My Friend, VP, is in a church which reads the entire Bible as symbolism and allegory. So, his question is meant to be a "trick question" -- a "gotcha!" But, this is a very valid question and, I am sure is often confusing to Christian believers -- and, even more so, to new Christians and to new seekers only beginning their Biblical journey.
I pray that this dialogue will be a wee bit of help to you. If so, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all we meet -- until He returns.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion which I began titled "An Open Letter From The Son Of Madalyn Murray O'Hair" -- my Friend, VP, tells me, "But I would really like an answer to the question -- WHO decides which parts of the 'literal' word of God is symbolic? When there is no mention of symbolism in the text. I am really trying to follow your logic. Help me understand."
Thank you, VP. That is a valid question -- and a very good question. Since we know the Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired (authored by God), inerrant (authored by God, and God does not make mistakes), literal (God says what He means, and means what He says) Written Word of God -- there must be a way to know when to read the Bible literally and when to apply symbolism and allegory to our interpretation. Yes, there is, my Friend.
When studying the Bible, first, as you begin your study, you interpret the Scripture passage or verse you are reading literally. If this fits, and, you can tell if it makes sense -- that is the proper interpretation. If not, then look at that same passage under the lens of symbolism or allegory. If symbolism is used; you will be able to find the meaning for that symbolism in other parts of the Bible. This may require some dedicated study -- but, then, you are studying God's Word to gain more knowledge from it; so, what's a wee bit more work -- when the rewards are so great?
An example: In Revelation 1:16 we read, "In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."
And, this symbolism is explained in Revelation 1:20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Another example is found in Ezekiel 37:1-10 when the prophet Ezekiel is given a prophetic vision by God.
Ezekiel 37:1-3, "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.'"
And, in Ezekiel 37:11 we find, "Then He said to me, "'on of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel;. . .'"
This passage is symbolic and allegorical -- and, at the same time, it is prophetic. It is prophesying about the future return of the nation so Israel -- which we have seen fulfilled in 1948, when the nation Israel returned to its homeland, the promised land given to Israel by God in the days of Moses and Joshua.
And, then we move on with Israel to the End Times, the seven year Tribulation, which is decreed by God as the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel. In the Tribulation, a remnant of Israel will come to faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ -- and God will bring them through the times of trial, Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation.
In Isaiah 10:20-23, we find, "Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them (the Antichrist), but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land."
This passage, while, at first, seeming to be symbolic, is truly to be read literally. God is going to put the nation Israel, and with them the Gentile nations, through a time of Tribulation. And, in this horrible seven year Tribulation, only a remnant of Israel will accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and be saved. Although the Tribulation is not for the Gentile nations; many Gentiles will also be saved during the Tribulation. All others will perish with the Antichrist.
In Daniel 9:27, we read, "And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (Israel) for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
This passage uses symbolic language and is verified by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24.
In Matthew 24:15, we are told by Jesus Christ, "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand)." Here, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 9:27, the "abominations will come one who makes desolate."
This passage should be read literally; the Temple will be made desolate by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the seven year Tribulation.
The seven year Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace covenant with the nation Israel (Daniel 9:27). This will occur after the church has been raptured out of the world (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
During the first 3 1/2 years there will be an unusual peace, or seeming peace, throughout the world. The Antichrist will somehow be able to bring the Jews and the Muslims together in an agreement which will allow the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, where the large Islamic mosque now stands. It most likely will not replace the mosque; but, will share the Temple Mount with the mosque.
But, Israel will have her Temple once more and will be offering sacrifices to God in the newly rebuilt temple. However, in the middle of the seven years, after 42 months, the Antichrist will begin to show his true evil personality. It is my belief that this is the time when Satan actually enters and possesses the body of the Antichrist and all his evil is brought to the surface.
At this time, he will enter the Temple and declare himself to be God and demand worship. This is the "abomination of desolation" -- the "abominations will come one who makes desolate" spoken of in Daniel and by Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. From that midpoint on, the Antichrist will do everything in his power to completely destroy the nation Israel.
VP, do you see that so much of the Bible can be read literally -- and when He does use symbolism, He will give us an interpretation. He is not a God of confusion; He is not trying to hide His plan of salvation from us. He has given us His complete plan for our salvation and He has given us the Complete Christian User's Manual for living the Christian life. Believe me, there are no "trick questions" in the Bible. God says what He means -- and He means what He says!
And, that is the truth.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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