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The Olivet Discourse (Mt 24-25; Mk 13; Lk 21.5-36)

J Gibson, Derby

1 - Interpreting Bible prophecy

Prophecy forms a large proportion of the Bible. Therefore, how we interpret Bible prophecy strongly influences our view of Scripture as a whole. This includes important issues like the Church in God’s programme, and New Testament principles that apply to local assemblies. Studying Bible prophecy is not carried out just to satisfy our curiosity about the future, but to have a sanctifying influence on our daily lives (1 Jn 3.2,3). For example, there can be no greater impetus to wholehearted service than the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. Many of the principles for studying Bible prophecy are the same as for general Bible study. Every passage has only one primary interpretation. Work hard to get this right, and only then work on its application. Read prophecy with child-like trust. Bible predictions are so certain of fulfilment that many were written in the present (Is 9.6) or even the past tense (Is 53.4,5). As far as the eternal God is concerned, they are as good as done.

Christ is key

Just as Christ is key to unlocking the entire Old Testament (Lk 24.27), over which could be written, "He is coming", so "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19.10). All future events, as predicted in the Bible, have some link to God’s beloved Son. After all, God’s final plan for this universe is "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him" (Eph 1.10). Therefore, when studying predictive Bible passages, most importantly, ask, "What does this tell me about the Lord Jesus Christ?".

Biblical revelation is progressive

Biblical revelation follows a progressive course, and prophecy is no exception. Many Bible chapters address the same prophetic periods, each passage either re-emphasising what has gone before or adding more light. For instance, much of the Old Testament anticipates intense tribulation for this wicked world. A clear time-frame for this tribulation was revealed to godly Daniel who longed for God’s favour to shine on His desolate sanctuary (Dan 9.17, 24-27). It will last for seven years. The Lord Jesus Christ, in answer to His disciples’ queries, "…what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world" (Mt 24.3), added still more detail to our understanding of this important future period. And finally, the aged Apostle John, having been exiled to Patmos, received the Bible’s final word on this tribulation period which will act as a dark backdrop to the bright coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ to establish His earthly kingdom (Rev 6-19). The progressive nature of the Bible’s teaching ensures that we read it all, because there are few subjects that isolated passages completely address. Furthermore, it witnesses to God’s mercy and infinite wisdom. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Ps 103.14). Understanding our slowness to learn (Heb 5.11-12) and need of the Holy Spirit’s help (Jn 16.13-14), God has gradually unfolded His purpose in the Bible, "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Is 28.10).

The Holy Scriptures are selective

Scripture gives a very narrow viewpoint of history. Whereas only two chapters at the beginning of Genesis detail the creation of the universe, over thirty chapters describe God’s dealings with Abraham and his descendants, explaining their journey, as a family, into Egypt. God’s foretelling of future events follows a similar pattern. He has told us what we need to know, and no more. Beware of filling in the gaps. It remains unclear when precisely many events will occur. Predicting exact times, in the absence of Biblical authority, is a sure way to eventual embarrassment and bringing the Word of God into disrepute. Stick with what the Bible says. Never forget, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever" (Deut 29.29).

Events cast their shadow

Significant future events often cast their shadow before them. Bible prophecies can have multiple end-points. Partial local fulfilments give an idea of how that same Scripture will be more fully realised in the future. The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost did not just fulfill the predictions of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 14.16,26; 15.26; 16.7; Acts 1.5,8) but also foreshadowed a further outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter days (Joel 2.28-32; Acts 2.16). Bible and secular history have given foretastes of the future tribulation period. The enforced worship of Nebuchadnezzar’s image gave an inkling of the tremendous pressure that will be exerted on men to worship the image of the beast (Dan 3.1-6, 13-15; Rev 13.14-15). When Sennacherib, who is described as the desolator and covenant breaker (Is 33.1-9), invaded Judah, we were given a miniature anticipation of the behaviour of the future Antichrist. Antiochus Epiphanes, a vile persecutor of the Jews, is another preview of this wicked man. Rome’s attack in AD 70 on Jerusalem anticipated future attacks and desolations of Jerusalem (Dan 9.26). Even Adolph Hitler’s attempt to exterminate the Jews, while repeating that cruel course attempted by evil Haman (Esther), showed what anti-Semitic ferocity will characterise the man of sin.

Bible prediction may run two events together

Bible predictions frequently run together two distinct events, the one straight after the other, without signalling a space of several centuries. This meant that the gap between Christ’s first and second comings was not even properly understood by the prophets themselves (1 Pet 1.11). The Lord Jesus verified this principle when He stopped reading a passage in Isaiah’s prophecy in mid-sentence. Having read, "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" (Is 61.1-2), He said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Lk 4.21). He did not read about "the day of vengeance of our God" (Is 61.2), which relates to His second coming. "By this one single act of His, our Lord as the infallible interpreter laid down the principle of the gap interpretation, apart from which the chronology of Old Testament prophecy is an insoluble enigma."1

Scripture should be read as literally as possible

All Scripture, whether historical prose, Hebrew poetry, or its prophetic element, should be read as literally as possible, giving "to each word the same exact basic meaning it could have in normal, ordinary, customary usage".2 This does not, of course, rule out figurative and symbolic language, but it does act as a safeguard against wild and unfounded extrapolations. "It grounds interpretation in fact…It exercises a control over interpretation."3 When the New Testament shows the amazing precision with which Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent were literally fulfilled, the Bible is setting a precedent for interpreting its prophecies literally.

Never forget the context

Determine the historical background of each prophetic utterance. For example, consider Daniel who, while captive in Babylon, interpreted Jeremiah’s prophecy completely literally. Daniel understood that after seventy literal years Babylon would be overthrown (Jer 25.11-14), and in answer to prayer, and the fulfilment of another of Jeremiah’s predictions, Judah would be restored to their land (Jer 29.10-14). It was while Daniel prayed for Jerusalem, for Israel, and for God’s sanctuary, that Gabriel revealed a definitive timetable for the removal of Israel’s sins, the bringing in of everlasting righteousness, the final fulfilment of all prophecies relating to God’s earthly people, and the restoration of the Jerusalem temple (Dan 9.24). Think also of the Olivet discourse. It was on the Mount of Olives, the site of Christ’s glorious Second Advent (Zech 14.4), that He described to His disciples, as representative godly Jews passing through the tribulation, the end times and the manner of His return as Son of Man to establish His Kingdom. He taught that this world is going to enter a downward spiral of disaster, sin, and peril, until finally, after the tribulation of those days, Israel’s Messiah will return.

To be continued.

1 McClain, A J. Daniel’s Prophecy of the 70 Weeks. (Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan Publishing House, 1940).
2 Pentecost, J D. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids, Michigan. Academie Books, 1964).
3 Pentecost, J D. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids, Michigan. Academie Books, 1964).

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