Prophecy Basics Lesson 2 June 6

Errors of the Allegorical method of Interpretation.

#1. It doesn't interpret the text.

#2. This method makes the reader's mind (imagination) the authority for understanding, not the text, not the WOG.

#3. This method leaves no way to test the interpretation.

Is there a better way?? Is there another option?

Yes and that is to interpret the text consistently by the literal method.

You may ask why bother with all of this, lets get to what prophecy is all about! Method of interpretation is crucial.

Some guys came along, and said some shocking things!

Luther, Calvin, Swingli, Tyndale and others, said look we need to take the Bible for what it says, issue they were dealing with was Salvation.

That was the basic issue in the reformation.

Major aspect then of the reformation was the rejection of the allegorical method of interpretation.

So in general before the reformation it was primarily allegory, whole text, the reformation carved out of that 75% of scripture saying it must be taken for what it says, literally.

Is there a way that is consistent that is correct for all scripture? Yes! The only way is the literal or normal method.

Rem the 3rd way I gave for how they are to be taken? That is, prophecy is to be taken literally because it is not dependant on man, and they will be fulfilled at Christ's return.

- If we can establish that this indeed was the case, that they indeed expected a literal kingdom and reign of the Messiah and that somehow this was not right, it was a wrong expectation on their part, My question then is this, Why did Jesus not correct this view if it was erroneous??

- Lets examine some passages:

#1 Lk 1:30 (expectation)

#2 Matt 20:20-23 (Was a literal kingdom an expectation?)

#3 Lk 22:28 Time is 24 hours before Jesus' going to the cross.

#4 Acts 1:6-7 He says your wrong there is no kingdom, or does he?

When you go through the scripture and look at the message of the Prophets the emphasis is not on the reality of the return of Christ, that is accepted as fact, but on the results of His return, what it is going to be like during His reign. Emphasis is on the results.

Need to understand that Prophetic truth is very practical in one's life.