Prophecies/scriptures are purposefully vague which allow for/create a wide range of interpretations. People find meaning in the interpretations that fit their experiences, reinforcing a belief in the legitimacy of various different dogmas. Ambiguity leads to self-fulfilling prophecies as individuals and societies shape their actions based on their understanding of the prophecies, influencing outcomes to match their expectations.
If viewpoints change to recognize the non-literal personal and subjective nature of contemplating/studying scriptures, use spiritual texts for personal exploration of one's own inner thoughts rather than thinking one interpretation applies to everyone, religious texts could be helpful.
How many here enjoy the study of scriptures, hold their own personal interpretations of the text, and see those interpretations as personal - not universal.
We have two sides of the brain. The left side is more differential; analytical, while the right side is more integral; spatial. Like in calculus, differentiation finds the slope at any given point on a curve. While integration finds the area under a curve from A to B.
Prophesy and scripture is more right brain and universal, from A to B. Modern culture is more left brain; analytical, and therefore it tries to define the area under the curve from A to B, as a slope; angle or opinion. Therefore we get a wide range of interpretations. The left brain is wrong tool for the job. Slope; angle, is not the same thing as an area.
However, another way to look at this is prophesy is a set of integral symbols, similar to a 3-D ball. This 3-D ball can be approximated by a large number of 2-D circles all with a common center, but each at different angles. The sum of the all the circles, each with its own unique angle; opinion, all centered on the 3-D symbol, is very close to the 3-D ball. People feel conviction for their interpretation because this common center touches the 3-D ball and all other opinions, even if we are only a circle; collective intuitive feeling.
The sum of all the rational or 2-D interpretations adds up to the 3-D volume of the ball. So it takes time; generations, to generate all the 2-D circles and angles until the 3-D symbol is full or fulfilled. This is part of the mystery of why religions last so long; time potential. The symbols connect to the firmware of the natural brain; timeless like DNA.
Extra;
Many years ago, I developed an interest in bible prophesy and I decided to see if I could add another circle at my own angle. I had become competent at interpreting collective human symbolism, so I thought I would give bible prophesy a try as a rational scientist. My approach was unique. It was based on what is often seen as a warning, to not add or subtract anything, or curses will come to you. After giving this warning thought, I sense it was not so much a warning, but a hint.
Almost all interpretations add words or ignore aspects of the prophesies, such as attribute a symbol to a place like Rome or Persia, while ignoring other things. This breaks the rules of adding or subtracting words. The logical work around was to high-lite the entire bible, both New and Old Testament, of any prophesy I could find; anything with a future prediction, and use just these quotes, like the pieces of a jig saw puzzle. In my case, I printed all the quotes I found, and then I used scissors, to cut them into individual pieces. I then spread them on my living room floor and reassembled them. This way I did not add or take away any single prophesy or word. Everything was there, but the order needed to be rearranged to tell an integrated story.
At the time, I was very knowledgable of collective human symbolism and seeing that Revelations was connected to Christianity and New Testament, my gut told me to use the Four Horsemen; sign of the cross, as the core of the puzzle. Essentially it was a four act play, with the rest of the symbols; pieces, telling the more details for each act; add pieces to the four core symbols.
There were other symbols of four, such as the four beasts of Daniel and the four living creatures around the throne of God. These are all connected, in the same order as the Four Horsemen, and give more detail for assembly in each act of the play. For example, the first Horseman is the color white, while the first beast of Daniel is a lion with the wings of an eagle; white lion. This white lion is a classic symbol of wisdom. The gold crown on the head of the White horseman, is a type of marriage to heaven; mind marriage of wisdom.
he Divine women was also given the wings of an eagle. Wisdom is symbolically female or the Divine woman was the soul; female side; anima, of a man. The White Horseman is wise and gathers the tribes of Israel. This is act one. Many of the optimistic prophesy of Isaiah fill in here as he gathers the tribes.
The Divine woman first appears in heaven; set the background of the white horseman's rise, in labor about to give birth. Satan, the red dragon, is there waiting to devour her child, who is caught to to God and to his throne; psychic pregnancy of a future state as a man. Servant of God or White Horseman.
“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
The Red Horseman is connected to the second beast of Daniel who is a bear built up on one side. The Red Horseman is connected to the two anointed ones, with him the built up side. The bear has three ribs in his mouth; trinity, and told to devour much meat. The Red Horseman has a dividing sword; sound reason behind right from wrong.
The two anointed ones were to become a sacrifice for guilt. The beast from the abyss would wage war and kill them. They like Jesus, they will resurrect and go to heaven in front of everyone. Great fear appears for what will come next.
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
Jesus was a sacrifice for sin. However, for many, even if your sins were forgiven, many people still feel guilty which counters the intent of forgiveness. This sacrifice would be to remove lingering guilt connected to the forgiveness of sin. This sacrifice sets the stage for the third horseman often seen as the AntiChrist. With sin and guilt gone, the black horseman will make changes to times and law and mess things up, since there is no sin or guilt due to forgiveness.
The third of the four beasts (of Daniel) is “like a leopard,” except it has four bird-like wings on its back and four heads (
Daniel 7:6). This beast is given authority to rule.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
