Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Revelation 8:10 Exploreing Revelation
Jul 19th, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

Last week we looked at the second trumpet. Today, before we look at the third trumpet, we want to pause and consider the issue of interpretation. I believe we should read and interpret these verses literally. When we spiritualize and interpret the stars and the sun to mean something other than the stars and the sun, I believe we are in error, at that point everyone has their own interpretation. Interpret it literally and there is no problem. When the firsts trumpet is sounded we have literal hail and literal fire falling from heaven. When the second trumpet sounds, we have a literal burning mass falls from heaven and turns the seas into literal blood.

When we study Moses in Egypt, we interpret the turning of the waters into blood literally. We interpret Exodus literally, we must be consistant and interpret Revelation literally. Attempts to spiritulize and symbolize limits the omnipotence of God.

A basic rule of interpretation that applies to all of scripture. Always interpret every statement in the Word of God literally as meaning exactly what it says, unless it is definitely stated otherwise or the structure and the context are such that you can plainly see that the passage contains a figure and a symbol. This rule is vitally important when interpreting scripture. When a verse in scripture states plainly that what follows is a parable, then we do not need to interpret the passage literally. When the grammatical structure indicates that a passage is not literal or a literal fact. For an example, this statement, `The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman,` we know it is a parable or a figure. Another example is found in Rev. 8:8 where it says:`And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea.` Notice the verse does not say it was a mountain but `as it were a great mountain,` It looked like a mountain, so it is obviously a symbol of something else. It is not difficult to know when a symbol is intended. Our daily language is filled with such figures and symbols and metaphors and we have no difficulty in knowing what they mean. When we call someone a star, we know what is meant. So the rule of interpretation is, Always interpret literally unless otherwise indicated, thats our daily practice.

We can avoid a lot of confusion by following this simple rule. Just interpret scripture in the same way you interpret any other literature.

Let us Cleanse Ourselves from All Filthiness - 2 Corinthians 7:1
Jul 19th, 2020
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

The closing paragraph of the previous chapter tells us what this defilement stands for; and in the enumeration note the increasing bonds of approximation which each word indicates. An unequal yoke in ill-matched intercourse with unbelievers leads to fellowship, and this to communion, and this again to concord, and this to partnership; whilst the culmination of the entire series is agreement, and the yielding up of the body for the possession and indwelling of idols. let us beware of the beginning of this awful approximation. It is impossible to stand still; and they who think lightly of marrying an unbeliever may in the end hear words like those which watchers heard spoken in the doomed temple on the night before it fell into the hands of Titus. "There was, as it were, the rushing of wings, and voices were heard saying, Let us depart."

There is not only defilement of the flesh, but of the spirit. It is not enough to avoid the gross sins of the outward life. Those of the inner temple and disposition are equally abhorrent to the holiness of God. We must come out and be separate from the latter as well as the former, or we shall never realize what God means when He promises to receive us, and to be a Father to us.

The word cleanse is very decisive in the Greek. It calls for sudden, decisive action; and if you answer, that sin is too closely interwoven with your nature to be thus summarily disposed of, remember that God demands our will only. Directly we are perfectly willing and eager, He steps in and does all the rest. At unknown depths the Spirit of God is at work within us; let us work out what He works in, that we may be welcomed to God's heart.