UNRAVELING THE PROPHECIES OF DANIEL AND REVELATION: Private Interpretation is Nothing, Biblical Interpretation is Everything

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I am going to ask you a question about a particular prophecy in the book of Daniel to which I am almost certain what your answer will be. The prophecy in question is found in Daniel 7, it is about the rise of four great beasts. 

We all agree that these four animals are not literal but symbols, each of which has a meaning. Here is the question. What do these four beasts represent? The most popular answer to this question is the four beasts represent the four nations of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, am I not correct? So what we are saying is that these four beasts are four nations.

Now here is my follow up question. What is the Bible’s instruction concerning these four beasts? The direct answer to this question is found Daniel 7:17:   

“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”

Here we see a disparity between the orthodox interpretation and the Bible’s interpretation. And while we can see the rationale for the former it is not the precise instruction we see in the scriptures. On the surface, it may not appear to make a difference but it actually does. The focus of the interpretation is on the reign of kings (the kingdom owners) and not on the nations they ruled.

The ignoring of this observation is what is causing many prophecy students (including theologians) to be thrown off track in their prophecy studies of the books of Daniel and Revelation. Thus, everywhere in Bible prophecy they see word ‘beast’ used as a symbol they would interpret it to mean ‘nation’ even where the interpretation of those other prophecies says something else. This scenario is a clear indication that you should not believe something simply because it is popular to do so.

There was a time when I use to believe that understanding the prophetic word was about how much Greek and Hebrew you need to know; how many theological jargons you need to master; and make

sure you do not go out of step with the mainstream. In fact, I was one of those who use to think that a correct understanding of Bible prophecy depends on which denomination you belong; that is, if you

want to know the truth you would have to go to a particular church and be taught.

These are some of the misconceptions that I would subscribe to as a young convert growing up. But it's just a common case of infection with the "When I was a child I think as a child" syndrome. Poor me!

Surprisingly, many seem to believe that the ability to interpret the prophecies resides in a religious organization, a set of theologians, or a particular individual! It's kind of like saying that the prophecies have some secret meaning which is not apparent in the scriptures themselves.

When we take a position like this we are actually casting an indictment against God's competence to communicate effectively. What we are suggesting is that although God explains the meaning of the prophecies the explanation is so inadequate that it requires some wise sage to further explain it in order for us to understand. But the Bible clearly teaches that no prophecy of the scripture is of private interpretation (2Pet. 1:20).

One of the techniques that I use to understand the prophecy of Revelation 13 and 17 (I have only God to thank for this!) is simply to accept the clear interpretation exactly as it is presented in the scriptures, and apply it according to the narrative development of the Bible passage. I find that when I use this principle, for some strange reason it just make my prophecy study a breeze!

It is just a marvel to see the unravelling of what once appeared to be a difficult Bible passage either in Daniel or in Revelation when you follow the Bible’s instructions. And while I cannot claim to have all the answers to end time prophecy, I believe I am taking the right approach, which is the most important thing. Bible prophecy aught not to be the mystery it is percieved to be since for every difficult prophecy there is an explanation.

I was having a hard time explaining some of the difficulties I had with Revelation 13 due to what I had been taught for years.  But the moment I decided that I am going to read this chapter for myself, taking a more dispassionate and teachable approach, I quickly realized that the difficulty with understanding this end-time prophecy is not in the prophecy but in our mindset. When you are socialized in a particular way of thinking it can significantly affect the way you arrive at conclusions in your Bible studies.

If the prophet John or the prophet Daniel should come by your house today to give you their interpretation of the prophecies they received in vision, don't expect them to give you anything more than what they have already written for your instruction to understand their prophecies! You know why? What they have already written is sufficient for you to understand the prophecy. After all, end time prophecy is too critical a subject for God to allow it to be involved in endless controversy and confusion.