Interpretation or Revelation?
Many people interpret the Bible differently. As a result, we have thousands of different faiths believing in the same one God. But wait a minute! If the Bible is the truth of God, it can’t be an interpretation.
A man once said that no one could know the truth because the truth is just an interpretation; how one interprets a Scripture could be far different from how someone else interprets the same Scripture. Is there any truth to the above statement? Read on and you’ll be shocked!
First of all, God’s word, the Bible, says 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 rather men moved (directed) by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:20-21). Men who lived hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years apart spoke the very same prophesies that God inspired them to repeat. Some examples of this are found in Revelation 6:15-17; Isaiah 2:19, 21, and Luke 23:30. Another good example of the same prophesies given to different people who lived in different times is found in Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3; Zechariah 14:4; and Acts 1:10-12.
There are literally countless Scriptures in God’s word that prove God’s word is the truth and not merely interpretations of men. What is not known is that God’s word is a mystery that must be revealed to man by God (Gal. 1:11-12). The Apostle Paul who was a Pharisee, and whose father was a Pharisee, did not understand the very Scriptures he had studied all of his life. The Apostle Paul, after studying the Scriptures all his days, did not even know what the Will of God was. That also had to be revealed by God to him (Acts 22:14).
People of the world, whom God is not calling to Himself, cannot understand God’s word because it is a veiled book to them. God has allowed Satan to keep their minds blinded, that they might not see the light of the gospel of God (2 Cor. 4:3-4). They are being held captive by Satan to do his will, which is ignore God daily (2 Tim. 2:26). Jesus told His disciples that to them only had the mysteries of God’s kingdom been revealed. He told them their eyes were blessed because many righteous men and ministers desired to know and understand what the apostles knew, but could not (Matt. 13:11, 16-17). Jesus said He was going to tell the world the truth, which has been hidden from the beginning of time, only He would tell the masses in a parable form so they could not understand (Matt. 13:35). He would, however, explain everything He said in parables to His disciples privately. His disciples were those whom He chose to call to Himself (Mark 4:33-34).
Parables are dark sayings, riddles (Num. 12:8; Ezek. 17:2; 20:49). Speaking in parables is also called speaking in figurative language (John 16:25). Even the Pharisees could not hear Jesus’ words because they were of their father the devil (John 8:43-44). There were, however, some Pharisees whom God was calling into the truth, and they were becoming obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). You see, no one can come to Jesus Christ unless the Father calls or draws him (John 6:37, 44; Acts 2:47; 13:48). So you see, the truth must be revealed by God, or else the best a person can do is interpret the word of God.
Doctrines and traditions of men, which produced man-made religions, have come through man’s interpretations. These man-made traditions and man-made doctrines make man's worship of God in vain (Mark 7:7-8). If a person were to attend all the seminaries of man for a lifetime, it would be in vain, for he is reading from a book he does not understand. So he must interpret, and those interpretations are lies and half-truths. God’s word must be revealed, and it is revealed only to those who seek God for the truth, and not man. Those are the ones who find that one truth. Jesus Christ praised the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding the truth from the wise and intelligent and revealing it to those who are infants or teachable (Matt. 11:25). God considers the wisdom of this world foolishness, because that knowledge is earthly, demonic, and will not impart health, happiness, joy, peace, or eternal life (1 Cor. 3:19; James 3:15).
We must go to Jesus Christ directly to receive eternal life (John 5:40). We cannot receive eternal life from some man or his teachings. Many feel if they attend a church regularly, listen to a minister and support that church, and attend its functions, they will be saved. Nothing could be further from the truth (Psalm 146:3; 118:8-9). Trust God exclusively and check up on man continually by studying God’s word on your own (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; Acts 17:11).
One of the biggest lies that has been told in this world, is that a person cannot rightly understand the word of God unless he or she has a good understanding of the Greek and Hebrew languages. What does God’s word say about that? God is calling very few who are wise or noble, but is calling the fools, the weak, the base people and the despised of the world. He is calling those who are nobody to be somebody (1 Cor. 1:26-28; Eph. 4:28; Matt. 21:32). God is calling children (who are mostly the uneducated of the world), and revealing His message of His Way of life to them, whereas He is withholding the understanding from the wise and from many who know the Greek and the Hebrew (Matt. 11:25; 13:17; 18:3; 1 Cor. 1:19-20; Luke 10:21-22). This is not to say that God would not call some of these people, if they sought God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
I am not ashamed to proclaim that God’s words, as well as His parables, have been revealed to me, and I have been taught personally by the Lord Himself for a period of three years, like Paul was (Gal. 1:11-12, 18). Therefore, I teach the truth from God’s word, through God’s revelation—not by man’s interpretation. God has given me the pen of a ready writer and has caused me to write hundreds of Bible researched studies over the years, to help others who would want to know their Bibles well and as quickly as possible (Psalm 45:1). These writings have proven to transform lives, showing that they are not my writings, but rather information I have received through inspiration and revelation from the Lord. I believe the Lord has done this because the days are coming soon, when wickedness will be so great that no man can safely preach the truth of God’s word anymore. So we must redeem the time and learn God’s word now, as fast as possible.
Year after year the Lord has taught me while I lay on my bed and has instructed and inspired me on what I should write. Notice in God’s word that what I am saying is true and not a lie. His word cannot lie and I live only to imitate Him (Heb. 6:18; 1 John 2:21).
Job 33:15-16 - In a dream, in a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds; then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.
Is. 50:5 - The Lord God has opened my ear, and I have not disobedient; Nor did I turn back.
Is. 50:4 - The Lord God has given Me a tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
Psalm 16:7 - I will bless the Lord, who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
Is. 49:2 - He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He has concealed me; He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.
So you see, the truth must be revealed by God, or else the best a person can do is interpret the word of God. The key to having God reveal His teaching to you is you must seek God by doing His Will, which is doing good for God and begin to make all your ways right before Him (John 7:17). This is done by keeping, doing or performing Jesus Christ’s Words in your daily walk with Him (Psalm 37:27; John 8:51; 11:26; Rev. 2:26).