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"In a word, we "follow the scriptures" (6:8) This is seemingly sound reasoning, and one that appears to provide a good foundation for the interpretation of scripture. There is, however, a problem with this: others use the same reasoning and come up with different results - different interpretations. Indeed, this reasoning (i.e. that we can figure it all out ourselves), when applied to the practice of religion, has led to Christianity breaking up into thousands of sects, with many, claiming, of course, to be the correct one (6:9) That so many people can be so sure that they correctly understand the prophecies regarding the Second Coming, while at the same time giving widely differing scenarios of the events that will take place (or have already taken place), is in itself the greatest sign of the nature of prophecy: namely that it is a mystery until it is fulfilled (6:10) These Words Constitute a Prophecy (6:11) What is the flaw with the reasoning given above? Can the Bible not speak for itself? Of course it can. It does. However, the only thing is, there is no way for us to understand fully what it means - more specifically, there is no way for us to tell which words of the Bible are to be taken literally, and which symbolically. We can all agree on what it "says", but not on what it "means" (6:12) The Bible rarely states anything to the effect that "These words constitute a prophecy", and never gives us clues such as "this prophecy has a literal meaning" or "this prophecy has a symbolic meaning", or "this prophecy has both a literal and a symbolic meaning" and then goes on to indicate which words or parts are to be taken literally, and which symbolically. Rather, prophecies are simply stated, and as we shall see, sometimes without even a clue that they are indeed prophecies.2
(6:13)
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