Scripture itself lays down the object of prophecy very clearly. “We have the prophetic word more sure, whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a squalid place, until the day dawn and the daystar arise in your hearts; knowing this first that no prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation. For not by man’s will was ever prophecy brought, but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21 WK).
Here we learn that the prophetic word was confirmed by the vision on the holy mount, where the Father’s voice was heard from the excellent glory pronouncing his complacency in His Son, the center of the whole scene. The Apostle, in his making known the blessings of the gospel, admits the value of prophecy. It is like a lamp where all is dark, till the heart appreciates evangelic daylight and the heavenly hope of Christ coming to receive us to Himself. The Christian is to make good practically his own peculiar privileges, for as good as the lamp of prophecy is, the heavenly light far surpasses it.
But further, we have it laid down as a known first principle that no prophecy is of its own (that is, isolated) solution. Local and temporal circumstances give occasion, but it forms part of a great whole, of which Christ the King is the center. Taking it by itself is like severing a bough from a majestic tree, of which it is an integral part. All points to Him in that day, and hence the way in which both of His comings are connected habitually in the Old Testament, while the second is set forth prominently in the New. Hence the Spirit, when predicting the fall of Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, Egypt and so forth, links them with the day of Jehovah when the Lord will inflict vengeance on ungodly Jews and Gentiles. Making these prophecies of their own solution is when men stop short with present fact and forget that day when Jehovah alone shall be exalted, by divine judgment.
The Interpretation of Scripture
He who inspired the prophets to write is the only source of sound interpretation, which interpretation views each prophecy of Scripture as a component part of God’s testimony to Christ, in and by whom His glory is secured and yet to be displayed. This, it ought to be evident, excludes the notion that history interprets prophecy. Of course, man’s history, as far as it is true, must coincide with prophecy, as far as it is accomplished, but prophecy was given as a lamp for the dark place all through. Now that Christ is come, the true light now shines for all who truly bow to Him. In fact, it would be truer to say that prophecy interprets history, for God’s mind is given in prophecy, which always looks to Christ’s glory, anything short of which is at best partial and misleading. The only effectual interpreter of prophecy, as of all Scripture, is His Spirit, who deigns to work in the believer.
It is only then, as we see the association of Christ with each subject coming before us in the prophetic word, that we really understand it as a whole or in detail, for the divine purpose is to display His glory on the earth, not only in a people called to the knowledge of Jehovah as His own, but with all nations yet to be blessed when His own people are blessed (Psalm 67; Isaiah 60).
Israel’s Calling
It is Israel that has the earthly call and purpose of God, but there is blessing for none apart from Christ, the object, center and security of all the promises of God. And this the Old Testament demonstrates. A curse came, not the blessing, as the law was violated, God’s witnesses were despised, and idolatry prevailed, “till there was no remedy.” God’s people vanished from the land of promise, and it was only a remnant of Judah and Benjamin, with individuals of other tribes, who were in time appointed to have their Messiah presented to them. He was rejected disdainfully to death, and when later the Jew rejected the testimony of the Spirit to the Messiah exalted in heaven, it was all over with the returned remnant.
The Position of the Church
Then God began a new call above, believers from among Jews and Gentiles united to Christ on high, as the one body. They are not of the world, and this explains why the church of God is not properly an object of prophecy, for prophecy regards the earth and living man upon it. But the members of Christ are exhorted to set their minds on things above, a state not at all contemplated by the prophetic word. This lamp we can use, but we have by grace already a better light in our hearts, and we are waiting for Him to take us where He is. But has God cast away His people? This the Apostle has answered elaborately in the Epistle to the Romans (ch. 11). The day is coming when “all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)), that is, all Israel who survive the tremendous judgments of that day. There will be the true restoration of Israel in the day of Jehovah, when the Gentiles meet with judgment at His hand. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” — God will assuredly restore His people yet. Then does Isaiah join Paul: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” (Isa. 54:7-87For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:7‑8)).
As grace called Gentiles, when the Jews rejected the Messiah, so prophecy shows us Him in glory the Head of Israel and the Gentiles here below. The key of all is Christ seen in His various glories, not only Son of God in His personal right, but Christ Jesus a Man, dead, risen and glorified in virtue of His work as well as His person. He is Son of David, Son of Man and, withal, Head over all things to His church, “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:2323Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)). It is this fact which emerges with heavenly brightness in Ephesians and Colossians, as well as elsewhere. The proper character of Christianity cannot be intelligently apprehended without it. Thus it is a far larger question than prophecy, for it affects all things spiritual, individual and corporate, inasmuch as we ought to be now on earth, as by and by in heaven, the answer and witness to Christ at God’s right hand.
The Display of Christ’s Kingdom
Hence we can leave adequate room and time for the displayed kingdom of Christ over the world to come, which is therefore neither the present age nor yet eternity, but between the two. Then the Jews and the Gentiles shall be blessed under Christ’s reign — Jehovah King over all the earth, the peoples all sovereignly blessed, and none confounded one with another. The bride, the Lamb’s wife, will be the new Jerusalem metropolis, not of earth only but of the universe in heavenly glory, yet specially connected with the earth. Even now on earth there is neither Jew nor Gentile in that body of Christ, but He is all and in all.
Now there ought to be not the smallest hesitation about this great truth, for it is no question of prophecy as to its full revelation, but of Scripture, as in Ephesians 1:9-109Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:9‑10): “Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself for the administration of the fullness of the times, to sum [or head] up all things in the Christ, the things in the heaven, and the things on the earth — in Him, in whom also we were allotted [or obtained] inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him that worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will.” Thus it is sure that God’s purpose in the coming economy is to put all the universe, heavenly and earthly, under Christ as head, we who believe (whether Jews or Gentiles) being His joint-heirs in this unbounded and glorious inheritance.
It is thus the special relationship with Christ that makes all clear in Scripture and assigns the just place to each, whether to Israel or to the Gentiles. As the church was part of “the mystery,” which is expressly declared to be hid from ages and generations and hid in God, it is never as such the subject matter of the prophets, though principles of the glorious future are already verified in and applied to the gospel now. She, in the heavenly places, will reign with Christ over the earth; Israel will be reigned over, but the inner circle on earth, as the Gentiles also more distantly but blessed indeed.
What throws all prophecy into confusion is making ourselves, the church, its object. Give Christ, the true center, His place; then everything falls into order and shines in the light of God before our souls. Such is the effect of God’s Word intelligently enjoyed by His spiritual power.
Adapted from W. Kelly