1) BY what means is all Scripture given ?
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Tim. 3 : 16.
2) For what purpose ?
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works.” Verse 17.
3) To whom do the things revealed from the Scriptures belong ?
“The ‘secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are
revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29 :29.
That is, they belong to the human family.
4) What is the last book of the Bible called ?
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him.” Rev. I :I.
5) What are many saying about this book even today?
Isa. 29:11-12 “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.”
6) What does the Bible say?
Rev. 22:10 “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.”
Revelation was given as an unfolding prophecy that is being fulfilled. It was not to be sealed, but to be understood.
7) What is said of those who read or study this book ?
” Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written therein.” Verse 3.
The book of Revelation, then, is not only designed to be understood, but a blessing is
pronounced upon those who read or study it. No one would expect to obtain
a blessing by reading a book he could not understand ; hence the implication
is that he who studies this book may understand it.
8) How were the Old Testament prophecies given ?
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man ; but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 1 Peter 1: 21.
9) What is said of the interpretation of these prophecies ?
” Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation
[impulse].” Verse 20. The Peshito Syriac version renders this verse :
“No prophecy is an exposition of its own text.” The idea conveyed is that
the text in which the prophecy is found, does not explain itself ; but that one
must go to some other statement of the Holy Spirit for an explanation. No
one, unaided (relying on his own private judgment), is competent to give an
exposition of a prophecy. Its meaning should be sought elsewhere in the
word of God, ” comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” i Cor. 2 : 53.
10) When prophecy is to be fulfilled, what does God do?
Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
11) In giving their prophetic utterances; what did the prophets seek ?
” Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls ; of which sal:*
vation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of
the grace that should come unto you.” I Peter i : 9, xo.
12) By whose spirit were they actuated ?
” Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them
did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory
that should follow.” Verse ii. Then all the prophecies of the Old Testament,
as well as those of the New, were dictated by .the Spirit of Christ,
and are therefore designed to be studied by Christians.
so.
13) How did Peter confirm his former preaching on the coming of
Christ?
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of
his majesty.” 2 Peter i : 16.
14) When did the apostle see the majesty (kingship) of Christ, and
hear the approbative words of God ?
” And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in
the holy mount.” Verse i8.
15) What other and more certain evidence did he have of the power
and coming of Christ ?
” We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawh, and the
day star arise in your hearts.” Verse 19.
The apostle assures his readers that you need not fear if you were not an eyewitness of that majesty, as though your soul would be without an anchor upon which to substantiate your faith. Rather he plainly declares you have the word more sure to you than if you saw it with your eyes, because the prophecy that God has given is absolute.
16) At the time when Jerusalem was to be destroyed, to what prophecy
did Christ point his disciples as a guide to their actions ?
” When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand).”
Matt. 24: 55
God does nothing new without revealing what He is doing from His word of prophecy to His servants. In the destruction of Jerusalem, not a single Christian perished because they understood the prophecy Christ gave, and fled to the mountains. Likewise, the same prophecies are given for our day so we might be instructed on how to act accordingly. God does not leave His children in the darkness.
17) When were all the prophecies in the book of Daniel to be understood?
“But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of
the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan.
12:4
NOTE. —Certainly it is that the study of prophecy should by no means be neglected.
This part of the word belongs to that which is said to be a lamp unto
our feet and a light unto our path. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
God gives his people, through the prophetic word, an opportunity to learn
what is coming on the earth, that they may know how to act when the predictions
shall come to pass. In view of this, whoever is overtaken unawares by
any calamity which the prophecies have pointed out, will be held guilty by
Him who so kindly reveals these things for our benefit.
