Learning to be Quick to Listen

By its nature, biblical prophecy can be difficult to interpret because it often employs many symbols, which can be taken in more than one way. The key to understanding these complex texts is to determine the literal sense —that is, what the message meant in its original context and what the prophet was trying to communicate to his audience for their immediate benefit. Normally, Old Testament prophecies primarily found their fulfillment within the generation they were given to or within a few generations. However, these texts can have additional fulfillments later in time, which is why many also have further application at the time of Christ. To begin this careful process, the first essential step is to set aside any existing expectations about the text. Readers must specifically avoid looking to a text to validate a particular view they already hold, focusing instead on asking what the text is saying, not what they want it to say. The next foundational step is to diligently establish...

One of the most significant hurdles people face when engaging with Scripture lies in the interpretation of prophecy. It's a common misconception that prophetic passages inherently refer to future events, leading many to overlook their immediate context. A crucial starting point for understanding prophecy is to first look for its fulfillment in the time period closest to the prophet. Only after considering this contemporary application should we then explore the possibility of more distant or future fulfillments. This foundational principle helps to ground our understanding and prevent misinterpretations that can arise from solely focusing on what's to come. Beyond the tendency to project all prophecy into the future, another pervasive error is adopting an "egocentric" interpretation, where individuals believe biblical prophecy is primarily about them. While extreme examples involve figures like Charles Manson or David Koresh claiming to be prophesied individuals, a ...