One of the characteristics of prophetic revelation is that it is sometimes allegorical or symbolic, and it is fully understood only after future events have taken place. From the Old Testament perspective, it was not altogether clear what the Messiah would look like.
The prophets foretold the coming of both a kingly Messiah and a suffering servant, but no one even remotely considered that both were the same person.
Obviously, kingly messiahs aren’t servants, and they don’t suffer. Even the disciples had a hard time with it. The Gospels, especially the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), show how baffled the disciples were.
The messianic secret is a theme that runs throughout all the synoptic Gospels. They had a very difficult time figuring out who Jesus was and the nature of His eternal kingdom. We have to be careful about locking in on our interpretation of prophetic revelation lest we miss what God is trying to say to us and do with us.
Scripture says: “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1: 11-12).
{ PRAYER STARTER }
Father, I love when You speak through Your Spirit to me with revelation that helps me to understand the allegorical and symbolic examples You have placed in Your Word to reveal Yourself to Your people. Help me to clearly understand Your revelation through these methods.
Carelessly interpreted prophetic revelation can cause chaos in someone’s life.
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