Four Levels of Interpretation part 2

C. Messianic Hint ­ Remez

This is the level we would define as types and shadows. Word pictures in the scriptures fall in this category.

"Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, ...and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him." (2 Nephi 11:4)

Prophetic Pointing

"...we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him..." (Jacob 4:5)

"...every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice..." (Alma 34:14)

Heavenly Father even demonstrated this physically.

"..One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith History 1:17)

The fourth level is

D. Hidden ­ Sod ("Secret" in the O.T.) [the 'o' is a long 'o' sound]

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret (sod) unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

The Old Testament definition of "prophet" is different than the definition we use in the church today when we formally sustain the President, his counselors, and the Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators.

In the book of Numbers, chapter 11, we read that 70 men were called to assist Moses. These men met at the Tabernacle and there the Spirit of the Lord descended upon them and they were given the ability to prophesy.

Eldad and Medad were two other men who remained in the camp and were not in the group Moses had assembled. Yet the Spirit of the Lord also rested upon them and they began likewise to prophesy to the people in the camp.

Being protective regarding the honor of Moses and his group of 70 men, a young man came to Joshua complaining about them; and so Joshua asked Moses to forbid them to prophesy. Moses' response is a classic:

"...would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29)

The term Moses uses for prophet is "navi" and it meant any person who was close to God and who would be able to discern how the Lord felt about any given situation. This person, whether male or female, would manifest insight, dedication, holiness, and commitment. And what exactly is this spirit associated with prophetic ability? Revelation 19 tells us:

"...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10)

continued...