Sabbath: The Bible and Prophecy
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Dan. 2:27-45, John 14:29, Num. 14:34, Dan. 7:1-25, Dan. 8:14, 1 Cor. 10:1-13.
Memory Text: “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Daniel 8:14, KJV).
Bible prophecy is crucial to our identity and mission. Prophecy provides an internal and external mechanism to confirm the accuracy of God’s Word. Jesus said, “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29, NKJV; see also John 13:19). The crucial question is: How do we interpret prophecy correctly so that we know when the prophecy has, indeed, come to pass?
During the Reformation, the reformers followed the historicist method. This method is the same one Daniel and John used as the key for their own interpretation. The historicist method sees prophecy as a progressive and continuous fulfillment of history, starting in the past and ending with God’s eternal kingdom.
This week, we will study the pillars of historicist prophetic interpretation. “We are to see in history the fulfillment of prophecy, to study the workings of Providence in the great reformatory movements, and to understand the progress of events in the marshalling of the nations for the final conflict of the great controversy”. — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 307.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 13.
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We have just finished a whole quarter on the study of Daniel, so probably this lesson may seem like a bit of overkill. I am reminded that on TV there are several media evangelists touting Biblical prophecy and their relationship to modern-day events. They exploit the media capital in letting people know that they are not surprised by these events because the Bible writers have prophesied they would happen.
The issue that I have with most of these evangelists is that they are more interested in predicting the future (or explaining the present) than they are in pointing to Jesus and living a saved life as a result.
Prophecies fail not when they are wrong but when those who interpret them fail to consider that Jesus is essentially the reason for prophecy.
The point of prophecy is not about proving we are right but that Jesus should be our focus and that should affect they way we live.
I so appreciate your contributions........erudite and understandable.......what a great combination.
God Bless and continue to bless us here for many more years, or until Jesus comes!
We have yet to get to the anything that the title of this study suggests. The title of the study is "How to Interpret Scripture." So far all we have done is a drawn out apologetic on Scripture. We have done very little, if at all, actual work in interpretative exercises. It is a typical 13 week exercise in simply affirming our Fundamental Beliefs, in this case, our Fundamental Belief in Scripture. We have yet to be given any tools about how to study and interpret.
Sadly, I find this too familiar in SS over the years. Rote and too predictable. It has always been a source of a bit of angst for me in the process.
Hi Kevin. I have looked at the lessons as just a starting point, a conversation opener so to speak. I think the lessons are addressing some very crucial topics. I live near an SDA college, and right here at our own school, are teachers that are teaching some of the conflicting things that this quarters lessons have addressed. For those that have not thrown out what our church was founded on, this can seem a little redundant, but for those who have tossed our beliefs aside, if they are looking at this lesson, it could be the thing that might guide them back to truth.
This thought has helped me in digging even deeper than the lesson may go, to solidify my belief, so I can be more equipped to share it with someone who doubts.
Kevin, there is a link to the Seventh Day Adventist Church approved “Methods of Bible Study” in Friday’s “Further Thoughts“ post that was very enlightening to me. I hadn’t ever read this and It was the most valuable part of the past weeks lesson.
It has perhaps been one of the church’s best kept secrets since 1986...
Phil, I believe it is only a secret to those who have yet to engage the word of God as they would their daily bread. God's word contains the simple instructions on how to interpret His word. We read, hear, and keep those things, and God does the rest by "instruct[ing] and teach[ing]" all who believe His promise to do so(Ps 32:8). The word must be interpreted by the Spirit that gave it, and we may have this if we do not grieve the Spirit in our daily living. If we do God's will, we "shall know the doctrine"(John 7:17; 8:31,32). Obedience is the key to advancing in the truth, for it is the way to become wise(Matt 7:24) which leads to understanding(Dan 12:10).
All that is found in that document can be found in a daily study of God's word if/when it becomes incorporated into our daily life.
I hope this doesn't get lost in this 13-week "study" of this topic.