Understanding Parable and Allegory in God's Word

Davy said:

This is where many brethren are confused, often assigning literal Scripture in God's Word as being meant in the spiritual sense, and then other allegorical type Scripture as being literal. They get the meaning backwards. Satan's host uses that confusion against the Biblical illiterate, doing some of their best work in some pulpits

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The simple way is if the bible says there is an alergorical meaning there is, if the bible doesn't say that, then there isn't an alergorical meaning.

Where many go wrong is in using there imagination to find alergorical meaning where there is no scriptual warrent.

Davy said:

Isa 54:1
54:1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
KJV

Gal 4:27
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

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Romans 7:2-4 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. [3] So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. [4] Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Matthew 5:1-13 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. [13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

“Good for nothing” Isaiah 53:2-5
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Davy said:

The only actual relative part of your explanation is in your first paragraph about marriage and adultery. But it still does not explain the allegory being given in Isaiah 54:1, which Apostle Paul quoted in Galatians 4. Here's another example of it being quoted in the New Testament, this time by our Lord Jesus...

Luke 23:27-30
27 And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.'
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
KJV

Jesus takes the allegory even deeper. Can you understand it?

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Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Through the body of Christ ... they were made desolate...judgement beginning at the house of God. He gave His sanctuary to be trodden under foot until every yoke is broken from off their necks. So don’t know how those passages do not relate to being made desolate and trodden under the foot of men. not only they...but a spoiling and wasting was determined in all people and nations to break every yoke of bondage and to set the captives free. But there is Hope in He said “rejoice” “sing you barren and desolate...” The body of Christ being THE way, the truth, and the Life. Isaiah 10:22-23 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. [23] For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Consumption: In Old Testament 'akhal ("to eat," "devour") occurs very frequently, and is translated "consumed" (Genesis 31:40; Exodus 15:7; Psalms 78:63, etc.); kalah ("to finish") is also frequently translated "consume," "consumed" (Genesis 41:30; Exodus 32:10; Psalms 59:13, etc.); tamam, "to be perfect," "finished" (Numbers 17:13; Deuteronomy 2:15; Psalms 73:19, etc.). There are many other words translated "consume" and "consumed," e.g. cuph, "to end" (Jeremiah 8:13; Zechariah 1:2,3); balah, "to fade," "wear away" (Job 13:28; Psalms 49:14); gazal, implying violence (Job 24:19); caphah, "to end" (Genesis 19:15,17; Isaiah 7:20, etc.); ashesh, "to be old" (Psalms 6:7; 31:9,10 the King James Version); maqaq, "to become completed" (Ezekiel 4:17; Zechariah 14:12 bis); `asah kalah is rendered "utterly consume" (Nehemiah 9:31); analisko, "to use up," occurs in Luke 9:54; Galatians 5:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (the King James Version); dapanao, "to spend," is translated "consume" in James 4:3 (the Revised Version (British and American) "spend"); katanalisko, "to consume utterly," occurs only in Hebrews 12:29; "for our God is a consuming fire."

Yet the consumption determined ...shall overflow with righteousness. That was the reason for the passages on those who are blessed...blessed be those who are not offended in Him. As John waited in prison to decrease...

Davy said:

It's about this matter:

Hos 10:8
8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
KJV

Rev 6:16-17
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him That sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?'
KJV

2 Cor 11:2-4
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
KJV

It is especially about Paul's warning there in 2 Cor.11 involving the "another Jesus" and staying "a chaste virgin" unto Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus even gave us the parable of the ten virgins about this matter for the end of this world, as it involves the falling away of 2 Thess.2 also.


Gal 4:27
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
KJV

Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. That's how we are to study God's Word (Isa.28).

"... Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:" = those who remain in Christ all the way to the end when He returns to gather His Church. These remain "a chaste virgin" waiting on Jesus to come for He is their Husband (spiritually) like Paul showed in the 2 Cor.11:2 verse, which he got from Isaiah 54:1.

"... for the desolate hath many more children..." = this is where it's shown this is an allegory, because the woman who's womb is desolate or barren, doesn't have children in real life. It's this desolate, barren woman which did not travail that is blessed in the allegory. In Isaiah 54, we are shown the 'many more children' is about the symbolic tent of God's future Israel being enlarged to include the believing Gentiles. Again, the many more children by the barren woman is an allegory, otherwise it doesn't make sense.

"... than she which hath an husband." = the woman who is with child, and is married, pointing to the end, is the opposite of Apostle Paul's warning for us to remain as "a chaste virgin" to our Husband Jesus Christ. This woman is found 'travailing with child', already married, when our Lord Jesus returns. It's pointing to acceptance of the coming Antichrist at the end of this world, instead of waiting on our true Husband, Jesus Christ. This is why Paul would say in 1 Thess.5:3 that when the deceived say, "Peace and safety" at the end, then "sudden destruction" will come upon them "as travail upon a woman with child".

The allegory is in comparing the faithful who wait for Jesus remaining as a chaste virgin and not deceived as one who does not, but instead marries a stranger, and is found travailing with child of another when Jesus returns. Thus the married wife will then wish for the mountains and hills to fall on them because of their shame at having fallen to the coming Antichrist. Because Paul also gave this warning for the Church, it means deceived brethren are also subject to this adulterous spiritual wife state when the Antichrist comes. Take heed that you aren't deceived.

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I’m sorry. You are pushing everything off into the yet future ...when it is happening now(imo). He makes desolate and brings all exalted low for a reason...in bringing every lifted and high thing down and into subjection to the obedience of Christ. It is the yoke of the natural man and pride and vanity and the bondage of corruption; God breaks off and sets the captives free. Even if you are correct He said they will faint for looking after those things coming upon the earth...where are their eyes set? We are supposed to know desolation and death of what is dead and buried already is necessary to spill over in righteousness and Life. A gross darkness where they grope to see but that is not the end...the ending ...where man means it for evil ...God means it for good.

Davy said:

It would appear many brethren in Christ have great trouble understanding the idea of allegory in God's Word. Some areas in God's Word tells you specifically an allegory is being given. Most other Scripture examples don't and instead rely on us to get into God's Word more in order to understand.

An allegory is simply a story or description of one thing that's used to reveal a separate meaning, often a hidden meaning. Here's an example by Apostle Paul...

Gal 4:22-31
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, 'Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.'
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
KJV

Those in Christ Jesus are represented by the promise to the son of the free woman (Isaac), which is about the future new Jerusalem, the Heavenly Jerusalem that's free. The bondwoman (Ishmael) is represented by those of earthly Jerusalem which is in bondage (until Jesus returns).

Paul says these two sons represent the two covenants. Yet we well know the covenants aren't sons literally, but only the two sons of Abraham being used to represent them. Easy peazey. It's an allegory. Paul even points to another allegory given in Isaiah 54 about the barren woman having more children than the married wife. But there's nothing written there to 'tell' you it's an allegory. But there is here in Galatians 4:24. We have to grasp how Isaiah 54 is an allegory through Bible study.


But what about this being changed, is this an allegory?

1 Cor 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
KJV

No, that being changed there is not... an allegory. It will happen literally, just as Apostle Paul wrote it. Even though we may find some things written in God's Word difficult to understand, especially compared to the things of our present world, that doesn't mean to disregard it as allegory like it's just pointing to some hidden spiritual concept.

This is where many brethren are confused, often assigning literal Scripture in God's Word as being meant in the spiritual sense, and then other allegorical type Scripture as being literal. They get the meaning backwards. Satan's host uses that confusion against the Biblical illiterate, doing some of their best work in some pulpits.

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The first thing to understand, is that all things "created" are "written", and mankind is specifically "created" in the "image" of God. Those are not the description of something "literal" or even real.

As for mankind, we know the truth: only One is begotten, only one is real according to how God defines "literal" and real.

And since God put all things under the man which He "created"...that likewise makes all the world only "image."

Thus, what is actually "literal" and real, is what comes next...making all that is "written" (for lack of a better term) only allegory.

But if that is not altogether convincing...just ask yourself: What is "literal" and real to an "image?" And if you need help with putting that in proper context: What is "literal" and real to a cartoon character within the context of the "created" cartoon?

Animations by God. No animals were harmed in the making of this message.

Davy said:

No, the barren idea is about remaining "a chaste virgin" to Jesus all the way up to His return on the "day of the Lord".

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Thank you for caring and not wanting me to be deceived. You said barren ...desolate to remain “a chaste virgin” for Christ...is that correct? If correct, when did they become desolate or barren? Assume you include the prophets and apostles and those of the promise seed as the barren; remaining chaste virgins?

the one who sits a queen and says she is no widow ...those who do not realize they are widows but still proclaim they are no widows? When did they become widows who deny they are widowed?

Davy said:

In Isaiah 54 God uses the idea of a woman's womb that is barren to represent His faithful that remain in Him, yes. Thus the idea of travailing with child is the opposite of that. How far back in history did that representation apply? From the time of Adam and Eve, since that is when the devil began his deceptions for this present world.

The Rev.18:7 verse is how the symbolic woman harlot of Babylon brags about herself.

Rev 18:7
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."
KJV

That symbolic woman per the end of Rev.17 we are shown is a "great city". Her saying she is not a widow and sits a queen points to her being married, but to whom? Married to Antichrist at the end, for the coming pseudo-Christ to Jerusalem was one of the main warnings our Lord Jesus gave us for the end of this world (Matthew 24:23-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). It's important to have studied Ezekiel 16 to grasp this relationship of Jerusalem being a married wife and either in a state of spiritual desolation or in a good state married to God.

The ultimate lesson to be learned with this Isaiah 54 allegory for us at the end of this world, is the deception of travailing with child by not remaining "a chaste virgin" waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to return, but instead falling away to travail with child by another in His place.

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Trying to see your view on the chaste virgin and her remaining so until The Lord’s return and not being deceived. But there is such a disconnect in how we see things. I’m not saying I’m right...but as you...I guess I believe things and could you rather than assume they are nonsense (not saying you have) but could you say where ...this deception might be? Bear with me because this is referring to The one saying she is no widow, sits queen and glories herself.

Was hoping you would refer back to “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, THAT we should bring forth fruit unto God.” At the question of when was she made desolate. (Imo) this ...by the body of Christ is when and where she was made desolate. SO THAT we should bring forth fruit unto God. The “fruit unto God”. being the fruit of the Spirit instead of fruit unto death. She was laid waste. He said not all are Jews but those of the promise. Some are Jews according to the flesh but Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) makes a distinction...I see this distinction as to what you are speaking of between she who says she is no widow... and the chaste virgin presented to Christ.

But Davy please understand I’m so confused as to once you commented we have not entered into His Rest, we have not ceased from our own works and how that is absurd. Unless you can show me how that is true...I can’t understand your warnings on the chaste virgin and not being deceived. God said in Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

We are to enter into His death and cease from our own works, to serve and glorify God instead of “herself” as the widow. Do you not see the one who sits a queen saying she is no widow...there has been no death...she is still married or claims she is but by His body she is dead to her own works. She completely rejects the “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, THAT we should bring forth fruit unto God.” She completely rejects entering into His death and resurrection of Life. She doesn’t see herself as a widow...and how deliciously “she glorifies herself”. We are to enter into His death...moving from death into Life by the body of Christ where it is no longer I...but Christ liveth in Me. The queen will not mourn...she boast she will see no sorrow. Again she rejects entering into His death where man ceases from his own (dead)works in favor of the greater (living)works of God. Someone told me the other day the fruit of the Spirit ...is man’s fruit. How many times do we need to read or hear “wrought of and in God”?

Because this queen who refuses to enter into “widowhood” glorifys herself...her works are dead works(through His body) that those works come to nothing...and preserve nothing as God commands: whosoever looses their life for My Namesake, will find Life. There again...enter into His death. BUT still “by the body of Christ” ...she is a widow...maintaining her own works rather than “ceased from his own works”. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Then were all dead...she is widowed even though she denies widowhood BY the body of Christ. Refusing “hereforth that they should not live unto themselves, but unto God” purged from “dead works” and free to serve the Living God. Revelation 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

She rejects entering into the death of Christ and putting off her dead works ...to serve and glorify God. To enter into His rest is to cease from our own works and to glorify God...putting off the old man...dead works. She would much rather glorify herself and in keeping her life, she will loose It.

the chaste virgin ...one who has left the world and has entered into His death and resurrection. Entered into His rest and ceased from his own works to live unto God. Paul said he wanted to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ ...untangled, without spot...I don’t see how you say she doesn’t bare or conceive but God enters in and makes His abode. His seed remains and springs forth in the parable of the good ground bringing forth much fruit. Considering the Spiritual fruit of God ...unless you are saying that the Fruit of the Spirit is NOT yet...then that good ground of truth is no where near desolate or barren but fertile and instead yields great increase unto the restoration and restitution of all things unto God, glorifying His Name. It is the widow who glorified herself that “remains” desolate and barren and “unfruitful” towards Life by rejecting “Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, THAT we should bring forth fruit unto God.” ...only bringing forth fruit of death and destruction in “glorifies herself” ...

the chaste virgin presented to Christ bears much fruit of righteousness unto Life ..glorifying God and not herself. To teach others they should not enter or have not entered into God Rest because it is not yet...is to teach postponing entering into His death and remaining in dead works of “glorifying herself” :instead of “we should bring forth (spiritual)fruit unto God.” “Spiritual fruit” unto God only happens by entering into His death and passing to Life ....where the Spirit is; there is Life. No Christ...then they are none of His.

Do you say we should not and have not....entered into His death?

Davy said:

It's not 'my' view. It is what God's Holy Writ is revealing, through analogy and allegory:

2 Cor 11:2-4
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
KJV

If you don't understand that, then put it on a shelf.

Scripture about being dead to the law through Christ Jesus, and entering into His rest, are totally different topics than the above.

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No it is not. (Pointless to your topic). The one sitting a queen claiming her own works...glorifying herself...relates to your topic of not receiving “another Jesus” when this another Jesus will promote exactly that. You failed to address the “chaste virgin” presented to Christ untangled from the world ...does not remain barren or desolate as you (if I understood correctly) claim instead she is the “fruitful” one in His righteousness. Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Those fruits of the Spirt. She is not barren or desolate or forsaken...unless I’ve misunderstood that is what you are saying? She “the virgin” bears more than ‘thorn and thistle’. The fruit and leaves for the healing of the nations. Is there fruit of the “chaste virgin” presented to Christ or not? If anything the virgin presented to Christ has “ceased from his own works” to glorify God in and by the works (fruit) of God so it is God’s works and not man’s. As Jesus Christ said you will know a false gospel by does it speak of God’s glory or man’s. This ‘another Jesus’ will not speak of God’s glory, but of men. As the queen “glorifies herself”. The queen who will not cease from her own works...claiming she hasn’t been widowed...glorifying herself remains barren and unfruitful...cut off at the crucifix by His dead body ...as One died for all...then All were dead. It is only the “chaste virgin” untangled from the world present to Christ which is “alive from the dead” and fruitful unto God. The good ground of truth sown and yields. Is the “chaste virgin” presented to Christ barren?


2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

“Ceased from his own works” dead by his body and “alive from the dead” to bring forth fruit unto God. Entered into His death and resurrection. Instead of: “Who opposes and exalteth himself ....”

Davy said:

The ultimate lesson to be learned with this Isaiah 54 allegory for us at the end of this world, is the deception of travailing with child by not remaining "a chaste virgin" waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to return, but instead falling away to travail with child by another in His place.

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Are you saying the “chaste virgin” does not travail in birth?
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

1 Corinthians 4:15
[15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.