Learning to Read Prophecy
The Book of Revelation stands at the end of a very long line of prophetic books. To understand the Revelator's message, it is very handy to understand the patterns and styles he is deliberately following.
These are some brief lessons that will help you orientate yourself in the world of apocalyptic prophecy. These lessons barely touch directly on the actual content of Revelation, but I highly recommend taking a look at the listed scriptures, just to get an idea of some ways the Spirit of God inspires prophecy.
Not everyone will want or need to read these posts, but if you take even just a few moments to skim the brief lessons, you will be well-prepared when we start in with the direct study.
Historical Events as Prophecy
We see in the Bible events that actually happened, which were cited later in reference to those events. Those references then became prophecy. Consider:
Exodus 3.10-11 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Exodus 4.21-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
In this historical account from the book of Exodus, we see Israel summoned out of Egypt, and called God’s son. In preaching to the nation of Israel several generations later—long after Israel had settled into Canaan—the prophet Hosea wrote:
Hosea 11.1-2 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
Hosea the prophet used the historical account of Exodus—with which the people of Israel were very familiar—to paint a verbal picture of a father rescuing a son, and calling to him, but who is still ignored. In its original context, this was not read as a prophecy, but as a description of the way God saw Israel, and of how Israel was treating God. But something happened:
Matthew 2.13-15 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod:
Now we see Hosea’s reference being cited or used as a source of prophecy. Initially, “Out of Egypt have I called my son” referred not to Christ, but to Israel. Yet, because of the way Christ represented Israel, this verse not only spoke about historical events that had once happened; it also spoke of events that would happen again in one form or another. Like other prophecies, this passage had more than one meaning.
Justin Staller - Moderator
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Search the scriptures--for in them ye think ye have eternal life: They are they which testify of me--and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5.39-40)