A More Sure Word of Prophecy

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.“What does the Word say?”  That used to be the response to so many questions I had about life, about God, about Christianity, about myself, about Jesus, the gospel, about relationships.  Of course what I meant when I said that (or heard it said) was, “What does God say in the Bible?”  Or simply, “What does the Bible say?”  I have been discovering that that question is the wrong question.  The right question is not, “What does the Word say,” it’s “What does the Word reveal?”

First of all, the Bible doesn’t say anything.  The Bible is simply words on a page, brought to you by a publisher and a printing press.  If the Bible sits on a table, and no one is in the room, the Bible says nothing.  Now if I go read a specific verse in the Bible, I will (probably) get something out of it; but if another person comes and reads that same specific verse, will he/she get the exact same thing out of it?  A good chance the answer would be “no.”  That’s because the Bible does no objective speaking – it only has meaning when and where it finds a home in the understanding of a man’s heart.  It has no meaning sitting there on the table with no one around.

I was just witness to a fairly strong discussion online about the subject of water baptism.  There were mainly two people in this discussion.  One thought water baptism necessary for salvation, the other didn’t believe there was any necessity at all to be water baptized.  And both were quoting the same Bible.  One man kept quoting John 3:

Jesus responded, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  John 3:5

That man believed “born of water” means getting water baptized.  The other man pointed out to him that it means the physical birth, indicating the rupture of the amniotic sac.  (He went to the verses immediately before and after to strengthen his viewpoint, which both mention the physical birth).  This second man pointed out that water baptism was never referred to in the Bible as “being born,” but rather always referred to a cleansing, whether actual or figurative.  Despite this evidence, and now knowing what this second man believed about that verse, the first man kept quoting it as proof for the need for water baptism.  So both these believers were referencing the exact same verse, and getting two entirely different truths out of it, to the point of strong debate (polite words for an argument).  Neither person changed his own or the other’s point of view.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall  direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5, 6

A logical thinker would read that verse and come to the (correct) conclusion that the Bible itself is telling us not to trust what we understand it to be saying.  Rather, we are to trust the Lord.  But how can we trust a Lord we do not know, much less be able to acknowledge Him in all our ways?  Well of course we can’t!

… for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  Revelation 19:10b

Prophecy is God speaking now.  The spirit of God speaking now is the testimony, or witness of Jesus.  Since all the problems of mankind have been solved by God working through His son, Jesus is exactly who or what needs to be preached and testified of, and that takes God speaking now!  Since all the inheritance which God has promised that His children will possess forever has been secured for us by God working through His son, Jesus is the one who needs to be sought and found, his spirit revealed within us, which takes God speaking now.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 
II Peter 1:16-18

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(Prior to these verses, Peter had told the beloved believers he was writing to, that he would be sure they were reminded of the truths he had just shared, even after his death.  Keep this in mind as we go through the rest of the verses in chapter 1.)

The above verse is referencing what has come to be called the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17), where Peter and John and James heard the voice of God speaking, calling Jesus His Son.  God Himself testified that Jesus was the Christ, His Son.  As far as I know, it’s the only record in the gospels where other men (other than Jesus himself and John the Baptizer) heard God testify of His Son.  Let’s continue in Peter.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; unto which you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts;  II Peter 1:19

What is this “more sure word of prophecy?”  I’ve heard it said that our Bible is the more sure word of prophecy.  Can’t be!  Why?  Because the Bible didn’t exist at the time Peter wrote this, yet Peter indicates that this more sure word of prophecy was in the possession of those he was writing to at that time!  How could he (and they)  “have” and be referring to something that didn’t exist?

What was translated “also” is really “and,” and should be at the beginning of the sentence.  Also, the translators translated the definite article (the) as the indefinite (a).  Thus, “a” should be “the.”  The definite article “the” always indicates a specific thing.  “The more sure word of prophecy” is speaking about a specific prophecy, and is not referring to prophecy in general.

A more proper translation of the first part of this verse could be as follows:    And we have the more sure word (logos – that which is spoken) of prophecy.”  “And” starts the verse, because it’s a continuation of what came just before.  Peter is telling the readers, “We heard God testify that Jesus was His Son, the Christ.”  What is the spirit of prophecy?  The testimony of Jesus.  Who did it first?  God!  The “more sure” word of prophecy Peter is talking about is what he just wrote about in the verses before!  It’s what God had spoken from heaven.  That’s more sure than what any man says, because God Himself spoke it into the ears of men!  This is “the more sure word of prophecy” Peter is speaking of.

Furthermore, the second part of verse 19 confirms that the “more sure word of prophecy” is talking about what God said of His Son, by telling us that the result of us “taking heed to it” (paying attention to it) will be that the day star (referring to the spirit of Christ) will “arise” (be revealed) in our hearts.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, To reveal his Son in me….  Galatians 1:15, 16a

The more sure word of God speaking now (today) is what He testifies of His son, through the same spirit which inspires the prophets, which results in us having the spirit of His son revealed to our hearts.  THAT is how we get to know the Lord whom we are to trust in, and how we become able to acknowledge him in all our ways.

(I, Paul) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (epignosis – thorough experiential knowing,) of him.  Ephesians 1:16, 17

How perfectly fit together is the correct understanding of the written word of God, how deeply unified its meaning and true intention.  It’s primary purpose for existence is to point us in the direction of the revelation of the spirit of Christ within us.  Wouldn’t you know it, this is also the primary purpose of the spirit of God.

But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.  John 15:26

And now we’ll take a look at the last two verses of II Peter 1, and how they fit perfectly together  with this entire subject of how true prophecy today seeks to reveal within us the spirit of God’s son, Christ.  Following is a correct translation of these last two verses, based on the original texts.

Knowing (gnosko’ing) this first, that every prophecy of scripture (in writing) is not of its own interpretation (figuring out).  For prophecy was not at any time brought forth by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke (what was) brought forth by the holy spirit.   II Peter 1:20, 21

Peter is saying that the first, primary thing to experience when reading any prophecy (God speaking) is that what you are reading is not man’s explanation of the original prophecy.  The prophecies which are written down are not the writer’s explanation of what he thought the spoken prophecy meant, they were simply written down as is.  As you read this study, know that it is my explanation of what I believe the scriptures mean.  This study is not prophecy (though it may contain prophecy).

The spoken prophecies which were recorded in writing are simply that – recordings of prophecies; they are not explanations of those prophecies.  These prophecies didn’t originally come by man’s will but by being brought forth by (the inspiration of) the holy spirit.  And we know from John 15:26 that Christ is intended to be made known by them.

When prophecy first comes, directed by the working within of the holy spirit, it is spoken by a prophet at the right time, to the right audience, with the right message.  When it is written down, so much of that can be lost.  Therefore, when reading what God has spoken through His prophets, we must never trust our own understanding to come up with what we think it means, or meant, but rather must allow the spirit of God to today speak to us once again, and to make known the Christ within us.

You are the Christ, the son of the living God.  Blessed are you Simon, bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, but my Father who is in heaven…  And upon this rock will I build my church. 
Matthew 16:16b, 17, 18b

The church of the body of Christ is being built today by the revelation of the spirit of the Son of God within us.  God’s prophets today are speaking for God, continuing to make that spirit of Christ manifest to the world.  Praise the Lord!

But now (the mystery of Christ) is made manifest, and by the writings of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God,  made known to all nations for (eis – unto) the obedience of faith.  Romans  16:26

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Related Studies

If you enjoyed how this study challenged your thinking and opened up your understanding of Christ, click on one of the related studies below:

The Obedience of Faith
What is the Word of God
The Role of Bible Research
God’s Point of View
How Christ is Building His Church
How Do We Get Faith? ….. God GIVES It To Us
The Living Word – Part 1
The Living Word – Part 2

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