Literal or Figurative?

There is no question that the biggest issue in the interpretation of prophecy is deciding what is a figure of speech and what is meant literally or spiritually. How we view the text before us in this regard will determine our understanding. That makes it very important to have sound reasons for seeing the text as we do.

This is a huge topic so let's limit the discussion here to the time statements we find in prophecy. If you've read much here, you already understand that we take time statements to be literal unless there is a valid reason to view them some other way.

That leads to criticism by those who hold a futurist view, but it is proper hermeneutics nonetheless. When we come to passages like 2 Peter 3:8 and accept them as figurative, others accuse us of being arbitrary regarding time statements. The same is true when we insist that the statements of imminency in Revelation are literal while holding "the millennium" to be a figurative thousand years. (See the links - we're not going to address these issues here).

What is missed by those who voice such criticism is that they do the same thing, but from the opposite viewpoint. For example, they take the millennium to be a literal one thousand years while insisting that the multitude of imminency statements must be taken as figurative (or worse).

So, how are we to determine what is literal and what is figurative?

First, we can be diligent to understand the people, time, culture, language, and literature of the author and the intended readers. Many, if not most, of the figures can be identified by simply studying the Old Testament and noting how the figures are used. That goes to the question, "How would the intended audience have understood the message?"

Next, we must investigate history to see if what was prophesied came to pass. If we find events that meet the criteria imposed by the prophesy and they are consistent with the literal time statements given then reason demands that we see those events as fulfillment of the prophecy.

In the absence of such events it would be reasonable to assume the time statements are figurative. This is precisely what most futurists do when they fail to understand what the scripture says about the nature of Christ's coming and kingdom. Their insistence on a physical earthly kingdom (like the Jews wanted and Jesus rejected) compels them to ignore how Christ fulfilled His promises spiritually.

In the absence of a physical fulfillment, futurists compound their error, by saying Christ and His disciples didn't know what they were talking about. This dishonors God and His word, and gives the world reason to doubt the truth of the scripture.

When we understand the figures used in scripture and see how they are spiritually realized in the time frame of the prophecy given, our position is strengthened immeasurably.

If you are tired of apologizing for God not knowing what was going on, examine your eschatological paradigm and see how moving to a fulfilled view will give you something to shout about!

© Copyright 2003 - Jim Wade