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history, it was sent as a message of encouragement to seven churches, and
with particular regard to the `overcomer'.
For a fuller analysis of the Revelation, and the relation of the seven
churches with the book as a whole, see Lord's Day2; Revelation4; and
Millennial Studies9.
Overthrow This translation of the Greek word katabole which occurs in the
phrase `before the foundation of the world' is fully discussed in article
Ephesians1, which should be consulted.
PARABLE
As the student of Scripture grows in grace and knowledge of the truth,
things which once seemed trivial appear of great importance; passages which
once he thought he `knew all about' are approached with deepening humility,
to be re -read and learned afresh. Among our earliest recollections, either
as scholars in Sunday Schools or as members of churches, will be those
passages of Scripture known as `The Parables'. The time worn definition, `an
earthly story with a heavenly meaning' is doubtless familiar to us all. Do
we not begin to realize, however, that these parables contain teaching which
some of our teachers never saw, and that the dispensational key, which has
turned the lock of so many difficulties and opened doors into such treasuries
may be profitably applied to these `dark sayings'?
The first thing to do is to be sure of the meaning of the word. The
word `parable' has been taken over into the English tongue from the Greek
word parabole. Para means `near' or `beside' and bole is from ballo, `I
cast' or `throw'. Literally it signifies something `cast beside' another,
and as applied to discourse it means a method of teaching which demands the
use of similitude or comparison. A good example of this `throwing beside' is
the interpretation of the `Tares' (Matt. 13:36 -43).
He that soweth
is
the Son of man.
The field
is
the world.
The good seed
are
the children of the Kingdom, etc.
All the parables of Scripture are weighty and wise sayings. This may
be gathered from the words of the proverb, `the legs of a lame man are not
equal, so is a parable in the mouth of fools' (Prov. 26:7). The Companion
Bible gives the meaning, `the clothes of a lame man being lifted up expose
his lameness, so a fool exposes his folly in expounding a parable'. (See
also Prov. 26:9). An American writer has given a very helpful translation of
Proverbs, chapter 1:2 -6 which reads thus:
`To know wisdom and admonition: to put a distinct meaning into
discriminated speeches: to accept clear -sighted admonition is
righteousness and judgment and right behaviour.
"In order to give subtlety to the simple; to the child, knowledge and
thorough thought. The wise man will hear and increasingly acquire, and
a man already become discerning will gain in capability to guide.
"For putting a distinct meaning into a proverb or an enigma; into the
words of the wise and their intricate sayings;
"The fear of the Lord is the main knowledge, a wisdom and a discipline
that fools despise"`.