The Prophecy Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together

By DR. TERRY L. PUETT

There are basic Bible class=SpellE>interpertation rules that must be applied when you study
the Bible. In this book Dr. Puett has meticulously
applied the rules. You will not be disappointed if you want to know what the
Bible has to say about the future. Stop listening to speculation and reading
fiction. Find out what the Bible says. In this book you will find the keys to
understanding prophecy, where the nations fit, the main characters in the
tribulation, and the seconding coming of Christ. Want to know what the Bible says;
this is the book for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 28, 2004
• ISBN: 9781414033495

DR. TERRY L. PUETT

Dr. Terry Puett has been a Bible student for over 40 years. He has pastored churches in Michigan, New Jersey and Texas. In his study of prophecy he has come to the conclusion that speculation, and fiction have nothing to do with understanding biblical prophecy. Dr. Puett will take you into the Bible and give you a look into future events that will take place. Dr. Puett is married to Linda. They have 4 boys who are all in Full Time Christian Service; 1-Missionary 2- Pastors, 1-Youth Pastor.

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

Ch.-1-THE BASICS OF INTERPRETING PROPHECY

Ch.-2-IMPORTANT KEYS IN PROPHECY

Ch.-3-ISRAEL IN PROPHECY

Ch.-4-GENTILE NATIONS IN PROPHECY

Ch.-5-THE TRIBULATION PART I

Ch.-6-THE PERSONS IN THE TRIBULATION PART II

Ch.-7-THE COURSE OF THE TRIBULATION PART III

Ch.-8-CHRIST’S SECOND COMING PART 1

Ch.-9-CHRIST’S SECOND COMING PART 2

Ch.-10-THE KINGDOM AGE AND ETERNITY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

All verses are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to Mike and Julie Lee. I have been their pastor, counselor, mentor and they have become my best friends. They will never know this side of heaven how much they mean to my wife and me.

They have been blessed by God in so many ways, because they have done nothing but try to please their Savior in everything that they do. We can all learn from them.

THE BASICS OF INTERPRETING PROPHECY

CHAPTER 1

I. INTRODUCTION TO PROPHECY

A. THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY

The prophecies in the Bible are just as clear and easily understood as any other revelation in God’s Word. They are probably the least understood simply because they are the most neglected. In the light of Bible prophecy we can know the future with absolute certainty, but without that knowledge we are left completely in the dark. Prophecy is a most essential key in understanding the other Scriptures and so important to understanding its Author, His program, the present times, and the future. The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit was especially given to teach us the things of Christ and things to come (John 16:1215). One-fifth of the Bible content was prophetic at the time it was written. In the light of this fact it is reasonable to expect no less than one-fifth of the time expended in God’s Word should be devoted to the study of prophecy. On the CONTRARY, God’s people evidently give little or no time toward the prophetic Scriptures and show almost total ignorance of this vast body of revealed truth. The neglect is not only inexcusable, but the correspondent loss to the glory of God and the maturity of His people is no less than tragic.

An examination of most of the supposedly comprehensive theological works reveals an almost total exclusion of prophecy except for a brief and misleading picture of the resurrection, the second coming, a general judgment, and the eternal state. In violence to the total message of God’s Word, prophecy, along with other essential doctrines of the Bible, is commonly shunned or omitted entirely from the theological studies of even many Bible colleges and seminaries which claim to be Bible-centered. The natural outcome is that the Bible’s true message is not being proclaimed in its fullness. It is tragic indeed that our evangelistic leadership, with some exceptionS seem helplessly ignorant of God’s Word beyond the bare rudiments of the gospel and certain church ordinances. As a result there is a famine among God’s people. Most of the Bible still lies buried through ignorance of its major contents. Jesus expressed so fervently His desire that His people be fully fed and indeed this may be a true test of a pastor’s love for the Lord Jesus and His Word (John 21:15-27).

That prophecy is more difficult to understand than any other major doctrine of the Bible is a Satanic trick. By this same approach the

deceiver has been able to stunt the spiritual growth of God’s people on every point of Bible doctrine. Thus most never really enter into God’s Word any deeper than the bare rudiments of the gospel. A true understanding even of this one precious doctrine cannot be fully comprehended or appreciated from God’s point of view apart from the remaining mountain of Scripture. Satan knows that he cannot rob the believer of the eternal life which God’s grace has provided through Jesus Christ. But Satan has played havoc with the spiritual growth of most Christian lives. Remaining as babes, God’s children are left to flounder, constantly tossed to and fro in a sea of confusion by every passing wind of men’s doctrines. It is impossible to be near to God, to walk with Him and know Him, if we are not communicating with Him through His entire Word. The great truths of the Bible are not equivalent to any one doctrine, no matter how foundational that one doctrine may be. Not until a believer has arrived at complete familiarity with the whole Bible and all of its doctrines is he fully equipped to walk intelligently with the Lord and to serve Him (John 17:17; 1 Cor. 3:1-2; 13:11; Heb. 5:11-6:2; 1 Pet. 2:2-3; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

B. WHAT IS PROPHECY?

Predictive prophecy is actually history prewritten. It is a perfect expression of God’s infallible knowledge of future events. Unlike man, God never deals with speculative theory. He always deals in actualities. His realm is truth it is not what might be, rather it is what actually has been, is, and will be. All of His revealed truth is true to the absolute degree. From the very beginning the whole course of the history concerning each of His created beings, both angels and men, was fully known to God in every minute detail.

Acts 15:18 "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning

of the world."

All history is bound to the predictive revelation given to us in the Scriptures. These predictions are detailed, complete, and infallible. There can be no deviation. Nothing can ever just happen, and nothing that happens can ever take God by surprise. The predictions in the Bible are therefore on an entirely different basis and order from those made by men. Although the predictions in the areas of science, business and industry which are based upon statistics and mathematical laws of probability are valuable, especially in our modern complex society, the world’s speculations about the destiny of nations and people are at best only possibilities limited to the very near future. Such predictions need to be frequently revised in the light of new developments. The Bible deals with truth of far greater proportions and of far more personal significance. It involves every destiny near and far, on the earth and in every sphere within and beyond. Bible prophecy ventures far into the distant future and foresees with absolute certainty events, persons, and things that would violate any conceivable probability curve produced by human experience. The Bible student soon learns that the predictions in the Scriptures which have already been fulfilled have defied all human possibility of fulfillment and yet they were predicted and fulfilled in the minutest detail. For example Cyrus, a Gentile king, was mentioned by name and his service predicted almost 150 years before his birth (cf. Isa. 44:28-45:4; Ezra 1:1-4); also consider the many minute details of Jesus’ crucifixion predicted centuries before his birth (Isa. 53; Psa. 22) and the repeated events in Jesus’ life on earth that were frequently recorded in the Gospels as fulfillment of specific Old Testament prophecies. Such is always the case with Bible prophecies. Their fulfillment depends not upon human chance, or past experience, but rather upon God’s omniscience and His sovereign intervention into the course of human history. The predictions in the Bible are based upon God’s predetermined purposes, His omniscient engineering toward the fulfillment of those purposes, and His omnipotent execution of the dispensational program which He thus engineered.

Indeed, because of these facts the very uniqueness of the Bible predictions and their fulfillment to date presents one of the most irresistible proofs that the Bible is what it claims to be, the infallible Word of God. The true student of Bible prophecy will first learn that he has entered upon a most holy ground, and until he learns this fact he can proceed little or no further. If he is a true Bible student, he will soon learn to listen and to submit with humility and awe at what God is saying. Then and only then will he begin to understand and to appropriate the deeper things of the Spirit and the special blessing which God has promised for those who study and appropriate the prophetic Scriptures (Rev. 1:1-3).

Far more is involved than God’s infinite knowledge of future events. All that has ever happened or will happen in history is under God’s directive or His permissive will. Predictive prophecy is, in preview, the execution of His gracious sovereign plan of redemption for a dying world which lies shackled under the tyrannical power of the devil (Isa. 14:12-19; Luke 8:12; 1 John 5:19; 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12-13). It involves the eternal Kingdom of God and God’s sovereign rights, the fall of Lucifer and his challenge to God’s rule, and God’s answer to Satan’s challenge through the creation of man and the establishment of His interim kingdom of heaven on the battlefield of the earth in vindication of His integrity, His truth, His love, and His sovereignty. These topics are explained at length later in this work. In presenting His prophetic revelations in the Bible, God has far more in mind than to satisfy the mere curiosity of man. Indeed, Bible prophecy and its deeper meanings remain hidden to all but those who choose to pay the price of walking with God in close fellowship with the intimate thoughts and plans that are as dear to His heart (cf. Matt. 13:10-17). It is a precious thing indeed that God has chosen to reveal His innermost thoughts and plans to who soever will draw near to Him. Through Amos the prophet God asked the question: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3). It is impossible for two to walk together except they be agreed, but how can one agree except he knows the other one’s thoughts? To know the mind of God, to be drawn ever closer into intimate fellowship with Himself is a glorious and precious privilege to which God is ever inviting each of His blood bought children. He is not so interested in what we do for Him as in our permitting Him to draw us into this intimacy with Himself that we might walk with Him intelligently and with a heart given entirely over to His gracious will. See how eagerly the Lord had sought to reveal to Abraham, His friend, what He was about to do in Genesis 18:17. Compare how the Lord Jesus evaluated Mary’s fellowship to Martha’s works in Luke 10:38-42. Study the intimate purpose for which the Lord poured out His heart for His own in John 17 and to which John 14-16 leads. Consider how the multitude of our Lord’s disciples left Him when He became very intimate in His message to them (John 6:6066). Are His thoughts and doings precious to you? If they are, then the prophetic Scriptures will become more and more exciting as you study them.

C. INTERRELATION OF BIBLE DOCTRINE

To the astronomer the earth can hardly be viewed as the center of the universe, but to God it is the redemptive center where every issue that has ever been or will be raised against His integrity and truth will be settled once and for all. Predictive prophecy unfolds the redemptive plan of God and His mind concerning the execution of His redemptive plan.

For these and other equally valid reasons every doctrine in the Bible is vitally involved in the doctrine of predictive prophecy.

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

A most serious gap in a full understanding of God’s message concerning every other Bible truth exists as long as predictive prophecy is omitted or even slighted to any degree in the student’s study of the Scriptures. This is no small thing in the light of each and every Christian’s God-given responsibility concerning the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15).

The study of prophecy then should include all in the Bible that was predictive at the time it was written, and also a good understanding of every other major doctrine. It is a mistake to try to interpret the future apart from the past. God is more interested in all the events leading to the consummation of His plan of redemption than in the transition between the past and the future. What God determines to do is a unified harmonious whole. When the total program is not seen then the basis for understanding any part of it is very limited and we are left without any direction as to the true meaning and value of the parts. The student must learn to gather the whole sum of the prophetic Scriptures into a systematic and comprehensive understanding which will glorify God and enrich his fellowship and walk with the Lord Jesus. This is the primary objective behind this systematic work on Bible prophecy. This book presents all the parts of the total picture and greatly simplifies the understanding of the whole. However, the final omission of any of the prophetic truth presented in this book will represent to the student a serious gap in a full comprehension of Bible prophecy.

D. THE PROPHETIC CHALLENGE

1. PERSONAL BLESSINGS

Most of us are interested in the future and we should be. It is much to our advantage to understand the trends of the day and what these trends mean. Anything beyond an uncertain guess concerning the future is humanly impossible. However, it has pleased God to reveal His immutable plans both for the world and for every individual in it. Since the beginning of time the world has been experiencing the execution of God’s plans to the exactitude of perfection, but the

world goes on in its history almost totally unaware of this tremendous fact.

Today we find the nations of the world seated on a powder keg, which is at the point of explosion. After 2500 years Israel is back in the land now as an independent nation. The Arab nations and Russia are preparing themselves against Israel for that awful encounter with God of which every student of the Bible should be aware. We are indeed living in trying and exciting times. What does it all mean? Only God has the answers, and these answers He reveals clearly in the Bible to those who are near to Him. A far-reaching blessing is immediately available to every child of God who will simply receive it:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

As with every other blessing of God, the great spiritual blessings derived through the study of prophecy are offered by His pure sovereign grace. The benefits are appropriated only when acted on by simple childlike trust in both the Giver and His gifts. So ask the Lord fully believing that He will bless you in your studies in Bible prophecy and He will do abundantly more than you ask. We often miss out on the blessing which the Lord has in store for us simply because we do not ask.

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Eph 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

2. SHARING GOD’S PROGRAM

Not to appreciate God’s full purpose in giving the prophetic Scriptures to His people frustrates the great value inherent to God’s glory in studying them. The Lord desires everyone of His people to understand His program and to take a genuine interest in it. Whether or not you personally take such an interest could be a sure indication of how close your relationship with God is. It is a legitimate test of your love for Him, and how much you have grown in the things of Christ. God loves to reveal to those who are near to Him things He is about to do. You will find this illustrated over and over in the Bible like the incident with Abraham in Genesis 18:

Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that

thing which I do;

Many of the prophecies given in the Bible have been literally fulfilled. As already indicated, these fulfilled prophecies are sure proof that the Bible is indeed the inerrant Word of God. Furthermore, they are proof that all of the unfulfilled prophecies will be fulfilled literally in the same exact manner. This revelation in the Scriptures bring glory to God and attests to the infallibility of His Word. It clearly portrays His sovereign power, His infinite grace, and His unchanging faithfulness. But a true depth of understanding prophecy or any other Bible doctrine can be gained only by those who are walking in close fellowship with God. Only to such does God reveal the deeper things about Himself, His Son, and His program. To be ever drawing His children into His inner fellowship and love is a paramount motive with God in setting forth His prophecies in the Scriptures.

As a child of God do you have more than a passing interest in the things to come in God’s redemptive program of the ages? If so, you are indeed twice blessed, for God has been drawing you successfully into that inner circle of His love and fellowship. This is the great objective for which the Holy Spirit has been working in your heart. It is exceedingly important to God how you respond to the deeper things in the Scriptures about His Son and His omniscient program for redeeming His universe unto Himself through His Son (John 16:12-15). As we learn to love the Scriptures and experience the power of His words in our lives, we soon find that God eagerly takes us into His confidence about those things which He is about to accomplish in the world through His Son. The world around us can know nothing about His prophetic truth, much less its meaning, nor can any of God’s own people really hear and understand until He has brought them to that elevated plane where they can bear it.

John 16:12-15 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Deeply involved in prophecy (as with every other doctrine in the Bible) is God’s objective of presenting His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Up to 40 times in the Gospels it is recorded that the events in Jesus’ life on earth fulfilled the prophecies predicted of Him in the Old Testament Scriptures. There is one testimony behind all prophecy: the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10).

Why do some of God’s people go far with Him and others do not? Why does God entrust some with the deeper things of His Word to which others are totally blinded? A look at several of those who were near to God in the Bible sheds much light on these questions. Abraham is called the friend of God (James 2:23). He believed the Word of God (Gen. 15:6) and it was precious to him. Thus God had prepared Abraham. When he was ready God gave to him great promises (Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-8), revealed things about His Son (Gen. 13:3), and things to come (Gen. 18:17-22). Daniel was proclaimed by the angel Gabriel as one greatly beloved by God (Dan. 9:20-23; 10:11, 19). He, too, believed God’s Word and was drawn near unto God as he studied faithfully (Dan. 10:12). As he was pondering over Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning Israel’s sins and 70 years deportation from the land, he realized that the 70 years captivity were almost fulfilled and that a remnant of Israel would return to the land (Dan. 9:2). Thus God had prepared Daniel to love His Word and thereby to be drawn near to Himself. When Daniel was made ready God then revealed to him the most extensive picture given in the Bible of things to come concerning the Gentile world domination to its end (Dan. 2, 7). God also gave to Daniel the most exacting calendar of events to come concerning Israel’s future as a nation (Dan. 9) that is recorded in the Bible.

Turning to the New Testament we find that it was no secret to Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) or to the wise men (Matt. 2:1-15) who were looking expectantly to see the Messiah in their day. They knew the time table set forth in Daniel 9 and believed God’s Word. They, too, had been studying God’s Word and had advanced to a place very near to Him. The Holy Spirit was thereby able to reveal to them things about God’s Son and things that would shortly come to pass. On one occasion the Lord Jesus rebuked Martha for her undo emphasis upon activity apart from the Spirit’s leading and apart from that blessed fellowship with Himself about His Word. At the same time He praised Mary for loving His Word and His fellowship. In the New Testament record we find that Mary is apparently the only one to whom the Spirit revealed the meaning of Christ’s death before His crucifixion (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:1-8). John was the disciple who leaned upon Jesus’ breast at the last supper (John 13:23). He was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. To John was given the high privilege of writing the most intimate and spiritually significant of the four Gospels of the Lord Jesus. It was to John that the Lord of glory gave the great book of Revelation about Himself and things to come which closed the New Testament. These cases illustrate an unchanging requisite to the Spirit’s teaching concerning the deeper truths of Christ and things to come. The immutable price of being near to God is without exception a deep love for His Word; an unceasing, prayerful, and patient lifetime study of His Word which continually seeks after His mind; and an obedient surrender to the Teacher who today dwells within every believer.

3. A SANCTIFYING POWER

Ignorance of the great prophetic portions of the Bible hinders the sanctifying operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the consequent glory that is His right through this means. God never crosses our wills. He never violates our freedom of choice. He did not call us to be robots. Accordingly, we have the liberty to choose; but we are accountable for the choices we make and the walk we follow. Whether we choose to place due importance upon our study of the prophetic portions of the Bible is not a mere matter of

satisfying a curiosity. It is not something we can take lightly or leave. It is vital to our understanding of God’s total redemptive program and vital to His taking His right in us. Careful study of the prophetic portions of God’s Word has always had a purifying effect upon the Church. The greatest faith missions and the greatest evangelists and Bible expositors of today as well as the past were spurred on by the premillennial hope of our Lord’s imminent return. This historical fact is easily verified by careful study of the contributions made by God’s people from the early Church fathers up to this present day.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

E. UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY

We have the personal promise of our Lord that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer of this age, is to teach him about the Lord Jesus and of things to come (prophecy):

John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

So it is not only to our advantage to know prophecy, but the direct teaching of the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit makes certain that we will know if we permit Him to teach us. Understanding prophecy then depends on our reliance upon the Holy Spirit to teach us as we study the Bible carefully, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

All the principles of interpretation that we already mentioned in our book on How to Know Your Bible are especially important in understanding Bible prophecy. Confusion arises not from the Scriptures themselves, but from certain well defined ecclesiastical interpretations and human traditions imposed upon the Scriptures. The history of interpretation is very enlightening in that it clearly shows how men’s ideas have been continuously put ahead of God’s revelation. The philosophies of men have superceded the clear teachings of the Bible and have thus molded the thought of most people in succeeding generations. When this happens the following generations can no longer see the Bible objectively and it becomes a closed book. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit prepares some to be willing to learn, and then He teaches them according to John 16:13-14.

F. CHARACTERISTICS INHERENT IN BIBLE PROPHECY

1. THE TIME GAP PRINCIPLE

Very often in the Bible the time factor was omitted in a prophet’s predictions. Thus, the prophet presented the future as if present or past, and he often saw events which would be separated by time as a continuous sequence with no time gap appearing in the prophecy. He saw the separate pictures only as parts of the one picture that God had in mind.

Jesus gave a clear example of this gap principle unforeseen by the writers of certain of the far reaching Old Testament prophecies.

Isa 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

When Jesus read these verses in the synagogue of Nazareth, He ended with the words the acceptable year of the LORD, closed the Book and said, This day is this scripture fulfilled (Luke 4:21). When he came the first time He proclaimed grace; when He comes again, it will be the day of vengeance.

Failure by some to recognize the operation of this important principle in the prophetic Scriptures and to apply the same in harmony with the Scriptures has caused much confusion and discouragement among God’s people in the interpretation of Bible prophecy. The problem as always is not with the Scriptures but with the interpreter’s failure in not thoroughly familiarizing himself with

all of the Bible. The Old Testament writers honestly could not see these gaps, for to them the gaps were as yet unrevealed. Today we have the whole Bible complete and at our disposal. By following the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) we can through a daily study of all the Scriptures and with the Holy Spirit as our Teacher (John 16:13) learn to rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15). It is only in this way that we will ever clearly see the separate prophetic events in their proper time and place by comparing Scripture with Scripture. It should be self evident that no one has a right to any interpretation of a Bible verse that violates an interpretation on the same subject found elsewhere in the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

2. THE LAW OF DOUBLE REFERENCE

This is closely related to the gap principle and is important in interpreting prophecy. The Old Testament prophet made predictions in terms of his own times and experiences. The events he predicted often were only partly fulfilled in his time, and the prophecies also have a future (double) application. Usually this future fulfillment is connected with the day of the Lord (Jehovah).

An example of this law of double reference is found in Isaiah 10 which predicts the Assyrian invasion of Israel:

Isa 10:5-6 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Assyria occupied Israel and carried the ten northern tribes into the captivity, but the prophecy also goes beyond the immediate partial fulfillment and predicts some events of the day of the Lord. Several clues to this fact are given in the text:

Isa 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

Notice that the prophecy is about the time when the Lord has performed his whole work in Zion. We know that there is much prophecy about Zion yet unfulfilled, so this prediction of Isaiah refers to the end time.

Isa 10:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

In this verse it is expressly stated that in that day, that is in the day of the Lord, Israel shall trust in their God in truth. We know that they will not do so until Christ’s Second Advent when they will recognize Him as their God and Messiah (Rom. 11:26-27; Zech. 12:10-14).

So as we study the Bible carefully we will notice the clues that are given in the text such as that day, the day of Jehovah, the latter or last days which are all a reference to the yet unfulfilled prophecies at the end time. Again, we have the advantage now to have the whole program of God revealed to us. What has not been fulfilled in the past will be fulfilled in the future. Past events become typical of the second future event and the literal fulfillment of one is a guarantee that the second will be fulfilled in the same literal way. What has been said in the closing paragraph of the preceding section on the time gap principle is of course equally applicable here.

3. CONDITIONAL AND UNCONDITIONAL PROPHECY

Some of the prophecies of God’s imminent judgment were conditional, but the conditional nature of these prophecies was not always stated in the Bible passage. For example, Jonah warned Nineveh that this city would be destroyed within 40 days. But the people repented at his preaching and the city was spared. Thus in all of God’s warnings of judgment, such local predictions were conditional upon the possible repentance of the hearers.

Jer 18:7-8 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced,

turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

On the basis of God’s eternal holiness, justice and grace such a condition is essential; nevertheless there are no surprises with God. Since He knew from the beginning the reaction to His pronouncement of judgment, it became a tool of His leading the people of Nineveh to repentance. It may be assumed that all other prophecy which was not confined to the local and immediate time of the prediction is unconditional. God knows the end from the beginning, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8), for I am the LORD, I change not (Mal. 3:6). All of His promises and covenants depend upon His faithfulness, His omniscience, and His omnipotence alone and are in no wise dependent upon the unfaithfulness, weakness, and foolishness of man. All of the predicted far reaching events are sure and sealed by the authority of God’s Word. The fulfillment of God’s redemptive program throughout the ages is gathered together into His covenants, promises, and prophecies, and by His Word none of these can fail. Those who will benefit from His redemption and kingdom purposes are the whosoever will and constitute a number known only to God Himself, but the prophecies themselves are unconditional and absolute. To make them conditional is to subject them to the meaningless overt whims of man. We dare not add to or subtract from the prophetic Scriptures conditions that are not clearly stated. There is no warrant for assuming any conditions to fulfillment of any prophecy. The amillenialists (those who in violation of the Scriptures reject the clear prophecies of Christ’s personal reign on earth for 1000 years) however find it a convenient tool to do so.

4. LITERAL INTERPRETATION VERSUS ALLEGORIZING

The method of allegorizing is in such common use and has done so much violence especially against the prophetic Scriptures that it needs to be reviewed at this point. In the brief history of interpretation which follows in section 2 of this book will be found a clear historical explanation for the present day existence of these two methods of interpretation. All Scripture was written to be read by the common man, and it has pleased God to take the weak things of this world to confound the wise (1 Cor. 1:26-31). Only those with a simple childlike trust in the Lord and His Word are given the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 18:3), and the same is most certainly true in the eternal Kingdom of God. The wisdom of this world’s philosophers is utter foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:18-25), and yet theologians from the third century on have tried through allegorizing to reconcile the Bible to this worldly wisdom and its practices. We cannot rightly discern the true message in God’s Word until we are willing to empty ourselves of all our vain prejudices, come to God humbly seeking His truth (1 Cor. 3:18-20; Luke 11:9), and accept God and His Word as they are, rather than as we imagine them to be (Heb. 11:6). True faith comes only by hearing and simply receiving the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), but we can never really hear until we are willing to reject our pride and submit our reason in simple childlike trust literally to the gracious truth of God as presented in His Word.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Suppose someone read into a letter you had written things you clearly did not mean to say. This someone should have interpreted your letter literally as you had intended. He had no right to read into your letter something that was not there. This is exactly what allegorizing does in the Word of God. What an insult to God’s holy Word that any man should twist it around to fit a theological prejudice. It is but another form of the old Satanic lie, Yea, hath God said…? (Gen. 3:1). In any decent court of law such a handling of a document would be liable for slander. In spite of this fact most theological works and most of our seminaries have adopted the practice of allegorizing Scripture. Thus they explain away the Scriptures under the guise of spiritualizing the Bible texts. To such, a Bible text becomes a pretext, or pretense, a point of departure from the message that God is really presenting. The answer to this widespread violence of Scriptures in our pulpits is to study the Bible for yourself and to learn to stand upon the authority of the Bible itself. God never wanted you to build your faith and eternity upon a second handed interpretation of what the Bible is really saying. God really means what He says in the Bible. Let Him say what He means. The Bible is so clearly presented that even children believe and yet so profound that we can never reach its depths. There is no substitute for knowing the Book. Follow God rather than the traditions of men (Matt. 15:7-9). This can only be done when you allow for yourself only the literal and obvious meaning of each Bible passage. Behind every Bible passage, even that which uses symbolism, is a simple, clear, literal and concrete meaning that results when comparing Scripture with Scripture. Again, the problem is never with the Bible; the problem is with man’s willful prejudices (Matt. 23:37).

5. SYMBOLS USED IN PROPHECY

The Bible contains many symbols, types, and parables. These unique forms of expression add beauty and emphasis to the literal truth, which God intended to convey. They also hide that which God intended only for those who are close to Him. Through figurative language God conveys the reality (literal truth) from a realm which our human eyes have never seen (either vertically into the spiritual world or horizontally into a future world) to a realm which we have neither seen or experienced. It was not God’s plan that men should change the intended meaning of these symbols into every conceivable interpretation to suit their own fancies. Nevertheless this practice is common in the oratory of many pulpits today. Such preaching is not born out of the desire of preaching the truths of the Word, but out of a desire to replace these truths with their own conceited thoughts. God warned that this very thing would come to pass and that He would judge severely those who practice such careless and presumptuous deception.

2 Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Rev 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Becoming familiar with the whole Bible is the primary key to the interpretation of its symbols or any other seeming difficulty in the interpretation of any of its parts. The interpretation of each symbol, type, or parable is always clearly presented either in the immediate context or elsewhere in the Bible. God’s Word is light (Psa. 119:105, 130) and there is no darkness within it. If there is a problem that arises in understanding any passage, whether that problem is with the form of language or whatever else, the solution is found elsewhere in the Bible for the Bible is God’s infallible Word and it is perfectly complete. It is upon this basic premise that we are instructed in the Bible to compare Scripture with Scripture for each of its truths. No prophecy, passage, or symbol can be interpreted alone and apart from the rest of the Scriptures. The interpretation must harmonize with all of the Scriptures or the interpretation is wrong. We must never interpret the Bible; it must always be allowed to interpret itself.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.

Anyone who undertakes to interpret the New Testament without a thorough introduction into the Old Testament may expect difficulties especially with the illustrations and symbols presented in the Gospels, the Epistles, and Revelation. Assuming a right relationship with the Lord exists, this is probably the greatest single reason why many find the book of Revelation so difficult. The tremendous prophecies and the blessings that can be yours from the

book of Revelation (Rev. 1:3) are almost sure to be lost until you become acquainted with the Old Testament prophets and especially Daniel.

6. THE MAJOR PROPHETIC LINES

The major themes in Bible prophecy are, namely: Christ, Satan, Israel, the Gentiles, the Church, the day of the Lord, the day of Christ which includes the rapture of the true Church, the Russian invasion, the great tribulation, the second coming of Christ to earth, the millennial reign of Christ on the earth, the final rebellion, judgment, the eternal doom and blessings for the redeemed. These themes run through the Bible like threads or lines that weave their way in a garment from one end to the other. The central theme of all prophecy and to which all else finds its relationship and identity is the Lord Jesus Christ, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). Except for the prophecies concerning the Church, all of the prophetic lines begin early in the Old Testament. The first reference in the Bible given to the Church is found at a turning point in the ministry of the Lord Jesus where He said, …I will (future tense) build my Church. (Matt. 16:18). All of the major lines of prophecy including the new heavens and the new earth will be dealt with at length in following chapters.

G. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Before you read books on prophecy, it is very helpful to understand some of the key terms often used. (These will be treated in detail in following chapters.)

1.   Antichrist—(Meaning opposed to) The Antichrist will be the emperor of the Roman empire during the tribulation. He is especially characterized by his defiance of the Lord and blasphemous assumption of deity.

2.   Beast—He is the same person as the Antichrist. The term nearly always refers to the political leader unless the context explains it otherwise.

3.   Christendom—This name which is not found in the Bible is commonly used to include both believers and unbelievers, all that are humanly viewed as Christians.

4.   Church—This Bible connotation usually includes only the true believers in Christ, unless definitely stated otherwise in the text. I capitalize the first letter in the word wherever the true Church is meant.

5.   Daniel’s 70 weeks—This refers to a period of 70 Weeks or