We
must approach the prophetic with Holy fear and reverence. We can not
afford to misinterpret God's message. Accurate interpretation of
prophecy is critical to the mission of the Church and the salvation
of the lost. If we are unsure then we don't know! We need to wait for
God's revelation in the matter. There are times and seasons for God's
message. For example, much of the writings of Daniel have dual
applications. They were to reach out over the expanse of time
affecting succeeding generations. However, the last chapter deals
with the last days of Israel and we can conclude from the language
that the revelation of these prophecies will be understood in God's
timing. Daniel 12:4, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and
fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” He appears to indicate that
“as the end approaches that people will travel about seeking to
discover what the future holds. Even Daniel did not understand all
the prophecies,” Ryrie Study Bible. Daniel 12:8, “And I heard,
but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end
of these things? 9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are
closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
We
must recognize the element of revelation in our personal relationship
with God and the completion of the ministry of the Church. We will
experience competing doctrines and theories in our quest to
understand God's Word. It is only through Divine revelation that we
can know the TRUTH. There is a difference in a doctrine of error and
an absence (lack) of understanding. We all lack understanding to some
degree. But the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit will assist us in
receiving the TRUTH if we will open our minds and hearts to it.
Revelation
is a personal experience. A revelation may impact one person, a great
number of people or generations of people. For instance, when the
angel of the Lord announced the birth of the Messiah to lowly
shepherds in Luke 2, they were alone in a rural area and the message
was for them. Luke 2:8, “And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night.” They were in a field, apart from the traffic of nearby
Bethlehem. The angel of the Lord spoke directly to these few
shepherds alone in the countryside. His message was a message to them
first and then meant to be shared with the world. First, the
revelation was a personal experience. We can say that because they
had a visual experience and it had an effect on them. “And, lo, the
angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them: and they were sore afraid,” Luke 2:9. Not only
was it a personal experience but also an emotional experience. And as
with most revelations from God, this experience was accompanied by
awe and reverence. In some instances when God reveals Himself to us,
we respond in utter disbelief that it could be happening. This scene
causes my heart to proclaim, “WOW, WOW, WOW.” No doubt they were
paralyzed with fear. But God always comforts (to give strength and
hope) and reassures (to make feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful)
when we recognize (to know and remember because of previous knowledge
or experience) Him and respond properly (so that it is right, true,
proper, etc..) So what is the proper way to respond to a revelation
from God? One should respond with holy reverence and submission. (To
be continued). The Message: A Critical Review Of End Time Events, p
14-16, available at Amazon.com.
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