The Principles of the Bible
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
— John 14:6
This passage is one that almost every Christian knows. Jesus declared that He Himself is the Truth.
The word truth means “that which is true” or “the true principle.” Why, then, did Jesus say that He is the Truth? Is it simply because of the saying, “Believe in Jesus and go to heaven; reject Him and go to hell”? No. The reason is that Jesus came exactly as the Old Testament had promised.
In other words, according to the Bible, the fulfillment of biblical prophecy is called the Truth. This biblical meaning differs somewhat from the common understanding of the word “truth.”
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
— John 1:14
The phrase “the Word became flesh” means that the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament were fulfilled and their realities appeared. This is why Jesus, the one and only Son of the Father, is called the Truth.
The God who made the promises of the Old Testament was working through Jesus to fulfill those promises. Therefore, the fulfilled work itself is the Truth and serves as evidence that God is living and active.
Why Didn’t the Jews Recognize Jesus?
The Jews (physical Israel) failed to recognize Jesus because they did not understand the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies.
Although they had memorized the Scriptures, why did they persecute the very Messiah who came according to those prophecies?
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
— Acts 13:27
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers refer to the Jews and the religious leaders of Judaism.
Because they did not understand the prophecies concerning the Savior written by prophets such as Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, they condemned Jesus as a sinner.
The statement that they “fulfilled the words of the prophets” means that the Old Testament had already foretold that Jesus would be crucified (see Psalms 40 and 41). Ironically, they themselves fulfilled the very prophecy they failed to understand.
Biblical Prophecy Cannot Be Understood by Memorization Alone
The Bible is not a book that can be understood simply by memorizing its verses.
Historical accounts and moral teachings may be understood through ordinary reading, but biblical prophecies were largely written in figurative language.
Unless the meanings of those figures are understood, it is impossible to recognize the fulfillment of those prophecies when they appear.
How, then, can these figurative expressions be understood?
During His first coming, Jesus explained the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven through parables and privately interpreted those parables to His followers.
Therefore, to understand biblical prophecy, one must first interpret the figurative language according to the principles of Scripture.
However, these figures must never be interpreted according to personal opinion. They must be learned from the promised shepherd, just as Jesus explained them to His disciples.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
— 2 Peter 1:20
As this passage teaches, privately interpreting biblical prophecy leads to destruction.
When Will the Meaning of Prophecy Be Revealed?
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Spirit of Truth, who would reveal the meanings of the figurative teachings He had spoken (John 16:25).
The Bible also teaches that the Spirit of Truth dwells within a human being.
According to this understanding, that person is Jesus’ messenger (the shepherd of the New Testament).
For this reason, Revelation chapter 10 prophesies about the New Testament shepherd receiving and eating the scroll containing the prophecy of Revelation.
Therefore, in order to understand the prophecies recorded in the New Testament, believers must meet Jesus’ messenger and learn the meanings of the figurative language contained in Revelation.
For Christians, meeting this messenger becomes the only path to freedom from sin and entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
The Bible Has Order and Principles
The Bible was not written randomly.
It follows a divine order and should be studied according to its principles.
The Book of Revelation, in particular, is filled with figurative language.
Therefore, before Revelation can be understood, the meanings of its figures must first be learned.
Let us consider one example.
The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
— Revelation 9:19
This single verse contains several symbolic expressions.
To understand it correctly, we must first interpret the figures.
The symbols requiring interpretation are:
- Horse
- Tail
- Snake
- Head
Let us examine each symbol through Scripture.
1. The Figurative Meaning of “Horse”
Horse = Flesh
Egyptians are mere men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.
— Isaiah 31:3
2. The Figurative Meaning of “Tail”
Tail = False Prophet
The elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
— Isaiah 9:15
3. The Figurative Meaning of “Snake”
Snake = Satan (the Devil)
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan…
— Revelation 20:2
4. The Figurative Meaning of “Head”
Head = Shepherd (Leader)
Jesus Christ… the ruler over the kings of the earth…
— Revelation 1:5
Here Jesus is described as the ruler (head) over the kings of the earth.
Just as an earthly king governs a nation, the Bible symbolically refers to the shepherd who leads God’s people as a king.
Another passage illustrates this.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
— 1 Peter 5:4
The Chief Shepherd refers to Jesus, the head of all shepherds.
Thus, Revelation describes Him as the Head of the kings (shepherds) of the earth.
Applying These Meanings to Revelation 9:19
Replacing the symbolic words with their biblical meanings produces the following interpretation:
The power of these fleshly people is in their words and in the false prophets. Those false prophets belong to Satan, and among them is a leading shepherd through whom they bring harm.
Once the figurative meanings are understood, interpreting biblical prophecy becomes much easier.
It is similar to substituting definitions into a sentence.
For this reason, learning the figurative language of Scripture is essential for understanding the Bible according to its intended principles.
When the figurative meanings are understood, believers are also able to recognize the fulfilled reality that appears according to those prophecies.
According to this understanding, those fulfilled realities are what the Bible calls the Truth.
I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
— John 14:29
Finally, Jesus explained that prophecy was given beforehand so that, when it is fulfilled, people would believe upon seeing its fulfillment.
According to this understanding, true faith is faith in the fulfillment of God’s revealed prophecies—a faith that leads to salvation and the kingdom of heaven. This is also connected with what the Apostle Paul described as “faith that has now been revealed” (Galatians 3:23).