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How to enjoy the Bible |
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& Dis-Mantle False Doctrine |
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2 Tim 3:16-17 |
Prov 25:2 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. |
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1 Peter 3:15 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: |
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| Through the 12 canons (rules of Interpretation) that Bullinger outlined in his book How to Enjoy the Bible, an example can illustrate the usage of these canons to spot flawed (or undisciplined interpretation) | |||
Suppose a "watchman" concluded that our Pastor's interpretation of the Millennium, particularly Ezekiel's Second Vision (40-48) was incorrect, inasmuch as they concluded Ezekiel 40-48 "won't happen". Our next endeavor is to consult the Canons to confirm IF this "interpretation" is indeed a disciplined interpretation.
Bullinger has said that a false premise will lead to a false conclusion.
In this case the false premise was :
 | The New Covenant superseded the Kingdom envisioned by Ezekiel
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AND THE FALSE CONCLUSION IS:
| John's Vision replaced (superseded) that OLD description of the Temple in Ezekiel; |
| SO, Ezekiel's SECOND Vision (40-48) "won't happen" at all. |
The most simple answer : The New Covenant superseded the Old Covenant, not the words of the Prophets. Also, John's vision is THE SAME TEMPLE (in contents, citizens, purposes of God, etc.) as Ezekiel's! Even though his scope & structure are different.
But what is so disturbing to me is that 8 precious chapters of prophecy are tossed aside like rags!
You cannot pick and choose the scriptures that
are true without doing VIOLENCE to the Word of God! (Zeph 3:4 ". . . they
have done violence to the law.")
By deleting Ezekiel's SECOND Vision from prophecy you also are forced to delete
these basic doctrines: (they
cannot be overlooked, as they are the logical conclusion from the remark that
they "won't happen")
| The Testament of our Heavenly Father's Glory and Throne? |
| Yashua won't sit on the judgment seat at His return? |
| The land of the Kingdom of God is without Laws (albeit the spiritual realm)?? |
| There are no effectual boundaries for the "dead" and the "living"? |
| The priests don't reside within the Temple in their priestly chambers? |
| Teaching of the knowledge of God does not convert the remainder of Israel (from only 144,000 to "all of Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26, Isaiah 45:17) )? |
The New Covenant was never intended to "supersede" the Words of the Prophets or of GOD!
It is also clear that the recipients of "Hebrews" never disputed
Ezekiel's visions. They understood the Old Covenant was changed, but the
TYPES they formed were now Clear as day. I believe an exposition of
Hebrews would show that Paul intended to teach this and Bullinger confirmed the
understanding through his structures.
Hence PRACTICES were condemned ---->but the Words were preserved.
Only "that
which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away" (Heb 8:13)
Pray Tell, what decays? what ages? Do God's Words decay? Do they
age?
Matt 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.
Num 12:6
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet
among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a
vision,
and will speak unto him in a dream.
John 5:46-47
46 For had ye believed Moses {spoke
from the OT to New Covenant people --- US!} , ye
would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47 But IF ye believe not his writings, how shall ye
believe my words?
CAUTION -- COMMON SENSE FROM EZEKIEL
directly from Father YHVH--
Ezek 12:27-28
27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The
vision that he seeth is for many
days to
come
{being the
future}, and he prophesieth of the
times that are far off.
28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of
my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken
shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.
Really, Ezekiel 12:28 is the DEFINING MOMENT of this discussion. God said His words spoken in the VISION "shall be done". Who wants to argue with God? Not me.
Mark 4:34
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they
were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
A FIERY SERMON.
Bruisers ;
Break ; tear ;
dissolve
(in order to explain the truth, lies are torn apart)
| Strongs # | English |
Greek |
From | Definition | Figuratively | KJV | ||||||||
| NT:1956 | expounded | epiluo | from NT:1909 and NT:3089 | to solve further | to explain, decide | determine, expound. | ||||||||
| NT:3089 | luo | a primary verb | to "loosen" (literally or figuratively) | break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-) loose, melt, put off. Compare NT:4486. | ||||||||||
| NT:4486 | rhegnumi or rhesso | both prolonged forms of rheko (which appears only in certain forms, and is itself probably a strengthened form of agnumi [see in NT:2608]) | to "break", "wreck" or "crack", i.e. (especially) to sunder (by separation of the parts; NT:2608 being its intensive [with the preposition in composition], and NT:2352 a shattering to minute fragments; but not a reduction to the constituent particles, like NT:3089) or disrupt, lacerate | by implication, to convulse (with spasms); figuratively, to give vent to joyful emotions: | break (forth), burst, rend, tear. | |||||||||
| NT:2608 | katagnumi | from NT:2596 and the base of NT:4486 | to rend in pieces, i.e. crack apart | N/A | break. | |||||||||
| NT:2352 | thrauo | a primary verb | to crush | N/A | bruise. Compare NT:4486. | |||||||||
Now the question is how do I know I'm interpreting correctly?? Use Bullinger's syllabus for interpretation. Below these great quotes is an application of these very canons to dismantling this FALSE CONCLUSION.
| The 12 Canons are: | Great quotes from these sections: |
| Canon I : The Meaning of Words is to be Gathered from the SCOPE of the Passage: Not the SCOPE from the Words | "Thus the words are brought into HARMONY with the SCOPE, or the subject of the whole passage; and we see how they refer to the origin and source of the prophetic Word, and not to its meaning or interpretation." (p.188) |
| Canon II : The Scope of a Passage may be Best Discovered by its Structure | "If the external form be so perfect, what must the inward truth be: if the setting be so valuable, how valuable must be the jewel: if the literary order be Divine, how solemn must be the warnings, how important the truth, how faithful the promises, how sure the words of which the Word is made up." (p.226) |
| Canon III : The Biblical Usage of Words is Essential to their correct Interpretation | Words "are too often based on etymology merely, or on the meaning put upon words by tradition; . . . the usage of words is prior in time, as well as in importance, to all dictionaries." (p. 227) |
| Canon IV :The Context is Always Essential to the Interpretation of Words | "The order of the words is as perfect as the truth revealed by them, and contained in them. This order is Divine: and it is nothing less than a crime for any human hand to subvert that order, either by ignoring it or changing it. BEWARE of any teacher to whom the context is not manifestly essential. BEWARE of any teaching that is not based upon it." |
| Canon V : The First Occurance of Words, Expressions, and Utterances are Generally Essential to their Interpretation | "The first interpretation of prophecy written in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New must furnish us with a key to the interpretation and understanding of all other prophecies. (Matt. 1:22,23)" (p. 319) |
| Canon VI : The Place where the Passage Occurs is often Essential to its Full Interpretation | "What lesson does its position here have for us? Surely the place where we find it gives . . . fullness of meaning, . . .which it would not possess if it occurred in any other part of scripture. It owes its chief importance, and all the solemnity of its lesson, entirely to the fact that we find it here, and nowhere else." (p. 325) |
| Canon VII : No One Passage to be Interpreted in a sense Repugnant to Others That are Clear | "This principle is true: because, as no one text is repugnant to another, it is clear that to explain one as being so repugnant, is what cannot lawfully be done. . . Are we to believe one and leave the others? Are we to explain the one to our own satisfaction, and then explain the others away? . . .If we cannot reconcile them then let us wait for further light . . . if we can, we must find an explanation of them which shall put them in harmony with the many." (p. 327-9) |
| Canon VIII : The Importance of Accuracy in the Study of the Words of Scripture | Trying to resolve inaccuracies results in "shifts {of exposition} to which expositors are driven in order to get out of the pit which they have digged themselves. . . no difficulty whatever exists, except in the minds of those who create it . . . why arbitrarily take a meaning which destroys the sense? If holy men of old spake from God, who is "above" (II Peter 1.21), why give a meaning here which makes them speak from themselves?" (p. 341, 349) |
| Canon IX : Figures of Speech - "it lies at the very root of ALL TRANSLATION ; and it is the KEY TO TRUE INTERPRETATION." (p. 390) | "A Figure is a departure from the natural and fixed laws of grammar; a legitimate departure from the law: not arising from ignorance or accident, but from design. This departure is made with the set purpose of calling attention to what is said, in order to emphasize it." (p. 391) |
| Canon X : Interpretation and Application | Interpretation and Application "are very different from the common practice called spiritualizing. This too often ignores or denies all that may be learnt from the interpretation of a passage, and robs those to whom it belongs of a precious treasure; while it appropriates to itself or other parties the property which has thus been stolen. Such a practice cannot be too strongly deprecated . . ." (p. 393) |
| Canon XI : The Limits of Inspiration | "Surely we have to be careful in all our quotations of God's Word, to see that they are the Words of God, and that we are not making Him responsible for the words of fallen, erring, and ignorant human beings." (p. 403) |
| Canon XII :The Place of Various Readings | Various renderings of the Manuscripts. |
Using the Canons in application to Dismantle a false theory.
| The Canon | The Application |
| Canon I : The Meaning of Words is to be Gathered from the SCOPE of the Passage: Not the SCOPE from the Words | Ezekiel's special commission
-- The Visionary and Engineer Revealed: - consists primarily of VISIONS - Two Parables (chapters long) utilized - Special usage of title *"Son of Man" (100 times) - The earth governed by YHVH (contrast Jeremiah & Daniel) - Acute knowledge of the Jubilee clock (40- 17th Jubilee) - Utmost in detail of the Temple grounds & the City Hence, Ezekiel's SCOPE is procured through painstaking observance of TIME, measurements (accurate enough for Blueprints), and analogies which describe equally accurately the SPIRITUAL REALM, as it will be manifested on earth. To say that symbols or types were not applied to the last 8 chapters would be an inconsistent and untenable interpretation. The scope reveals the Key to understanding Ezekiel and its unique delivery and subject-matter. * "The use of that title {Son of Man} is sufficient proof in itself that the scope of all such passages where it occurs is dominion in the earth; and not glory in the heavens." (How to Enjoy the Bible p. 314) |
| Canon II : The Scope of a Passage may be Best Discovered by its Structure | I
would think to discredit a portion of the structure as "over-ruled" then
discredit its counter-part, destroys the very foundations on which it
stands. 1-12 The Desolation vs. 40-48 The Restoration 2-3 Mission of Ezekiel vs. Ezekiel completing his mission 6-7 Remnant Promised vs. Remnant seen at work 8 - Abominations in the Temple vs. Abominations abolished & How can you have one portion without its denouement? |
| Canon III : The Biblical Usage of Words is Essential to their correct Interpretation | Zadok was used as denoting the Father or the son, but in Ezekiel alone it speaks of the sons of Zadok or the seed (fruit) of Zadok. This usage sets it apart from genealogy and establishes the description of a particular group of people. |
| Canon IV :The Context is Always Essential to the Interpretation of Words | Ezekiel chpt. 40 falls exactly after the Great Day of the Lord, and Armeggadon. The logical result is the Millennium, to discredit the end is to discredit the whole book. To divide the book into credible and non-credible is entirely inconsistent to proper translation. |
| Canon V : The First Occurance of Words, Expressions, and Utterances are Generally Essential to their Interpretation | The Phrase "Rest of the Dead" is used to discredit Ezekiel's vision of teaching those apostate souls to know God. However, the First occurrence of the word "rest" defines a detestable group who mock God. |
| Canon VI : The Place where the Passage Occurs is often Essential to its Full Interpretation | So
Ezekiel's vision of the Millennial Kingdom was given in the OLD testament
because all of the elements of types were in place. That is to say the
Old Testament ordinances give us the design and shadow of the world to come. Had this vision occurred in the New Testament, then the pattern would not be revealed. |
| Canon VII : No One Passage to be Interpreted in a sense Repugnant to Others That are Clear | Saying that Ezekiel's
second vision "won't happen" is quite repugnant.
We must SEEK to put it in HARMONY with the book of Ezekiel and the rest of
the Scriptures. When we seek we shall find simple testimony to the truth of Ezekiel internally his structure and use of parables and externally from the doctrines of the New Testament such as the Kingdom Parables, election, & Revelations. |
| Canon VIII : The Importance of Accuracy in the Study of the Words of Scripture | We
return to the supporting idea that the phrase "the rest of the dead"
means a portion of the dead people. WRONG - OF is NOT in the Greek!! It is a pronoun (he, him, she, it, they, those, who, whom). A very wise Bible scholar (BULLINGER) once said, "Every Bible student who desires to enjoy the study of the "words" of God MUST STOP whenever he comes to the word "OF", and first look at our Critical Lexicon and see whether it represents a separate Greek Word." (p. 382) Here, we have just that example, and great ". . . confusion of thought, loss of instruction, and dislocation of our Lord's teaching" (p. 361) has resulted. |
| Canon IX : Figures of Speech | By using the figure called TYPE, all is revealed in harmony with other passages of the Millennium. |
| Canon X : Interpretation and Application | To
bring Ezekiel's Vision into HARMONY with the other passages, one only needs
to see the Type being employed by Ezekiel to explain the spiritual realm.
Some call this "spiritualizing" even though a Type is a figure of speech
what must be understood if we desire to hear from the Holy Spirit. Some even say we "over-spiritualize" when we employ the figure. How ridiculous! To spiritualize is to say the angels and God and His kingdom ONLY exist in our mind, hence ignoring the reality of God the Father, denying the truth of His literal reign, and robbing us of our blessed hope. How can this travesty be "over" done, for its already overdone by being done at all. That is why Bullinger says "Such a practice cannot be too strongly deprecated . . ." |
| Canon XI : The Limits of Inspiration | This canon does not apply to our discussion. |
| Canon XII : The Place of Various Readings | This canon does not apply to our discussion. |
"Each one must look out the references for himself.
He must trace the words through all their occurrences where these are given;
he must consider their usages;
he must read the contexts;
he must make his lists and tables, and do his counting for himself:
for so only can he feed upon the Word and the words, and be nourished, and be
strengthened himself, and grow thereby: so only will he be able to say
with JEREMIAH:
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
And thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." (p. 418 closing
remarks)
