Interpreting the Prophets #6
Phase 6 of 12
Apostle Peter said the Prophets spoke "unto us" the Church!
(1Peter.1:10-12, Acts.3:18-25) The language the Prophets used to speak to us, is the language of the Tabernacle of Moses, the Leviticial Priesthood, the Feast Days, the Offerings, the divers washings and ordinances, the journey of Israel from Egypt to the Promised land, to the ultimate rest, Solomon's Temple. This language reveals a blueprint (i.e. shadows) of good things (New Testament) to come. (Heb.10:1 This language is a "schoolmaster' to bring us to Christ." (Gal.3:24. Matt.5:17-19, Heb.9:1-26) It will bring us the reality of the Purpose of God. (Review Phase 2)
We must understand the language
of the Prophets because they have
spoken of OUR DAY
During the time of Nehemiah, he could not deliver the Word of God because the language was mixed
amongst the people of God. (Neh.23:13) A picture of the Church world today! Within the Church there is vain deceit, philosophies of men, traditions of men taught as the Word of the Lord, and not following after Christ. The language of the Prophets is part of the "logos" Word made flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ. (John.1:1, 14)
There is a pattern for interpreting the language Prophets
"A "- When was the Prophet prophesying?
Each of the Prophets begins by writing that he was prophesying during the reign of this king of Judah and that king of Israel. (For example: Isa.1:1, Jer.1:1-3, Lamentation of Jeremiah in the captivity Lam.1:1-3, Eze.1:1-3, Dan.1:1-2, Hosea.1:1, Amos.1:1-2, Micah.1:1, Zephaniah.1:1,Haggai.1:1, Zech.1:11) The first step in understanding the prophet, is to understand the time of the king that was reigning while he was prophesying. This requires a knowledge of The Book of I & II Kings and I & II Chronicles This is the historical record. If the fulfillment is not during the prophets day, then we need to look between the prophets day and the Babylonian captivity
"B" - Did the fulfillment happen between the prophets day and the Babylonian Captivity?
This also requires a study of the king that was reigning during the prophets prophecy, and all the kings that followed him until the Babylonian Captivity. [Read I&II Kings and I&II Chronicles] Let God's Word be the historical record. If there is no fulfillment of the Word of the Prophet during this time, the next place to look is in the Babylonian Captivity.
"C" - The 70 year Babylonian Captivity of the House of Judah
Obviously nothing happens during the Babylonian captivity, because this is a time of desolation and depression. There is no evidence of God restoring the Temple or His people during that time. (2 Chron.36:1-21, Dan.1:1-2) Therefore, the next step is to look at the restoration of the city and sanctuary after the captivity.
"D" - After the Babylonian Captivity of the House of Judah
The Bible record for this period of time is, the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. Take the Word of the Prophet and compare it with these books to see if there is a fulfillment of his Word from the Lord. If there is not, then the next period of time to consider, is the uninspired 400 year silent period between the Old and New Testaments. The Book of Daniel provides this record by way of prophecy. (Dan.8, 11 Review Phase 5) This silence was broken by John the Baptist, (John.1:19-28) who prepared the way for Christ, the Messiah. (Dan.9:24-27) If the prophets Word from God did not come to pass during this time, the next time period is after the Cross
Now there is a change.
The Old Testament types and Shadows become
a reality in Christ
"E"- The ministry of Christ and after the Cross
Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill" (Matt.5:17) After Jesus came the Temple of God is now the Church. (John.2:18-20, Eph.1:22-23, 1Cor.6:19, ITim.3:15, Acts.7:47-48) The High Priest is now Jesus. (Heb.9-10) The Priesthood is all believers who offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1:6;5:10) The atonement is complete in Christ. (Heb.10:19) There is no place for animal sacrifices now. Jerusalem is a heavenly Jerusalem and the earthly is compared to Ishmael. (Heb.12:18-22, Gal.4:21-31) The children of God are those in Christ Jesus. (Gal.6:15-16) The Jew is one inwardly and not outwardly in the flesh. (Rom.2:28-29) Circumcision is in our Water Baptism. (Col.2:11-12, Phil.3:1-3) Zion is the Church. (Psalm.125:1, Rom.9:33, Eph.2:20) Therefore, if the Word of the Prophet comes into the New Testament unfulfilled, then the reality must be applied to the interpretation.
These are some examples of how the pattern works
Isaiah 2:1-2 The House of the Lord in the Last days. ( i.e. last or latter end, or last end)
Isaiah prophesied that "it shall come to pass in the last (latter end) days that the mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in the top of the mountains...and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go up to the mountain of the Lord..." The Spirit of God, through Isaiah (1Peter.1:10-12) was prophesying the pattern (blueprint) of Solomon's Temple, and the last day great revival and in gathering. (2Chron.5:1-14, 1Kings.10:24. Review Phase 2) At the time of Isaiah's Word, the House God did not attain to this. (Isa.1:1, 2Chron.26 - 2Chron.32:33) It did not happen between Isaiah's time and the Captivity. (2Chron.26-2Chron.36) It obviously did not happen during the captivity. The House of Judah did not attain this after the captivity. (Ezra and Nehemiah, Note:Haggai.2:2-3) Now our time frame is during the 400 year silent period between the Old and New Testaments. No fulfillment there. The next period of time is John the baptist and the ministry of Jesus. Jesus said the called the Temple "a den of thieves" (Matt.21:13) and left it "desolate." (Matt.23:38) This certainly was not the fulfillment of Isa.2:1-2. Now the prophecy comes through the Cross into the New Testament! Every doctrine MUST come through the Cross! Eph.2:1-19 (It must show it's reality in Christ) Now the mountain (Heb.12:18-22) of the Lord's House is the Church. (John.2:18-20, Eph.1:22-23, Acts.7:47-48, ITim.3:15) Judah (the Jews) comes through the Cross as those in Christ. (Rom.2:28-29, Gal.6:15-16, Rev.5:5 / 2Cor.5:17) and Jerusalem as the Bride, the Church. (Heb.12:22, Gal.4:26-28) In fact, earthly Jerusalem is called Ishmael, and is called Sodom and Egypt during the tribulation. (Rev.11:8) Remember: Isa.2:1-2 CANNOT go pass the Second Coming, because Jesus cannot return until Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled! (Acts.3:19-21, Rev.10:7, Rev.11:15) Therefore, between our present day and the Second Coming, "the mountain of the Lord's House shall established in the top of the mountains" (Isa.2:2) In other words, there will be a Glorious Church without spot or blemish, that will impact this World, and preach the Gospel (the good news) "In all the world for a witness...and then shall the end come. (Matt.24:14) This is one of the reasons why Jesus did not come back today
Haggai. "The latter House will be greater than the former House." (Solomon's Temple)
During the time of the rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian captivity, (Erza.1-5) Haggai prophesied that there would be a "latter House" greater than what they were rebuilding, and even "greater" than Solomon's Temple. (Haggai.2:1-9) Where did this happen? Did it happen during Haggai's time? No. (Ezra.1-5, Haggai.2:3) Did it happen after Haggai's lifetime? No. After Haggai was the silent period (Greece / Rome. Dan.8:1-12;11:1-31) between the Old and New Testament, No Glory filled Temple there. This silence was broken by John the baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus, the Messiah. (Dan.9:25) Jesus called the Temple a "den of thieves" (Matt.21:13) and left their "house desolate." (Matt.23:38) No record of a Temple greater than Solomon's. Now the prophecy comes through the Cross (Eph.2:1-19) into the New Testament! Now the House (Temple) is The Church! (John.2:18-20, Eph.1:22-23, Acts.7:47-48, ITim.3:15) Haggai was signifying by the Holy Spirit how the Church (the latter house) would be even greater than what Solomon had. This confirms what Isa.2:1-2. (Review Phase 2 / Solomon's Temple) Remember Haggai's prophetic Word cannot go pass the Second Coming, because Jesus cannot return until all of what Haggai spoke has been fulfilled. (Acts.3:19-25) Therefore, expect this to be fulfilled between our day and the Second Coming. This is another reason why Jesus did not come back today.
Apply this pattern to any of the Major or Minor Prophets!
Ezekiel saw a restored Temple filled with God's Glory
Ezekiel saw in "a vision of God" (Eze.1:1) a future Glory filled Temple. (Eze.43:4) Did this happen during the time of Ezekiel? No. (Eze.1:1) At the time of Ezekiel's Word, the House of Judah were going into the 70 year Babylonian captivity. (2Chron.36) There is still no evidence after the captivity, (Ezra.3:8-13;5:1-2, Haggai.2:1-3) or the 400 year silence between the Old and New Testaments. (Dan.8:1-12;11:1-31) This silence was broken by John the baptist, the forerunner to Christ, who declare the Temple a den of thieves. Now Ezekiel's prophecy comes through the Cross into the New Testament!
No doctrine can be brought into the New Testament without going through the Cross!
This future Glory filled Temple of God can only be the Church, (Eph.2:20-22, Rom.8:18, 2Cor.3:18) because there is no earthly Temple, it was destroyed 70 A.D. The only Temple the God acknowledges is the Church. (Acts.7:47-48) Note how many times Ezekiel was told to measure the future Temple. (Eze.40:24,28,29,32-35;43:13;48:16,30-35) The Church, the true Temple will be measured also. (Eph.4:11-16, Rev.11:1-2)
This is the language of "mystery, which was kept secret since the world began (Rom.16:25, Eph.3:11-12) and is now being made manifest by the scriptures of the Prophets. (Rom.16:26)
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