In this part 1, we’ll start with some much needed counsel on how we are to arrive at the truth of a subject.
A very interesting topic of the present truth message is the subject of the “Four Carpenters” mentioned in Zechariah 1:20-21, it reads —
“And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.”
Unfortunately this subject has many views with not many agreeing to the subject in unison. In this series we shall take a close look at the references to get a better picture (in part 2).
Before we do let’s reiterate what we find is the analogy of arriving at the “truth” of any subject or topic of present truth.
Each subject is what we call a picture of truth, and we liken it to a puzzle picture. As with any puzzle you have all the pieces in disarray and they are ready for you to put them together to make the picture. The peices cannot work unless they all fit together and only then will you complete the puzzle picture and see the beautiful picture.
The references are the pieces of the puzzle and we must gather all the pieces together first before we can assemble the picture. If we leave out some of the peices we may find there are holes in the picture and we cannot appreciate the beautiful picture as intended by our divine King. In other words there will be no harmonization. The Rod’s many statements confirm –we must harmonize (see our study link below).
As we read the references, we can then see how they fit one to the other. In other words, how they harmonize and present the subject in a clear and wonderful picture. Each subject is that picture, waiting for us to put the references together in a harmonious way. After all God is not the author of confusion as we read —
“For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33)
It is us where the confusion comes in. But, if we go about our study and “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) then we shall have a clear conception of truth.
Now, in order to make the picture, we should have handy the Scriptural Index for both the Rod and the SOP. But most assuredly at least the Rod index. This way we first find all the references we have on a subject. Afterall it is INSPIRATION’S interpretation we need, not our own private ideas and assumptions.
As we right down all the references, we then are able to read each closely “marking each word” and noting what they specifically say. As we do this the Lord’s “Spirit of Truth” shall guide us into all truth (John 16:13).
For those who want to see our prior post on the five study keys to helping understand the message, click this link —
https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2024/03/23/5-keys-to-understanding-present-truth-doctrines/
Depending on the subject and how complicated it may be, most likely even under the very best research we won’t find “all” the pertinent references, but will find the vast majority of them to help see the clear picture. The reason in this part 1 that we are stressing these points is because we simply have way too many “private interpreters” today among us so called present truth believers! We are talking about some of our “teachers”. We are simply amazed at the extent of this problem. But there are simple, clear and defined answers to avoid this if we will only follow inspiration’s counsels.
It is very clear to us why the Lord told His beloved apostle James to warn us —
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)
End of part 1, to be continued soon ….
HearYeTheRod 