The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 416

The European Union in Prophecy
The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, and the many conflicting
theories concerning religious faith, that are found in the Christian world are the work
of our great adversary to confuse minds so that they shall not discern the truth. And
the discord and division which exist among the churches of Christendom are in a great
measure due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a favorite
theory. Instead of carefully studying God's word with humility of heart to obtain a
knowledge of His will, many seek only to discover something odd or original.
In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices, some will seize
upon passages of Scripture separated from the context, perhaps quoting half of a
single verse as proving their point, when the remaining portion would show the
meaning to be quite the opposite. With the cunning of the serpent they entrench
themselves behind disconnected utterances construed to suit their carnal desires.
Thus do many willfully pervert the word of God. Others, who have an active
imagination, seize upon the figures and symbols of Holy Writ, interpret them to suit
their fancy, with little regard to the testimony of Scripture as its own interpreter, and
then they present their vagaries as the teachings of the Bible.
Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful,
humble, teachable spirit, the plainest and simplest as well as the most difficult
passages will be wrested from their true meaning. The papal leaders select such
portions of Scripture as best serve their purpose, interpret to suit themselves, and
then present these to the people, while they deny them the privilege of studying the
Bible and understanding its sacred truths for themselves. The whole Bible should be
given to the people just as it reads. It would be better for them not to have Bible
instruction at all than to have the teaching of the Scriptures thus grossly
misrepresented.
The Bible was designed to be a guide to all who wish to become acquainted with
the will of their Maker. God gave to men the sure word of prophecy; angels and even
Christ Himself came to make known to Daniel and John the things that must shortly
come to pass. Those important matters that concern our salvation were not left
involved in mystery. They were not revealed in such a way as to perplex and mislead
the honest seeker after truth. Said the Lord by the prophet Habakkuk: "Write the
vision, and make it plain, . . . that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2. The
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