Presents
Pamphlet #4650
[19] We have also a 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:
It is the "sure word" of that which is to come!
You can count on it!
Take heed unto it, Peter says, for therein you shall find the light!
And that light, the "day star", who is Jesus Christ, will rise and abide in your heart.
Rev. 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Then "take heed" to the Word of God, Peter says, for the
prophets of old have brought forth the light!
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
What they really mean is that you can't have a level of understanding that is greater or different than the hierarchy of their church system.
So for example, if their church teaches the rapture theory, or that the tribulation of antichrist will be the near physical annihilation of the human race, then you'd better "interpret" prophecy to conform to their theories.
How dare you have a "private interpretation"!
But silly them, that is not what this verse says at all, and more than a few translations "publicly interpret it" properly (don't you just love it?).
It means that no prophecy came from anyone's own private thoughts or "expounding" as the verb form of epilusis, the Greek word for "interpretation", is so translated "expounded" in Mark 4:34.
Peter is simply saying that the Word of God isn't just the "writings of fallible, human, men", which is what we often hear the scoffers say today, isn't it?
But the Bible is truly from God, authored by the Holy Spirit which is His divine power!
Here are two Bible versions with the proper translation:
2 Pet. 1:20
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation." (NIV)2 Pet. 1:20
"But you must understand this at the outset, that no prophecy of scripture arose from an individual's interpretation of the truth." (Phillips)
We know for sure Daniel didn't understand much of what he wrote because he said so.
Daniel 12:8
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
It is God's Word, not man's:
2 Pet. 1:21
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.Remember again verse 3?
It is by His divine power that we have the Word of God, not man's power.
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Do you realize that when the Word of God was withheld from men that historians call that period the "Dark Ages".
Well, we are fast approaching the "Darkest Hour" in all of history when the "sun shall be blackened as sackcloth of hair (Rev. 6:12)", a figure of speech meaning the light of truth will no longer shine, and Satan himself will sit in the temple of God claiming that he is Jesus and shall deceive the whole world.
Will he deceive you?
Not if you listen to Peter and do
well by "taking heed" unto the Word of God!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
is.
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