Prophetic Interpretation Page 10: Interpreting Symbols

Now, with all this in mind, let us discuss interpreting symbols.  This is another item that we must be careful about when we interpret prophetic scripture.  If we fail to interpret it correctly we may once again veer away from the true intent of the prophet in his writings.  

First, “Look for a meaning in the context” (11.2B).  Remember that sometimes the meaning of a symbol is clearly spelled out for you somewhere else in scripture.  The beasts in Daniel 7, for example, are explained later in the chapter as kingdoms.  This being the case, we should not interpret them as anything but kingdoms.  Sometimes the meanings are not plainly given.  In those cases we should look for other details in the context that helps us understand what the symbol is referring to.  Thinking again about who the prophecy is being written to and when it was written will help to figure it out.  Think, as you are reading it, how those who read it back when it was written would have taken it.  Who would they have thought of instantly when reading the passage?

For example, the “woman in travail” in Revelation 12 is the nation of Israel.  The offspring would be the spiritual heirs of Israel.  How do we know this?  Well, the context is obviously not talking about the actual mother of Jesus.  She never went through 1,260 days in the desert.  She never had wings and was never pursued by Satan.  Some may argue that when Jesus was born he was pursued into Egypt by Herod who wanted him dead.  Who knows truly how many years he was in Egypt, for the scriptures do not say, but most agree it was for more than 3 and a half years.  No.  Any parallel between Mary fleeing into Egypt and the “woman in travail” would once again be a partial fulfillment and not the actual fulfillment of the Revelation prophecy.

For a better understanding, think of what that imagery would mean to those John the Revelator was writing to and think of the context of the chapter.  The “woman in travail” had twelve stars, and the sun and moon.  Does this not remind you of the dreams of Joseph when the sun, moon and stars all bowed before him?  It becomes more obvious after you consider the Old Testament symbolisms that the symbol of a “woman in travail” would be Israel.  What else tells you it is not Mary but Israel that this woman represents?  You will find elsewhere in Revelation that the Anti-Christ would rule for 3 ½ years.  1,260 days is 3 ½ years.  So you can see that the events of Israel and her offspring will occur at a time when the Anti-Christ, the embodiment of Satan, will attempt to destroy Israel once and for all, but God will give Israel the ability to escape into the desert.  The context implies these events are going to happen hand-in-hand.  At that time God will protect this remnant of Israel so that Satan cannot destroy her.  Then Satan will go and make war with Christians.