Examining Failed Prophecies, Inaccurate Discernment, Misinterpretation Of Prophetic Revelations & The Will Of God. (Part 2)

Examining Failed Prophecies, Inaccurate Discernment, Misinterpretation Of Prophetic Revelations & The Will Of God.

(Part 2)


💢 Misinterpretation Of Prophetic Words, Revelations & Timing.

It is possible to have a true prophetic revelation or word from God yet grossly misinterpreted & misunderstood by the recipient prophets/people of God.

To rightly interpret prophecy, one must first of all know the interrelatedness of prophecy..."we know in part and prophesy in part" thus to see a fuller picture one must be able to relate and compare prophecy with prophecy, and this is one sure way of gaining keener insight, better discernment of God's mind and a proper spiritual interpretation in the prophetic.

In dealing with the prophetic word, 2nd Peter 1:20 says "knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of it's own interpretation".

"Its own"(idios in the greek) is the literal force of the word here, which the common english version gives as "private," and which institutionalised christianity perverted over the years by making it mean that scripture is not to be interpreted by a private individual, but he/she must have the consent of the institutional church before he/she can know certainly what it speaks.

"Its own interpretation" does not and cannot refer to the private interpretation/judgment of any individual/man, but simply to an interpretation of prophetic scripture in isolatation from other related prophetic scriptures given elsewhere by the inspiration of God.

In other words, no prophecy of scripture is exhaustively self explanatory, none can be fully understood or rightly interpreted in isolation, for the prophecy of scripture is interrelated and can only be fully understood or interpreted as we compare scripture with scripture, prophecy with prophecy, seeing how each part links to and connects with others.

As stated in 1st Corinthians 14:29-33, God's order for the expression of prophecy in the assembly is mutual expression such that the prophets or those prophesying should speak by two or three, while others judge.

In the previous chapter, the apostle had stated that we know in part & prophesy in part(1st Corinthians 13:9); Bearing this in mind, we thus see the need for mutual expression so that all the parts received can be expressed and judged/interpreted in relation to one another.
The principle of two or three is the basic principle in scripture by which a witness or testimony is established/confirmed. We see this principle both in the old & new testament - Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:16 & 2nd Corinthians 13:1.


💢 Dilemma Of Timing In Fulfillment Of Prophecy.

Wrong interpretation of prophecy also stems from a wrong discernment of it's time of fulfillment and it's often the fruit of a predisposed mind that wants the prophecy to get fulfilled quickly, probably due to conditions like a protracted affliction or oppression, from which the heart of man most naturally seeks immediate deliverance/redemption.

We can thus have a situation where a true word of prophecy is given but the prophet in dispensing it, adds a time to it's fulfillment, which is yet not the time God set/appointed for it to be fulfilled.

For instance, the prophecy concerning the redemption of Israel(restoring the kingdom to Israel) by the messiah, was one prophecy that many in Israel, including the disciples of Christ, thought would be fulfilled in their days.

The messiah having come in the person of Christ, they saw absolutely no reason why the prophecy would not be fulfilled in their days. It thus seemed like a failed prophecy when instead of redeeming Israel, the messiah was crucified.

To his disciples, it was like all hope was lost. Scripture says hope deferred makes the heart sick(Proverbs 13:12) but the disciples of Christ were apparently in a worse situation following his arrest & eventual crucifixion; they had all fled & forsaken him(Matthew 26:56), Peter himself who later followed afar off to see what will happen, probably hoping to see him perform a miracle to destroy his captors, ended up denying him openly(Matthew 26:58-75).

Scripture says he followed to see the end, but how sorely disappointed he was with himself and with everything, when he ended up denying his Lord, such that he went out and wept bitterly.
To them it was not merely the case of a deferred hope but a hope completely lost. They had so despaired & given up on hope that even when the women who returned from the sepulchre told them that Christ has risen, they did not believe, for the words seemed as nothing but idle tales/fables to them(Luke 24:1-11).

The expression from the lips of the two disciples, who on that same day went on their way to a village called Emmaus, sums up the lost hope..."But we had hoped that he was the one who is about to redeem Israel. But then, besides all these things, it is now, to-day, the third day since these things took place" - Luke 24:21. In other words, our hope has been dashed, "we had hoped" but following his crucifixion and now being the third day and nothing has happened, it's over. 

💢 Times & Seasons In The Authority Of The Father. The Need For Inquiry To Know Divine Timing.

The resurrection however, renewed their hope but it was still not to be in their days, for as they inquired to know if it would then be fulfilled, the Lord told them that it shouldn't be their concern/burden, because the Father has set times and seasons in his own authority👇🏼

Acts 1:6-8
They therefore, being come together, asked him saying, Lord, is it at this time that thou restorest the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not of you to know times or seasons, which the Father has set in his own authority; but ye will receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

This is one truth which must be etched in the mind of those dispensing prophetic ministry or word, they must know that times and seasons of fulfillment are set in the Father's authority, and that it is not of them(in their own power) to know but only as empowered by the Spirit to know.

The vessel for the expression of prophetic ministry with accuracy & precision in timing, must be a completely yielded vessel who never speaks when he wills or feels a burden  to, but only speaks as borne(moved) & given utterance by the Spirit to speak.
Such a vessel must also function in the awareness and consciousness that times of fulfillment is in the authority of the Father and that he can only know prophetic timing by the power of the HolySpirit: by fellowshipping with & inquiring of him(the HolySpirit) whom Jesus said will show us things to come.

In the prophecy of scripture, we see that no true prophecy was ever uttered by the will or feeling of men, but holy/yielded men of God spoke as borne/moved by the Holy Spirit - 2nd Peter 1:21.

We also see that they were diligent to inquire & search to know timing with respect to the prophetic word they received; searching what time & what manner of time; a certain translation says "searching into what particular, or what manner of season" - 1st Peter 1:10-11.

They never assumed that since they were borne of the Spirit to speak, that whatever time they speak forth in prophesying will become the time of it's fulfillment thereof. They were rather diligent, enquiring & searching to know divine timing, in fellowship with the HolySpirit.

In doing so the Spirit of Christ in them did not only signify the time but also the people/generation, the prophetic message they had was meant for 👇🏼

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them who have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels stoop to look into.
1st Peter 1:12.


Note: In part 3 which will be the last i'll write on these series, we'll be looking at what scripture says about a time to shut the mouth/seal a prophetic word and a time to speak/unseal it as released of the Lord.
We'll also look into the dangers of misinterpreting the will of God in the prophetic, knowing the character of the will of God: what the will of God is and what it is not.

Thanks for reading.