God Interprets His Scripture

[TribulationSigns]

Concerning interpreting the bible prophecy, I noticed many people here believe that the Scripture can have to be "interpreted by each of us."

No, it is not true. Scriptures cannot be interpreted by any of us. Scriptures are interpreted by God. And until man figures that out first, he will never come to the knowledge of truth. Interpretations belong to God, not man. God gives man an answer to the mysteries hidden deep within His word, not man.

Luke 8:10

• "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

The distance between the "thee" and "others" that cannot understand is as far as day is to night. So they are wrong, scriptures cannot be interpreted by each of us, it has to be interpreted by the only one who knows what it means ...the author, God Himself!

Genesis 40:8

• "And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you."

Genesis 41:16

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Joseph knew something that apparently many Christians today do not know--that interpretations are NOT inherently in us; God alone possesses the answer. God alone can give us that answer that will bring peace of mind. And except we get our interpretations directly from Him, we are dabbling in private interpretations and are as lost as the "others" Christ spoke about.

With that said, it is no wonder that many people accuse some people of spiritualizing away things that are to be taken literally, thinking it's evil.

Isaiah 5:20-21

• "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
• Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"

It is a very dangerous thing to call good evil. The fact is, Christ spiritualized all throughout His ministry on earth, time after time, again and again. And he said the reason for that is so that those who are not appointed to see would not see, and those not gifted to hear would not hear. He spoke in parables. He spiritualized cities, bondwomen and freewomen, rich men and poor men, bread, wine, laborers, plantings, oil, water, building stones, and olive trees. His life on earth was full of allegories, proverbs, parables, metaphors, spiritual symbols, and stories. And yet many of you disparage spiritual understanding? Do you think righteous Joseph would have said, I'm not going to accept the truth because it's spiritualized?

Genesis 41:16-18

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
• And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
• And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:"

Did Joseph say, I can't accept that 'interpretation' because Pharaoh's dream was Joseph "spiritualizing?" The Spirit of God to understand this is that it must be understood in the Spiritual wisdom of God, not the carnal, fleshly wisdom of man. THAT is why no one could give Pharaoh the correct interpretation; God Himself had to do it through His Spirit enlightening Joseph! Without the Spirit of God, there is no Spirit of truth. Selah!

 

[TribulationSigns]

I will give you an example. Some people insisted that the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 must be two literal men, including the idea of Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament.

Two Witnesses is the designator that what is being said is true. It signified corroborated truth, which we see all throughout Scripture. Even from the very beginning. If interpretations belong to God.

Deuteronomy 19:15

• "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

God's law established that at the mouth of a "minimum" of two witnesses, the truth is established. This is why Revelation chapter 11 designates His faithful believers of the New Testament congregation as His Two Witnesses because of indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As for the two Witnesses, being two witnesses, as the faithful church is the establishment of truth that we come with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach it to the world for the past 2,000 years. They are the two witnesses of God's word whereby man may be put to death, even as God inspired it to be written (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Revelation 11:3-5

• "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
• These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
• And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

The Candlesticks spiritually represent the church. The Olive Tree spiritually represents the church. The prophets spiritually represent the church. And the two witnesses spiritually represent the church. Oh, there is God again "Spiritualizing" just like He has all throughout the Scriptures!! By Two Witnesses are the enemies of God killed. What? Know ye not that ye shall judge ἄγγελος [aggelos] messengers? (1st Corinthians 6:3-5).

 

[Marilyn C]

I will give you an example. Some people insisted that the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 must be two literal men, including the idea of Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament.

Two Witnesses is the designator that what is being said is true. It signified corroborated truth, which we see all throughout Scripture. Even from the very beginning. If interpretations belong to God.

Deuteronomy 19:15

• "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

God's law established that at the mouth of a "minimum" of two witnesses, the truth is established. This is why Revelation chapter 11 designates His faithful believers of the New Testament congregation as His Two Witnesses because of indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As for the two Witnesses, being two witnesses, as the faithful church is the establishment of truth that we come with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach it to the world for the past 2,000 years. They are the two witnesses of God's word whereby man may be put to death, even as God inspired it to be written (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Revelation 11:3-5

• "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
• These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
• And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

The Candlesticks spiritually represent the church. The Olive Tree spiritually represents the church. The prophets spiritually represent the church. And the two witnesses spiritually represent the church. Oh, there is God again "Spiritualizing" just like He has all throughout the Scriptures!! By Two Witnesses are the enemies of God killed. What? Know ye not that ye shall judge ἄγγελος [aggelos] messengers? (1st Corinthians 6:3-5).

Oh dear you just did what you said we shouldn`t do. You have interpreted God`s word yourself - the 2 witnesses represent the faithful church and the Candlesticks spiritually represent the church etc. All without scriptural proof.

Here is scriptural proof of the 2 Witnesses.

To be a `witness` they needed to have witnessed important events of Christ.

1. Christ`s death. `Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ` (Luke 9: 30 & 31)

2. Christ`s resurrection. `And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold two men stood by them in shining garments.` (Luke 24: 4)

3. Christ`s ascension. `And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel.` (Acts 1: 10)

Thus, the 2 Witnesses could witness of Jesus` death, resurrection and ascension. (Scripture interprets itself as you first said.)

 

[TribulationSigns]

Oh dear you just did what you said we shouldn`t do. You have interpreted God`s word yourself - the 2 witnesses represent the faithful church and the Candlesticks spiritually represent the church etc. All without scriptural proof.

Oh yes.

Rev 1:20
(20) The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

God defined the candlesticks as the church.

Now your turn to find God's definition for olive trees in Scripture. That would be your homework!

Here is scriptural proof of the 2 Witnesses.

Oh, you have? Let's see...

To be a `witness` they needed to have witnessed important events of Christ.

In order to be a witness, one needs to have witnessed important events of Christ? Huh? Sigh!

1. Christ`s death. `Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ` (Luke 9: 30 & 31)

What did Moses and Elijah discuss with Christ about? Read the verse and the context carefully. It is not about their witnessing in Jersualem!

2. Christ`s resurrection. `And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold two men stood by them in shining garments.` (Luke 24: 4)

Who are these two men, exactly?

3. Christ`s ascension. `And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel.` (Acts 1: 10)

Who are these two men, exactly?

Thus, the 2 Witnesses could witness of Jesus` death, resurrection and ascension. (Scripture interprets itself as you first said.)

No. You are not reading carefully:

Rev 11:3-4
(3) And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
(4) These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Verse is talking about the power that God empowered His Two Witnesses (symbolically the church) to prophesy gospel to the world. They are symbohlically the two olive trees, and two candlesticks and they are the CHURCH!

Act 1:8
(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

God is not talking about two people here. But ALL Elect who receive the Holy Spirit when they born again and have the power to preach the gospel about Jesus Christ and they do not have to be physically witness of Christ's " important events" since they can read about it in the Bible!

 

[Helen]

Gods written Word is Spirit , and can only be understood by and through the Spirit. Unless God Spirit shines on the page , it is just the dead letter .

“In the beginning was The Word , and The Word was with God ..and The Word was God . …”

 

[Zao is life]

Oh dear you just did what you said we shouldn`t do. You have interpreted God`s word yourself - the 2 witnesses represent the faithful church and the Candlesticks spiritually represent the church etc. All without scriptural proof.

Here is scriptural proof of the 2 Witnesses.

To be a `witness` they needed to have witnessed important events of Christ.

1. Christ`s death. `Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ` (Luke 9: 30 & 31)

2. Christ`s resurrection. `And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold two men stood by them in shining garments.` (Luke 24: 4)

3. Christ`s ascension. `And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel.` (Acts 1: 10)

Thus, the 2 Witnesses could witness of Jesus` death, resurrection and ascension. (Scripture interprets itself as you first said.)

Very interesting.

God defined the candlesticks as the church.

Now your turn to find God's definition for olive trees in Scripture. That would be your homework!

Act 1:8
(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

God is not talking about two people here. But ALL Elect

John 15
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

THE TWO 'SONS OF THE ANOINTING'

Zechariah 4
1 The angelic messenger who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep.
2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps.
3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left."
4 Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, "What are these, sir?"
5 He replied, "Don't you know what these are?" So I responded, "No, sir."
6 Therefore he told me, "These signify the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD who rules over all."

11 And I answered and said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lamp stand and on its left?
12 And I answered again and said to him, What are the two olive clusters beside the two golden pipes, emptying the golden oil from themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14 And he said, These are the two sons of the anointing who stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
​

Whoever is part of the body of Christ is part of the church. IMO the two witnesses can just as easily be two individuals who are from among the church / body of Christ, even if they have not been 'of the same generation' of any church. They could still be symbolized as lamp stands and olive trees - Zechariah 4 talks about the Olive trees standing beside the seven-branched menorah, they are not one of the seven branches of the menorah mentioned in that passage.

I do not know the identity of the two witnesses, but IMO it's OK to believe that though God gives us their identity in a symbolic way, overdoing it with the symbolism isn't going to get me believing this way or another.​

 

[TribulationSigns]

I do not know the identity of the two witnesses, but IMO it's OK to believe that though God gives us their identity in a symbolic way, overdoing it with the symbolism isn't going to get me believing this way or another.

Two sons and Two Witnesses are the same. They are talking about MANY people going out preaching with TRUTH, which the number two in Scripture signifies.

Luke 10:17-19

• "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
• And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
• Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

How did Christ see Satan fall from heaven through the work of the 70 messengers of the gospel that Christ sent out as witnesses, two by two? Selah!

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Oh dear you just did what you said we shouldn`t do. You have interpreted God`s word yourself - the 2 witnesses represent the faithful church and the Candlesticks spiritually represent the church etc. All without scriptural proof.

Here is scriptural proof of the 2 Witnesses.

To be a `witness` they needed to have witnessed important events of Christ.

1. Christ`s death. `Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ` (Luke 9: 30 & 31)

2. Christ`s resurrection. `And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold two men stood by them in shining garments.` (Luke 24: 4)

3. Christ`s ascension. `And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel.` (Acts 1: 10)

Thus, the 2 Witnesses could witness of Jesus` death, resurrection and ascension. (Scripture interprets itself as you first said.)

In the book of Revelation, candlesticks represent churches.

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Why would candlesticks represent churches in this verse, but men in another verse? Where is the consistency in that?

How are two individual men represented by two olive trees? Is that what you see in Romans 11:16-24 where it talks about branches from a wild olive tree being grafted into a good (cultivated) olive tree?

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Very interesting.

John 15
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

THE TWO 'SONS OF THE ANOINTING'

Zechariah 4
1 The angelic messenger who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep.
2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I replied, "I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps.
3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left."
4 Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, "What are these, sir?"
5 He replied, "Don't you know what these are?" So I responded, "No, sir."
6 Therefore he told me, "These signify the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD who rules over all."

11 And I answered and said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lamp stand and on its left?
12 And I answered again and said to him, What are the two olive clusters beside the two golden pipes, emptying the golden oil from themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14 And he said, These are the two sons of the anointing who stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
​

Whoever is part of the body of Christ is part of the church. IMO the two witnesses can just as easily be two individuals who are from among the church / body of Christ, even if they have not been 'of the same generation' of any church. They could still be symbolized as lamp stands and olive trees - Zechariah 4 talks about the Olive trees standing beside the seven-branched menorah, they are not one of the seven branches of the menorah mentioned in that passage.

I do not know the identity of the two witnesses, but IMO it's OK to believe that though God gives us their identity in a symbolic way, overdoing it with the symbolism isn't going to get me believing this way or another.​

I appreciate the effort at trying to interpret scripture with scripture here, but Zechariah 4 only references one candlestick, not two. The two witnesses are symbolically represented by two candlesticks.

 

[Rockerduck]

I will give you an example. Some people insisted that the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 must be two literal men, including the idea of Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament.

Two Witnesses is the designator that what is being said is true. It signified corroborated truth, which we see all throughout Scripture. Even from the very beginning. If interpretations belong to God.

Deuteronomy 19:15

• "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

God's law established that at the mouth of a "minimum" of two witnesses, the truth is established. This is why Revelation chapter 11 designates His faithful believers of the New Testament congregation as His Two Witnesses because of indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As for the two Witnesses, being two witnesses, as the faithful church is the establishment of truth that we come with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach it to the world for the past 2,000 years. They are the two witnesses of God's word whereby man may be put to death, even as God inspired it to be written (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Revelation 11:3-5

• "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
• These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
• And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

The Candlesticks spiritually represent the church. The Olive Tree spiritually represents the church. The prophets spiritually represent the church. And the two witnesses spiritually represent the church. Oh, there is God again "Spiritualizing" just like He has all throughout the Scriptures!! By Two Witnesses are the enemies of God killed. What? Know ye not that ye shall judge ἄγγελος [aggelos] messengers? (1st Corinthians 6:3-5).

The lampstands represent the church, and the Olive tree represents the Holy Spirit. These are the two witnesses on the earth.

 

[ScottA]

Concerning interpreting the bible prophecy, I noticed many people here believe that the Scripture can have to be "interpreted by each of us."

No, it is not true. Scriptures cannot be interpreted by any of us. Scriptures are interpreted by God. And until man figures that out first, he will never come to the knowledge of truth. Interpretations belong to God, not man. God gives man an answer to the mysteries hidden deep within His word, not man.

Luke 8:10

• "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

The distance between the "thee" and "others" that cannot understand is as far as day is to night. So they are wrong, scriptures cannot be interpreted by each of us, it has to be interpreted by the only one who knows what it means ...the author, God Himself!

Genesis 40:8

• "And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you."

Genesis 41:16

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Joseph knew something that apparently many Christians today do not know--that interpretations are NOT inherently in us; God alone possesses the answer. God alone can give us that answer that will bring peace of mind. And except we get our interpretations directly from Him, we are dabbling in private interpretations and are as lost as the "others" Christ spoke about.

With that said, it is no wonder that many people accuse some people of spiritualizing away things that are to be taken literally, thinking it's evil.

Isaiah 5:20-21

• "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
• Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"

It is a very dangerous thing to call good evil. The fact is, Christ spiritualized all throughout His ministry on earth, time after time, again and again. And he said the reason for that is so that those who are not appointed to see would not see, and those not gifted to hear would not hear. He spoke in parables. He spiritualized cities, bondwomen and freewomen, rich men and poor men, bread, wine, laborers, plantings, oil, water, building stones, and olive trees. His life on earth was full of allegories, proverbs, parables, metaphors, spiritual symbols, and stories. And yet many of you disparage spiritual understanding? Do you think righteous Joseph would have said, I'm not going to accept the truth because it's spiritualized?

Genesis 41:16-18

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
• And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
• And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:"

Did Joseph say, I can't accept that 'interpretation' because Pharaoh's dream was Joseph "spiritualizing?" The Spirit of God to understand this is that it must be understood in the Spiritual wisdom of God, not the carnal, fleshly wisdom of man. THAT is why no one could give Pharaoh the correct interpretation; God Himself had to do it through His Spirit enlightening Joseph! Without the Spirit of God, there is no Spirit of truth. Selah!

EXCELLENT!

PS, It is quite ironic with God being spirit, that anyone would think that "spiritualizing" (looking at what is written as spiritual) is not good, but bad.

 

[bdavidc]

Concerning interpreting the bible prophecy, I noticed many people here believe that the Scripture can have to be "interpreted by each of us."

No, it is not true. Scriptures cannot be interpreted by any of us. Scriptures are interpreted by God. And until man figures that out first, he will never come to the knowledge of truth. Interpretations belong to God, not man. God gives man an answer to the mysteries hidden deep within His word, not man.

Luke 8:10

• "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

The distance between the "thee" and "others" that cannot understand is as far as day is to night. So they are wrong, scriptures cannot be interpreted by each of us, it has to be interpreted by the only one who knows what it means ...the author, God Himself!

Genesis 40:8

• "And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you."

Genesis 41:16

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Joseph knew something that apparently many Christians today do not know--that interpretations are NOT inherently in us; God alone possesses the answer. God alone can give us that answer that will bring peace of mind. And except we get our interpretations directly from Him, we are dabbling in private interpretations and are as lost as the "others" Christ spoke about.

With that said, it is no wonder that many people accuse some people of spiritualizing away things that are to be taken literally, thinking it's evil.

Isaiah 5:20-21

• "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
• Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"

It is a very dangerous thing to call good evil. The fact is, Christ spiritualized all throughout His ministry on earth, time after time, again and again. And he said the reason for that is so that those who are not appointed to see would not see, and those not gifted to hear would not hear. He spoke in parables. He spiritualized cities, bondwomen and freewomen, rich men and poor men, bread, wine, laborers, plantings, oil, water, building stones, and olive trees. His life on earth was full of allegories, proverbs, parables, metaphors, spiritual symbols, and stories. And yet many of you disparage spiritual understanding? Do you think righteous Joseph would have said, I'm not going to accept the truth because it's spiritualized?

Genesis 41:16-18

• "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
• And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
• And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:"

Did Joseph say, I can't accept that 'interpretation' because Pharaoh's dream was Joseph "spiritualizing?" The Spirit of God to understand this is that it must be understood in the Spiritual wisdom of God, not the carnal, fleshly wisdom of man. THAT is why no one could give Pharaoh the correct interpretation; God Himself had to do it through His Spirit enlightening Joseph! Without the Spirit of God, there is no Spirit of truth. Selah!

You’re right that interpretations belong to God, Scripture says that clearly in Genesis 40:8. But here’s the key truth, God has already given us His interpretation in the Bible. He doesn’t hide it from those who truly want to know Him. He gave us His Word so we could read it, understand it, and follow it.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 says all Scripture is from God and is useful for teaching and correcting us so we can be fully equipped. That means we’re supposed to read it and learn from it. Jesus said if we continue in His Word, we will know the truth (John 8:31–32). That promise is for every believer, not just a few.

Yes, God used Joseph to interpret dreams, but that was before the Bible was written. Today, God speaks through His Word, not through new private revelations. And yes, Jesus spoke in parables, but He explained them to those who believed. He didn’t leave them guessing. He said the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13), and that’s what happens when we read the Bible with the Spirit’s help.

Now, spiritual understanding is real, but that doesn’t mean we get to make things up or twist the meaning. 2 Peter 1:20–21 says no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own private interpretation. That means we don’t get to decide what it means, it means what God intended. And He shows us the meaning in His Word.

So no, we’re not supposed to sit around waiting for secret interpretations. God already spoke. The Bible is how He teaches us now. Read it, compare verse with verse, pray for understanding, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth. That’s how we avoid getting it wrong.

 

[TribulationSigns]

You’re right that interpretations belong to God, Scripture says that clearly in Genesis 40:8. But here’s the key truth, God has already given us His interpretation in the Bible. He doesn’t hide it from those who truly want to know Him. He gave us His Word so we could read it, understand it, and follow it.

If you search like a Berean, you will find God's interpretation. Don't seek interpretation from CNN, Jpost, YouTube, Josephus, or Jack Van Impe.

 

[bdavidc]

I will give you an example. Some people insisted that the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 must be two literal men, including the idea of Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament.

Two Witnesses is the designator that what is being said is true. It signified corroborated truth, which we see all throughout Scripture. Even from the very beginning. If interpretations belong to God.

Deuteronomy 19:15

• "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

God's law established that at the mouth of a "minimum" of two witnesses, the truth is established. This is why Revelation chapter 11 designates His faithful believers of the New Testament congregation as His Two Witnesses because of indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As for the two Witnesses, being two witnesses, as the faithful church is the establishment of truth that we come with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach it to the world for the past 2,000 years. They are the two witnesses of God's word whereby man may be put to death, even as God inspired it to be written (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Revelation 11:3-5

• "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
• These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
• And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

The Candlesticks spiritually represent the church. The Olive Tree spiritually represents the church. The prophets spiritually represent the church. And the two witnesses spiritually represent the church. Oh, there is God again "Spiritualizing" just like He has all throughout the Scriptures!! By Two Witnesses are the enemies of God killed. What? Know ye not that ye shall judge ἄγγελος [aggelos] messengers? (1st Corinthians 6:3-5).

Revelation 11 talks about two real people, not just a symbol for the church. Yes, God uses symbols like candlesticks and olive trees in other parts of the Bible, but in this chapter, He gives very specific details. These two witnesses preach for 1,260 days, get killed, their bodies lie in the street, the world sees it, then God raises them back to life and they go up to heaven. That’s not a vague picture of the church, that’s a timeline with physical events that involve actual individuals (Revelation 11:3–12).

It’s true that the Bible teaches by the mouth of two or three witnesses truth is confirmed (Deuteronomy 19:15), but that doesn’t mean everything involving the number two is symbolic. God doesn’t leave us guessing here. The text doesn’t say “these represent the church,” like it does clearly in Revelation 1:20 when Jesus says the candlesticks are churches. If that’s what Revelation 11 meant, God would’ve said it.


And yes, God gives us spiritual understanding through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10–13), but that doesn’t mean we turn every prophecy into a symbol. Some things in Revelation are symbolic, and some things are literal. The resurrection of the witnesses is described just like the resurrection of Jesus, real and physical. The judgment that follows is also literal. Over-spiritualizing these events goes beyond what is written.

So bottom line, the Two Witnesses are two people God will raise up during the end times. They will preach, they will be hated, killed, raised up, and taken to heaven. That’s what the Bible says, and we need to stick with it.

 

[bdavidc]

If you search like a Berean, you will find God's interpretation. Don't seek interpretation from CNN, Jpost, YouTube, Josephus, or Jack Van Impe.

Exactly. If you really want to understand what God meant, go straight to His Word and search it like the Bereans did. Acts 17:11 says they “searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” They didn’t just accept what they were told, they checked everything against Scripture. That’s what God wants us to do.

Let me make it clear, I don’t go to CNN, YouTube, Jpost, Josephus, or any so-called prophecy “expert” to tell me what God meant. I go to the only source that holds the truth, the Word of God. If it’s not in Scripture, I don’t build doctrine on it. God has already spoken, and His Word is final. I search the Scriptures daily, like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11), because I’m not interested in man’s opinion, I’m after what God actually said.

You don’t need CNN, YouTube, Jpost, Josephus, or any prophecy “expert” to tell you what God meant. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says all Scripture is inspired by God and is enough to teach us, correct us, and train us to live right. And 1 Corinthians 2:12–13 says the Holy Spirit helps us understand the truth that God already gave. Not new revelation, just clarity on what’s already written.

So don’t chasing flashy opinions or headlines. Open your Bible. Compare verse with verse. Let God explain His own Word. That’s where truth is.

 

[ScottA]

So no, we’re not supposed to sit around waiting for secret interpretations. God already spoke. The Bible is how He teaches us now.

I have purposely picked this above part out, not to take away from all that you posted, but to specifically address these parts.

Whereas it is true that "we are not suppose to sit around waiting for secret interpretations", we are however supposed to expect further revelation until what was sealed of Daniel's and John's prophecies, and the complete mystery of God, is finished. Which were not to come until the end. And it should be clear by God's established method, just how that should come.

So, the second point is, no, "The Bible is how He teaches us now", is not the case. The Bible was not written at "the end", but well before the end and before the mystery of God was to be finished.

As for private interpretations, you and Peter of course are both correct. But that is not God's established method of revelation and proclamation -- which method I have purposely not stated, for everyone should already know His methods--without me being accused of private interpretation.

 

[ScottA]

. The resurrection of the witnesses is described just like the resurrection of Jesus, real and physical.

This is not a true interpretation. Which should be obvious, because it cannot be reconciled with the multitude who "were crucified with" Christ.

Unfortunately, it would appear that this is to be just another one of those age old debates plagued by private interpretation.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Revelation 11 talks about two real people, not just a symbol for the church. Yes, God uses symbols like candlesticks and olive trees in other parts of the Bible, but in this chapter, He gives very specific details. These two witnesses preach for 1,260 days, get killed, their bodies lie in the street, the world sees it, then God raises them back to life and they go up to heaven. That’s not a vague picture of the church, that’s a timeline with physical events that involve actual individuals (Revelation 11:3–12).

It’s true that the Bible teaches by the mouth of two or three witnesses truth is confirmed (Deuteronomy 19:15), but that doesn’t mean everything involving the number two is symbolic. God doesn’t leave us guessing here. The text doesn’t say “these represent the church,” like it does clearly in Revelation 1:20 when Jesus says the candlesticks are churches. If that’s what Revelation 11 meant, God would’ve said it.


And yes, God gives us spiritual understanding through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10–13), but that doesn’t mean we turn every prophecy into a symbol. Some things in Revelation are symbolic, and some things are literal. The resurrection of the witnesses is described just like the resurrection of Jesus, real and physical. The judgment that follows is also literal. Over-spiritualizing these events goes beyond what is written.

So bottom line, the Two Witnesses are two people God will raise up during the end times. They will preach, they will be hated, killed, raised up, and taken to heaven. That’s what the Bible says, and we need to stick with it.

In order to prove that the two witnesses are real people you need to be able to show how two candlesticks and two olive trees can symbolically represent them. Can you do that? In the book of Revelation, candlesticks symbolically represent churches (Revelation 1:20). Do you take that into consideration?

Honestly, it's a bit silly to accuse someone of over-spiritualizing things that are written in a book that undeniably contains a good amount of symbolism.

 

[Marilyn C]

In the book of Revelation, candlesticks represent churches.

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Why would candlesticks represent churches in this verse, but men in another verse? Where is the consistency in that?

How are two individual men represented by two olive trees? Is that what you see in Romans 11:16-24 where it talks about branches from a wild olive tree being grafted into a good (cultivated) olive tree?

Why does God call Satan as a roaring lion and Jesus as a Lion? As well as other symbols.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Why does God call Satan as a roaring lion and Jesus as a Lion? As well as other symbols.

That is irrelevant. Is Satan called a roaring lion in the book of Revelation? I'm talking about the symbols that are used in the book of Revelation. So, please answer my questions this time.

In the book of Revelation, candlesticks represent churches.

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Why would candlesticks represent churches in this verse, but represent individual men in another verse in the same book that refers to the two witnesses as two candlesticks? Where is the consistency in that?

How are two individual men represented by two olive trees who are also represented by two candlesticks? Is that what you see in Romans 11:16-24 where it talks about branches from a wild olive tree being grafted into a good (cultivated) olive tree?