Common False Interpretations of the Bible,

and other false prophecies.

 

Our charge: 

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.  But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. [Acts 17:11-13, KJV]

 

The following is not for the weak minded.

 

Claim: The Antichrist will make a covenant for seven years.

Supporters: John Nelson Darby c. 1857, C.I. Scofield c.1908,

Dallas Spin Doctors c1970 to date, Dwight D. Pentecost, Charles Ryrie.

Verse in Question: Daniel 9:27

Truth: The “He” spoken of is Messiah the Prince to come.

Problem: there is no evidence in the Bible for a seven year tribulation.  Rather, the Bible, the Prophet Daniel more specifically, states that:

 

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.  And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. [Daniel 12:1-10, KJV]

 

Evidence: Read verses 24-27 in context, no where is an Antichrist mentioned, rather the Messiah is mentioned in those verses. Also Daniel 12:1-10

 

Claim:  The “Rosh” in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is Russia.

Supporters: Hal Lindsey c 1972 to date, Jack and Roxella Van Impe.

Verses in question: Ezekiel 38:2 and 39:1

Truth: Rosh is the Hebrew word for Prince.  Prince of Magog is in view.

Evidence: Leaving the word Rosh as a noun was a mistranslation into English versions.  Nations to the far north at the time of Ezekiel’s writing were those in today’s modern Turkey and the Caucasus mountains, perhaps as far north as Chechnya.  Russia did not exist; its word association is inappropriate.

 

Claim: “We must remember that at times, God speaks of day to represent years.”

Supporters: Brother Harold Camping of Family Radio, other nefarious fundamentalists.

Verses in question: Numbers 14:34

Truth: This is mere speculation.  There is no Biblical evidence to support this claim or rigorous exegesis for the same.

Evidence:  When plane sense makes sense, seek no other sense.

 

Claim:  Jacob’s tribulation (trouble) experienced encompassed seven years.

Supporters: the aforementioned spin Doctors.

Verses in question: Jeremiah 30:7

Truth:  Nowhere in the context of Jeremiah 30 is seven years mentioned.  This is only a conjecture of those who support a seven year Antichrist covenant, a misapplication of Daniel 9:27.  It is err on top of err.

Evidence: Read the Holy Scriptures in context; both Daniel 9:24-27 and Jeremiah 30; and do not read into something that is not there.  That would be adding words to the prophecy, which we are warned against doing so.

 

And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask ye now, and see whether a man F130 doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.  For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. [Jeremiah 30:4-9, KJV, in context]

 

Claim:  “That is why we read, for example, in Revelation 13:7 and 8 about a beast (Satan) who comes out of the sea (the wrath of God), and who overcomes the saints (drives them out of the churches), and also rules over the world.”

Supporters: Brother Harold Camping, Family Radio fame.

Verses in question: Revelation 13:7-8

Truth:  His parenthetical remark “drives them out of the churches” is a false interpretation or application, for the Church has been take up prior to the Beast who comes out of the sea.  In the sequence of revelatory events, in Revelation 9:20-21, the description of those surviving the great conflagration cannot include, or describe, neither any true Christian nor the true Church.  Therefore, the saints in view are neither the Church nor pretribulation Christians.  At best, they are those who come to call upon the name of the Lord during the tribulation age.  That is not an organized Church.  Lest us not be confused.

Evidence: Revelation 9:20-21

 

Claim:  In Daniel Chapter 8, God speaks of a time of 2,300 days during which a fierce king would rule.”

Supporters: Many, including Brother Harold Camping of Family Radio fame, and many mistranslation into English Bibles such as the KJV.

Truth:  1150 days; and it is only a portion of a time a fierce king would rule.  But that is not what is spoken of her in Daniel 8:13-14, we read:

 

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision {about} the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?" He said to me, "For 2,300 evenings {and} mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored." [Daniel 8:13-14, NASB]

 

Here in the NASB, we see more clearly what was originally written in the original Hebrew text: that is, 2,300 evening and morning sacrifices.  That encompassas 1,150 days, not 2,300 days.  So any reference to a 2,300 day epoch is misleading or a misapplication at best.  It leads to some to believe in a mythical seven year epoch.