Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
Summary: Stay clear of people who claim to know how to “interpret” the times or even God’s Word.
What does Peter mean by “the prophet’s own interpretation of things?” What “things” is he referring to? Does God “interpret” things, too? What is, and what is not an interpretation?
These questions are important.
When the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded that Jesus give them a sign from heaven, he replied:
“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2-3)
When I was a child, I learned the old sailor’s proverb, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, the sailors take warning.” I think of that old saying whenever I see a red sky. Over the course of my lifetime, it has rarely failed to prove true.
We can “interpret” the appearance of the sky because experience has confirmed time and time again that what has happened before will happen again. But what about things we have never seen before?
What about a downturn in the financial markets that surprises all of the “experts?” How many times have you read in the news that “experts” were “surprised” by the fact that, once again, their predictions were wrong? The truth is that they do not know what is going to happen in the future. Any human “prophet” (e.g.- news commentator, editorial writer, so-called “expert”) that tells you what is going to happen is only guessing. They do not know.
What makes a prophet of God different is that they speak not for themselves but for God. God, unlike mere humans, actually knows what is going to happen. God does not have to “interpret” anything. He knows!
The prophecy in Scripture is not an interpretation. Prophecy is a message from God. It is a message that helps us understand the times we live in, and it validates God’s Word when the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Peter’s point is very simple: Biblical prophecy is not a guess or an interpretation. It is a fact. Prophecy does not happen because the prophet “knew” what was going to happen. The best a human can do is guess. God does not have to guess. He knows.
Application: Strive to recognize and understand biblical prophecy.
Food for Thought: How can we recognize true prophecy?
It must align with God’s word. In fact, if it is not God’s word it is not true prophecy. We need to handle God’s word accurately (2 Timothy 2: 15) and then proclaim His word accurately.
Rich
Imagine if everyone were so busy reading their Bibles that there was no time for false prophecy! 🙂
That sounds like Heaven.
To me, recognizing and understanding true prophecy is knowing God’s word, the Bible. It’s studying His word, perhaps not just reading it but using a study bible and digging deeper. Maybe speaking to your Pastor when you don’t understand. As Jeff points out though, only He truly knows. Nothing in the bible is a “guess” by God.
I have heard a lot of talk about End of Times with the way today’s world is, in fact A LOT of dooms day talk. First, to me it’s not dooms day, because the day He comes, I get to go and be with Him. That is not a “dooms day” sentence for me. That is glorious news. Next, only He knows when He will come. Yes, we are having more natural disasters and what was once consider wrong now seems to be right, and the list goes on and on, but it’s all just a guess. Just like experts predicting the stock market — a guess.
A lot of people want to prophesize, but the only true prophecy is the Word of God. (2 Tim 3:16. “All scripture is breathed out by God…” )
Darla,
Thanks for putting “doomsday” talk in its proper perspective. The return of Jesus really is glorious news! Amen!
Interesting question! I did a bit of research on the subject and found some good points to look for in regards to true prophesy:
1 – True prophesy does not benefit the prophet.
2 – True prophesy frees the powerless.
3 – True prophesy speaks a truth that is unbiased for all.
4 – True prophesy is spoken in condemnation of sin, but compassion for the sinner.
Looking at those four, I can see that true prophesy seek to bring people closer to God instead of oppressing them or isolating them.
Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Chris,
Interesting list! I like your summation, too. True prophecy is all about bringing us closer to God.
Chris,
I really like your summary after the list…true prophecy brings us closer to God. Thank you for the extra research and bible verse.
10-13-2021, 2 Peter 1:20, How can we recognize true prophecy?
In the Old Testament God chose to speak to mankind through His chosen individuals, most were called prophets. At least one was a woman, Miriam the sister of Aaron was a prophetess. The Lord made Himself known to them in visions, spoke to them in dreams. Joshua was not called a prophet but he was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid hands on him and the Israelites listened to him. David had a prophetic gift, he wrote many of the Psalms and proclaimed that the word of the Lord was upon his tongue. Solomon was not called a prophet but was a man given a unique wisdom from God and was possibly used to write Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.
Jonah was a prophet who after a great deal of reluctance, obeyed God’s command to Go to Nineveh the great city and declare His message, God saw the entire city of Nineveh repented, turned from evil, and in His compassion He did not destroy the city.
Exodus 15:20, Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 34:9, 2 Samuel 23:1-2, 1 Kings 3:10-12,
Jonah 3:1-10
The calls of the New Testament prophets, writers and proclaimers of God’s truths were similar to that of their Old Testament counterparts. They were to speak and record the revealed Word of God to the people, calling them to repentance. They lived in the power of the Holy Spirit who is given to each believer today. One of their gifts was the gift of prophesy.
Acts 2:17,11:27-28,15:32, 21:9, Romans 12:3-6, 1 Corinthians, 12:10, 12:28-29, 13:1-2, 14:3-5, 14:26, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Peter 4:10,
We are not to add to nor take away from Gods Word. The Holy Spirit is still here, His gifts to believers are still here and this would include the gift of prophecy. Listeners are each instructed to test all prophecy against Scripture.
1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
We must also obey the Lord’s call to make righteous judgments. As Jesus said in “Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.” Throughout Paul’s letters, he had words of correction and rebuke for us, sometimes in the strongest terms, calling the Galatians foolish and saying they had been bewitched because they were judging those outside the church while allowing evil to flourish inside the church.
He also wrote a spiritual person judges all things. And solid food is for the mature, who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
John 7:24, Galatians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 1 Corinthians 2:15a, Hebrews 5:14
I have listened to many Great Christian men, Billy Graham, Luis Palau, AW Tozer, and preachers in local churches who all spoke with a great clarity as they opened God’s word and revealed His truths in power which brought many to the alter in repentance. I believe there are prophets in God’s toolkit today, I believe they are speaking today, and I listen with my bible opened, listening to the Holy Spirit as I hear their words and read The Written Word in my lap. If there is the slightest variation, the alarm goes off.
Thank you, Ron!
I agree. Variation from God’s word is always a Big Red Flag!
Amen! And I love the extra tidbits and thoughtfulness to what Ron added here as well as everyone’s comments.
All great comments today. I like knowing that God is the only one that can keep a promise. That what He says is backed with His promise.