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Interpretation of Biblical Prophecy

 1.  Prophecy is a statement that projects forward toward coming reality

2.  Prophecy is a major part of the Bible's Storyline.  One of the major themes of the Bible is the fulfillment of God's promises and using those promises to make sense of what is happening to God's people.  

Prophecy and fulfillment create a connected narrative that reveals greater understanding about events.  Prophecy is less about "predicting the future" and more about making sense of events as they happen in the present.

3.  Typically, Bible prophecy takes place on two levels:  the Immediate and the Reflective.

A.  The immediate or direct level is when Bible prophecy is literally and immediately fulfilled.  God declares what will happen, and it does happen that way.

B.  The Reflective level is when a Biblical truth is reflected in future events as a Typology.  For example Abraham's preparation to sacrifice his son Isaac is a Type of the sacrifice that God makes in Jesus' crucifixion.  This Abraham story is prophetic of God's promised redemption of his people.  When we look back to Abraham, we see a reflection of Jesus.

C.  When we see both the story of Isaac and the ram, and the story of Jesus as a connected narrative, we can derive greater meaning from both stories.  We see themes of personal sacrifice, covenant with God, obedience and provision in the lessons that both stories tell.  Jesus' execution by the Romans becomes more than just a tragic end to his ministry, but takes on new meaning as a reflection of Isaac's sacrifice as part of God redeeming his people. 

4.  Bible prophecy can have significant prophetic meanings on both levels at the same time. 

5.  On the immediate or Direct level, we use a Literal Grammatical Historical hermeneutic to interpret prophecy.  The Bible's prophetic passages say what they mean.

6. Prophecy and promises can be conditional.  God will say, if you do this then I will do that.  If Nineveh will not repent, Then it will be destroyed.

7.  On the Reflective level, prophecy can make use of symbolism.  Weeks can reflect years.  

8.  God is not only addressing Israel in the present at a particular place and time, He's also dealing with them on a generational level.  And his statements have implications for the future Church as well.  There is a lot happening in Isaiah 24-27 that has parallels with the book of Revelation.  Isaiah 24-27 is a reflection or Type of the events in Revelation.  The Abomination of Desolation is spoken of in Daniel 9 and 11-12, and is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 24. Daniel was prophesying about things that would happen in his direct frame of reference.   Jesus, in making his own prophecy, identifies Daniel as a prophetic reflection of things to come.  Jesus identifies Daniel as having both Immediate and Reflective prophetic meaning.

In 2 Samuel 7:10–17, we see the promise made by God to King David. God makes some special promises concerning one of David's sons: God will establish his kingdom (verse 12), be his father (verse 14), and never remove His love from him (verse 15). In addition, God says this son “will build a house for my Name” (verse 13). These promises were fulfilled in Solomon. However, part of God’s promise was that David’s son’s throne would be established “forever” (verse 13). This part of the prophecy could not refer to Solomon, because Solomon died and did not retain the throne forever. Thus, we have a prophecy with a dual fulfillment: it was fulfilled partially in Solomon and fully in Jesus Christ, also called the Son of David (Matthew 1:1). 

Another way to refer to this is as an Anticipatory Type.  In Biblical typology, a type is an element (person, object, or event) that pre-figures or foreshadows a greater reality that is to come, often in the events of the New Testament or eventual eschaton.  Adam is a Type of Christ as the first born of the human race.  David is a type of Christ as a king who would rule over God's people.  Jesus said that Jonah's three days in the belly of the fish was a type, anticipating Jesus' time in the tomb.

Jesus used the example of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, referring to Antiochus' desecration of the temple in 167 BC, as a type that pre-figured the eventual destruction of the Temple in AD 70, and which may also foreshadow future events in the End Times.

9. We can identify 3 eras of prophecy fulfillment.  Historical Israel, First Coming of Jesus, End Times.

10.  Prophecy is often in 

  • straightforward language, 
  • but it can also be in poetic language
  • and in Symbols:  Beast, Statue, Lampstands

 

11.  Symbols can be identified and explained, or they can remain unidentified.

    Just because the symbol is not explicitly identified in the text does not mean it is unknowable.  During interpretation and study, it can be helpful to put a label on these symbols, so you can follow them clearly.

Three Rules of Hermaneutics

1.  The Historical Grammatical method.  Understand the passage in the way that the original author and auditors would have understood it.  This strives for an objective answer.


 2.  Analogia Fides.  (A faithful comparison)  The Bible is its own best interpreter.  Wherever possible, use other passages in the Bible to interpret the one you are studying.  The Bible speaks with integrity and with the intention or goal of being understood.  

The book of Revelation has hundreds of allusions and references to the Old Testament.  One estimate is that the book has 404 verses, containing 518 references to earlier scripture.  Always stop to consider what the Old Testament reference is in the current verse you are studying.  John favored Ezekiel, Daniel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Isaiah, and Exodus.

3.  Interpretation precedes Application.  Each text has one basic meaning.  There may be countless applications of that meaning, once it is discovered.

 


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