Understanding Scripture Together
Go to group page
Lesson 10: Interpreting Prophecy
Discussion started by Shawn , on 12 March 01:18 PM
The Fifth Writing Style; Prophesy
There has never been a writing style in the Bible that has been so misused and misunderstood as "Prophesy". Even well meaning people, have misinterpreted a prophetical passage, to go down in silent humility. I think this is God's way of weeding out the weirdoes and keeping the greatest integrity of His predictive proclamations. Since God is the only person to know exactly an event in history, He is the only one who can reveal that event ahead of time. Prophecies have a single purpose, WARNING or revelation for a purpose!
Outlining a prophecy is somewhat like a "Letter Format" except the letter or message is from God. The prophecy is usually addressed to a people group or even an individual and contains a complaint or revelation from God, a description of the problem or revelation and what to do to correct the problem or how to view something God has revealed. So your outline form will look like this:
To:
From: (God)
Complaint or Problem/Revelation:
How to Resolve/How to view something revealed:
Warning/Outcome of Events:
Some Prophecies can be short and direct, while in the case of the Four Major Prophetical Books in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament; the story is in the details.
Study Tools:
This is going to sound contrary but take events literally. Very little in scripture is symbolic if we think about it. Symbolism usually takes the from of having one thing represent another. For example, beasts often refer to nations and waters to people. However, what these beasts or water do or have done to them can be taken quite literally even without knowing precisely to whom they refer. They will happen in God's time whether you understand them or not. Many prophetical events are taking place in heaven where we cannot see. When these spill over into the realm of earth it will be tragic and well beyond the imagination of what we know as normal.
Take time to view the whole picture. A line between the New and Old Testaments does not divide prophecy. Many reference back and forth between the Testaments and give great detail to events. For example, Daniel, Revelation, Ezekiel, and others talk about the end times, they compliment each other with their writings often adding further details.
There are times we can get so wrapped up in the picture or style of the writings that we miss the message. We can become to enamored of the individual details of a pictorial prophecy that we neglect the message the prophecy is communicating.
The bottom line of prophecy is always warning or revealing for a purpose, all the details support this single message. God loves His people so He warns us of danger, even the danger of our own sin.
Let's pick a Prophecy to work with, a simple one, not one of the longer pictorial prophecies. Feel free to use bible dictionaries and encyclopedias to get historical context of the people receiving the prophecy. This can often lead us to a better understanding of what is meant. Take for example the church of Laodicea, knowing that it was once a center of commerce, banking, makers of fine black wool and healing eye salve will help to understand the impact of the letter to them. Knowing where their water source came from and the effects it had on the city will help to understand what is meant by hot or cold as used in Revelation 3.
Assignment: Lesson 10
Pick any one of the Seven Churches found in Revelation Chapters Two or Three.
List questions, Outline and write a few paragraphs on how you interpret this prophecy.
Text: Revelation 2,3
*!*!*!*!*! A Note of Conclusion!*!*!*!*!*
I wanted to thank you for the time you spent with me in this study. I hope it serves you many years in your searching through scripture. You can always remain in this group and see what we are working on. Your help towards new students is much appreciated. If you ever find a text you'd like to share and work out together post it in the side chat and we'll see about getting a thread opened for it.
May the grace and peace of God surround you and bless you as you study His word.
There has never been a writing style in the Bible that has been so misused and misunderstood as "Prophesy". Even well meaning people, have misinterpreted a prophetical passage, to go down in silent humility. I think this is God's way of weeding out the weirdoes and keeping the greatest integrity of His predictive proclamations. Since God is the only person to know exactly an event in history, He is the only one who can reveal that event ahead of time. Prophecies have a single purpose, WARNING or revelation for a purpose!
Outlining a prophecy is somewhat like a "Letter Format" except the letter or message is from God. The prophecy is usually addressed to a people group or even an individual and contains a complaint or revelation from God, a description of the problem or revelation and what to do to correct the problem or how to view something God has revealed. So your outline form will look like this:
To:
From: (God)
Complaint or Problem/Revelation:
How to Resolve/How to view something revealed:
Warning/Outcome of Events:
Some Prophecies can be short and direct, while in the case of the Four Major Prophetical Books in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament; the story is in the details.
Study Tools:
This is going to sound contrary but take events literally. Very little in scripture is symbolic if we think about it. Symbolism usually takes the from of having one thing represent another. For example, beasts often refer to nations and waters to people. However, what these beasts or water do or have done to them can be taken quite literally even without knowing precisely to whom they refer. They will happen in God's time whether you understand them or not. Many prophetical events are taking place in heaven where we cannot see. When these spill over into the realm of earth it will be tragic and well beyond the imagination of what we know as normal.
Take time to view the whole picture. A line between the New and Old Testaments does not divide prophecy. Many reference back and forth between the Testaments and give great detail to events. For example, Daniel, Revelation, Ezekiel, and others talk about the end times, they compliment each other with their writings often adding further details.
There are times we can get so wrapped up in the picture or style of the writings that we miss the message. We can become to enamored of the individual details of a pictorial prophecy that we neglect the message the prophecy is communicating.
The bottom line of prophecy is always warning or revealing for a purpose, all the details support this single message. God loves His people so He warns us of danger, even the danger of our own sin.
Let's pick a Prophecy to work with, a simple one, not one of the longer pictorial prophecies. Feel free to use bible dictionaries and encyclopedias to get historical context of the people receiving the prophecy. This can often lead us to a better understanding of what is meant. Take for example the church of Laodicea, knowing that it was once a center of commerce, banking, makers of fine black wool and healing eye salve will help to understand the impact of the letter to them. Knowing where their water source came from and the effects it had on the city will help to understand what is meant by hot or cold as used in Revelation 3.
Assignment: Lesson 10
Pick any one of the Seven Churches found in Revelation Chapters Two or Three.
List questions, Outline and write a few paragraphs on how you interpret this prophecy.
Text: Revelation 2,3
*!*!*!*!*! A Note of Conclusion!*!*!*!*!*
I wanted to thank you for the time you spent with me in this study. I hope it serves you many years in your searching through scripture. You can always remain in this group and see what we are working on. Your help towards new students is much appreciated. If you ever find a text you'd like to share and work out together post it in the side chat and we'll see about getting a thread opened for it.
May the grace and peace of God surround you and bless you as you study His word.
