Rules of Interpretation of Prophecy

There are basic rules of prophetic interpretation, that cannot be violated, and every interpretation must meet these basic rules if it is the correct interpretation.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, or making a list of new rules, I considered that there are some basic rules already in use. After searching the internet for the best sites that gave credible information regarding rules of interpretation, I found about seven suitable sites and extracted from among these, the rules and other guidelines that are credible. This is by no means an authoritative list, nor comprehensive. Here they are;

1 . Applied to Bible study, rules are nothing more than a means of disciplining the mind by which we allow the Bible to mean what it must mean, not what "we" want it to mean. A passage has a certain meaning, and we need to study it to understand what it is trying to say.

2 . A verse can only mean what it means in its context and must not be pulled out of its context. When it is pulled out of context, it is often presented as meaning something that it cannot mean within the context.

3 . Many times another passage will shed light on the obscure passage and bring forth a sudden revelation of understanding. We know more than one instance in which this had happened. However, one word of caution is in order at this point. Such a practice can be overdone by "forcing" comparisons that are not relative. (similar to rule #2)

4 . The Ultimate Test: Of course, no prophetic expositor can prove his or her predictions about the future. It is impossible to prove the accuracy of a conclusion before it happens. The most direct method to test a prediction for accuracy, is to record the prediction before the event comes to pass. Then, when the predicted event occurs, ordinary people can judge the accuracy of the prediction. This simple procedure allows an impartial jury of observers to decide which predictions and interpretations are accurate by simply noting the presence or absence of events which have been predicted.

5 . The book of Daniel was written about 26 centuries ago, but unlike the other 65 books in the Bible, some of the prophecies in the book of Daniel were sealed up "until the time of the end." The angel, Gabriel, said to Daniel, ". . . Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end." (Daniel 12: 9) What does "closed up and sealed until the time of the end" mean? It means that certain information in the book of Daniel remains "top secret" until the time of the end arrives. My study of Bible prophecy has brought me to the conclusion that we are living chronologically "at the time of the end." If this conclusion is true, the time has come for the secrets of Daniel to be unveiled.

(I have had these same thoughts; That if we are at the time of the end, as near as many say we are, then these elements contained in the prophecies, must be able to show that there are corresponding fulfillments already within our recent history.)

God embedded secrets in the book of Daniel a long time ago. These secrets have remained hidden within the text of Daniel for almost 26 centuries. Now that we have come to the time of the end, it is time for the secrets of Daniel to be opened. No one can know the truth about some of Daniel’s prophecies until all of the necessary information is unsealed. The book of Daniel was sealed up until the time of the end; therefore, only those people who live at the time of the end can know all the truth about Daniel’s prophecies.

6 . When God decides to disclose a truth or open to us its understanding, He enables ordinary men and women to discover what He has hidden.

Through the ages we find this process at work: On or about the time of fulfillment, elements of prophecy are understood. For example, when it came time to understand the timing of Christ’s birth, the wise men from the East figured it out. (Matthew 2: 2) The apostle Paul also noticed this phenomenon. Consider his words: 2 "Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace 3 that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, (as I have already written briefly.) 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3: 2 - 6) In Daniel 3, we read about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego facing a mandatory requirement to worship a golden image set up by the king of Babylon. In Revelation 13: 15 we read about the inhabitants of the world facing a mandatory requirement to worship an image set up by the king of modern Babylon. These dramatic stories of faith were recorded in Daniel to benefit all generations, but especially for the final generation!

7 . Often, two or more prophecies describe the same event. Because of this, precise alignment of the prophecies is not only possible, but essential to understanding the big picture. Together they are the events that unite the 18 prophecies in Daniel and Revelation into one grand story. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables; and in this way the same things are oftentimes revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. Psalm 89: 19; Hosea 12: 10; Habakkuk 2: 2; Acts 2: 17; 1 Corinthians 10: 6; Hebrews 9: 9, 24; Psalm 78: 2; Matthew 13: 13, 34; Genesis 41: 1 - 32; Daniel 2, 7, 8; Acts 10: 9 - 16

8 . This statement is critical: Rules are not invented; rather, man may only discover the presence or operation of rules by repeatedly testing the architecture which God created. We detect the presence of a rule when we recognize a consistent behavior or architecture. After finding the presence of a rule, it becomes necessary to carefully state the rule so that the behavior can be independently validated by others. When you see an unfamiliar rule that appears to be invented just to support a particular interpretation, or it is applied to one use only, it is not a legitimate rule.

9 . To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of prophecy: if you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event; but if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development; for God takes care that history and prophecy shall agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. Psalm 21: 5; Isaiah 14: 17 - 19; 1 Peter 2: 6; Revelation 17: 17; Acts 3: 18

10 . And in applying such rules, and after arriving at an understanding... "The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires--character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and wordly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God's word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word; and we can have confidence that He who takes notice of the sparrow's fall, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of His own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in His word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek. end of rules

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