[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Dan was one of the original twelve tribes. No need to explain how he got included in Ezekiel , rather, why was he left out of Revelation 7?<<<

That is true in the proper historical setting. But dispensationalists have spiritualized those Ezekiel passages by projecting them far into the future: far away from the original historical setting. The was the point of my arguments.

Philip

[Seven_0]

That is true in the proper historical setting. But dispensationalists have spiritualized those Ezekiel passages by projecting them far into the future: far away from the original historical setting. The was the point of my arguments.

I assume that far into the future means prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled. When you see patterns in scripture you can be sure they are not coincidence. The types and symbols in scripture take on meaning according to the way God uses them. Sometimes the meaning is taken directly from scripture but more often we must use reasoning and logic to find it. God did say come let us reason together. Scripture is not always juxtaposed to its interpretation.

An example from Revelation 17, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. From this, we might reason the pearl of great price does not come out of Israel because the pearl comes out of the sea. God’s consistent use of his metaphors also allows us to determine the meaning when it is not given directly. Look at the number 7. Though it is used rarely compared to the smaller numbers, it is more conspicuous.

I am not arguing the meaning of the symbols here but rather the method for interpreting scripture. I can show you several passages where history is prophecy. Jonah comes to mind. How can you be sure that an event that fulfills a prophecy is not a prophecy itself?

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.