November 12, 2024

“I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. 15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.” ecc 3:14-15 nkjv    So, these things being “already decided,” how should we understand some of the parables and prophecies?

First, I think part of Yahweh requiring an account of what is past, hints that He expects us to consider His dealings with past issues, and that we must be responsible to take His practices seriously, you think? See link to Psalms chapter 78 below. Perhaps if humans lived longer they would learn… didn’t seem to work in the beginning… there are many examples of repetitive disobedience and rebellion against the Most High in the archives of Biblical events... Why did Yeshua teach using parables?

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” mat 13:10-11 nkjv   AND,

“All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” mat 13:34-45 nkjv

“it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” prov 25:2 nkjv

From some of the constructs and hints in the Scriptures above [there are many others], I think it’s probable that Yahweh does not grade on the “curve,” and that since He has given us the answer sheet, that it is simply a matter that the people who are serious and care about their relationship with Yahweh will “study and search the scriptures as did the Bereans.” acts 17:10-12 nkjv   And, as Paul admonished Timothy:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 tim 2:15 nkjv

So, on the subject of prophecy, I think some prophetic words written can have the same or very similar application to different times/events of history. [fitting the idea above, of “That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been;”] Consider, the prophecy that Babylon would be destroyed, utterly. Well the famous empire of Babylon, that carried Judah away captive [about 597 BCE, for 70 years], was actually not “utterly” destroyed until hundreds of years after its capture by Cyrus the Great [539 BC]; to complicate the issue, the Book of Revelation talks about Babylon being destroyed in a single day, rev 18:8 nkjv… humm. Now, a study of history will show that, that Babylon had been overrun and in essence destroyed over time following Alexander the Great’s era. However, the prophecy in Jeremiah chapters 50-51 have specific and detailed language concerning Babylon’s downfall… There is also similar prophecy against Babylon in Isaiah chapters 13-14, with these chapters also making reference to “Lucifer/satan” falling and being cut down to the ground, vs 14:12.  It sounds to me as if the “double application” reference to a Babylon being destroyed is very well a likely dual prophecy. The question is, who is this Babylon in the later perspective… that John describes in Revelation 18?  Some say it is modern USA; it has a lot of ticks that match the charges.

How can one “see” this mysterious picture if not through “spirit eyes?” If you believe that what was, can also be what is to come… then it would seem that the Bible is using what “was” to reveal what “will be.” Before that time, and perhaps somewhere within the interim time, if we consider the words of Isaiah 13:17-19…

“Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. 18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”

These mysterious words (perhaps, as Yeshua said, “things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”) have chilling resonance when you realize that the Medes here are none other than modern day Iran… and “as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,” with fire and brimstone from heaven… could the “will be” event be missiles and modern warfare weapons, even nuclear? Then, what is to be has already been; and as noted, Yahweh has already planned it, and has a set time to do it. Do we believe we are being forewarned… where should our focus be? Yeshua said:

““But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” luk 21:34-36 nkjv

Given such possibilities… Why do you think Yahweh shows us these “mysterious” clues?

By the way… should you need more insight into cause and effect Biblical issues, read Psalms chapter 78, it begins:

“Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done”… [keep reading]

Shalom, John