Speculative Interpretation Fails
Just as in the first coming of Jesus, those who study the scripture have prophetic opinions.
These opinions often cloud what is happening. Speculative interpretation will always fail the Interpreter. You can't study the scripture alone and expect to find life:
John 5:38 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
In the story of Jesus' first coming, everyone who recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah did so by divine revelation.
Anna and Simeon heard promises from God. The wise men followed the star, the shepherds believed the angels.
The same will be true of the second coming. Don't think that you can puzzle out the end time scenarios and actually get the right answer. The point is to let the confusion, the seeming contradictions...the puzzle of the end time scenarios... humble you into simply talking to God about them and then following His voice and His signs.
It takes more time, it is less prideful, and it will literally change who you are as you wait for God's goodness to rise over His promises to you.
Luke 2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
35 “(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
It wasn't the scholars that studied prophecy that recognized Jesus. It was those who heard the Spirit of prophecy that recognized Jesus!
You can hear God, too, if you are willing to believe. That takes faith. Faith is the point of waiting.
These opinions often cloud what is happening. Speculative interpretation will always fail the Interpreter. You can't study the scripture alone and expect to find life:
John 5:38 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
In the story of Jesus' first coming, everyone who recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah did so by divine revelation.
Anna and Simeon heard promises from God. The wise men followed the star, the shepherds believed the angels.
The same will be true of the second coming. Don't think that you can puzzle out the end time scenarios and actually get the right answer. The point is to let the confusion, the seeming contradictions...the puzzle of the end time scenarios... humble you into simply talking to God about them and then following His voice and His signs.
It takes more time, it is less prideful, and it will literally change who you are as you wait for God's goodness to rise over His promises to you.
Luke 2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against
35 “(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
It wasn't the scholars that studied prophecy that recognized Jesus. It was those who heard the Spirit of prophecy that recognized Jesus!
You can hear God, too, if you are willing to believe. That takes faith. Faith is the point of waiting.
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