Please answer something for me. If God wrote a book for EVERY man to use for salvation, then why can't EVERY man (or woman) read it and get their own correct interpretation? Why is it every religion has one correct view of scripture and none of them fits my own reading of them?
Very good question.
"Jr." has respondedly correctly in that "interpretations do belong to God," only.
Thus, it is His choice, his idea to handle this situation in a most unique way...to cut down on confusion.
God provides ONE answer, ONE interpretation, and ONE INTERPRETER, a human "Interpreter," like Jesus, when on earth. No confusion this way. One explanation from God. One. Thus, Jesus, God's Son, would, and should "rightfully" interpret the prophecies of God...one man...for that nation of "Israel," of the first century. -- Luke 24:27
Here's why? INSPIRATION...
Yes, inspiration.
Since only God, knows what is really meant behind His Words, His prophetic sayings, only He knows, -- then it is only He who can "inspire" a man to have the correct understanding of a matter. He must "reveal" it to this man, thru inspiration, and thus this man, now becomes God's Prophet, or spokesman, duly authorized by holy spirit, to give the "Sacred Pronouncements" of God.
Now, empowered by God Himself, The true "prophet" now, speaks for/interprets, God's Word, the Bible for the people, God's people, Israel. This is the Divine Pattern, as revealed in the scriptures.
KEY SCRIPTURAL TEXT:
"For example, to one there is given through the spirit speech of wisdom, to another speech of knowledge according to the same spirit, to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by that one spirit, to yet another operations of powerful works, to another prophesying, to another DISCERNMENT OF INSPIRED UTTERANCES, to another different tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. -- 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Now, lets think for a minute.
As mentioned above, the "spirit," of God, miraculously can enable mere mortal man, to do some fantastic, supernatural things. Things much beyond his scope. Things like the ability to do "powerful works," to "prophesy," or foretell the future, to "speak in tongues," and the ability to "intrepret" these same foreign "tongues." Some Amazing things!
But did you notice, also included on this list was the ability to show "discernment of inspired utterances"?
Yes, "Inspired Utterances," what is that?
"INSPIRED UTTERANCES," are those that are utterances from God. Prophetic utterances, as spoken by the "prophets," of old.
And, did you notice, the ability to "DISCERN" or understand, these same prophetic, inspired utterances, is actually a "special gift" from God, Jehovah -- a "gift," of the spirit.
Yes, it is. Why?
Well, because normally, and generally speaking, no normal, mortal man, can "discern inspired utterances", no matter how much he studys, and researches and so on, he cannot "discern" the meaning of these "prophetic utterances," WITHOUT, and that is without, the help of God Himself. That is why.
Thus, the bible's prophetic messages, still stand to be fully intrepreted, fully understood, to be fully explained, in our day...it has not been done, so far, for our day and time. No one can explain it, unless he first, must be Inspired, and duly appointed by God, to do so. It is just that simple.
So, until God says so, we can't fully "understand," the bible, and fully be able to "discern inspired utterances," -- it is beyond ability.
So, the bible is not, in our day, then, fully understood, nor CAN IT BE!
This would require the Special Intervention of God, Almighty, Jehovah!
Praise Jah!
Yes, to "discern inspired utterances," prophetic messages, is a "gift of the spirit," just like "interpreting foreign tongues." Mortal man, simply cannot do this, on his own power. He cannot.
It is a "gift of the spirit." Jehovah must intervene.
So, just like a mortal man, cannot "intrepret foreign tongues," simply and solely ON HIS OWN STRENGTH, INTELLIGENCE, or POWER, ... neither can mortal man, "discern Divine Utterances," prophetic utterances, "inspired utterances" of God, unless, HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE "GIFT OF THE SPIRIT," FROM JEHOVAH GOD.
Remember, the ability to "Discern Inspired Utterances," is a "powerful work" of God...a "gift of the spirit," just like the ability to "interpret tongues," "prophesy" the future, "speak in tongues," and perform miraculous "healings." It is to be viewed on this same heightened level...heaven high level...it is the "Gift of God." ... the "gift of the spirit." A Special Gift from God.
Now, let's think back a little bit.
Isn't it true, that the WTS is totally unaware of this scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10...isn't this so?
They are NOT even thinking about this Bible text...are they?
...that's why they keep making the same mistake, the same mistake of believing that THEY, yes they, on their OWN POWER and so on, as mere mortal men, yes, they CAN CORRECTLY INTERPRET, prophecies of the Bible, the book of Revelation, the prophetic books of Micah, Isaiah, Daniel, Hosea, WITHOUT INSPIRATION!
Is this possible?
The Bible answers, No!
But, this is what they believe, and what they teach.
They think they can "guess" the answers, as it were. Make "educated guesses," to "discern" the "inspired utterances," the prophetic messages found in the Holy Scripture.
But... They cannot interpret the "inspired utterances", the prophets of old... because as they admit... as they admit, THEY ARE NOT INSPIRED. They say "spirit-directed," but that's not the same thing, as they explain it...its not "inspiration," now is it?
Yes, they admit that they do not have nor have they ever, ever been given, the "gift of the spirit," yes, "discernment of inspired utterances." They admit they are NOT inspired, nor do they have this "gift of the spirit." So, they fail, fail, fail, over and over, because they do not have this "gift" from God, by their own admission!
And so too, with everyone else, anyone, who is not inspired, NOT so given the "gift of discernment of inspired utterances," ... they too yes, will fail, fail, fail, because as they admit...they too, just like the WTS, they too are NOT inspired. And the scripture says, one cannot "interpret" an "inspired utterance," without being yourself, simply being INSPIRED... simple. "Inspired utterances," "inspired interpreters." ... simple... Makes sense?
Therefore, the mistake that everyone keeps making is that, what everyone keeps forgeting, it that mankind, even collective mankind, over centuries, and centuries of time, still, cannot solely with human intelligence, "discern inspired utterances," or interpretation of God's Prophetic Word, The Bible. This simply CANNOT be done. No, no, no, not with only normal human, intelligence. It cannot be done. As the Bible says, in order for one to be able to "discern inspired utterances," one MUST BE, that's must INSPIRED by God...it is a "gift of the spirit," from God Almighty.
MDS
"Behold it, you scorners, and wonder at it, ...YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE even if anyone relates it to you in detail." -- Acts 13:41
Edited by - MDS on 7 February 2001 15:57:43