Most people perceive “prophecy” as the ability to predict future events. Religion certainly creates that perception in the way it perceives the OT prophets. Almost without exception, religion primarily perceives the prophets as predicting the future of Israel and the future coming of the messiah. In addition, religion perceives the prophets as predicting the future blessings for Christians, however the methodology used to claim those predictions will be disputed later. Notably, the Bible states that the legitimacy of a prophet is whether the word comes to pass or is true (Deut 18:22; Jer 28:9), therefore prophecy is related to both future events and the truth. Consequently, does the Bible primarily predict the future events of the world around you, or the future events of the world inside you? Do the words of the prophets reveal the truth of the world around you, or the truth of the world inside you. What should be considered so that we understand how the Bible presents the concept of prophecy?
Perceiving hidden wisdom
Consider that Paul probably knew the OT scripture with his natural mind better than most, however perhaps it required the three years in the desert for Jesus, not man, to reveal to Paul a deeper understanding of the good news of the Kingdom of God (Gal 1:1; 1:12). Notably, does Paul ever refute an OT truth? Does he ever tell you that the Jewish religion no longer applies, and that now he will teach you a new religion? Does Paul create a set of new truths, or does he use the OT images to reveal their hidden truths? Perhaps all of Paul’s doctrine and the many mysteries he discusses originate from the spiritual truths hidden in the OT images. Notably, he tells Timothy that the “holy writings” alone can give wisdom for salvation through faith in Jesus (2 Tim. 3:15). Paul states that the mystery of “Christ in you” is revealed by those writings (Col 1:25-27; Eph 3). Can that mystery, and all the other mysteries of God which are hidden in the OT, be seen or heard by our natural eyes and ears?
Consider that Paul encourages everyone to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy more than any other spiritual gift (1 Cor 12-14). He states that by being spiritual we thereby gain a knowledge that comes from the spirit and not from someone’s (i.e. man’s) own understanding (also 2 Pet 1:20-21). Moses similarly wanted everyone to have the spiritual gift of prophecy (Num 11:29). So, is gaining the knowledge of the mysteries of God a matter of man’s intelligence or a gift received from having an earnest desire to seek it? Again, will the knowledge just be given to us through some sort of osmosis, or do we have to diligently seek it?
Consider what Jesus told Nicodemus, “the” teacher of Israel, who presumably Jesus considered an expert on the OT (John 3). He stated that “unless one is born again (or born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Perhaps this scene with Nicodemus is also intended to reveal that the OT alone gives significant understanding of what it means to be born again and an understanding of His Kingdom. Can you perceive the images from the OT as providing a simple yet deep understanding of the Kingdom of God in you and what it means to be born again? Did Jesus simply rebuke Nicodemus for not understanding a single verse, such as Ezek 36:26 as some of today’s teachers may claim; or was His message a stern rebuke for not properly perceiving the OT images?
New eyes and ears
Perhaps we should each seriously consider the significance of Isa 6:9; can a person truly recognize that they are blind if they never experience sight? How do you know when you have new eyes and ears?
Consider how Jesus, when completing His parables, often makes a statement such as “he who has ears to hear, let him hear” (e.g. Matt 13:9). He even tells His disciples that it had been granted to them to know the mysteries, but not the others. And, that more would be given, but that those who do not have, even what they have will be taken away (Matt 13:11-12). What is being given, and what do people have that will be taken away? Arguably, spiritual understanding is being given, and natural understanding will be taken away.
Consider how there is often the image of becoming blind before sight is given. Jesus states that He came so that “those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may become blind” (John 9:39). The Pharisees asked whether they were blind, and Jesus answered “If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say ‘we see,’ your sin remains” (John 9:40-41). And, of course, Paul lost his sight, yet the scales fell from his eyes and he could see. Arguably, these and similar images depict that the old natural understanding must be relegated before the new spiritual understanding is given. I can relate to that image, can you?
Consider how Jesus often talks about hearing His voice. Certainly, His sheep hear His voice, but who are His sheep? Notably, He states that “he who is of God hears God’s Words,” but what does it mean to be “of God” (John 8:47)? Arguably, the “anointed” priestly prophet in your unconscious nature is born of God, so that part of you can hear the voice of God.
Consider all of the parables of Jesus. If you can understand them with your natural mind, then is it a hidden wisdom? What “hidden” wisdom is being granted to the disciples if the meaning of the parables is “obvious” to the normal person? Arguably, Jesus is speaking in a different manner than “normal,” otherwise why would He claim that others could not hear Him because they did not understand His way of speaking (John 8:43)? Arguably, just as Jesus used “leaven” in a symbolic sense, His “language” was symbolism. Yet, why would He use symbolism if the “object lesson” was the people of this world? Again, why would He want to hide the message that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell if that is your understanding of the parables? Where is the hidden wisdom and the unnatural language that cannot be understood by others? Jesus is describing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, so which type of kingdom is He likely revealing? A physical kingdom in the observable world that anyone can see with their natural eyes, or a spiritual kingdom in the unobservable world that can be seen only by those who have received the gift of prophecy?
Do you despise prophecy?
Consider whether you despise prophecy (1 Thes 5:19). Perhaps the natural mind despises prophecy because it does not like being called blind of sight or deaf of hearing, so it considers prophecy to be foolishness (1 Cor 2:14). Does your belief system discourage prophecy? It probably does; because arguably all man-made Christian religions rely on man’s own understanding of God’s Word using man-made rules of interpretation (hermeneutics). So, should your religion despise the greatest spiritual gift that Paul and Moses wished everyone possessed? If you deny spiritual understanding or minimize its importance, will you ever seek it earnestly?
Consider what God declared would be the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:17-18). Are the results the same today? Are there still prophets today (Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; 21:9-10)? Should you be listening to a prophet (Deut 18:18-19; Acts 3:23)? I am certainly not suggesting that you should listen to another person, but rather the prophet who has already been established within you. Again, are you quenching that internal prophetic voice and despising prophecy (1 Thes 5:19-20)?
How do you respond?
There are two types of responses to prophecy. Unfortunately, the natural responses from those with a worldly perspective are: “I don’t understand, but I will blindly trust God;” or “God’s way are higher than mine; perhaps I will understand it in heaven if it is important;” or “don’t confuse me or challenge me with facts; I know what I believe.” The desired response to prophecy is “you make me think.” Perhaps, at that point, the Holy Spirit can lead that thinking to other scripture that reveals spiritual understanding. Perhaps no one can truly obtain spiritual understanding from others, but rather it is only revealed through the direct interaction of both God’s Word and the divine priestly prophet within their unconscious spiritual nature. Perhaps that revelation will only happen when there is an earnest desire to diligently seek Him in His Word. Perhaps casual Bible study will not bring spiritual understanding.
Notably, what you believe does not change the truth; however, understanding the truth should change what you believe. Has your understanding changed over time, or do you still only perceive the things understood by your mind of Adam? If what you understand does not change, does that bother you? Should it? How are you growing in understanding? Do you sense that there are deeper truths and mysteries that are meant to be understood? Sadly, most people accept the truth of a spiritual life that does not die with the body, but religion based on man’s wisdom is totally blind in perceiving and in guiding anyone in an understanding of that world.
Evolving versus consistent truth
Consider whether religion’s perception of God’s Word should evolve over time. Logically it shouldn’t, however Christian beliefs have evolved and continue to evolve. Most people realize that the church held God’s Word captive until the 16th century, but since then many different denominations of Christianity have evolved. Certainly, Christian religions may agree in principle on the work of Jesus, but why has there been such divergence in perceptions over time? Notably, the now popular perception of making a “decision” to accept Jesus, in contrast to the Reformers’ concept of God’s sovereign election, was not promoted in churches until perhaps the 18th century. So, was no one saved before that time since they did not make a decision? Also, do you realize that many of the current end-times perceptions were invented in the 19th century? So, is man perceiving new truths; or, do the perceptions of truth evolve because they are greatly influenced by man’s wisdom in an ever-evolving external world. Arguably, when God’s Word is approached with a spiritual perspective, the perceptions of truth cannot evolve because they are divine revelations of an internal world that is spiritually consistent for everyone who is ever conceived.
Consider how, just as numbers can be spun to support any particular view, certain verses in scripture can be used to support any man-made religion. However, perhaps all man-made religions fail to adhere to the truth of the balance of scripture. Invariably, perhaps all religions ignore certain areas of scripture because they do not fit their overall message. Perhaps the prophetic “spiritual” approach to scripture is the only belief system where all areas of scripture fit without contradiction or confusion.
Clarity versus confusion
That last consideration is why I am convinced that the spiritual perspective is God’s intent for His Word. Whereas before I was constantly confronted with confusing and even contradictory images, now everything begins to make consistent sense in a totally new way. Certainly not everything is deeply understood; far from it. There are many areas within the picture of the “old woman” that I keep close to my heart, and invariably I am led to a deeper understanding elsewhere in scripture. And that is the difference between approaching God’s Word with a literal historical perspective as taught by man versus a symbolic perspective as taught by Jesus. Notably, do you realize how many parables were taught by Jesus? And, are not parables by their very nature a strict form of symbolic teaching? So, where do you think the understanding of those parables is to be found; in commentaries as written by man, or elsewhere in scripture as written by God? Where do you think God wants you to seek understanding of His images?
Prophecy is a gift from God that enables you to perceive the biblical images as depicting the spiritual world within you. Notably, instead of relying on your own or someone else’s understanding of God’s Word, the biblical images are built and clarified by the many inferences of understanding provided throughout scripture; and I have come to perceive these inferences as the “pearls” of spiritual wisdom. Imagine finding the OT image that Jesus is obviously using as the basis for one of His parables depicting the kingdom of heaven. Or imagine being given an understanding of your spiritual nature as depicted in the book of Daniel; or an understanding of the battle within the heart of God as depicted in the book of Jonah. Man’s wisdom may claim that I am “spiritualizing” scripture that was intended to be perceived literally, however does not scripture itself claim that the secrets and mysteries of God’s kingdom are being revealed? So, do you perceive that God’s intent is to reveal “mysteries” of the temporal world around you, or mysteries of the spiritual world within you? Importantly, if you are seeking a wisdom of this world, can you even begin to perceive a hidden wisdom of the world within you? Jesus understood the heart of man; do you think He wants you to have the same knowledge? Perhaps the gift of prophecy is the only means to the correct perception of the nature of man.