No Private Interpretation

No private interpretation is the failsafe that prophecy cannot be made to mean simply whatever anyone likes. Failure to observe this prohibition produces all the false doctrine, which embarrasses and divides the Church. Since “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2Peter 1:20 KJV), then the fulfillment of each of any discussed prophecies is subject to your estimation of whether they have been, are, or will be fulfilled, but most of all, whether the “Spirit of Prophecy” (Revelation 19:10) agrees they have fulfilled their purpose. 

Remember, it doesn’t just apply to the heretical cults damning their way to Hell by deviously misusing the texts; but, it also applies to all those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is speaking to His Church. Your opinion is just as important as the most erudite scholar, since all interpretations are subject to the Author of the Book. Drink of the Water of Life freely for none shall be turned away. Desire deeply to be taught of the Spirit understanding of His Word. Submit wholly to the obedience of your understanding. Refrain from adding to or taking away from the purpose and intent of the text. Allow for none but the Holy Spirit to infallibly interpret the text. Be willing to change, or we can never grow in grace. 

Father, thank you for the light that shines in a dark place. Cause us to value Your words more than our physical food. We would spiritually die without the sustenance of Your Word; so, help us to be numbered among those, who would be willing to physically die for the Testimony of Your Word. Keep all Your daily promises and fulfill your prophecies to us, LORD. Come quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Taking God At His Word

To take God at His word is to accept His word on anything without further verification. If He said it, He meant it. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 KJV). Treat God’s words with the same respect you would want God to treat your words. If you say what you do not mean, then treat God in the same fashion. If that sounds horrifying, then give God’s Word the respect it deserves! When interpreting or arriving at a conclusion on the meaning of anything in Scripture — including Bible prophecies — the interpretation that justifies God the most in making it understandable is the goal. If the plain or literal sense is most understandable, then God’s Spirit has communicated His message to you. If it only makes sense figuratively, poetically, or allegorically, then so be it. Our goal is to best justify God for whatever He said — literal or figurative. If the biblical translation of the original text makes the meaning obscure, then the modern reader is disadvantaged in arriving at a proper interpretation. If the biblical settings of the OT or NT recipients of the original texts are not understood, again, the modern reader is disadvantaged. Philip was used in the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8), because he understood the context and meaning of Isaiah 53, which was being read. Whether God uses a Bible translation, a Bible scholar, Philip the Evangelist, or a humble cross reference, such as the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, it is the Holy Spirit illuminating and teaching the text. “But the anointing [Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him” (1John 2:27 KJV). Glory to God!