William Miller's 14 Rules of Interpretation
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel's message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation… in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth. - RH, November 25, 1884, par. 23-.25
William Miller's Rules
Here are Miller’s rules in his own words;
In studying the Bible, I have found the following rules to be of great service to myself, and now give them to the public by special request. Every rule should be well studied, in connection with the Scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them.
02
Rule II
All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent application and study.
03
Rule III
Nothing revealed in the Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering.
04
Rule IV
To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error.
05
Rule V
Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound it to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom is my rule, not the Bible.
06
Rule VI
God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are oftentime revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures, and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one.
Psalm 89:19, Hosea 12:10, Habakkuk 2:2, Acts 2:17, 1 Corinthians 10:6, Hebrews 9:9, 24, Psalm 78:2, Matthew 13:13, 34, Genesis 41:1-32, Daniel 2, 7 & 8, Acts 10:9-16
07
Rule VII
Visions are always mentioned as such.
08
Rule VIII
Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy, to represent future things, times and events;
such as mountains, meaning governments (Daniel 2:35,44); beasts, meaning kingdoms (Daniel 7:8,17); waters, meaning people (Rev 17:1,15); lamp, meaning Word of God (Ps 119:105); day, meaning year (Ezek 4:6).
09
Rule IX
Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures by the subject and Bible._
10
Rule X
Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense
to represent three different periods of time.
1. Indefinite. Ecclesiastes 7:14 2. Definite, a day for a year. Ezekiel 4:6 3. Day for a thousand years. 2 Peter 3:8. If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not.
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Rule XI
How to know when a word is used figuratively: If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively.
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Rule XII
To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again.
13
Rule XIII
To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy: If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait for its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed.
14
Rule XIV
The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God's Word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts.
We must believe that God will never forfeit His Word. And we can have confidence that He that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of His own Word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in His Word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek.
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