Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” FatherMiller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:– {RH,
November 25, 1884 par. 23}
“1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those whoask in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible.” {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 24} The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth. {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 25}
RULES OF INTERPRETATION
IN studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be of great service to myself, and now give them to the public by special request. Every rule should be well studied, in connexion with the scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.1}
RULE I
Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.2}
PROOF
Matt.v.18. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.3}
RULE II
All scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent application and study. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.4}
PROOF
2Tim.iii.15,16,17. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.5}
RULE III
Nothing revealed in the scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.6}
PROOF
Deut.xxix.29. Matt.x.26,27. 1Cor.ii.10. Phil.iii.15. Isa.xiv.11. Matt.xxi.22. John xiv.13,14. xv.7. James i.5,6. 1John v.13,14,15. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.7}
RULE IV
To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in an error. {1842 WiM, MWV1
20.8}
PROOF
Isa.xxviii.7-29. xxxv.8. Prov.xix.27. Luke xxiv.27,44,45. Rom.xvi.26. James v.19. 2Pet.i.19,29. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.9}
RULE V
Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound it to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.10}
PROOFS
Ps.xix.7,8,9,10,11. cxix.97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105. Matt.xxiii.8,9,10. 1Cor.ii.12,13,14,15,16. Eze.xxxiv.18,19. Luke xi.52. Mal.ii.7,8. {1842 WiM, MWV1 20.11}
RULE V (Continued)
thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom is my rule, not the Bible. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.1}
RULE VI
God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are oftentime revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures, and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.2}
PROOFS
Ps.lxxxix.19. Hos.xii.10. Hab.ii.2. Acts ii.17. 1Cor.x.6. Heb.ix.9,24. Ps.lxxviii.2. Matt.xiii.13,34. Gen.xli.1-32. Dan.ii. vii. and viii. Acts x.9-16. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.3}
RULE VII
Visions are always mentioned as such.
PROOFS
2Cor.xii.1
RULE VIII
Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy, to represent future things, times and events; such as mountains, meaning governments; beasts, meaning kingdoms. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.4} Waters, meaning people. Lamp, meaning Word of God.
Day, meaning year. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.5}
PROOFS
Dan.ii.35,44. vii.8,17. Rev.xvii.1,15. Ps.cxix.105. Ezek.iv.6. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.6}
RULE IX
Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures by the subject and Bible. Mark iv.13. See explanation of the ten virgins, Miller’s Lectures, No.xvi. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.7}
RULE X
Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.8}
PROOFS
Ecc.vii.14. {1842 WiM, MWV1 21.9}
RULE X (Continued)
1. Indefinite. 2. Definite, a day for a year. 3. Day for a thousand years. If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.1}
PROOFS
Ezek.iv.6. 2Pet.iii.8. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.2}
RULE XI
How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.3}
PROOFS
Rev.xii.1,2. xvii.3-7. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.4}
RULE XII
To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.5}
RULE XIII
To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfilment of a prophecy. If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfilment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.6}
PROOFS
Ps.xxii.5. Isa.xlv.17,18,19. 1Pet.ii.6. Rev.xvii.17. Acts iii.18. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.7}
RULE XIV
The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit his word. And we can have confidence that he that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of his own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in his word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek. {1842 WiM, MWV1 22.8}
These are some of the most important rules which I find the word of God warrants me to adopt and follow, in order for system and regularity. And if I am not greatly deceived, in so doing, I have found the Bible, as a whole, one of the most simple, plain, and intelligible books ever written, containing proof in itself of its divine origin, and full of all knowledge that our hearts could wish to know or enjoy. I have found it a treasure which the world cannot purchase. It gives a calm peace in believing, and a firm hope in the future. It sustains the mind in adversity, and teaches us to be humble in prosperity. It prepares us to love and do good to others, and to realize the value of the soul. It makes us bold and valiant for the truth, and nerves the arm to oppose error. It gives us a powerful weapon to break down Infidelity, and makes known the only antidote for sin. It instructs us how death will be conquered, and how the bonds of the tomb must be broken. It tells us of future events, and shows the preparation necessary to meet them. It gives us an opportunity to hold conversation with the King of kings, and reveals the best code of laws ever enacted. {1842 WiM, MWV1 23.1}