Centered in the five solas of the Protestant Reformation, Sola Scriptura, meaning Scripture alone is the highest authority, we should understand Scripture is prophecy, and prophecy is Scripture! Only by KNOWING The Word, are we able to minister in prophecy with certainty to prophesy, “Thus saith The Lord”!
There is no other way we may KNOW The Word except through STUDY! Time alone with The Holy Spirit in The Word with the Holy Ghost as Teacher, is spiritually profitable! Books, tapes, videos, may all appear fine, but unless we truly expose ourselves to The Word, we risk being deceived. We should constantly bear in mind we have two roads we may follow. There is the easy road, to listen to “teachers” on tapes and watch videos, (and some of these are really very good, but definitely not all), and there is the more difficult road, to STUDY!
Only by personally reading and meditating in Scripture, are we able to access source! Our spending time in The Word to STUDY, gives us the advantage we need in these days described in 2 Timothy 2:15. Many deceivers are at work teaching abominable doctrines with great subtlty! We need to be on our guard and aware that with the easy road, comes a greater risk of being deceived.
- Firstly, we must realize the enemy will make things easy and attractive knowing people generally choose the path of least resistance!
- Secondly, we risk being deceived into believing we are studying The Word, when we are not. We are listening to someone teach who may have a hidden agenda to misinform!
- Thirdly, without personal knowledge of The Word, we have no standard by which to measure whether we are hearing the truth, or are listening to cleverly contrived lies!
People will naturally gravitate towards the easier path, and this is where The enemy operates! The easy route compared with the long term committment to abide in, and understand The Word, is usually a short term placebo. It is best to eliminate this risk of being deceived, by going straight to source!
To further expound or amplify the FIVE vital principles that are applied to understanding Biblical Prophecy, the following may be considered as academically sound, and accepted doctrine.
The Old 1611 King James is the standard. Other scripts are useful for amplification and alternative words, however The Word is absolutely clear concerning the message and meaning of verses, that this may not be changed! This means:
- Scripture is complete. Nothing may be added or removed. Every word is as important as the next! Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, and The Revelation 22:18 and 19.
- Scripture interprets Scripture. Man has no right to interpret The Word! The Word, is The Word! 2 Peter 1:19 and 20. This means the various “viewpoints” serve no purpose but to confuse. There is only one viewpoint, Scripture is Scripture, complete with its own interpretation of its mysteries! We either learn the Scriptures for what they are, or we don’t.
- Scripture agrees with Scripture! The true word of prophecy from The Word, is singular. There are no optional choices to choose from. We either accept The Scriptures, or we reject The Scriptures. Amos 3:7.
- Scripture never contradicts Scripture! Quite apart from the singular prophetic message, there will be The Judgment! Man has the freewill to choose, to either judge himself, or be judged! Man either humbly accepts God’s salvation of sinners in Christ, or accepts suffering the consequences of his arrogance! We need to be perfectly clear on this matter that to reject God’s plan for salvation, means we have chosen to spend our eternity in hell. Daniel 12:2, Ephesians 4:14, and 2 Thessalonians 2:10 to 12.
- We measure the message a verse imparts with the rest of The Word! Scripture is written for our learning! The WHOLE message, indeed teaching we shall reign on Earth with Christ Jesus, any single verse appearing to teach otherwise, means we have yet to understand a spiritual mystery! 1 Corinthians 2:7, and 2 Timothy 3:13 to 17.
Once the 5 basic principles academics apply to understanding Biblical Prophecy are understood as being the foundation upon which Scripture builds the TRUE prophetic picture of the future, we need to know about The Historical Repetitive Method, or Style of Teaching used throughout The Word. Simply explained, the Bible is constantly repeating the message, each time adding more information! The Discipleship Semina Sessions detail the important examples of this that contribute to the “more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. 2 Peter 1:19 to 21.
Those wishing to delve into the Greek and Hebrew will find computers very useful. Extensive work has been completed in respect of key words affecting Christian doctrine in The Pure River of Life featured under discipleship.
THE PURE RIVER OF LIFE
Authored by Lester Oliver Thomas Flock
ISBN No. 978-0-620-95007-7