Rules of Prophetic Interpretation:
William Miller
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William Miller: (1782-1849) Wanting to know the truth regarding the supposed contradictions of the Bible, as claimed by his Deist associates, Miller began to study the Bible in a systematic fashion, using only a concordance, and comparing text with text. In so doing, he not only solved the seeming inconsistencies, but discovered an remarkable system of prophetic interpretation, which revealed amazing Time Prophecies laying out events of the last days of earth’s history. He was used mightily of God in leading out in the Great Advent Awakening of the mid 1800s. Here are the rules he used in his study:
In studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be of great service to myself, and now give them to the public by special request. Every rule should be well studied, in connection with the scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them.
RULE I.
Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in
the Bible.
PROOFS: Matthew 5:18.
RULE II.
All scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent
application and study.
PROOFS: 2 Timothy 3:15, 16, 17.
RULE III.
Nothing revealed in the scripture can or will be hid from those who
ask in faith, not wavering.
PROOFS: Deuteronomy 29:29. Matthew 10:26, 27. 1 Corinthians 2:10.
Philippians 3:15. Isaiah 14:11. Matthew 21:22. John 14:13, 14. 15:7.
James 1:5,6. 1 John 5:13, 14, 15.
RULE IV.
To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the
subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence,
and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be
in an error.
PROOFS: Isaiah 28:7-29. 35:8. Proverbs 29:27. Luke 24:27, 44, 45. Romans
16:26. James 5:19. 2 Peter 1:19, 29.
RULE V.
Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If
I depend on a teacher to expound it to me, and he should guess at its
meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or
to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom is my
rule, not the Bible.
PROOFS: Psalm 19:7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101,
102,103,104,105. Matthew 23:8, 9, 10. 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13, 14, 15,
16. Ezekiel 34:18, 19. Luke 11:52. Malichi 2:7, 8.
RULE VI.
God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables,
and in this way the same things are oftentime revealed again and again,
by different visions, or in different figures, and parables. If you wish
to understand them, you must combine them all in one.
PROOFS: Psalm 89:19. Hosea 12:10. Habakkuk 2:2. Acts 2:17. 1 Corinthians
10:6. Hebrews 9:9, 24. Psalm 78:2. Matthew 13:13, 34. Genesis 41:1-32.
Daniel 2. 7. and 8. Acts 10:9-16.
RULE VII.
Visions are always mentioned as such.
PROOFS: 2 Corinthians 12:1.
RULE VIII.
Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in
prophecy, to represent future things, times and events; such as
mountains, meaning governments; beasts, meaning kingdoms. Waters,
meaning people. Lamp, meaning Word of God. Day, meaning year.
PROOFS: Daniel 2:35, 44. 7:8, 17. Revelation 17:1, 15. Psalm 119:105.
Ezekiel 4:6.
RULE IX.
Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures by the subject and Bible. Mark 4:13.
RULE X.
Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day
is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of
time.
PROOFS: Ecclesiastes 7:14.
1. Indefinite.
2. Definite, a day for a year.
3. Day for a thousand years.
If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible
and make good sense, otherwise it will not.
PROOFS: Ezekiel 4:6. 2 Peter 3:8.
RULE XI.
How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense
as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it
must be understood literally, if not, figuratively.
PROOFS: Revelation 12:1, 2. 17:3-7.
RULE XII.
To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again.
RULE XIII.
To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment
of a prophecy. If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures
are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your
history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you
must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God
takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true
believing children of God may never be ashamed.
PROOFS: Psalm 22:5. Isaiah 45:17, 18, 19. 1 Peter 2:6. Revelation 17:17.
Acts 3:18.
RULE XIV.
The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word. And we can have confidence that he that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of his own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek.*
*Note: We suggest that all who can use a computer acquire the “Power Bible” which allows one to do easy Greek and Hebrew word studies in the KJV quickly and accurately. It is one of the best and very economical and easy to use. http://www.powerbible.com