaching on the second coming is not
rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
It has to be said that it is wrongly dividing
the words of Scripture.
Importance of Prophecy
Let
me stress to you that this question of
interpretation of prophecy is something which is vital, crucial. Do not
be mistaken into thinking that this is just a small issue, something to be
thought about on the side. That is far
from being the case. We come to the
very heart of the subject as far as the study of the prophetic Scriptures is
concerned. Remember, not all believers
have the same views with regard to the second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ. There are various opinions, but
there are three main views. The
post-millennial and a-millennial have great similarities. In many respects one is the development of
the other. Those who were once the
proponents of the post-millennial view felt that things were not unfolding as
they anticipated, so they changed and that is how a-millennialism was born.
The Pre-millennial Position
Then
there is the pre-millennial position to which we hold, and that we love so
much. We need to ask why there are
differences of opinion among those who are Fundamentalists. We are not talking here about people who do
not believe the Bible. There are
differences even among evangelical believers.
Why is that? The simple answer is
because of principles of interpretation of the Bible. Not all Christians interpret the Scriptures
in the same way. That is the
reality. It is very strange, but it is a
reality that not all believers interpret the Bible similarly. So let me make it clear that we hold to a
literal interpretation of the Bible where that is possible. We believe that the plain sense of a passage
of Scripture is the best sense. God does
not talk in riddles and leave us wondering what He has actually said. God means what He says and He says what He
means. It is as simple and as plain as
that.
Now,
we do not deny that there are passages in the Bible that use figurative and
symbolic language. In the opening
chapters of the Book of Revelation, there is mention of the churches of
I know
some people that would ask why we hold to a literal interpretation of the
Scriptures. They will ask what grounds
or warrant do we have for interpreting the Scriptures that way. Well, we need to remember that Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible gives us more than information
about God and about salvation. The Bible
will teach us how to understand its meaning if we study it carefully. The
Bible itself gives us examples if how to interpret what is found within it and
that is something we need to think about very carefully indeed. There is a principle in the Bible that by the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established, and there are
two main witnesses in the Scriptures. If
we listen to those two witnesses, they will teach us how to interpret the
Bible, and they will teach us that we should understand it literally.
The Historical Witness
Let
me tell you who those two witnesses are.
There is the historical witness.
Think of the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Think of the tree in the Garden of Eden. Think of the tree in the garden and of Adam
and Eve stepping forth to eat the fruit of the tree. Think of the story of Noahs ark. Noah built that great vessel far from the
seashore way back in the days when there was no rain, and he built it over a
long period of time; no doubt he was ridiculed, scorned, and laughed at. All kinds of animals went into that vessel,
and one day the clouds came, and the heavens opened and the rain fell. Think of the story of Balaams ass Balak called
Balaam to pronounce a curse upon the people of God, and because God did not
want him to do that, He set obstacles in the way; and the animal was wiser than
Balaam. You think of the story of Jonah
running away from God and His will, running away from preaching the
gospel. He went on to a ship and sailed
into the
Those
are some of the best known stories in the Bible, and I ask you, do we not view
them all literally? Is that not the case
with all evangelical Christians? They
say that those stories are true. They tell
us that they actually took place just as they were recorded in the
Scriptures. Persons would be viewed as liberals or heretics if they wanted to spiritualize any of those passages, or seek to explain
them away in any shape or fashion.
And the reality is this, if the
historical passages are literal, then so too are prophecies relating to the
future. Our position is
consistent. We interpret the whole Bible
in exactly the same way. We interpret
the whole Bible following the same principles right through. We do not apply one principle of
interpretation to history and then a different principle to prophecy. So that is the first witness that we have to
teach us that we should explain this Bible literally, the historical witness.
The Prophetical Witness
But
there is also a prophetical witness.
Remember that many prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled,
and that should be of interest to us.
That will be a clear guide to us as to how the prophesies of the second
coming of Christ will be fulfilled.
There
is what is known as the law of first mention. You
should always look for the first mention of any subject in the Scriptures, and
study that very closely, because that is the key that will open that subject
for you and give you great light as you study throughout the Scriptures.
The
first prophecy in the Bible is found in the words, In that day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die (Genesis 2: 17). And the simple question is,
how was that fulfilled? It was fulfilled
literally. Adam really died. He died spiritually the moment that he ate
the fruit, and he died physically. Although he lived to the ripe old age of 930,
he died none the less. And what was true
of Adam is true of all his posterity.
Whenever a person dies, we are continually reminded that God literally
and actually fulfils the prophecies of the Scriptures. We have the witness of prophecy. The first prophecy gives us the key, the
answer as to how God deals with all the prophecies of His Word.
Think
of the prophecies about the first coming of the Lord Jesus, for although we are
thinking especially of His second coming, you cannot divorce the two. Were the prophecies of the first coming of
Christ literal in their fulfilment? The
answer is, of course, they were. Micah
said, And thou,
Bethlehem Ephratah, though
thou be a little among the thousands of
Think
of the words of Zechariah. He said, Behold thy King cometh unto
thee: He is just, and having salvation: lowly, and riding upon an ass, and
upon a colt the foal of an ass. I ask, did Jesus
Christ ride upon an ass? The answer is,
yes, He did. Everybody knows that is
true. It was actually fulfilled.
So
I stress that if anybody asks why we interpret the Bible literally, what
warrant have we, we reply that Scripture interprets Scripture, history and
prophecy are witnesses to the fact that the Bible is to be understood plainly
and literally, just as it is found upon the pages of Gods Word.
A Major Obstacle
There
is one major obstacle to a literal interpretation of the Bible, and sadly, it is
found throughout evangelicalism. That is
unbelief. That is the major sin among
Christians today especially in the study of the second coming of Christ. People do not believe Gods promise. They do not believe what God had promised, He was able also to perform (Romans 4: 21). Incidently,
that was literal as well, both the promise that he was given and the fulfilment
of it. He believed what God had said,
and that God could actually do it.
The
sad thing is that when Christians look
at some of the prophecies in the Scriptures today they respond that that could
never happen, that could never be true in a literal
sense. Why? It is because they do not believe it. They do not believe the promises or the power
of God. Not only did Abraham believe the promise, he believed that God had the
power to fulfil His Word.
The
question is, if, in the past God caused all the animals to sit down quietly and
peacefully in the Garden of Eden, why can He not repeat that in a future day?
What
the
Did
you ever notice those words that Paul wrote to Timothy? He said the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and kingdom (2
Timothy 4: 1). It is
interesting that [His judgment precedes His appearing,* and] the kingdom follows the appearing. I think that is very interesting indeed;
first [His judgment of
the dead, then] His appearing, and then His kingdom. And the Bible says the LORD
shall be King over all the earth (Zechariah
14: 9). That has
never been so. It is still to take
place. The prophecies of the Bible are
true and literal with regard to the [Messiahs
millennial] kingdom.
[* See Heb. 9:27.]
And
I want to emphasise that not only is the Bible literal in what it says about
the [promised] kingdom, but it is also literal in what it says about
Christians. We use the term eschatology to apply to the second coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ, but, strictly speaking, eschatology
is the study of last things and it is a much broader study. There
are many things in eschatology that apply to the Christian and to the
unbeliever as well,
and I want to emphasise some things that will literally be fulfilled as far as
the Christian is concerned, and we have them in 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17.
A Literal Resurrection
One
is that we are going to be raised. The
passage speaks of believers who will die before the coming of the Lord
Jesus. The Scriptures tell us we will
not all die, but those who do, will be raised again from the dead. The Bible teaches the resurrection of Christ
and also the resurrection of the believer.
The Lord Jesus is the firstfruits and then those who are Christs at His
coming. You know, the New Testament
speaks about the Sadducees, and they do not believe in the resurrection. There
are many Sadducees in professing Christendom
today, people who do not believe in resurrection [or fully
understand what the Lord Jesus teaches about resurrection; or about those who
will be resurrected at His Second Advent]! But this is
taught in the Scriptures. At the end of verse 16, it says, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and that will be the
first resurrection.
Job
said, I know that my Redeemer
liveth, and that
He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job was
thinking far beyond his own day, on to the
second coming of Christ. He was a
fundamentalist. He believed in the return of the Lord Jesus. Before the first advent [of
Messiah Jesus] Job was thinking of
the second. He shall stand in the latter
day upon the earth: and though after my skin
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. He was thinking
of the resurrection. He knew that he was
going to be raised even though he
would die and even though worms should destroy his body. (There is a hint as to how your body should
be dealt with after you die. It should
not be destroyed by fire. It should be
destroyed by worms, placed in the ground and buried). He said, yet in my flesh, I shall see
God. How [and when] could that take place? Well, there is
going to be a resurrection [when Jesus returns (1 Cor.
15: 23; 1 Thess. 4: 16, R.V.)]. It is a glorious truth.
Think
of Lazarus. The Lord Jesus stood at his
tomb (John 11), and the Bible tells us He called him forth. Did it actually happen? Is it true?
Do we believe it to be literal?
It actually took place. It was a
literal event. The Lord Jesus called him
forth, and one day it is going to happen to us, if we die before His
return. He will call us forth from [Hades], the grave and from the tomb. Death will not have the victory. That is the great difference in what we call
a Christian burial. At the graveside of one who has died in
Christ, we have the hope* of the [first] resurrection unto eternal life.
[* Note: The Resurrection
of all the remaining dead after
the
thousand years, is not a hope but a certainty! (Rev. 20: 13, 15, R.V.).]
Death,
in the Bible, is likened to a sleep. In verse 13, it says, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep. Let me emphasise that it is [a
general statement embracing all the dead, and not] only for the Christian, that death is described as a
sleep. He says, Concerning them which are asleep. Do you think
of the grave as being like a bed where [your body will] lie down
to rest? Death is like a sleep, and what happens after you have a sleep? You rise. You awake from that sleep of death. That is one reason why atheists favour cremation,
because they think if their body is given over to the flames and consumed to
ashes they will never be able to have it raised again from that condition. But the
God who first formed man from the dust is able to rise
him from dust or ashes.
The resurrection is literal and actual, and will take
place in the bodies of those believers who have died, when the Lord Jesus comes
again. The Bible teaches us there are
two [future] resurrections. In Revelation 20 [: 6] it talks about
the first resurrection. There is a
resurrection of the just, that is, those who are [righteous and] in Christ;
and [when the thousand years are finished (Rev.
20: 7, R.V.)] the
resurrection of the unjust [or
unrighteous], that is, those who are in Christ; and the resurrection of the unjust, those who die out of Christ. And I take the opportunity to say, a person needs to be saved [and accounted worthy
(Lk. 20: 35, R.V.)] if he is to
experience the resurrection of the just.*
[* See also Matt. 5: 20; 7: 21. cf. Lk. 14: 14; 22: 28-30; Heb. 11: 35b; 1 Thess. 2: 12; 2 Thess. 1: 4-5; Rev. 3: 21, R.V.)]
I
remember being in a coach with Dr. Paisley and a party that was travelling to
the World Congress in the
[* See Luke 22: 28-30; 1 Tim. 4: 8; 2 Tim. 12, 13; 2 Pet. 1: 10, 11; 3: 17; 1 John 3: 24,
etc. R.V.]
A Literal Change
Something
else that will take place when the Lord Jesus comes, something that is literal,
we are going to be changed. I Corinthians 15: 51 says,
We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed. What type of
change will this be? It is going to be
bodily. Paul said, this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (verse 53). We are to be given a new body, one that is [immortal
and] glorified,
a body that is sinless, just like the body that Adam had when he was created, a
body that is free from the corruption of sin.
Paul could say that He will change this vile body (Philippians
3: 21). That is a glorious thought.
Think
of the illnesses that afflict us, so many people sick, afflicted with
infirmity, hindered by the limitations of this mortal frame. Think of the sinfulness of our flesh, and the
glorious truth is that it is not always to be like that because the Bible says
we are going to be changed. You know,
there is a sense in which redemption is not yet complete. We rightly talk about the finished work of
Christ, and our souls have been redeemed, but
our bodies are still to be redeemed.
Paul refers to Romans
8: 23 to the redemption of out body which will take place at the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ. When He comes we are to be changed into His
likeness. This vile body is to be made
into His glorious body. That is a
tremendous prospect.
We
were thinking earlier of death being like a sleep. The Psalmist said I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psalm 17: 15). That is
the way we are to be raised from the dead.
We are going to be raised so that we are like Christ. When He shall appear, we shall
be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is
(1 John 3: 2). What a change
that will be!
The
story is told of C. H. Spurgeon and Andrew Bonar who were in correspondence
about the book that Mr. Bonar had written on Leviticus;
and Mr. Spurgeon had enjoyed that volume very much indeed. (And if you would like help with the Book of Leviticus, Mr. Bonars commentary is one which you
should secure and study very carefully).
Stories are told in various ways, but I understand it was Mr. Bonar who
asked for a signed copy photograph of Mr. Spurgeon. This was sent with a little note attached,
which had words to the effect that if he had waited a little longer he would
have had a better likeness, and then there were these words, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we
shall see Him as He is. That fact should encourage you to look and
pray for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Literal Judgment
So
we are to be literally raised and literally changed; and there is going to be a
literal judgment. It is a sobering
thought that there will be a day of reckoning.
It will be a day of actual accounting, of actual answering to God. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5: 10, we must all (that includes every believer) appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. He said when
writing to the Romans that every one of us shall give an account of himself to God
(14: 12). We are going
to be judged. When will that event
occur? It will occur [before the
first resurrection (Heb. 9: 27; Luke 20:
35, R.V.),] at the Second Coming [of Jesus / Messiah].
But
remember that for the unsaved it will be different. When we stand before the Judgment Seat of
Christ, there will be no unconverted people present. They will be judged one thousand years later
at the Great White Throne spoken of in Revelation 20.
Paul
says, I charge
thee
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who
shall Judge the quick and the dead and by His appearing and His kingdom
(2 Timothy 4: 1, R.V.). The
saviour is coming to Judge. We speak
of two advents of Christ and there is a different purpose for these
advents. At His first advent He came as
a Saviour but at the Second Advent He is coming as a Judge. He will not judge our state or standing
before God. He is coming to judge our service.
He will judge how we have used
our lives and talents, as Paul said in 2
Corinthians 5: 10, it is the deeds that are done in the body for which we will have to answer as
believers.
God will not be interested in that day on how much
money you have made. He will not be
interested in how far up the corporate ladder you were able to climb. He will not be concerned with how popular you
were, or how famous. The question in
that day will be, what did you do
for Me? How did you use the wealth, the
gifts, the money with which I blessed you? How have you used all the things that
I have afforded to you in this life?
Think of it; you are going to have to answer for all that you gave done;
and I urge you, do not waste your life. Do not throw away the
opportunities of service that God gives you. Seek
to redeem the time with which you are blessed here upon this earth. We are going to be judged.*
[*
See 1 Cor. 15: 58. cf.
2 Tim. 2:
3-13; Phil. 3: 15-16, R.V.).]
A Literal Reward
One
more thing to be mentioned is that we are going to be rewarded. This is closely related to the previous
thought. In Revelation 22: 12 we
are told, Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me. Not only is He coming to judge but the
Saviour is coming to reward. If you
think of it, He is a good master. He
wants to reward His [obedient] people. In
this life, we are ridiculed, persecuted, abused, and mocked but we are going to
be rewarded when He comes again. The
reality is, as we read in Hebrews
11: 35, we [hope we] are going to have a better
resurrection, one of those things that
will make that resurrection better is that He is coming to reward us for all
that we have done for Him in this life.*
[* Rev. 22: 12; 20: 6. R.V.).]
A soldier
does not get his medal for his bravery in the middle of the battle. Nobody steps out into the battlefield to call
the battle to a halt and say, here is a soldier that has fought valiantly, we will just give him a medal here in the middle of the battle. The soldier waits till the battle is over,
until the war has come to a conclusion and then there is the medal
ceremony. That is how it is with the
Christian. When the struggles of this life are over, when this [evil] age has
come to a close, it is then that we shall be rewarded for all that we have sought to do
in the name of Christ.
The
Saviour said that a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple will not
go without its reward (Matthew
10: 42). The least act
of hospitality will be rewarded. What is
less than giving somebody a cup of cold water?
That should encourage you to do the least task in the Name of the
Saviour in the cause of the gospel.
Remember,
you may lose your reward, but you
cannot lose your [eternal] salvation.
That is secure. The Book of the Revelation says, Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown (3:
11). I want to encourage you not to be
careless. The Bible encourages us to
take heed to ourselves. Sometimes we can
be so busy we forget about our own life and conduct. Take heed to thyself. Walk circumspectly. Be
careful about the way you live, so that carelessness does not cost you a crown
on that day.*
[* 2 Pet. 3: 8.]
Think
of those people in the Bible, and someone else had the same name. There were two Sauls
in the Bible. The Old Testament Saul
lost his kingdom, but the Lord raised up another Saul
in the New Testament, who was a mighty man of God. There are two with the name Ananias. In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira
lost their lives because of their conduct, but the Lord raised up another
Ananias, a man in
Brethren and sisters, be
careful how you live lest someone else takes your reward. There is encouragement here for us to serve
the Lord, to work for the Master. It is
an encouragement to carry on in your labours if you understand the fact that He
is coming with the reward for your service.
What will that reward be? Well,
one of the rewards is we are going to reign over cities. The Book of Revelation says specifically, we shall reign on the
earth (5: 10.) He will reign but we [if accounted
worthy] are to reign with Him. We are
to share in His kingdom. That is part of the reward of the believer, and
that is literal; it is actual.
Some
will reign over ten cities, some will reign over five,
and Mr. Paisley says that he would be happy to reign over
[* Note: Rewards
depend upon our works - whether they are good or bad. Do not mistake;
God is not to be mocked. For whatever a man may sow, this also he will
reap: 8 because the one sowing for his
flesh {his sinful nature, N.I.V.}, will from the flesh reap corruption;
but the one sowing for the Spirit {who sows to
please the Spirit, N.I.V.} will from the Spirit reap life age-lasting {Gk. aionian Life}. 9 Therefore we should
not become weary in doing good; for we shall reap at the proper season, if we do not give up. 10 So
then, as we have opportunity, we should do good to
all, but especially to the members of
the family of the faith: (Galatians 6: 7-10).]
Conclusion
So
this is something of the way in which the prophetical Scriptures will be
literally fulfilled for the Christian. As
we said a little earlier, they will be literally fulfilled as far as the kingdom and as far as Christ is concerned. But they
will also be literally fulfilled for us as believers. These things are actual,
and if we are consistent in our interpretation of the Bible, then what follows
on from these things is actual as well.
These things will lead us into the millennium, the reign of Christ.
* *
*
The Difference Between
Application and Interpretation
By Stephen A Toms
-------
Our
subject is an important one as so many professing Christians seem to think that
if they apply to their own lives what they read in the Holy Scriptures, they
have understood all that God intended them to know. We ought to be aware that whilst application
of the Scripture is a very vital aspect of ministry, we should always seek to
take heed to what the Word of God is actually teaching. I have just two headings, one giving a
definition of the terms, and the other a declaration of the truth.
The Terms Given in Our Subject
The
terms are, of course, application and interpretation. I used a dictionary to see what definitions
were given to these two words.
Application: I found that
amongst several explanations of the word apply
some meanings were to devote or to suit. On
referring to Crudens Concordance I found that this word apply occurs a few times in Scripture. One of the most well known texts can be found
in Psalm 90: 12, So
teach us o number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. The earlier
verses remind us that our lives are comparatively short in the light of
eternity, and so Moses teaches us to pray that we may view things rightly and
live accordingly. Our earthly lives are
so soon over that we are wise if we seek to live with eternity in view. That seems to me to be a very good
explanation of the word apply. As we understand the truth about our time
here below, so we apply that knowledge to our manner of life. The ungodly know, whether they like to think
of it or not, that they must die, but they do not apply this knowledge if they
continue to live as if they were to be here always.
You
may well expect Solomon to use this word.
In Proverbs 2: 2 he said, Apply thine heart to understanding. He had been exhorting his son
to listen to his instruction and apply that in his life. There are similar thoughts in Proverbs 22: 17;
and 23: 12. Solomon also uses the word in Ecclesiastes, explaining that he himself had
applied his heart to knowledge and wisdom.
We can read this in 7: 25; 8: 9 and 16.
The
word can also be found in the margin of Hosea 7:
6. In
this verse, Ephraim (
These
are the only verses in which I could find the word apply,
but they teach us that we should use the
information gained in order to live in a certain pattern. That
is application. There is much that we are taught [privately by
the Holy Spirit] from the
Holy Scripture which we should seek to apply to our own lives, and there is nothing wrong with that. That is what Christians ought to do.
Interpretation: This word is found more frequently in the
Bible. The word interpret
is one which I do not like, but it is, of course, a word God has used. It is, I believe, a word which is often
misused. In my dictionary, the
explanation given is to explain, unfold or present
the meaning of, to translate into intelligible words. It seems to me therefore that the correct
meaning is that something which cannot be intelligibly understood is made
intelligible. In the Bible, the word is
most frequently used for the interpretation of dreams, or of names.
The
first time it occurs is in Genesis
40, where we read of Pharaohs butler and
baker having their dreams. The dreams were only a picture and could not
be taken literally, but the word interpret comes seven times
in the chapter, and it is true that the
interpretation given through Joseph was fulfilled [in Gods
time, literally and] precisely. Then in the
next chapter there is the record of Pharaohs dreams. Joseph was called to give the interpretation and
the word comes seven times in that chapter.
Again, the dreams were only a picture, but the interpretation was
fulfilled precisely. We have a similar
incident in the story of Gideon. In Judges 7: 15 we are told about the dream of the Midianite and what his fellow said.
Daniel uses the word more
than any other writer of Holy Writ. In chapter 2 the word is found twelve times.
That chapter tells us of Nebuchadnezzars dream of the image made of
gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay.
Daniel not only told the king his dream but he said that God had shown
him that there would be four great world empires, of which
We
also have a vision that Daniel himself had.
This is recorded in chapter
7, and we read in verse 16 that the interpretation was given to him. For each of these dreams and also for this
vision, the picture was only a picture but the
fulfilment of the interpretation was to be literal.
Also
in Daniel, we find in chapter 5 the account of the writing
on the wall at Belshazzars great feast.
Daniel was called to tell the king what it meant. We have the word interpret
nine times in that chapter.
The
word is also used in connection with the interpretation of a proverb (Proverbs 1: 16). Twice we read of the interpretation of a language. In Genesis 42: 23 we find
that Joseph had an interpreter when he spoke to his brothers. In Ezra 4: 7 there is
reference to a letter written in Syrian being interpreted.
The
New Testament uses the word in regard to the
interpretation of names: Emmanuel means God with us (Matthew 1: 23); Talitha cumi means Damsel, I say unto thee arise
(Mark 5: 41);
The
word occurs twice in 1
Corinthians 12 and five times in chapter 14 in connection with
the interpretation of tongues. The last reference (14: 28) reminds
us that it is better [forbidden] not to speak thus unless someone can explain what is
being said.
In
2 Peter 1: 20, we are told that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. It seems to me that the meaning of this
phrase is that those who were moved by the Holy Ghost could not give their own
thoughts when writing the Scripture. The
words were all given by inspiration of God and that is one reason why it is
important not to use versions which change the words. God is very jealous over His Word. In Jeremiah 23: 16, the
Lord emphasises that we ought not to hearken to those who proclaim their own
words, out of their own heart. If God
was so careful in the giving of the words, it seems reasonable that we should
not give our own interpretation of those things He has said. So, however you understand this verse in 2 Peter, surely it must include the thought that we are not to give an interpretation of
His plain words.* This may
explain why I do not favour the word interpretation.
[* In other words,
when God speaks of the Church, He does not
mean the Kingdom! When he speaks of Death,
He does not mean Resurrection! When He speaks of the
First Resurrection He does not mean Regeneration! When He speaks of Sheol
or Hades, He does not mean Heaven or the lake of fire! When He speaks of a Reward,
He does not mean the Free
Gift! When He speaks of Work, He does not mean Faith! When He says a
Thousand Years, He does not mean Etenity!]
Incidently,
the Hebrew word luts
translated as interpreter in Genesis 42: 23 and Job 33: 23 is given in 2 Chronicles 32: 31 as ambassador, and in Isaiah 43: 27 as teachers. The
ambassadors and teachers described in these passages were not faithful interpreters.
Whenever
we read of the interpretation of dreams, visions, writing, proverbs, languages,
names, or tongues, we should take Gods interpretation literally. The first chairman of the S.G.A.T., liked to
emphasise that the best preaching was expository.
Exposition: My dictionary describes the word expound as to lay open the
meaning in detail. This is
really what we are called to do, expound Gods holy word. Application is quite right, but it is not
sufficient. The truth that God has given to us by
revelation has to be understood, believer, and stated.
The Truth Given in the Scripture
There
are examples in the Bible where application of truth is made. On the day of Pentecost, some accused the
disciples of being drunk. Peter stated
that this was not so, but they were witnessing something spoken by Joel. He did not say it was the fulfilment of Joels
prophecy. A common phrase in the New
Testament is that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. But Peter did not use these words; he said, this is that. Anyone looking at Joel 2 will know that it was not
the fulfilment. Pentecost was a picture, a foretaste of what will happen when Joel
2
is fulfilled, that is, when the Lord returns.
It is the Second Coming that is described in Joel 2, a time
when
In
Acts 15: 15, when there was a question about the inclusion of
Gentiles, James quoted from Amos
9.
He did not say that the prophecy was fulfilled, but he took the words of
the prophet and applied them to the discussion.
He said to this agree
the words of the prophets. He reminded the church that the reference to
the tabernacle of David being built again (at the Second Coming) also spoke of
Gentiles calling on Gods Name. There
was no suggestion of the fulfilment of the prophecy but the application was not
incorrect. No doubt you will think of
other such words in the books of the prophets.
There
is a sense in which Gods words in Joshua 1: 5, As I was with Moses,
so I will be with thee were an application.
Things were not the same for Joshua
as they were for Moses, but in all
his experiences he knew that the same God was with him. And we can, of
course, apply that to ourselves if we
are truly Gods people. For God is always with such even unto the end
of the age.
Someone
once wrote a letter in a magazine saying that I should read Galatians 4. The reason
for that was that it says in verse
24, Which things are an allegory. Well, of
course, Ishmaels teasing of Isaac is an allegory, but Sarah and Hagar, and
their sons were all literal people. The
ungodly do persecute believers, so that there is an allegory, or an
application, but that does not mean that the incident was not a literal
happening.
Thinking
about the interpretation, or rather, exposition, it seems to be that it would
be helpful to consider the words of George T Hunt, a previous editor of
Watching and Waiting. He wrote, many years
ago, In reading prophecy, remember that
There
are those who would tell us that
In
Ezekiel 34: 11, we read of Jehovah seeking out His sheep. It is not wrong to apply that to all those
saved by sovereign grace, but the passage [as initially stated by our
Lord Jesus, was directed to and] refers
to
In Revelation
21: 2 we read of new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven and in Hebrews 12: 22 of the heavenly
When
Mr. W. K. Puttnam spoke at a S.G.A.T. meeting some
years ago on Zechariah 8, I remember Mr Fromow saying afterwards that verse 5 tells us that the boys and girls will be fit to play in the streets of
Jerusalem, and the streets will be fit for the children to play in. And the previous verse reminds us that old
people will be there as well as the young.
There are many such wonderful prophecies about
I
know a man who frequently, in prayer, thanks God He has set His King on His
holy hill of Zion, as if it is something which has already happened. But Psalm 2 refers to the
future, to the end of this [evil] age
with nations raging and people imagining vain things; of kings and rulers
against the LORD. Gods answer to all this will be to set the Lord Jesus, at His Second
Coming, here on the earth, at Zion.
There
are many psalms which tell about
The
Application
is good, but to say that the Scripture
does not mean what it says is nonsensical.
We need to believe what the Bible states. We do not profess to understand everything,
but it is right to believe what we do understand.
-------
How readest thou? (Luke 10: 26.)
Blessed is he that readeth. (Revelation 1: 3.)
Each
must judge for himself what best meets his need. Many holy men of God have found blessing and
food for their souls, and power for life
and service, as they have read right through the Scriptures within a short
period. Others again have stilled their
hunger by giving themselves to
prolonged, deep meditation of shorter passages in the Word.
Genuine hard work at conquering difficult
passages always brings its reward an fruit and
blessing. The one great essential is always that we should, whenever possible,
find some practical expression in our lives for that which we have read, so
that we become doers of the Word, and not hearers only (or speakers) only. The
Scripture revelation of the will of God must be the plumb-line of our actions,
and the guiding star of our lives. Every question, great or small, must be
settled in the light of the Word of God, and every circumstance of our lives find its interpretation there. - Sister Eva.
I supposed I knew my Bible,
reading piecemeal,
hit and miss,
Now a bit of John,
or Matthew,
now a snatch
of Genesis,
certain
chapters of Isaiah,
certain Psalms (the twenty-third).
Yes, I thought I knew the Word.
But I found that thorough
reading
was a different
thing to do,
and the
way was unfamiliar
when I read
the Bible through.
We who like to scan the Bible,
dip and
dabble here and there,
just
before we kneel a-weary,
and yearn
through a hurried prayer.
We who treat this crown of writings
as we
treat on other book,
just a
paragraph disjointed,
with a
bored impatient look.
Try a worthier procedure,
try a broad and steady view;
we will
kneel in very rapture,
when we
read the Bible through!
- Amos R. Wells.
Gods
revelation is unique in that it answers two great questions - where man and the
world came from, and what the destiny of all things will be. No other book has ever given definite replies
to these questions as the Bible. And it
is with this query regarding destiny
[that we are above]
concerned. Just as Scripture gives
satisfactory information as to creation and assigns the source of all things to
God, so it sheds light upon the final consummation. According to the Bible the end of this world system will be signalized by the Second Advent
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nineteen
hundred years ago He came in humiliation; despised and rejected of men, (Isa. 53:
3). He offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice
for sin. But equally with this First advent the prophets [of God] proclaim
His second coming. In fact, the Second Advent
has more a fuller mention than the First.
For every Bible reference to Christs coming in humiliation, there are
ten references to His return in glory. Naturally enough, this principle is
exclusively a prophetic one. It exhibits
to a wonderful degree the omniscience of God.
Only One from nothing is hid, who has perfect understanding and knows
the end from the beginning, could reveal so explicitly the facts relating to
the consummation of all things in the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ, (Titus 2: 13).
The
fact of the matter is that no amount of
perfunctory, thoughtless reading, reading merely to perform a pious duty, is of
spiritual help. Nor can it lead to spiritual insight into Scripture. A verse
or chapter of the Bible read with a wandering attention of a mind worn out by
the strenuous activity of study, business, or the frenzied pursuit of pleasure
simply does not register upon the spiritual faculties. The fact that the words are Holy Scripture is
of no avail. God wants the undivided attention to the reader of His book, and true reverence demands that it be read with alert
mind. It is for this reason that the
morning is so far preferable to the night as the time of Bible study. Surely Gods Word is deserving
of a few moments at the time of day when the mind is keenest and the power of
concentration most vigorous.
- Frank E. Gaebelen.
THE END