Seven Elements of The Biblical Covenants

[oldsailor29]

God's covenants with Israel were patterned after the ancient Suzerainty city/state covenants. The seven elements were as follows:

1. Preamble - Identifies the author and benefactor.

2. Historical Prolog - History of relationship between   ruler and benefactor.

3. Stipulations - Codes and expectations(Laws).

4. Legal witness - Always the Holy Spirit.

5. Provision for periodic public reading - Sabbath   service.

6. Blessings and curses formulary - Lists the advantages   of following the law, and the disadvantages of   disobedience.

7. Provision for a period of probation - Applicable   when time is not eternal.

[oldsailor29]

God's covenants with Israel were patterned after the ancient Suzerainty city/state covenants. The seven elements were as follows:

1. Preamble - Identifies the author and benefactor.

2. Historical Prolog - History of relationship between   ruler and benefactor.

3. Stipulations - Codes and expectations(Laws).

4. Legal witness - Always the Holy Spirit.

5. Provision for periodic public reading - Sabbath   service.

6. Blessings and curses formulary - Lists the advantages   of following the law, and the disadvantages of   disobedience.

7. Provision for a period of probation - Applicable   when time is not eternal.

I was taught these elements years ago, when I attended a class on "Daniel," taught by the chairman of the Religion Department at Atlantic Union College, Dr. Dean Davis.  All of these elements are present in the teachings of Jesus.   And I am told by the same professor, that they all are also present in each of the messages to each of the seven churches, in Revelation 2&3.

[oldsailor29]

And I am told by the same professor, that they all are also present in each of the messages to each of the seven churches, in Revelation 2&3.

And BTW - The messages to the seven churches were originally written for the same churches visited by Paul on his journeys. However, here is the rule on prophecies: all prophecies are conditional, and can be fulfilled as often as the conditions exist.

[Dr. Rich]

Why would the seven messages to the last generation living on this earth who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven (SDA Church) be of any use to the early seven churches named? That just doesn't make any sense to me.

I thought these were the rules for understanding prophecy:

SEVEN BIBLICAL RULES FOR INTERPRETING PROPHECY

1. All prophecy has a beginning and ending point in time. Elements within a prophecy are consecutive and occur in chronological order.

2. In order for a prophetic fulfillment to occur, ALL elements of the prophecy must occur as stated within the prophecy. (This precludes partial or multiple fulfillments, or types of fulfillments.)

3. The interpretation for a symbol will be given within the prophecy. If no interpretation is given, then the symbol is to be taken literally.

4. Timing within the restoration calendar (Jubilee) is given in days/years. One day equals one year. Timing after the expiration of the "restoration calendar" is literal.

5. Time Elements - A year is one rotation of the earth around the sun, calculated as beginning at the Spring Equinox. The half year occurs on the Fall Equinox. Months are calculated from the lunar cycle and begin on the New Moon and end the day before the next new moon. Weeks begin on the first day of the week (Sunday) and end on the seventh day of the week (Sabbath). A Day is the rotation of the earth around its axis in 24 hours.

6. Time Specific Prophecy - Certain prophecies or elements of prophecy have a specific time for their understanding. These prophecies can be read anytime, but the understanding of the interpretation of these prophecies is sealed up until a specific time has been reached. Before these prophecies are unsealed (understood at the specific time) it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be understood and/or accurately interpreted.

7. Only the Wise will understand - both the time when the prophecy is unsealed and the accurate interpretation of the prophecy when it is unsealed. (See Dan. 12: 9-10)

Dr. Rich

[SivartM]

If those are Biblical rules, where are the Biblical references that make them more than someone's personal opinion of how prophecy should be interpreted?

[Dr. Rich]

Sorry, I thought most people would know, my mistake. Here is where these rules came from:

Explanation of the Seven Biblical Rules for Prophetic Interpretation

The principal difficulty in the understanding of apocalyptic prophecy stems from the fact that (in most cases) there are as many interpretations as there are interpreters. Each student of the scripture seems to go in a slightly different direction than his fellow students. This does not reflect on the sincerity with which the study is made; there is no doubt in anyone's mind that most of the people who have the interest and take the time to study prophecy want to know the truth. Achieving a uniform truth, the kind of truth that reflects a consistent theology, seems almost impossible given the inconsistency of the product. The admonition that 'we should not give Scripture any private interpretation' flies in the face of the innumerable interpretations of Scripture and prophecy that exist in Christianity in general and the S. D. A. church in particular.

So, how are we to arrive at a consistent and uniform Truth? Is it possible to apply a set of standards to the issue whereby everyone can arrive at the same conclusion without outside helps or guidance from 'so called' theological experts? Are we not told that we are responsible for working out our own salvation 'with fear and trembling'? Yet many, if not most, Christians erroneously assume that the 'Pastor', 'Evangelist' or 'Theology Professor' knows more than they do about Biblical interpretation. They assume that these people are better qualified to identify the proper information set that they are, and therefore, they give over their salvation to someone who may not have any better idea of the correct interpretation or scripture that they do. How unfortunate that many will probably be lost to the Kingdom of Heaven because they chose to follow faulty guidance from their most sincere leadership.

Just as God has given defined guidance to His Kingdom through His Holy Covenant, (the Ten Commandments), so too has God given defined instruction from Scripture as to how to independently and correctly interpret Scripture and prophecy in such a way as to have individuals arrive at the same conclusions regarding them. Isn't this the proper definition of what 'Truth' would be? - Everyone then would arrive at the same place merely by using the same 'road map'.

We are told in Daniel 12:9 by the angel that 'the words are closed up and sealed till the time of end'. Revelation 10: 3-4 speaks of seven thunders, the meaning of which is also sealed. Are the words of prophecy and the meaning of the 'Seven Thunders' never to be known? It is obvious that it has been possible to see the words in both Daniel and Revelation for centuries. It is only the correct interpretation of these words that is in question. Does not God want His Servants to know what is to take place and when? Certainly! (Amos 3:7) We have been shown that the correct understanding WILL come to the Wise, but only during the last generation living on this Earth. (Dan. 12: 10, Matt. 24:45-51 and Rev. 1:1-3)

The 'Seven Thunders' MAY be the key to unlocking the prophecies about the end time in both Daniel and Revelation. It is just possible that they are seven rules, (Seven Thunders), for interpreting the messages detailed in these books which the time for understanding has now come. They would/will certainly shake up current prophetic interpretations - just as real thunder shakes up the earth.

Herein are contained these seven rules for Biblical interpretation, derived from Scripture, (not from one individual source), that eliminate the possibility of private interpretation. They act as a fail safe system which when applied to any apocalyptic prophecy makes it possible for the 'unqualified' student of the Bible, (granted no special degrees from appropriate authority) to come to a more complete picture of what God is really saying about end time events. Try them and see if they don't bring you greater understanding in your search for prophetic truth. After all, one can't 'play the game' correctly without the complete and correct rules.

[Tom Wetmore]

You still did not give a source for these supposed rules of interpretation. So who came up with them.

And no, most people likely would not know...

[Dr. Rich]

The 7 rules for understanding prophecy are all found in the Bible. Four of them were given out at Glacier View Ranch in Colorado during the Desmond Ford ‘hearings’ in 1984. The other three were found after a diligent search by a Sabbath School Class at Calimesa California SDA Church about ten years ago. They have been shared with the General Conference and not one has been found to be wrong. The three that the Sabbath School Class found are the last three.

5. Time Elements - A year is one rotation of the earth around the sun, calculated as beginning at the Spring Equinox. The half year occurs on the Fall Equinox. Months are calculated from the lunar cycle and begin on the New Moon and end the day before the next new moon. Weeks begin on the first day of the week (Sunday) and end on the seventh day of the week (Sabbath). A Day is the rotation of the earth around its axis in 24 hours.

Please note that God’s year in the Old Testament always started at the Spring Equinox. The first month would start at the first new moon after the Spring Equinox. The 15th day after the first new moon after the Spring Equinox was the start of the Passover. When given in prophecy for the last generation, days are 24 hour days, weeks are 7 days and months are from one new moon to another. A year starts at the Spring Equinox. Just do not change months into years or vice versa.

6. Time Specific Prophecy - Certain prophecies or elements of prophecy have a specific time for their understanding. These prophecies can be read anytime, but the understanding of the interpretation of these prophecies is sealed up until a specific time has been reached. Before these prophecies are unsealed (understood at the specific time) it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be understood and/or accurately interpreted.

Please note that the understanding for this rule comes from Daniel. God sealed up some of the prophecies because Israel had been given another chance (Daniel 9:24) to get rid of sin and they never did. If they would have, then Jesus would have been their King and the prophecies that were for the end that were sealed up would not have come true, neither would Revelation ever be needed. It also means some of the prophecies found in Ezekiel and Isaiah will never ever happen.

7. Only the Wise will understand - both the time when the prophecy is unsealed and the accurate interpretation of the prophecy when it is unsealed. (See Dan. 12: 9-10) (Also see Revelation 1:1-3)

The Bondservants are the wise. They are also the 144,000 who teach it (new truth) to the five wise virgins (from the SDA Church) and they all become sealed (Sanctified) prior to the time of trouble. The multitude standing before the throne (Rev. 7:9-14) come out of the time of trouble and are saved by the acts of the Saints (144,000 and 5 wise virgins who are the servants for the bride) and they get the bride ready for the marriage.

I hope this answers your question(s).

Dr. Rich

[Tom Wetmore]

Why would the seven messages to the last generation living on this earth who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven (SDA Church) be of any use to the early seven churches named? That just doesn't make any sense to me.

Well, look at your own rule #3. There is no indication within the entire book of Revelation that supports the idea that the seven churches are symbolic of only the last generation or even seven historic chronological periods of church history. And according to even your rule, if there is no interpretation within the prophecy, than it is to be understood literally.

On that point verse 4 and 11 of chapter 1 address the message directly to the seven churches - seven literal churches that existed at that time in what is now present day Turkey. Verse 19 instructs John to write down what he was shown - "what is now" and "what will take place later." The messages to the seven churches was written in the present tense to be given then to those churches. And immediately after the last of these messages of encouragement and admonition to those churches in 4:1 the voice from heaven shifts the message to the future by saying "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this", connecting back to the phrase in 1:19 - "what will take place later".

That said, these churches represented common struggles and characteristics of believers throughout history. I would say that today that groups and individuals can be found fitting these descriptions and can find the appropriate admonition and encouragement to take to heart.

Tom

[Tom Wetmore]

Not proven wrong by whom and by what standard of review or scholarship? Did the submission to the General Conference result in a specific finding they were not wrong? Or is that conclusion simply drawn from the absence of any specific response or attempt to validate these rules of interpretation?

I have serious questions about several of them and IMHO think they are simply wrong. The rest are a construct or interpretations devise but I wouldn't say they are the only valid or even the complete set of rules. They seem to be stated in absolutest tones which is troubling. Also they tend to frame prophecy rather narrowly as only future telling. Many OT prophetic messages were not time oriented, but spiritual and conditional and not about future events. But most importantly many prophetic messages have a spiritual application and meaning which is timeless. That is easily lost and overlooked if one assumes all prophecy is time oriented predictions of the future.

...1. All prophecy has a beginning and ending point in time. Elements within a prophecy are consecutive and occur in chronological order.

The prophecy of Revelation has consecutive sequences that describe a succession of events, but the chronology is definitely mixed up in the sense that it often doubles back on itself and describes the same events with different detail and emphasis and from different perspectives. And not all prophecies are time specific or time sensitive so beginning and ending is beside the point if relevant at all. And show me the "ending point in time" of the last chapters of Revelation. This is where time is without end, i.e. eternity.

Quote:

3. The interpretation for a symbol will be given within the prophecy. If no interpretation is given, then the symbol is to be taken literally.

First of all, that last part is nonsensical. If it is a "symbol" or symbolic it is not literal and cannot be taken literally...

But anyway...

The interpretation or meaning of many of the symbols in Revelation are not "within the prophecy". They are often found in the historical record of the OT (and elsewhere) and many are draw directly from or are clearly allusions to OT prophetic messages. And some of the meanings appear to have had clear contemporary meaning to 1st Century Christians that is lost on us today.

Actually, for the nature of apocalyptic style that Revelation in particular is written in, the opposite approach is called for. It is to be understood as symbolic, unless the context clearly shows it to be understood literally. Attempting to render it literally has resulted in the LaHaye Left Behind series. There are many of the elements in Revelation that are not explained within Revelation and if taken literally result in rather absurd ideas.

[oldsailor29]

Not proven wrong by whom and by what standard of review or scholarship? Did the submission to the General Conference result in a specific finding they were not wrong? Or is that conclusion simply drawn from the absence of any specific response or attempt to validate these rules of interpretation?

I have serious questions about several of them and IMHO think they are simply wrong. The rest are a construct or interpretations devise but I wouldn't say they are the only valid or even the complete set of rules. They seem to be stated in absolutest tones which is troubling. Also they tend to frame prophecy rather narrowly as only future telling. Many OT prophetic messages were not time oriented, but spiritual and conditional and not about future events. But most importantly many prophetic messages have a spiritual application and meaning which is timeless. That is easily lost and overlooked if one assumes all prophecy is time oriented predictions of the future.

Thank you Tom for taking the time and expending the effort to answer Dr. Rich's post.

I always thought, and am of the opinion still, that the 2300 day prophecy began in the fall of 457 BC.   Also, in prophetic time, day means practically any period of time.   It can mean literal days, weeks, half years, years, weeks of years, and on and on.   A day in prophecy can mean a thousand years.

The fundamentalist approach to interpretation, which depends totally on homilies, many times seems to confuse the facts.   It was a miracle that William Miller correctly placed the 2300 day prophecy.   Bible prophets wrote to the people of their own time, and the correct way to approach their messages is to first ask what it meant to them.   Once we determine what their message meant to them, then we can correctly make an analogical application to ourselves, if one does indeed exist.   I am appalled at some of the conclusions people reach when they read the Bible as if it was written to us.   I often see no hope that most people will ever see the advantages of exegesis over the use of homilies.   Even the Adventist Theological Society as a group depends on homilies.   The Biblical Research Institute people do a little exegesis once in a while.   But other than that, our church, much like William Miller, must depend on miracles in order to reach correct interpretations.