Fellowservant
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How to Interpret the Book of Revelation
Did you know that the prophet Joels army of locusts, is in the book of revelation? Did you also know that the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are also mentioned in the old testament? as well as the two witnesses of the book of revelation, along with the woman and manchild of revelation chapter 12. So is Mystery Babylon the Great, plus we also know that the prophet Daniel speaks about the Antichrist as well. There are minor discrepencies with some of these, but there is no doubt that they are the same visions. Discrepencies in prophecy are not contradictions. Example: We have the four beast (ie Cherabims) in revelation before the throne haveing six wings apiece, in the old testament we see these same four beast, only haveing four wings apiece.
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 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.
The worse prophecy interpreters or teachers, are the ones who use only the book of revelation, and the new testament as thier guide to prophecy. The old testament prophets also seen some of these endtime events, so they should be used in the interpretation of the book of revelation without question. Then we have the Preterist who spiritualize mostly everything in this book, or say its all fulfilled.
Thats why i stress for anyone who studys the book of revelation to look for its interpretations...or some of its interpretations, from the old testament prophets, and new testament as well. We will never go wrong this way, as we are letting scripture interpret itself, and not our own private interpretations. There is nothing wrong with makeing an educated guest on some of the prophecies that don't interpret themselves, but thats all it is is an educated guest, not uninfallible truth.
If a person can't give a second witness in scripture to these events (ie our old testament prophets, and the prohecies of Christ or Paul or whomever) then he has no right to be dogmatic about these scriptures of prophecy, that are very hard sayings of prophecy (ie the book of revelation). When the angel tells John this is the meaning of the vision with some visions in the book of revelation, then it is being revealed to us somewhat, but still there is some mystery left with some. So we then need to look at the old testament prophets, and new testament, to see if they can enlighten us further, its just that simple.
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
How would we know that Christ was, who he said he was, without the old testament prophets? we wouldn't. First thing Jesus did in his revealing to the people was read a prophecy about himself from the prophet Isaiah in a synagogue, (Luke 4:16-21) and said, this day this prophecy is fulfilled in your ears. All of the prophecies of Christ first comeing are in the old testament, so are all the prophecies of his second coming.
Paul the apostle spent night and day teaching from the old testament, the prophecies of Christ first comeing, so why don't most prophecy teachers use these as well, or look to the old testament prophets for the interpretation of the book of revelation is beyond me. But thats how most of the book of revelation is being interpreted today, with the wisdom of men, and private interpretation of these events... (ie nuclear bombs, and helicopters, mens armys, mens inventions, planes, trains,and automobiles: these ideas if not from the bible itself, end up putting a limit on the power of God, and are in possible error of Gods word.
God doesn't need mens inventions to fulfill his word, or do miracles, he proved that with the prophet Moses in the land of Egypt. And yes, there will be a mans army, but it will be destroyed at the battle of Armageddon when Christ returns. God will put it in mens hearts to fulfill his will, but he doesn't really need thier inventions, although he may use them.
One real well known bible prophecy teacher, wont bother to mention his name, said that Saddam Hussein was likely the Antichrist (ie man of sin), because his name means the destroyer. He also went as far as saying that the Chernobyl accident, was the wormwood star that was to fall and make the water bitter and so on, all nonsence.
Jesus said this about the father, when he said you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, but have reavealed them unto babes (Luk 10:21). And so it pleases God to take the babes.. and reject the wise, if they get to highminded.
In order to understand most of these prophecies interpreters need to look to the old testament prophets, and new testament, or we end up blind leading the blind, or guessers that make thier guesses the uninfallible truth, doctrine is uninfallible, dogma is infallible. I also believe God is going to use good saints all over the world, to get most of these prophecies understood according to the word, before Jesus Christ returns. Because the prophet Daniel was told that knowledge would increase and many will run to and fro (Daniel 12:4), when it is time for these endtime prophecies to be fulfilled and understood. In early bible times they used big heavy scrolls to read from the scriptures or search them, today we can search the scriptures with a click of a botton, thats what i call knowledge.
Also scripture must be interpreted in its context always, with a small little exception with prophecy, but not always... phophecy is not the same as, or comes across the same as... word for word conversation. Even if we have two prophecies that match, one from the old testament and one from the new, even then we should always leave room for another interpretation, this way we won't make ourselves out to be false teachers, we need to be carefull how we interpret prophecy.
But if we do have two prophecies that match, then we should stick to these prophecies untill someone proves us otherwise. Lets not forget who Jesus said John the baptist was in spirit, while the Jews were looking for Elijah, they missed the prophecy of John the baptist, who said he was the one crying in the wilderness, according to an old testament prophecy about himself. And Jesus said that Elijah had come already, and they did with him whatever they wanted.
We also have Jesus Christ as well telling the Jews to search the old testament scriptures (John 5:39), because there was some who testified of him. And if the prophets testified of his first comeing, they also testified of his second comeing, therefore this would include the book of revelation.
Double meaning prophecies, or ongoing prophecies, are also commom in the old testament, one that comes to mind is the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16) on the day of Pentecost. Peter says this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel as the holy ghost had come from God in the upper room, and they spoke in tongues and prophecied. But the sun didn't turn to darkness, neither did the moon turn to blood, nor did the day of the lords return happen at that time. So the Jews could have accused Peter of being a false teacher, if they didn't understand how some prophecy worked.
Another good example of how prophecy works, is King David in his Psalms... many times he is singing to the lord about his problems or victorys, and all of a sudden he says something that is not 100% about him, but about Christ, thats one way the gift of prophecy works. King David says in Psalms 22 they pierced my hands and my feet, here King David is not really talking about himself, but prophecying about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Or where he says in the begining of Psalms 22 ...My God My God why have you forsaken me. Jesus Christ repeated this same prophecy/saying... on the cross, more than likely for his followers to see where it was prophecied.
Psa 22:1 <To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Some bible teachers teach that God had forsaken Christ on the cross, because he couldn't look at sin, and Christ became sin for us that day, i dont really believe this. I believe Christ said this to show his followers where this prophecy was spoken of, or comeing from, as we also see the piercing of the hands and feet in the same Psalm,and the casting of lots for his garments.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
The saints must not lean to their own understanding, or what we have been taught all this time... or the clincher of all,the interpretation of prophecy we like best, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then its probably a duck. We just need to look closer, this way we can be sure its a duck.
Although many prophecies need to be fulfilled in order to understand them compleatly, we can still have a good understanding of the ones that are not fulfilled yet, and avoid total ignorance when it comes to bible prophecy in the last days, or avoid being false teachers of prophecy in the last days.
2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
God bless
Did you know that the prophet Joels army of locusts, is in the book of revelation? Did you also know that the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are also mentioned in the old testament? as well as the two witnesses of the book of revelation, along with the woman and manchild of revelation chapter 12. So is Mystery Babylon the Great, plus we also know that the prophet Daniel speaks about the Antichrist as well. There are minor discrepencies with some of these, but there is no doubt that they are the same visions. Discrepencies in prophecy are not contradictions. Example: We have the four beast (ie Cherabims) in revelation before the throne haveing six wings apiece, in the old testament we see these same four beast, only haveing four wings apiece.
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 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.
The worse prophecy interpreters or teachers, are the ones who use only the book of revelation, and the new testament as thier guide to prophecy. The old testament prophets also seen some of these endtime events, so they should be used in the interpretation of the book of revelation without question. Then we have the Preterist who spiritualize mostly everything in this book, or say its all fulfilled.
Thats why i stress for anyone who studys the book of revelation to look for its interpretations...or some of its interpretations, from the old testament prophets, and new testament as well. We will never go wrong this way, as we are letting scripture interpret itself, and not our own private interpretations. There is nothing wrong with makeing an educated guest on some of the prophecies that don't interpret themselves, but thats all it is is an educated guest, not uninfallible truth.
If a person can't give a second witness in scripture to these events (ie our old testament prophets, and the prohecies of Christ or Paul or whomever) then he has no right to be dogmatic about these scriptures of prophecy, that are very hard sayings of prophecy (ie the book of revelation). When the angel tells John this is the meaning of the vision with some visions in the book of revelation, then it is being revealed to us somewhat, but still there is some mystery left with some. So we then need to look at the old testament prophets, and new testament, to see if they can enlighten us further, its just that simple.
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
How would we know that Christ was, who he said he was, without the old testament prophets? we wouldn't. First thing Jesus did in his revealing to the people was read a prophecy about himself from the prophet Isaiah in a synagogue, (Luke 4:16-21) and said, this day this prophecy is fulfilled in your ears. All of the prophecies of Christ first comeing are in the old testament, so are all the prophecies of his second coming.
Paul the apostle spent night and day teaching from the old testament, the prophecies of Christ first comeing, so why don't most prophecy teachers use these as well, or look to the old testament prophets for the interpretation of the book of revelation is beyond me. But thats how most of the book of revelation is being interpreted today, with the wisdom of men, and private interpretation of these events... (ie nuclear bombs, and helicopters, mens armys, mens inventions, planes, trains,and automobiles: these ideas if not from the bible itself, end up putting a limit on the power of God, and are in possible error of Gods word.
God doesn't need mens inventions to fulfill his word, or do miracles, he proved that with the prophet Moses in the land of Egypt. And yes, there will be a mans army, but it will be destroyed at the battle of Armageddon when Christ returns. God will put it in mens hearts to fulfill his will, but he doesn't really need thier inventions, although he may use them.
One real well known bible prophecy teacher, wont bother to mention his name, said that Saddam Hussein was likely the Antichrist (ie man of sin), because his name means the destroyer. He also went as far as saying that the Chernobyl accident, was the wormwood star that was to fall and make the water bitter and so on, all nonsence.
Jesus said this about the father, when he said you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, but have reavealed them unto babes (Luk 10:21). And so it pleases God to take the babes.. and reject the wise, if they get to highminded.
In order to understand most of these prophecies interpreters need to look to the old testament prophets, and new testament, or we end up blind leading the blind, or guessers that make thier guesses the uninfallible truth, doctrine is uninfallible, dogma is infallible. I also believe God is going to use good saints all over the world, to get most of these prophecies understood according to the word, before Jesus Christ returns. Because the prophet Daniel was told that knowledge would increase and many will run to and fro (Daniel 12:4), when it is time for these endtime prophecies to be fulfilled and understood. In early bible times they used big heavy scrolls to read from the scriptures or search them, today we can search the scriptures with a click of a botton, thats what i call knowledge.
Also scripture must be interpreted in its context always, with a small little exception with prophecy, but not always... phophecy is not the same as, or comes across the same as... word for word conversation. Even if we have two prophecies that match, one from the old testament and one from the new, even then we should always leave room for another interpretation, this way we won't make ourselves out to be false teachers, we need to be carefull how we interpret prophecy.
But if we do have two prophecies that match, then we should stick to these prophecies untill someone proves us otherwise. Lets not forget who Jesus said John the baptist was in spirit, while the Jews were looking for Elijah, they missed the prophecy of John the baptist, who said he was the one crying in the wilderness, according to an old testament prophecy about himself. And Jesus said that Elijah had come already, and they did with him whatever they wanted.
We also have Jesus Christ as well telling the Jews to search the old testament scriptures (John 5:39), because there was some who testified of him. And if the prophets testified of his first comeing, they also testified of his second comeing, therefore this would include the book of revelation.
Double meaning prophecies, or ongoing prophecies, are also commom in the old testament, one that comes to mind is the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16) on the day of Pentecost. Peter says this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel as the holy ghost had come from God in the upper room, and they spoke in tongues and prophecied. But the sun didn't turn to darkness, neither did the moon turn to blood, nor did the day of the lords return happen at that time. So the Jews could have accused Peter of being a false teacher, if they didn't understand how some prophecy worked.
Another good example of how prophecy works, is King David in his Psalms... many times he is singing to the lord about his problems or victorys, and all of a sudden he says something that is not 100% about him, but about Christ, thats one way the gift of prophecy works. King David says in Psalms 22 they pierced my hands and my feet, here King David is not really talking about himself, but prophecying about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Or where he says in the begining of Psalms 22 ...My God My God why have you forsaken me. Jesus Christ repeated this same prophecy/saying... on the cross, more than likely for his followers to see where it was prophecied.
Psa 22:1 <To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Some bible teachers teach that God had forsaken Christ on the cross, because he couldn't look at sin, and Christ became sin for us that day, i dont really believe this. I believe Christ said this to show his followers where this prophecy was spoken of, or comeing from, as we also see the piercing of the hands and feet in the same Psalm,and the casting of lots for his garments.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
The saints must not lean to their own understanding, or what we have been taught all this time... or the clincher of all,the interpretation of prophecy we like best, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then its probably a duck. We just need to look closer, this way we can be sure its a duck.
Although many prophecies need to be fulfilled in order to understand them compleatly, we can still have a good understanding of the ones that are not fulfilled yet, and avoid total ignorance when it comes to bible prophecy in the last days, or avoid being false teachers of prophecy in the last days.
2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
God bless
