Encouraging Teaching for Seeking Meanings

[Mary8]

(I'm quoting words from a man who wrote this about 1,800 years ago!  This man's teacher was Polycarp who was taught by John the disciple of Christ.  Please hear his call to compare things.)

If any one, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a foreshadowing of the new calling.  For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field, that is, in this world; but the treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ, since He was pointed out by means of types and parables. 

Hence His human nature could not be understood, prior to the consummation of these things which had been predicted, that is, the advent of Christ. 

And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet:  "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed.  For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." 

But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." 

For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities.  But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. 

And for this reason, indeed, when at this present time the law is read to the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not possess the explanation of all things pertaining to the advent of the Son of God, which took place in human nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed in a field, but brought to light by the cross of Christ, and explained, both enriching the understanding of men, and showing forth the wisdom of God and declaring His dispensations with regard to man, and forming the kingdom of Christ beforehand, and preaching by anticipation the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaiming beforehand that the man who loves God shall arrive at such excellency as even to see God, and hear His word, and from the hearing of His discourse be glorified to such an extent, that others cannot behold the glory of his countenance, as was said by Daniel:  "Those who do understand, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous as the stars for ever and ever."  Thus, then, I have shown it to be, if any one read the Scriptures. 

For thus it was that the Lord discoursed with the disciples after His resurrection from the dead, proving to them from the Scriptures themselves "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world."  And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old."

 

Edited February 11, 2018 by Mary8
embolden

[7trumpets]

Types,  we have types all over the bible.

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples(types), to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples(tupos- types): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

For example Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest and most powerful of the Babylonian kings.  He was also  " type " anti-christ.     The king of Babylonian (confusion) is Satan.

Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

This verse has "6's all over it.   Its a type of this verse.  The great men who have stood out in defiance of God, Goliath, Nebuchadnezzar and Antichrist are all emphatically marked by this number.  

Dan 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

 

 Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

This image of the anti christ will be  broadcast to the world threw modern media.   Its a image of himself that is how it speaks.

 

 

 

[listener24]

1 hour ago, Mary8 said:

And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet:  "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed.  For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." 

But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." 

For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities.  But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Mary8 said:

For thus it was that the Lord discoursed with the disciples after His resurrection from the dead, proving to them from the Scriptures themselves "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world."  And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old."

I love the call to seek for MEANING.

I think that most of Jesus' message is simple. Even though, not always simple to accept. But as you point out, there is always room to understand it better, especially as history proceeds and many events happen. However, I think about at least 2 criteria that would be needed to consider a new perspective useful:

1) Is it Scriptural? Is it supported by many Scriptures, and, in particular, by the Gospel? If yes, usually it is possible to find in early history at least the seed of that idea.

2) Is it RELEVANT? Does it bear real MEANING? What's the point of spending hours and hours on a detail that doesn't affect at all private life's nor Church life, and may even cause divisions. How many un-relevant debates, that would make Jesus laugh, did cause the divisions of many Christians, and distracted them from important issues? It is easy in these cases to "strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

 

If these 2 conditions are met, it may be a first hint that something good may be at the horizon!  

Edited December 4, 2017 by listener24

[Mary8]

On 12/4/2017 at 10:07 AM, 7trumpets said:

Types,  we have types all over the bible.

1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples(types), to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples(tupos- types): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

For example Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest and most powerful of the Babylonian kings.  He was also  " type " anti-christ.     The king of Babylonian (confusion) is Satan.

Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

This verse has "6's all over it.   Its a type of this verse.  The great men who have stood out in defiance of God, Goliath, Nebuchadnezzar and Antichrist are all emphatically marked by this number.  

Dan 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

 

 Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

This image of the anti christ will be  broadcast to the world threw modern media.   Its a image of himself that is how it speaks.

 

 

 

Great comments.   Right on as to Nebucchadnezzar.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Mary8