INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY
In the restricted sense of inspired prediction of the future (for a discussion of the various meanings of this term, see PROPHET), it has a unique place in the Scriptures.
The question has often been raised whether predictions (and Scripture itself) should be given a literal or symbolic meaning.
Very often, beneath a real and literal primary meaning hides a figurative or spiritual meaning. Many of the events in the history of Israel had at the same time a prophetic meaning:
the rock struck at Horeb represented Christ struck at Calvary (Ex. 17:1-6; 1 Cor. 10:4);
the manna was the type and foreshadowing of Christ, the living bread come from heaven (Ex. 16; Jn. 6:31 ff.);
the Passover lamb represented the Lamb of God slain for our redemption (Ex. 12; 1 Cor. 5:7);
Abraham’s two wives, Hagar and Sarah, symbolized the two covenants, that of law and that of grace (Gal. 4:22-26), etc.
It is also the case that in the same prophetic passage there is a juxtaposition or superposition of literal and figurative meanings.
For example, in Psalm 22 there are certain details expressed in ordinary terms about what literally happened to Christ on the cross (abandoned by God, despised by the people, his hands and feet pierced, his clothes divided, and his tunic drawn by lot);
However, in other verses there is figurative language, the meaning of which is no less real (the bulls, the dogs surrounding him, his soul threatened by the sword, his liberation from the lion’s mouth and the horns of the lions). buffaloes).
The same thing happens in the famous passage of Is. 53. Thus, two essential principles can be considered to be respected in the interpretation of prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled:
(A) Establish first of all the normal literal meaning, with careful examination of the context, the simplest application and, in the OT, the sense most related to Israel.
(B) On this basis, next investigate whether any symbolic meaning, any possible spiritual meaning, can be found; one should let the text itself give its guidance about it, and, if it is obscure, compare it with other clear passages regarding the same text.
It would be absurd to interpret obvious figures of speech literally, and it would also be false to interpret only symbolically those statements that admit a plain and natural meaning.
For an examination of the different schools of interpretation of Revelation, see REVELATION.
For an adequate understanding of certain prophecies, it is necessary to realize that they involve a progressive fulfillment, or several progressive and successive fulfillments.
For example, in Mt. 24 and Lc. 21, Jesus contemplates in the same panorama two similar events, but very far apart in time; on the one hand the siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD. and the suffering suffered by the Jews.
On the other hand, the last siege of Jerusalem by the Antichrist and the great tribulation of Israel (see TRIBULATION [GREAT]).
This is not surprising: if we see a mountain massif from a distance, two of its chains may seem like one; In fact, we can see as we get closer that a deep valley separates them.
It is evident that certain prophetic statements seem obscure to us, and above all that their synthesis is difficult (the Jews encountered strong difficulties, not understanding the fact of two separate comings of the Messiah, one first in humiliation, the second in glory; particularly, The passage of Isaiah 61:1-6 presents this effect of synthesis of events very separated in time: vv. 1-2a deal with the first coming of the Lord, as proven by the Lord’s citation of this subsection in Luke 4:18-19, cf. v. 21, while Isaiah 61:2b-6 refers to “the day of vengeance of our God,” the Day of the Lord [see DAY OF JEHOVAH]).
We will not have total light until the integral fulfillment of God’s plan. Meanwhile, without attempting to dogmatize details, but carefully following the broad lines of God’s purposes, the faithful believer will allow himself to be guided and corrected by the Lord in his search of the Scriptures, without forgetting that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).