Last time, we shared that the Word of God, the Bible, concerns the promise or covenant with God (Old Testament), the fulfillment of the Old Testament (First Coming), the covenant with Jesus (New Testament), and the fulfillment of the New Testament (Second Coming).
This is because God first prophesies (Amos 3:7) and fulfills what He prophesied (Isaiah 14:24) and through this, He Himself proves that He is God and the Creator, having created everything through the Word (Genesis 1:1-4).
In the Bible, this prophecy and the testimony of its fulfillment are called the Truth (John 17:8, 17) or the Gospel (Good News). This is because while both God’s promise and Jesus’ promise are good news, they become truly good news only when that promise is fulfilled.
However, why is the covenant (prophecy) so difficult to understand? The reason is that it is the secret of Heaven written in parables (Amos 3:7; Hosea 12:10). And this is because no one can know the secret of the parables until the prophecy is fulfilled and the reality is revealed.
Jesus also stated that prophecy is a secret of the Kingdom of Heaven and only spoke about in parables (Matthew 13:34-35).
The reason is that God had already prophesied that he must speak in parables, so he had to fulfill it exactly as prophesied (Psalm 78:2), and because God was at war with Satan and those belonging to Satan, He had to conceal the wisdom concerning the Kingdom of Heaven in parables (Matthew 13:10-11).
The true meaning of the secret of the Kingdom of Heaven, which had been hidden in parables, was explained to the disciples through Jesus during his first coming (Matthew 13:10-11).
Thus, the disciples who followed Jesus were able to understand the true meaning of the parables, and the reality of the prophecy indicated by the parables.
However, those who at that time discarded God’s word of prophecy and fulfillment and were satiated with their own traditions and denominational teachings (human teachings) (Mark 7:6-9; John 8:37) could not understand the meaning or reality of the parables, which are the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, and ultimately could not enter Heaven.
About 2,000 years have passed since Jesus’ first coming. Do we truly understand the meaning of the parables used in the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament prophecies? And do we know the reality, which is the true meaning of those parables?
The Bible states that we are saved by faith, and that is correct. However, that faith is obtained by receiving, hearing, and accepting the word of prophecy and its reality (John 14:29; Romans 10:17).
As we await the Second Coming, do we possess faith based on the standard of knowing the Word of Scripture (prophecy and fulfillment) or do we practice a blind faith of our own without knowledge (Hosea 4:6)? Do I know the meaning of the New Testament prophecies (Jesus’ promises) written in parables? If we do not know Jesus’ promises, how can we keep them when he fulfills the covenant?
What are the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the parables of Genesis? What are the rocks in the desert and the water from the rocks in the parables of Moses’ time, and what is the manna from heaven? What are the treasure hidden in the field spoken of during Jesus’ first coming, the wedding clothes of the feast, and the lamps and oil that the wise virgins must prepare? What are the seven golden lampstands in Revelation, what is the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and what is the last, seventh trumpet?
Do I know the meaning of these parables or not? Is it okay not to know? The Bible says that if one does not understand the parables, there is no forgiveness of sins (Mark 4:10-12).
If this is the end times, the words of the New Testament prophecy will be revealed, and many will go here and there to increase knowledge (Daniel 12:4). The words of prophecy, which were sealed and known to no one (Revelation 5:3), will be opened, and this revelation of Jesus Christ will be testified to all people (Revelation 1:1-3; Revelation 10:8-11).
Next month, I would like to discuss the parables of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, focusing on Matthew 13.
Soo oh is with the Zion Christian Mission Center, the theology arm of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and it offers a full theology course for free. You can sign up here to download the ZCMC SPS (Self-Paced Study) app and start your journey today.