Growth How to Treat Bible Prophecies in Accordance With God’s Will

[Iris Willson]

The Bible says: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21). “As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). “For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). These verses tell us that we cannot interpret prophecies literally relying on our conceptions and imaginings, because prophecies are from God, and it is only through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that we can understand them.

 

[for_his_glory]

It's when we start relying solely on the Holy Spirit and not man to teach us is when all the mysteries of God's prophecy is revealed to us in all truths.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

[Nathan12]

...it is only through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that we can understand them.

And the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to interpret Scripture. Also, Christ and His apostles already showed us how prophecies must be interpreted, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Who would have known that Adam was a type of Christ unless we were told through Scripture? Who would have known that Jonah too was a type of Christ unless Christ Himself had disclosed it? And Jesus already told us "whoso readeth, let him understand" (Mt 24:15) in connection with the Abomination of Desolation. Which means that God expects us to understand Bible prophecies, by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Not going into flights of fancy.

What many Christians may not know is that some of the Early Church Fathers began to spiritualize away Bible truth, the Catholic Church misinterpreted Bible prophecies, and the Reformers were more focused on Gospel truth than eschatology, so they adopted the Catholic interpretations, while calling the Pope the Antichrist. Thus we have Amillennialism, Preterism, Post-tribulationism etc. as the general misinterpretations of prophecy.