I think that Bible prophecy and the way that Scripture is canonized is very interesting. Beginning with the first full week of this year, I began reading the Scriptures in a different way: Sunday Epistles, Monday Law, Tuesday History, Wednesday Psalms, Thursday Poetry, Friday Prophets and Saturday Gospels/Acts.
It is very interesting reading the Scriptures in this way because every week there is a build up to Jesus Christ and the Church. It is very vivid as you quickly go through Scripture. By reading the Scriptures in this way I am able to take my time and really absorb what the word of God is saying but quickly progress and see how all of Scripture points to the incarnation of God in human flesh and the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ.
One interesting thing that I read this morning is seeing how Bible prophecy has more than one meaning. Bible prophecy is like skipping rocks on a lake. The rock is thrown and it touches down on a spot in the water but then lifts off again to touches down in another spot. The rock may touch down and lift off a few times before reaching its destination. Bible prophecy does the same thing. Take for example, (Isaiah 7:14) “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”
This prophecy had an immediate meaning in the days of Isaiah the prophet and in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah. Isaiah approached his bride and she became pregnant. (Isaiah 8:3-4) “So I approached the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz; for before the boy knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” The prophecy concerning the virgin was fulfilled with the birth if Isaiah’s son but there was an additional meaning.
Isaiah 9:6
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
We know from reading reading the birth of the Messiah in both Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels that the child that Isaiah prophesied was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ but this fulfillment is already not yet because while the believer has peace with God, peace has not yet fully come to the earth in all of its glory.
