Email Alert
POWER TO "SYMBOLIZE" BIBLE IS POWER
TO DESTROY IT
By Ted Pike
26 May 05
Symbolism is fascinating, bringing depth and richness
to the arts, literature…and to the Bible. Yet how do we know
what is symbolic in scripture and what is literal?
This is a very important question, because if God is attempting
to convey to us literal facts and commands, and we willfully interpret
them in an evasive way, we have made his wishes of none effect. We
have insulted God and sinned.
Distinguishing what God intends to be literal from symbolic in
scripture is, thus, a high stakes game upon which our salvation can
easily depend. As a result, we should never interpret scripture as
symbolic unless there is overwhelming evidence that God intends us
to.
Fortunately, God usually provides a common-sense context to help
us understand the difference between the literal and symbolic. If
he does not, he understands if we say, "We're baffled."
GOD IS REASONABLE
God is like a human father wanting to instruct his children. For
example: what if a father were concerned by his daughter's
poor grades in college. He writes to her and says, "Cindy,
you'll have to get your house in order!"
Does Cindy think her father now believes she owns a house and must
do better housekeeping in order to keep his monthly support coming?
Of course not. Common sense tells her that he is speaking symbolically:
by "house" he refers to her studies.
On the other hand, what if this father has a younger son still
living at home. He says to Kevin: "Today, I want you to empty
the garbage, rake the yard, and clean up the garage." Yet,
when evening comes, alas, all these chores have been left undone.
Kevin replies: "Dad, I know for a fact that you spoke symbolically
to Cindy. Knowing you to be consistent, I interpreted what you said
to me as symbolic also. I decided that you would approve of my broadening
my mind by mastering several educational video games. That is how
I spent my day."
Is the father going to be "broadminded" in his response?
Of course not. He is angry. He has been mocked, his words being made
of none effect. He has been entirely frustrated in communicating
his will. He will punish his son, having zero tolerance for his ‘symbolism
game' in the future.
PRETORIST ABUSE OF SYMBOLISM
The eschatological equivalent of Kevin's symbolism game is
being played by a rapidly growing school of biblical interpretation
called "Pretorism." It contends that Christ's Second
Coming and final fulfillment of prophecy occurred around 70 A.D.,
especially during events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem
by Roman armies.
This claim is in flat defiance of St. Paul's warning not
to let anyone convince you, by any argument, that the Second Coming
has already taken place. (II Thess, 2:2-3)
The Bible contains many specific prerequisites for the Second Coming
and fulfillment of prophesy. How does Pretorism deal with these?
Answer: like Kevin, it declares them largely "symbolic" even
though most are as clearly enunciated as Dad's work list.
Here are some events the Bible stipulates must precede and surround
Christ's Second Coming, which Pretorists say were entirely
fulfilled nearly 2,000 years ago.
Bible
Prediction |
Pretorist
Interpretation |
Israel
makes a covenant with Antichrist
(Dan. 9:27) |
NON-LITERAL |
Antichrist
killed, resurrected
(Rev. 13;7, 12, 18) |
NON-LITERAL |
Remnant
Jews endure "Great Tribulation" for 3 ½ years
(Dan. 7:25, 9:27, 12:11) |
fulfilled
in siege of Jerusalem, 70 A.D. |
Antichrist
desecrates Jewish temple and law: "Abomination of Desolation"
(Dan. 9:26,27, 12:11; Matt. 24:15) |
fulfilled
in accidental burning of temple in 70 A.D. |
Antichrist
sits in temple proclaiming himself god
(II Thess. 2:4) |
NON-LITERAL |
Antichrist
requires all on earth to receive his mark, "666," in order
to buy or sell
(Rev, 13:16-18) |
symbolic,
fulfilled by decrees of Nero |
Antichrist's
false prophet performs miracles/causing fire to come down
from skies
(Rev. 13:13) |
NON-LITERAL |
Christ
arrives like lightning flashing from one end of earth to
other; in the clouds (Mk. 13:26); with a shout (I Thess.
4:15-17); every eye seeing him worldwide (Rev. 1:7) |
NON-LITERAL |
First
resurrection of saints or "rapture"
(Matt. 24:31; Mk. 13:27; I Thess: 4:15-17) |
symbolic
of personal redemption |
Christ
judges world with disasters, plagues and vials of wrath
(Is. 51:22-23; Jer. 30:16; Ezek. 38, 39; Joel 2:20, 3:1-2; Obad.1:15
Micah 5:15; Hab. 3:8-15; Zech. 14:2-5; Rev. 8:7-13, 9:17-21) |
symbolic
of siege of Jerusalem 70 A.D |
Antichrist
and his armies attempt to destroy Christ as he comes in
skies
(Rev. 19:19) |
symbolic
of human perversity |
Christ
destroys Antichrist's armies, Gog and Magog
(Rev. 19:20) |
NON-LITERAL |
Christ
alights on Mt. of Olives, splitting it in half
(Zech. 14:4) |
NON-LITERAL |
Christ
brings repentant nation of Jews back to Jerusalem
(Is. 4:4, 10:20, 14:3, 31:12, 51:17, 52:1-4, 64:9-10, Jer. 3:22-24,
30:8, 33:6, 8, 50:20, Ezek. 11:19-20, 16:41-42, 39:22, 44:23; Joel
2:18-20; Zeph. 2:7, 3:11-20) |
symbolic
of conversion of individual Jews to Christianity |
Christ
ruling the world from Jerusalem
(Ezek. 4; Joel 3:18; Isa. 11:6-10) |
symbolic
of Christ ruling in our hearts |
Christ
ruling the world with his saints for 1,000 years
(Dan. 7:22, 27; Zech. 9:8-10, 14:9; Isa. 11:6-10; Dan: 7:22; Zech.
8. 9:8-10; Joel 3:20; Rev. 20:1-6) |
as
above |
Obviously, the above sequence of events did not occur during the
centuries prior to, or immediately after, Christ's alleged
Second Coming in 70 A.D. Yet, Pretorists are undaunted. They believe
that Bible prophecy, being primarily symbolical and figurative, need
not correspond precisely to the facts of history. On the contrary,
the Bible never evades truth and historical reality. Instead, it
unites literal reality with the spiritual.
NO GUIDANCE FOR THE FUTURE
Without the many "prophetic sign posts" the Bible provides
for the church during the age of grace, the church has very little
idea of what threats to expect or even who its true enemies are.
Pretorism claims we are now living in all we can ever expect of a "millennium." They
say we are now experiencing that symbolic thousand year period (which
has now lasted nearly 2,000 years) during which the devil and his
demons, imprisoned in the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:6), are powerless
to influence man.
The reality, of course, is that the world has never been under
greater demonic influence than it is today!
During WWII, one of the most effective ways of sabotaging the Axis
in Europe was for the resistance to remove road signs or point them
in wrong directions. This is what Pretorism does, removing the divine
guidance system meant especially to guide the church during a time
when spiritual deception will be so pervasive and compelling that "if
it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived." (Mk.13:20,22)
The Bible's specific, trustworthy guidance is vitally important
to us in our present struggles against fear, deception, and hopelessness.
Pretorism obsoletes virtually all of God's prophetic guidance
for us today, relegating it to the dustbin of antiquity. It makes
biblical truth into a guessing game in which, not only issues of
prophecy, but the whole Bible might eventually become "symbolic."
This is an enormous theft - stealing from God; stealing from the
church he wants to guide.
John Anderson, one of the most influential Pretorists today, told
me that our personal interpretations of prophecy do not affect our
salvation.
Not true.
Pretorism's license to vaporize vast, very clear sections
of scripture must be very frustrating to our Lord, very angering.
Its distortion of holy scripture tarnishes God's character,
making him seem a spacey, ineffective communicator, who cannot be
trusted to convey his will or keep his promises in specific, literal
ways.
It mocks him.
And God will not be mocked (Gal. 6:7)
For a complete exposition of God's prophetic plan for Israel,
consult Rev. Pike's 345-page book, Israel: Our Duty…Our
Dilemma and his video documentary, "Zionism and Christianity:
Unholy Alliance." Both are available at www.truthtellers.org.
Both are free to talk show hosts.
Rev Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog organization. For many more of his articles, visit www.truthtellers.org.
For interviews with Rev. Pike or for phone orders call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas, OR 97015
