Prophecies come in different ways for different people. They vary with every individual and depending on one’s anointing. Some prophets will hear words in their spirit. Others see visions that speak into a situation. However, no matter how an individual receives a prophecy, it will still be incomplete. God will not reveal every detail of the prophecy. He lets you interpret the remaining bits to complete the message. Though He gives just enough information, you have to learn to interpret the prophecy that He revealed.
God’s nature is indeed mysterious. He speaks through parables and He lets us see visions without complete details. Why does God need to do this? Why can’t He provide us with complete information? It is definitely because God wants us to be dependent on Him. If He lays down everything to us, then we will not honor Him the way He wants us to give Him glory. He wants His people to have faith, and to trust that by His knowledge and wisdom, we can comprehend His message. Now, how can we interpret a prophecy?
God speaks accurately, but we sometimes don’t hear Him accurately. This gives loopholes to interpreting prophecies. The correctness of the prophecy varies with how we hear God’s voice.
Take these two questions as your guide in interpreting prophetic words: Does the prophecy come true? And Does it affirm that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh?
Does the prophecy come true? Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord? If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” God’s prophecies always come true. His prophecies may not occur on time, but they will come to pass.
Does the prophecy affirm that Jesus is God in the flesh? If the prophetic word you receive doesn’t acknowledge that God is fully man and fully God, then you have to watch out. False prophets have gone out into the world, so be careful of the revelations you will be receiving.
Beware if the prophecy elevates anybody else other than Jesus. Revelations 19:10 says, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Yet, this is hard to notice because sometimes, the prophecy is exalting the church, and we confuse it to be Jesus Christ.