Footsteps of the Messiah: Episode 3

Episode 3: The Golden Rule of Interpretation – Literal Unless Context Demands Otherwise

Section 1: Opening & Greeting

Imagine asking a friend for directions to their house, and they say:

“Turn left at the first stoplight… unless ‘left’ feels symbolic to you. In which case, just interpret that as heading north. And by the way, when I say ‘three miles,’ don’t take that literally. That could mean anything.”

You’d be lost before you ever started the car.

And that’s exactly what’s happened to so many believers when it comes to biblical prophecy.

They want to understand the road ahead—but they’ve been handed an interpretive compass that spins wildly with every new theory, every symbol spiritualized, and every promise redefined. The result? Confusion. Division. Discouragement. Even fear.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode of Footsteps of the Messiah, we’re going to talk about how to read prophecy—specifically, how to interpret it with the same clarity and consistency we use for the rest of Scripture.

Because here’s the truth: most confusion about prophecy doesn’t come from what the Bible says. It comes from how people read it.

At the heart of prophetic clarity is a simple principle—a principle coined by Dr. David L. Cooper, founder of the Biblical Research Society. He called it:

The Golden Rule of Interpretation:

“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. Therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise.”

That’s not just a clever phrase—it’s a call to humility. To consistency. To faith in what God actually said.

We call this the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation. And while that may sound academic, it’s profoundly personal.

Because it’s the same way you read everything else:

• If someone says, “I’m coming back soon,” you don’t ask if that means spiritually or metaphorically.
• If a letter says, “Meet me at 10 a.m. on Monday,” you don’t interpret that to mean, “Eventually, in a spiritual sense, over coffee.”

And yet, that’s exactly what some believers do with prophecy.

They read “Israel” and assume it must mean “the Church.”

They read “a thousand years” and assume it must mean “an undefined period of time.”

They read about Jesus returning on the clouds—and assume He already came spiritually in AD 70.

But if we don’t do that with Genesis, or Romans, or the Gospels—why would we do it with Revelation?

Today we’ll explore:

1. How a literal interpretive method anchors us in prophetic truth
2. Why so much damage has come from allegorical or mystical readings
3. How fulfilled prophecy in Christ’s first coming teaches us to expect literal fulfillment at His second

We’ll also look at how this approach shapes the way we understand the book of Revelation—and why you don’t need a mystical decoder ring to make sense of it. Just a steady hand, a soft heart, and a commitment to take God at His Word.

Because here’s the deeper issue at stake: if we don’t trust what God says about the future, how can we trust what He’s said about salvation?

If His promises to Israel can be redefined…

If His timeline can be reimagined…

If His throne can be spiritualized…

Then how can we be sure that our redemption is secure, or that Christ will return visibly, bodily, and victoriously?

That’s why this matters.

It’s not about winning a theological debate. It’s about walking in prophetic confidence. It’s about knowing the difference between clarity and confusion, between God’s voice and human reinterpretation.

So, whether this is your first time hearing about literal interpretation, or whether you’ve studied it for years, this episode is going to lay the groundwork for every prophecy we explore in the episodes ahead.

God said what He meant.

And He meant what He said.

Let’s walk with that kind of clarity.

Let’s keep walking.

Section 2: Scripture + Prophetic Structure

If you’ve ever wondered whether we can really understand biblical prophecy, Peter gives us the answer in no uncertain terms:

“No prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation… men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” —2 Peter 1:20–21 (LSB)

In other words, prophecy didn’t originate in human speculation—and it can’t be interpreted by human imagination.

It was revealed by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and must be handled with reverence—not reinvention.

This is where we introduce the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation.

That might sound technical—but it simply means this:

We interpret Scripture based on what the words actually say, in the context they were written, and according to how language naturally works.

Let’s unpack each part briefly:

Grammatical – Pay attention to the actual words.

• What does the sentence say?
• What is the subject, verb, object?
• Are we dealing with a command, a promise, a prophecy?

We believe God chose words on purpose. So we don’t gloss over grammar. We respect it.

Example:

Revelation 20:2–7 says six times that Christ will reign for “a thousand years.”

If God repeats it that clearly, shouldn’t we take Him at His word?

Historical – Understand the cultural and historical setting.

What did the original audience hear when this was written?

For example, when Daniel prophesied about four empires, he wasn’t speaking in a vacuum. He lived under Babylonian rule and foresaw the rise of Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Prophecy is rooted in real history. So we read it like we would any other ancient text—respecting its time, place, and context.

Literal – Take the text at face value, unless the context clearly tells you otherwise.

This doesn’t mean we ignore symbols—it means we only treat something symbolically if the passage tells us to.

Example:

• Revelation 1:20 explains that the lampstands represent churches.
• Revelation 12:9 says the dragon is Satan.
• Jesus explained His own parables (e.g., in Matthew 13).

In prophetic literature, symbols are always explained or grounded in other literal texts. When we default to metaphor without warrant, we strip prophecy of its meaning.

Why This Matters for Prophecy

This method—literal, grammatical-historical interpretation—is not unique to prophecy. It’s how we read everything else in Scripture.

• We don’t spiritualize the resurrection.
• We don’t allegorize the cross.
• We don’t reinterpret “justified by faith” as symbolic.

So why treat “a thousand years,” or “Israel,” or “the Antichrist,” as figurative unless Scripture demands it?

Here’s what’s at stake: if we abandon a consistent method of interpretation, we abandon clarity.

Without it:

• Israel becomes the Church
• The Kingdom becomes now
• The Antichrist becomes a symbol
• And the Blessed Hope becomes vague and uncertain

But when we interpret prophecy literally, we see God’s promises, God’s precision, and God’s plan unfolding step by step.

What Does This Mean for Revelation?

Let’s apply this method to the structure of Revelation for a moment.

Read literally, Revelation unfolds chronologically and logically—not as a wild spiral of visions, but as a carefully revealed sequence of events:

1. Revelation 1 – The risen Christ walks among His churches
2. Chapters 2–3 – Messages to the seven churches
3. Chapters 4–5 – Heaven’s throne room and the scroll
4. Chapters 6–18 – Seals, trumpets, bowls—step-by-step judgment
5. Chapter 19 – The Second Coming of Christ
6. Chapter 20 – The Millennial Kingdom (mentioned six times)
7. Chapters 21–22 – The Eternal State

Each chapter builds on the previous. There’s progression. There’s context. There’s clarity.

You don’t need a mystical decoder ring to make sense of Revelation.

You just need to let the text speak plainly—and take God at His Word.

Key Interpretive Commitments

Here’s how this principle will guide us through the rest of this series:

• When the Bible says “Israel,” we mean national Israel—not a spiritualized Church.
• When it says “a thousand years,” we mean a literal thousand years—not a symbolic season.
• When it says Jesus will return visibly and bodily—we believe it literally, because that’s how He left (Acts 1:11).

We’re not reading into the text.

We’re reading from the text—trusting the Author to say what He means and mean what He says.

Final Reflection for This Section

Let me leave you with this simple thought:

“If someone you love wrote you a letter saying they’re coming soon, wouldn’t you read it at face value?”

Wouldn’t you want to understand every word—exactly as they meant it?

That’s how we approach prophecy.

Not to decode mystery, but to delight in meaning.

Not to spiritualize away hope, but to strengthen our faith.

Not to force an agenda, but to honor what’s already been revealed.

So let’s keep interpreting prophecy the way God intended: with faith, humility, and consistency.

Let’s keep walking.

Section 3: Event-by-Event Exposition

This episode isn’t about breaking down a specific event on the end-times timeline—at least not yet.

Instead, it’s about showing how we interpret prophetic events, and why how we read matters just as much as what we read.

So let’s take this section to walk through what literal interpretation looks like in practice—and why it’s the only approach that keeps us both theologically grounded and prophetically confident.

1. Prophecy Fulfilled Literally at Christ’s First Coming

Let’s start with something everyone agrees on: the first coming of Jesus.

No serious student of Scripture denies that Jesus fulfilled dozens of Old Testament prophecies—literally. Not symbolically. Not spiritually. But in real history, in real places, in real time.

Here are just a few:

• Micah 5:2 – He would be born in Bethlehem → Fulfilled in Matthew 2:1
• Zechariah 9:9 – He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey → Fulfilled in Matthew 21:5
• Psalm 22:16 – His hands and feet would be pierced → Fulfilled in John 20:27
• Zechariah 11:12–13 – He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver → Fulfilled in Matthew 27:3–10

These weren’t vague allusions. They weren’t merely “types and shadows.”

They were specific prophecies fulfilled with specific details—geographically, historically, and personally.

So let’s ask the obvious question:

If the prophecies about Jesus’ first coming were fulfilled literally, why should we expect anything different about His second coming?

Why would we take Bethlehem literally—but not the Millennial Kingdom?

Why accept the donkey—but not the Rider on the white horse in Revelation 19?

This is where consistency in interpretation becomes more than a scholarly preference. It becomes a test of our trust in God’s Word.

As Dr. Heiser so often reminded his readers:

“Let the text say what it says.”

We don’t have to overcomplicate it. We don’t have to “rescue” Scripture from sounding too concrete.

2. What Happens When Interpretation Shifts

Let’s trace where things go wrong when we abandon literal interpretation.

In the early centuries of church history, a major shift took place—thanks in large part to Origen and later Augustine, who popularized an allegorical approach to Scripture.

Instead of reading the Bible according to its plain sense, they introduced layers of hidden, mystical, or symbolic meaning.

• “Israel” became a spiritual metaphor for the Church.
• “The Kingdom” was redefined as a present spiritual reality.
• “A thousand years” became a poetic stand-in for “a really long time.”
• Literal promises to national Israel were swept into Replacement Theology.

This interpretive shift gave rise to:

• Amillennialism – the belief that there will be no literal future kingdom.
• Preterism – the idea that most or all prophecy was fulfilled in the first century.
• Covenant Theology – which often blends or flattens distinctions between Israel and the Church.

The result? Confusion. Inconsistency. And the erosion of hope.

Let’s be honest: some of these systems were developed not out of careful exegesis, but out of philosophical influence and ecclesiastical convenience.

But when we let external ideas dictate how we interpret the Bible, we no longer let the Bible be what it is.

And that’s the danger. When we change our method, we inevitably change our message.

3. Literal Interpretation Applied to Revelation

Now let’s turn to the most controversial book of all: Revelation.

Many people assume it’s too symbolic to understand. But when we read it literally and sequentially, something surprising happens:

It makes sense.

Here’s the basic chronological layout when you take the text at face value:

• Revelation 1 – The risen Christ appears to John
• Chapters 2–3 – Letters to seven historical churches in Asia Minor
• Chapters 4–5 – A vision of heaven and the sealed scroll
• Chapters 6–18 – Sequential judgments: seals, trumpets, and bowls
• Chapter 19 – The visible, bodily return of Christ
• Chapter 20 – The 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth
• Chapters 21–22 – The new heavens, new earth, and New Jerusalem

Let’s pause at Revelation 20 for a moment.

In six short verses, the text says six times that Christ will reign for a thousand years.

Not once. Not twice. Six times.

So the question is: What would God have to say to make you believe He meant a literal thousand years?

He already said it six times.

Would seven do it? Ten?

This is where literal interpretation brings peace.

You don’t have to invent meanings. You don’t have to spiritualize the throne or redefine the resurrection.

“Let the text say what it says.”

“Let the Bible be what it is.”

And suddenly, the future isn’t foggy—it’s focused.

What This Means Going Forward

Here’s how this changes everything for our study of eschatology:

• When Daniel says seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city, we won’t redefine “weeks” unless the context demands it.
• When Jesus says this gospel will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come, we won’t treat that as a vague process—we’ll treat it as a sequence.
• When Paul says the dead in Christ will rise first, and we will meet the Lord in the air, we don’t turn that into poetry—we take it as a promise.

Literal interpretation protects us from speculation.

It guards us from sensationalism.

And most importantly, it keeps us anchored in the revealed Word of God.

Because God didn’t stutter.

He didn’t leave clues for the elite.

He spoke clearly through the prophets, through the apostles, and through Jesus Himself.

Application for Teachers and Disciples

If you’re a Bible teacher, small group leader, or serious student of Scripture, here’s what this means for you:

• Interpret literally unless the context demands otherwise.
• Always ask: What would this have meant to the original audience?
• Don’t insert mystery where God has revealed meaning.
• Don’t flatten distinctions between Israel and the Church.
• And above all, trust the text.

Literal interpretation isn’t cold. It’s not rigid. It’s relevant.

It says, “God, I believe You are who You say You are—and You meant what You said.”

Final Thought

Imagine this: someone you love sends you a letter that says:

“I’m coming soon. I’ve made preparations. I’ll gather you to Myself.”

Would you interpret that as symbolic?

Would you spiritualize it away?

Of course not. You’d treasure every word. You’d believe every promise. You’d live in joyful anticipation.

That’s how we’re meant to read prophecy.

Not with skepticism, but with sincerity.

Not with allegory, but with awe.

Not with confusion, but with clarity.

Let’s keep walking—step by literal step—through the footsteps of the Messiah.

Section 4: False Views Refuted

Let’s pause and take a look at some of the most common approaches to prophecy that don’t follow the Golden Rule of Interpretation.

Each of these systems either ignores or overrides the literal, grammatical-historical method. And while some come from well-meaning traditions, they all end up clouding what God intended to make clear.

We’re not here to attack people—but we do want to unmask patterns of interpretation that lead to confusion.

Because how we read determines what we believe—and whether or not we’re anchored in truth.

❌ 1. Allegorical Interpretation

This approach says that the Bible has layers of hidden meanings. The plain sense is too simple—so we must look for a deeper, spiritual meaning beneath the surface.

Applied to prophecy, this method turns:

• “Israel” into the Church
• “Jerusalem” into heaven
• “A thousand years” into “a general era of triumph”
• “The Antichrist” into a symbol of evil systems or bad ideas

It sounds poetic—but it’s profoundly dangerous.

Why? Because it detaches meaning from the actual words of Scripture.

Allegorical interpretation was popularized by men like Origen in the third century, who believed the literal meaning was often too “earthly” or “unspiritual.”

Augustine picked up that method and used it to reframe Israel’s promises as being fulfilled in the Church—and the future Kingdom as something present and mystical.

The result? You get Amillennialism and Replacement Theology—and a deep erosion of prophetic confidence.

But here’s the problem: if Scripture doesn’t mean what it says, who gets to decide what it does mean?

When we treat prophecy like a Rorschach test, the text becomes whatever the reader wants it to be. And that’s the opposite of biblical authority.

Literal interpretation honors authorial intent. It keeps us anchored to the grammar, the context, and the purpose of the passage.

As Dr. Cooper would say:

“When the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.”

Or, in the words of Dr. Michael Heiser:

“Let the Bible be what it is.”

❌ 2. Preterism

Preterism is the view that most or all biblical prophecy was fulfilled in the first century—particularly in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem.

According to preterists:

• The Tribulation already happened
• The Antichrist has come and gone
• The Second Coming was symbolic or spiritual
• The Millennium is now

This view tries to tie Revelation, Matthew 24, and Daniel 9 to first-century events—and then says, “That’s it. It’s all fulfilled.”

But let’s test that against Scripture.

• Has every nation heard the gospel? (Matt. 24:14)
• Has every eye seen Christ return? (Rev. 1:7)
• Has Satan been bound? (Rev. 20:2)
• Have the dead been raised? (Rev. 20:5)
• Has the earth been made new? (Rev. 21:1)

Clearly, no.

Preterism collapses the future into the past—and it does so by rejecting literal interpretation. It reimagines concrete promises as spiritual metaphors.

But again—when we let the text say what it says, we find ourselves anticipating, not historicizing.

Revelation doesn’t describe ancient Rome—it outlines a coming global judgment, the literal return of Christ, and His future reign on earth.

And as Peter said:

“No prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20, LSB)

❌ 3. Amillennialism

Amillennialism—literally “no millennium”—teaches that there will be no future, literal 1,000-year kingdom on earth.

Instead, Christ is reigning spiritually from heaven right now, and the “millennium” is just a symbolic way of talking about the Church Age.

But there’s a massive problem: Revelation 20.

The phrase “a thousand years” appears six times in just seven verses:

• Satan is bound for a thousand years
• Saints reign with Christ for a thousand years
• The rest of the dead do not come to life until the thousand years are completed
• Then Satan is released after the thousand years

That’s not vague. That’s detailed. That’s time-specific.

Ask yourself: if “a thousand years” didn’t mean what it sounds like… why would God repeat it six times?

Why not just say, “for a while”? Or “for an era”?

Because God meant to tell us that this part of the story has not yet happened—but it will. Literally. On this earth. With Christ reigning in glory from Jerusalem.

To deny the Millennium is to deny a literal fulfillment of promises made to:

• Abraham (Genesis 15 – the land)
• David (2 Samuel 7 – the throne)
• Israel (Isaiah 2, Zechariah 14 – peace and restoration)

Literal interpretation preserves these promises exactly as God gave them.

Summary: Why This Matters

These false views don’t just interpret differently—they undermine trust in God’s Word.

If Israel can be redefined…

If future events can be spiritualized…

If prophecy can be fulfilled invisibly or allegorically…

Then how do we anchor our hope?

That’s why this matters. Literal interpretation isn’t about theological preference. It’s about the integrity of God’s promises.

As Paul told the Thessalonians:

“Encourage one another with these words…” —1 Thess. 4:18

Only literal prophecy can truly encourage, because only literal fulfillment gives assurance.

What’s at Stake?

Here’s the big takeaway:

• Allegory confuses the timeline.
• Preterism collapses the future into the past.
• Amillennialism erases the Kingdom.

But literal interpretation guards clarity, preserves prophecy, and fuels our hope.

So don’t be intimidated by charts, debates, or theological noise. Just open your Bible, read what it says—and let the text speak.

Let the Bible be what it is.

Let the promises be what they are.

Let God say what He said—literally.

Let’s keep walking.

Section 5: Theological + Devotional Insights

Let’s step back and take a breath.

So far, we’ve talked about methods of interpretation, historical shifts, and theological missteps. But the goal of prophecy—and of understanding how to read it—isn’t just accuracy. It’s adoration.

Biblical interpretation isn’t merely a discipline for scholars. It’s an act of worship for disciples.

So let’s ask: What happens to our hearts—devotionally and theologically—when we let the Bible say what it says?

Theological Insight #1: Literal Interpretation Affirms God’s Trustworthiness

Every time we interpret prophecy literally, we’re declaring:

“God means what He says—and says what He means.”

Literal interpretation safeguards the integrity of God’s promises.

Think about it:

• When God promised Abraham land “from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates” (Gen. 15:18), He meant land—not an idea.
• When God promised David a throne “forever” through his descendant (2 Sam. 7:12–16), He meant a literal reign—not a spiritual metaphor.
• When Jesus promised to come again and receive us to Himself (John 14:3), He didn’t mean figuratively. He meant literally.

God doesn’t bait and switch.

He doesn’t overpromise and underdeliver.

He fulfills every word—down to the last detail.

“Not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” —Matthew 5:18 (LSB)

When we interpret literally, we’re anchoring our theology in God’s character: faithful, precise, and sovereign.

Theological Insight #2: Literal Interpretation Preserves the Distinction Between Israel and the Church

Dispensationalism isn’t about chopping up the Bible—it’s about recognizing God’s distinct programs within His unified plan.

When we read prophecy literally, we see:

• Israel is not the Church
• The Church is not Israel
• Both have unique roles in God’s redemptive timeline

This distinction clarifies the timeline and prevents theological drift.

Spiritualizing Israel’s promises into the Church leads to:

• Confusion over the Kingdom
• Loss of eschatological hope
• Erosion of God’s covenant faithfulness

Literal interpretation allows us to say:

“God will fulfill what He promised to Israel… and He will complete what He began in the Church.”

Both are true. And both are beautiful.

Theological Insight #3: Literal Interpretation Grounds Us in a Future, Physical Kingdom

Revelation 20 speaks of a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ.

Isaiah 2 describes nations streaming to Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14 says the Lord will reign as King over all the earth.

These are not mystical visions of spiritual utopia. They are grounded, geopolitical, future realities.

And here’s why that matters:

If Christ is going to rule on this earth, then this earth still matters.

• Justice matters.
• Israel matters.
• History matters.
• Your faithfulness today matters.

Literal interpretation doesn’t lift us out of reality. It draws us into it—with hope.

Devotional Insight #1: God’s Clarity Invites Our Confidence

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and felt overwhelmed by complexity?

Literal interpretation brings relief. It reminds us:

“You don’t have to decode mystery. You just have to believe the message.”

The Bible wasn’t written to confuse. It was written to reveal.

And when we approach prophecy with a clear lens, we realize:

God isn’t hiding the future—He’s preparing us for it.

• Every prophecy of judgment is a warning born out of love.
• Every promise of restoration is an invitation to trust.
• Every glimpse of glory is a reminder: Jesus is coming.

Devotional Insight #2: Literal Fulfillment Deepens Our Awe

When you realize how literally Jesus fulfilled prophecy in His first coming—every location, action, betrayal, detail—you can’t help but stand in awe.

And that awe grows when you realize: He’s not done.

The same Jesus who rode a donkey into Jerusalem will one day return on a white horse.

The same Jesus who was pierced will one day be crowned.

The same Jesus who wept at a tomb will one day wipe away every tear.

Prophecy doesn’t just tell us what’s coming. It tells us who is coming.

And when we interpret it literally, our eyes are lifted. Our worship is deepened.

Devotional Insight #3: God’s Word Becomes More Personal

Let’s be honest—many Christians struggle to connect with prophecy.

It feels distant. Complicated. Maybe even scary.

But literal interpretation makes it personal again.

It reminds you:

• That God didn’t write a puzzle book—He wrote a love letter.
• That you can trust every word of Scripture—even when it’s mysterious.
• That prophecy isn’t meant to paralyze you—it’s meant to prepare you.

As Dr. Heiser often said, “Let the Bible be what it is.”

And when you do that, the Bible becomes less about trying to figure everything out… and more about falling in love with the God who wrote it.

Putting It All Together

So let’s sum this up:

• Literal interpretation affirms God’s faithfulness.
• It preserves His plan for Israel and the Church.
• It anchors our future in real history—not metaphor.
• And it draws our hearts to trust, worship, and readiness.

The more clearly we read… the more confidently we live.

The more literally we interpret… the more deeply we worship.

The more we honor the text… the more we honor the One who gave it.

So let’s keep reading Scripture the way it was meant to be read.

Not with filters. Not with forced systems. Not with fear.

But with joy, reverence, and a heart that says:

“God, I believe You meant what You said. And I trust You to do what You promised.”

Let’s keep walking.

Section 6: Call to Readiness

So, how do we respond to everything we’ve walked through today?

We’ve talked about literal interpretation. We’ve talked about allegory, amillennialism, and the prophetic puzzle that emerges when we stop letting the Bible speak for itself.

But the goal here isn’t just doctrinal precision—it’s spiritual readiness.

Because if God said what He meant, and if He meant what He said—then the question becomes:

Are you living like His promises are real?

Action Step 1: Read Matthew 24–25 This Week

Jesus’ Olivet Discourse is one of the richest prophetic teachings in all of Scripture—and it’s filled with parables and promises about His return.

But here’s the challenge:

Read it literally.

Not metaphorically. Not mystically.

Just… let the text say what it says.

Ask yourself:

• What would I believe about the future if this was the only passage I had?
• How would I live differently if I trusted every word in it?

Action Step 2: Reflect on Your Interpretive Lens

We all bring assumptions to Scripture. Traditions. Backgrounds. Frameworks.

So take some time this week to reflect:

• Have I been spiritualizing promises that God intended literally?
• Have I blended the Church and Israel in ways the Bible doesn’t?
• Have I been treating prophecy as unknowable—when God wrote it to be understood?

Interpretation isn’t just a mental exercise. It’s a spiritual mirror.

Action Step 3: Pray for Humility and Clarity

Here’s a simple prayer for the week ahead:

“Father, thank You that You are not the author of confusion.

You have spoken clearly—through prophets, apostles, and through Your Son.

Help me to honor Your Word, to read it with reverence,

and to live with confidence in every promise.

Let me not lean on my own understanding,

but trust what You’ve revealed—plainly, precisely, and powerfully.

In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Remember: Prophecy Is Preparation

Let’s close this episode with three reminders from today’s truth:

1. Interpretation shapes expectation.
   If you spiritualize God’s promises, you’ll blur your hope.
   But if you take Him at His Word, your hope becomes rock solid.
2. Literal interpretation anchors our discipleship.
   It’s not just about how we read—it’s about how we live.
3. The Bible doesn’t need to be reinvented.
   It needs to be believed.

As Dr. Cooper said:

“When the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.”

And as Dr. Michael Heiser reminded us again and again:

“Let the Bible be what it is.”

“Let the text say what it says.”

🎙 Next Time on Footsteps of the Messiah:

In Episode 4, we’ll build on what we’ve learned by exploring the Four Rules of Prophetic Interpretation. These biblical principles—like double reference and recurrence—will help us explain the timing and sequence of complex prophetic passages.

Until then, remember:

God said what He meant.

He’s revealed the road ahead.

And He’s calling you to walk with clarity, confidence, and joyful anticipation.

Let’s keep walking.