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Creative Bible Study
KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING
There are some basic keys which will help you understand and properly interpret Bible prophecy.
ONE: THE BASIC THEME OF PROPHECY
The Lord Jesus Christ is the basic theme of Bible prophecy. There are many other subjects of Bible prophecy. For example, there are prophecies of judgment of wicked nations by God. But the underlying theme of all Bible prophecies is that they somehow relate to Jesus and the purpose of God regarding Him:
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself;
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. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
All Bible prophecy, even when it deals with subjects such as judgment upon nations, etc., relates to the overall plan of God. That plan is to bring all mankind into right relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose is to gather in one all things in Christ.
The Bible states that the "spirit" or theme of Bible prophecy is Jesus:
. . . for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)
When you study Bible prophecy consider it in terms of this question: How does this prophecy relate to Jesus Christ (the spirit of prophecy) and God's overall plan concerning Him?
TWO: THE BIBLE INTERPRETS ITSELF
Another key to understanding is to realize that often the Bible explains its own prophecies. For an example of how the Bible interprets itself read Daniel chapter 2. Here a king by the name of Nebuchadnezzar is given a dream from God. Upon waking he cannot remember the dream. He calls upon the astrologers and magicians to recall and interpret the dream. They cannot do it. Then God uses the prophet Daniel to tell the king what he dreamed and interpret it for him. The dream is described by Daniel in verses 31-35. The interpretation of the dream is given in verses 36- 45. This is an example of how, in many passages, the Bible interprets its own prophecies.