Updated: This post was originally published on October 30, 2021.
Do you dread reading prophecy in Scripture? Do you worry that it will be “over your head”? So many people have differing opinions about the interpretation of prophetic texts, so how can we know which one is right? Should we even bother to figure it out? Shouldn’t we just watch things play out rather than trying to guess what’s coming?
Prophecy in Scripture can certainly be challenging, and there are many things that will simply be revealed in time. But here are a few tips to help you navigate some of the hurdles you might encounter.
It Is Prophecy, i.e. the Future
One thing to keep in mind is that it is prophecy, which means, at the time the prophet spoke it and wrote it, it hadn’t happened yet. Much of prophecy was given to convince God’s people to repent. The prophecy wouldn’t come to pass if the Israelites would simply turn back to God. Unfortunately, they rarely listened.
It is also important to keep this in mind when we come across the passages where God will punish other nations even as He used them to discipline His people. We often see this as unfair, but those other nations knew about God. They understood that Israel was a nation set apart. They had every opportunity to turn from their wickedness and follow the God of Israel. The prophecy was yet another instance where God gave them that opportunity.
False Prophets Were Also Prophesying
It is easy for us to sit back and judge the Israelites when the prophecy seems so clear. How could they not understand what was coming? Yet it is important to remember that, at the same time that God’s chosen prophets were calling the Israelites to repentance, there were false prophets contradicting them. The Jews often chose to follow the “prophets” who were saying what they wanted to hear rather than holding their words up to the character of God.
Scripture tells us that a true prophet proved his authority by speaking the truth about future events (Deut. 18:21-22). So we may think it was difficult to tell the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet. After all, until his prophecy came true, no one could know. However, God gave specific characteristics of a true prophet in Deuteronomy 13:1-11, and one of them was that a prophet never encouraged God’s people to worship another god. This wasn’t limited to golden idols but would also include the god of self, the god of nation, and the god of pleasure. A true prophet would continually point the people to God and God alone.
With Prophecy Comes Hope
Some of the prophecies in Scripture seem to be disastrous. However, even when it is not officially stated, every prophecy comes with hope. Whether hope lies in a future event here on earth or in the triumphant return of Christ, the hardships will pass and His people will be victorious. As you are reading prophecy, look for the hope that is coming.
Prophets Used the Language They Knew
There are many times when reading prophecy that we come across figurative language. Are the locusts in Joel really locusts or is it an army? Are we really looking for a lamb, or is that a metaphor for a person? And what about the book of Revelation? Is it really a beast, a number, and a war? Sometimes it is difficult for us to know, first, if the language is figurative or literal, and second, if it is figurative, what it means. The truth is you can read ALL the commentaries and walk away with no clearer picture than when you started.
Nonetheless, we must always remember that all Scripture is inspired and profitable. While the prophet may have been describing things for which he had no vocabulary or the message he received was full of imagery, his message is still important for us to know. We should still approach the passage prayerfully, read for the purpose of understanding, and do the work of study and discovery. We may not end up with a clear picture, but we will learn and grow through the process.
Don’t be intimidated by the prophetic passages and books of the Bible. Remember that the Word of God is living and active, and approach it with eagerness to discover Who God is.
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