"Let the Bible Interpret the Bible"

"Let the Bible interpret the Bible." During my years in the Worldwide Church of God I heard this often both from Pastor General and self-appointed apostle Herbert W. Armstrong and his minions in the ministry. While Armstrong, a master manipulator, could well have been using the expression to further his own ends, it does make sense.

However, care is needed. I heard this that follows very recently in this manner. The scripture first, though.

Gen 6:1-3, 4-5
6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
KJV

This can be a difficult scripture to understand. The TV preacher I heard, in letting the Bible interpret the Bible, said the answer was in Job 1, as follows:

Job 1:6
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
KJV

Thus, the preacher said, Job 1 was obviously speaking of angels and it follows that the same wording in Genesis 6 has to be referring to angels as well. And the Bible interpreted the Bible. Or did it?

After all Jesus, speaking to the Sadducees of the resurrection, said plainly that angels didn't marry.

Matt 22:29-30
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
KJV

Indeed, Job 1 was refering to angels. But was Genesis? Mostly it's Christians who have a lot of trouble with this passage. Jews understand that "sons of God" here refer to the male descendants of Seth, while "daughters of men," to the female descendants of Cain. Seth is the Godly line, Cain the ungodly. Remember the story of Solomon, how he was drawn into idolatry by the pagan women in his life. Perhaps an unbelieving wife is more likely to pull away a believing husband than an unbelieving husband is a believing wife. Anyway, verse five shows the result.

So, the very same wording can have more than one meaning. In this case a non-Biblical understanding clears up the problem where trying to force a particular meaning from the Bible doesn't.

Here's another example. Jesus often referred to himself as the "Son of man," something God called the prophet Ezekiel over and over. Daniel wrote of a vision he'd had this way:

Dan 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
KJV

This messianic figure is "like the Son of man." Jesus or Ezekiel? Christians have no trouble with this one. But, again, two meanings for the same phrase.

And now we come to the verse that got me thinking along these lines this morning. What is the meaning of the "wrath to come?"

1 Thess 1:10
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
KJV

As my wife and I were discussing some things in I Thessalonians this morning, my first thought in reading this verse was "wrath to come" means the lake of fire, the second death. But to those who believe in a pre-trib rapture, it apparently means the great tribulation. My wife told me this is what the Ryrie Study Bible says about it; it means the "judgment to come." Indeed, the NIV Study Bible allows both. "Some see a reference here to the final judgment, while others think it refers to a period of future tribulation."

The only other places in the New Testament "wrath to come" appears occur in Matthew 3 and Luke 3. These are two reportings of the same event. John is baptizing in the Jordan River.

Matt 3:4-8
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
KJV

Luke 3:3-7
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
KJV

So, what did John mean by "wrath to come?" Luke merely says he spoke these words to the multitude who came out from Jerusalem, but Matthew is more specific. It's the Pharisees and the Sadducees whom he calls "a generation of vipers" trying to escape the wrath to come. While the Pharisees believed in a resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees believed in no afterlife whatsoever. One was judged, rewarded or punished by God in this life alone. That was, to them, all there was. What "wrath to come," then, were the Sadducees fleeing? Even though they would apply it only to this life, they feared the wrath of God. John the Baptist, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were all thinking God's wrath. John, though, spells it out:

Matt 3:10-12
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
KJV

Luke 3:9-18
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
KJV

John knew. Two groups of people, figuratively spoken of as "wheat" and "chaff", baptized either with the Holy Spirit(wheat) or fire(chaff), "Fire unquenchable" he says. Final judgment and fire for the chaff, but the wheat have a completely different future. They are delivered from that.

It seems then that "wrath to come" in I Thes 1:10, Mat3:7 and Luke 3:7 are all referring to the same event. There doesn't seem to be need of taking this any further. I'd say the Bible has interpreted the Bible.