Discerning Prophecy II: Principle

"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."        -- II Peter 1:20,21

The Holy Spirit authored the Bible's prophecies, and is the only One Who can tell us God's meaning in them.  The take-away is that we have to ask, and listen to, The Spirit to discern God's meaning in His words. This is the whole principle of interpreting Biblical prophecy: and it's impossible to fault its logic, for "...no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" (Isaiah 40:13, quoted in Romans 11:34 and I Corinthians 2:16).

Our "own interpretation" is completely disallowed by this principle, and rightly so. In our moments of honesty, with God and with ourselves, we would each have to confess that we can, and do, often persuade ourselves we're hearing The Spirit, when we are not.  Confess too that (not only in hearing God's word) we can, and do, hear what we want to hear.  Taken to its ultimate length, self-deceiving "human will" is at the root of false prophecy, and false interpretation of prophecy. 

If we sincerely desire to hear God's meaning in Biblical prophecy, we must set our minds to rigorously  discern, test, scrutinize (as Jesus commanded the crowds in Luke 12:56) every interpretation of prophecy: our own first, and anyone else's.  And we must re-examine our conclusions: possibly more than once.  If we take from prophecy any meaning except the one God intends, we not only miss His life-giving word; we mislead ourselves, and delight satan.

A primary test of prophetic interpretation, often determinative by itself, is who it glorifies.  God will not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11: also translated "honor" or "praise") with another.  We can consequently be certain that The Spirit will never offer an interpretation of prophecy which glorifies man or his works.  It's an absolute marker of "own interpretations" if the interpreter glorifies any man (often himself), or any of man's works.

God makes the lines unmistakably clear: but we know that man's heart is "...deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9).  Evaluating the motives of "interpreters of prophecy" is therefore where we most need to seek The Spirit's penetrating discernment, for Jesus affirmed that God Alone fully knows men's hearts. (Luke 16:15).

With the caveat that I may get the Spirit's discernment wrong, as any of us can, I've found pride a good indicator of "prophetic interpretation" intended to glorify man.  As mentioned above, I think there are times we can sense that an interpreter (to some degree) prides himself on his ability to "solve the puzzle" of Biblical prophecies.  I think we're on solid scriptural ground to reject prophetic interpretations by such "teachers."

But very noticeable in today's "prophetic teaching" is what I'd call factional pride: "prophetic interpretation" by which man prides himself as identifying with (for example) a nation, denomination, philosophy, political party, theology, economic theory, etc..  And because more prevalent, it may be the enemy's greatest weapon against the Church today that Christians eagerly follow false "prophetic interpretations" which echo and flatter their own opinions.

Galatians 5:19-21 is explicit that "factions" (Strong's glosses the Greek word as "self-chosen opinions") are a "deed of the flesh," and that "...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  Nothing could be more certain than that The Spirit is not Author of any "deed of the flesh."  Nor of the divisiveness which is their raison d'etre.  Nor of the pride in which factions are rooted; nor of the "...enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions" (also on Galatians' list of "deeds of the flesh"), and hatred for others which they engender.

Just as the Spirit of God never shares His Glory with any individual, it's safe to say that the Spirit's interpretations of prophecy will never be to the praise, honor, glory or endorsement of any of the proud works of man's flesh: not human factions, no "nation of men," and none of man's ideologies.  All "Interpretations" of Biblical prophecy which do so unmistakably manifest a spirit other than God's.

Because many American Christians have unwisely identified with the "conservative" political faction, its "talking-points" often predominate in today's false "prophetic interpretation."  A previous blog-post here highlights one recent example I've read, the book "Letter to the American Church" by "conservative" media-personality Eric Metaxas.

The way a good friend put it to me (and stunned me to silence) several years ago sticks with me.  Not a stupid man, not a Q-Anon crazy, not a superficial Christian, he flatly said "I don't believe you can be a Christian unless you're a conservative."  I think that concept of Christianity has become more prevalent and increasingly violent in recent years: probably many who believe as my friend does are today convinced that anyone not in their faction are "enemies," thereby consciously serving satan, and should be destroyed.

No one can miss that politics has been the primary element dividing our country the last few years, and is variety of the "deed of the flesh" Galatians calls "factions:" a "self-chosen opinion."  And clearly politics has become the criteria by which many deceived "Christians" measure even the faith and its teachings, as well as other Christians.

In these days when Jesus' repeated warning in Matthew 24 against being "misled" puts the highest premium on Christians' ability to discern false teaching and false prophecy:

in this day when much of "Christian" teaching, prophecy, and interpretation of prophecy is blatantly political:

it may be that the most relevant principle of discerning The Spirit's call to the Church today may simply be that The Spirit will never proffer a political "solution" to any spiritual problem.

Discerning Prophecy I: Premise

When we talk about discerning Biblical prophecy, the question is never what words are on the pages of the Bible.  Those words have been “in print” for thousands of years.  We have no reason to be unclear about what God has said.

We’re always told it’s an essential discipline to read God’s word, the Bible, regularly: rightly so.  But Jesus emphasized even more “hearing” God's word: grasping in our spirits what God means by His words, and wishes us to understand.  He frequently exhorted His followers with commands such as “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9).  He indeed makes hearing the substance of our relationship with Him: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them…” (John 10:27).

There can be no question what God has said.  But there is often great confusion, even contention, about what God means by His words, especially His words of prophecy.  It’s not unusual to find dozens of different interpretations of any given Biblical prophecy, each purporting to be what God wishes us to understand from His words.

That fact itself tells us that the enemy, “the father of lies,” is working hard right now to keep us from truly hearing what God is saying.  If God intends we understand a specific meaning in His prophetic words, all other interpretations of His words are false, and serve the enemy’s purpose.

There have been many outright “false prophets," of course, who falsely claim God is the author of the words they teach.  Mohammed and Joseph Smith are well-known examples.  God says there are extremely serious consequences, for the prophet and the people who receive his word, to "prophesy falsely in My Name," as Jeremiah 23 attests.

But equally dangerous, and much more numerous, are those who interpret God's authentic prophetic words in scripture to mean something other than God means.  It seems that many of today's "teacher of prophecy" authors and broadcasters offer Christians false interpretations of Biblical prophecy; and must therefore be deemed “false prophets” and "false teachers."

In His great teaching about the "last days" (Matthew 24) Jesus repeatedly warns His followers that there will be a proliferation of false prophets and false teachers at that time: which many of us believe is this time.  His repeated command to His followers is "...do not believe them" (Matthew 24:23, 26).

The critical question for Jesus' followers, especially those of us who believe we are living in the last days, is how we can discern false prophecy and teaching.

Amen.

The Wisdom of Timeliness

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Derek Prince Ministries' letter this week, and Brother Derek's "legacy" teaching it introduced,
seemed so immediate and personal to me that I've been able to think of nothing else !

The teaching letter was on "reigning with Christ:" and after citing the scriptures which tell us
we will, Brother Derek talked about how we prepare ourselves for that high calling God has
prepared for us.

The first preparation was self-examination on this question: "Is God's Purpose Our Purpose ?"

I haven't read any further yet.  God impressed on my mind that that's not only a true teaching,
but also one I need to respond to now, before going any farther.  We have before us every day
the negative example on that score of "conservative Christians;" so God also impressed on me
that I need to examine all the ideas by which, and for which, I live and work.

(And "God's purpose" is of course the central point on which Brother Derek's seminal teaching
of 40 years ago, "Agreeing With God," was structured.)

So I've really only read in full the introductory letter.  And I note too that it offers another free
pamphlet of Brother Derek's teaching called "Take Heed That You Are Not Deceived."  Nothing
could be more relevant to my recent Bible-study readings and meditations on I John, and their
parallels in Matthew 24: for in the latter, Jesus' discourse on the end-times, and repeatedly
warns the disciples (and us) to not be deceived.

The introductory letter goes on to say the free pamphlet "...expands on one of Derek's key points:
developing a love for truth:"  which is probably my greatest touchstone of all.

Nothing could be more immediately applicable to this time than loving truth, and being on guard
against deception.

And the introductory letter mentions in passing a verse I'd never noticed, on "timeliness:"

Among those who joined David when he was hiding out from King Saul were the sons of Issachar,
"...men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do" (I Chronicles 12:32).

And that verse immediately resonated for me with Jesus' vehement words to the people of His time,
for their failure to understand the times, and what they should do:

"You hypocrites !  You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but
why do you not analyze this present time ?"  (Luke 12:56)

AMEN !! 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
 

Who's Next ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Many people, even some of his former followers, are beginning to see that Donald Trump's presidency is disastrous for our country.

It makes me cautiously hopeful.  It's always good when people are honest about reality.  Living by lies (or the "spin" today's deceivers give it, "alternative facts") inevitably brings people, and nations, to a bad end.  Jesus said He IS "the Truth" (John 14:6): and scripture affirms that people and nations perish when they will not "...receive the love of the truth so as to be saved" (II Thessalonians 2:10).

It will be good when Trump is removed from the office where he has the power to do harm to the country.  But no individual politician completely embodies the enemy's destructive spirit, until antiChrist comes on the scene.

It's been clear from the start that; as much as he operates in the enemy's spirit of lies, immorality, pride, unrighteousness, and greed; Trump is neither smart enough nor "slick" enough to fill the role of anti-Christ.  According to scripture, anti-Christ will be a unifying figure who is almost universally adored and trusted.  Jesus said that deceiver would be able to "...mislead, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24).  But it's increasingly clear that the majority of  people...maybe even millions of his white "evangelical" followers..no longer believe or trust Trump.

I think it's easy to see how the enemy might manipulate our current politics to his purposes.

Those who've tied their political fortunes to Trump will frantically try to disassociate themselves from him as he sinks in public estimation.  They will try to shore up their political fortunes by putting forward a "leader" perceived as more honest, intelligent, and likeable than Trump.  They will easily find such a person: 99% of people meet that criteria.

But in the political nature of things, many who've become disgusted with the evil politics that Republicans (and the vast majority of America's Christians) have so long practiced, will be convinced that only voting counter-Republican will "save" them.

If the enemy is smart...and he is, very... he can be expected to manipulate the other parties to also offer a person smarter, more attractive, and more masterfully deceitful in hiding his evil spirit, than Trump.  The enemy's surest deception might be to give us a Democrat, or Independent, or third-party, evil "savior:" someone who appears personally and politically opposite to Trump.  That ploy could be very successful with the simple-minded, the politically-minded, and those lacking spiritual discernment...surely the large majority of humanity.

I think the Spirit is saying we should be alert, and sharply discerning, towards anyone presented us as the "anti-Trump:" and especially careful to not be deceived by his anti-Trump political credentials.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Jesus Warns of Mis-"leaders"

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

"And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many."

                                                                                              --  Matthew 24:4,5

Jesus speaks as if the end-times will be especially characterized by the proliferation of deceivers.

We've always believed false prophets and false doctrines will increase in those days, as the "father of lies" tries to lead astray, if he can, even the elect.

But Jesus is Lord of all things, not just "religious" things: and the father of lies doesn't limit his deceptions to only false "religious" prophets and doctrines.

I have to believe Jesus means we should as well beware those who spread false history, or false science, or false "news," as specifically "Christian."  David Barton, for example, who peddles lies of "America's Christian heritage" as his "Christian" version of American history.  Or the media-organizations "WorldNetDaily" and "The Blaze," spreading partisan lies as Christian "news" (though "The Blaze" founder is himself actually Mormon).

Significantly, Jesus doesn't warn us against the deceivers that "Christian" spin-doctors warn us to fear and hate: "the homosexual agenda," communists, jihadis, Trilateralists.  I've never heard any of those proclaim their lies in Jesus' name: nor heard of any Christians misled by them.

Jesus says rather to beware those who "mislead" in His name..."Christian" deceivers.

I understand Him to mean those grasping for worldly power by teaching lies, hate and fear...in Jesus' name.  Maybe He means the "Christian" Conservative political machine.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Procedural Note

Some people have objected to my calling the incoming-president an "unrighteous" man.

My using that term comes from a recent conviction that human beings don't have moral "standing" to call any other human being "evil" or "good."  Both are assertions what someone's spirit IS, absolutely and without admixture.  At the most basic level of reality, that's a dishonest view of any human being.

Certainly Jesus forbids us to call anyone "good": even Himself in the days of His flesh: because "No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19).

But Jesus does speak of "evil" people.  In all the other gospels, His references are to men's evil deeds or thoughts: but in Matthew, there is an evil generation of men (12:39, 12:45, and 16:4), an evil slave (24:48), an "evil person" He tells us not to resist (5:39), an "evil man" who brings forth evil treasures (12:35).

Collective mankind on which the sun rises (5:45), and which the king invites to the marriage feast (22:10), includes evil people.  And Jesus is completely direct about who these people are, and what their nature is: "you, being evil" (7:11, 12:34).

I'll be the first to admit I don't understand everything about Jesus referring to people as "evil."  But knowing Who Jesus IS, I think He has the spiritual authority to make that judgement, which belongs to God Alone.  And I think His "...you, being evil" means no human being has spiritual "standing" to call any other human being evil.

I'm convicted we should rightly only characterize people by the nature of their deeds, and thoughts, and words.  We can call someone who does righteous things and speaks righteousness, "a righteous man."  Jesus has forbidden any characterization beyond that, for "no one is good except God alone."

And a man whose deeds, and thoughts, and words are manifestly evil and harmful is "an unrighteous man."  I'm convicted I'd be spiritually unwarranted in judging Donald Trump "an evil man:" but only as "unrighteous."

But that only explains the terminology I've chosen.  I could yet be factually wrong about Donald Trump.  God knows the thoughts of his heart.  My characterization is only based on what he's publicly done, and said.

So I here publicly invite correction.

If anyone who objects to my characterizing Donald Trump as "unrighteous" will make me aware of an instance I might have missed, in which he did or said a righteous thing, I will post it here.

In light of any verifiable evidence of his doing any righteous thing, or saying a righteous thing,
I will also re-think my characterization of Trump as "an unrighteous man."  And if anyone shows me proof that I have mis-characterized him, I will here publicly apologize.