[Bible Study] The Figurative Prophecies in the Bible

 

The Word of Revelation from Heaven 

Introductory Lesson 2

The Figurative Prophecies in the Bible 

Main References: Ps 78:1-4, Mt 13:34-35, Jn 16:25 

Ps 78:1-4

1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 

2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 

4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 

Mt 13:34-35 

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 

35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parable, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. 

Jn 16:25 

Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 

Jesus spoke in  parables to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy

1. What is a parable in the Bible, and what does it really mean?

entity that will appear in the future → something that possesses similar characteristics 

2. Why Jesus spoke in parables 

1) Mt 13:10-13 

10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

11 He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 

13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 

➨to hide the secrets of heaven from the enemies 

2) Mt 13:34-35

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 

35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parable, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. 

➨to fulfill the words of the Old Testament prophets

💭Understanding the Parables is very important for us

3. What happens to those who do not perceive the parables?

Mk 4:10-12

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 

11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

12 so that, "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!"

💬We must perceive the secrets of heaven to be atoned our sins and attain heaven and salvation 

4. When do wee see the true entity of the secrets of heaven, which were prophesied in parables?

 1) Jn 14:29 

 fulfillment of prophecies: you will believe

1) Jn 14:29 

parable, figurative language → time: told plainly 

3) Jn 1:14

word (prophecy) → flesh (fulfilled reality) : Jesus 

It is important to believe in the true entity when the prophecies are fulfilled.

What is the standard of true faith when prophecies are fulfilled?

5. Parables and fulfillment

Old Testament (prophecies) ➨ First Coming (fulfillment) 

Ps 78:1-4) old things → parables 

Mt 13:34-34) secrets of heaven → parables 

New Testament (prophecies) ➨ Second Coming (fulfillment) 

Jn 16:25) time → plainly told 

Rv 1:1-2) revealed → testify to fulfilled reality 

6. The distinction between "you" and "they", and the outcomes

you : allowed the secrets of heaven 

them : not allowed the secrets of heaven 

1) time of Adam 

you : Noah's family ↔ them : Adam the sinner, the serpent 

2) time of Moses 

you : Moses ↔ them : Egypt's king, the Pharaoh 

3) First Coming 

you : those who belong to Jesus ↔ them : those who belong to the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law 

4) Today 

you :  those sealed by the seal of Jesus and God ↔ them : those who received the mark(666) of the beast 

Rv 14:1 

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 

7. Explanation of parables 

1) objects : Is 28:16 stone → 1 Pet 2:4-6 precious living stone=Jesus 

2) people : Hos 12:10 

3) animals : Rv 13:1-2

4) historical events : Gal 4:21-24

5) names of countries and locations : Rv 11:8 

If you want to learn more about the Bible, please check this video below

👉https://youtu.be/4b9WizQ6UTw

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