Figurative languages or figure of speeches or metaphorical statements seems to be used a lot in bible days(although they are not commonly used in our current day). They are complex words used to represent the intended meaning of a phrase spoken by someone, they are meant to hide the intended meaning so that someone else will not understand what the speaker is saying. Examples of figurative languages are Jesus parables and prophesies spoken by prophet Daniel and Revelation of John in the book of revelation. They all have internal meaning which are hidden to Christians reading these passages today, unfortunately.

When the disciples asked Jesus why speak in parables this is what he told them

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you(disciples)to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them(Pharisees)it is not given.

Now, most figurative languages in the bible were not outrightly interpreted except few. For instance, Jesus gave the literal meaning of one of his figurative language thus:

Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them,He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Matthew 13:38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Let's look at the content of this statement again.

The sower represent the son of man
The field represent the world
The good seed represent the kingdom of God
The tares represent the kingdom of Satan

With is template of interpretation, every other figurative languages in the bible can be understood.

For instance:

Daniel 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

What are the four winds and the great sea represented here?
They both represent kingdoms
Meaning, the four winds representing four kingdoms drove upon the great sea(another kingdom) implies there was a battle.
And the four beasts that came out from one kingdom(sea) are four kings in collaboration against the four winds(another four kings).

In the nutshell, the book of revelation presented a lot of scary figures like Mark of the beast, 666, a great red dragon, daughter of Jezebel or the great Babylon, etc
They represent real life situations and they should not scare any Christian this modern day that understand what they mean.

Yes

I

paxonel:


They all have internal meaning which are hidden to Christians reading these passages today, unfortunately.

See! It sure takes a lot of asking and knocking and seeking to find that which is hidden.

In fact, it takes a lot of asking and knocking and seeking to even realise that something might be hidden and needs to be searched for in the first place!

Those who do not ask and knock and seek for that which is hidden will merely believe and tremble like those who build their faith on sand.

Your Faith, Paxonel, is built on the Solid Rock of Understanding.

paxonel:
Let's look at the content of this statement again.

The sower represent the son of man
The field represent the world
The good seed represent the kingdom of God
The tares represent the kingdom of Satan

With is template of interpretation, every other figurative languages in the bible can be understood.

For instance:

Daniel 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

What are the four winds and the great sea represented here?
They both represent kingdoms
Meaning, the four winds representing four kingdoms drove upon the great sea(another kingdom) implies there was a battle.
And the four beasts that came out from one kingdom(sea) are four kings in collaboration against the four winds(another four kings).

In the nutshell, the book of revelation presented a lot of scary figures like Mark of the beast, 666, a great red dragon, daughter of Jezebel or the great Babylon, etc
They represent real life situations and they should not be scare any Christian this modern day that understand what they mean.

1. I am afraid your "template of interpretation" is full of errors.

2. And your interpretation of Daniel's vision is also rubbish as as a result.

Kobojunkie:
1. I am afraid your "template of interpretation" is full of errors.

2. And your interpretation of Daniel's vision is also rubbish as as a result.

do you have a specific prove?

budaatum:


See! It sure takes a lot of asking and knocking and seeking to find that which is hidden.

In fact, it takes a lot of asking and knocking and seeking to even realise that something might be hidden and needs to be searched for in the first place!

Those who do not ask and knock and seek for that which is hidden will merely believe and tremble like those who build their faith on sand.

Your Faith, Paxonel, is built on the Solid Rock of Understanding.

thanks bro!

Obviously, the world today is disunited along religious lines due to inability of people that are into religion to understand the basic fundamentals of their religious books(bible,quran or whatever) as a result of certain hidden facts in these books.

Until we read these books carefully and meticulously, religion will continue to be a problem.

paxonel:
do you have a specific prove?

Let's start with your template shall we?

paxonel:
Examples of figurative languages are Jesus parables and prophesies spoken by prophet Daniel and Revelation of John in the book of revelation. They all have internal meaning which are hidden to Christians reading these passages today, unfortunately.

When the disciples asked Jesus why speak in parables this is what he told them

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you(disciples)to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them(Pharisees)it is not given.

Now, most figurative languages in the bible were not outrightly interpreted except few. For instance, Jesus gave the literal meaning of one of his figurative language thus:

Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them,He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Matthew 13:38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Let's look at the content of this statement again.

The sower represent the son of man
The field represent the world
The good seed represent the kingdom of God
The tares represent the kingdom of Satan

1. Jesus Christ His Kingdom is not of this world and He said all those who believe in Him enter into His Kingdom. So, isn't it instead the case that the field is in fact the Kingdom of God, and not the earth as you assume?

2. Your statement on the good seed and the tares, are we to assume you mean the individuals who belong to the Kingdom or the Kingdom itself?

Kobojunkie:
Let's start with your template shall we? 1. Jesus Christ His Kingdom is not of this world

on the stand point that his kingdom was not here on earth to antagonize worldly kingdoms such as that of the the ancient province of Isreal that was governed by Pilate. That also implies that his kingdom does not consist of a land or a capital city or army of warriors or Territory, but something abstract which is the mind of people, believers.

and He said all those who believe in Him enter into His Kingdom

they enter by simply believing and nothing more

So, isn't it instead the case that the field is in fact the Kingdom of God, and not the earth as you assume?

everyone that believes are on this earth, they all constitute the kingdom of God on this earth. But they are not here to antagonize earthly kingdoms, hence the kingdom of God is not of this earth.

2. Your statement on the good seed and the tares, are we to assume you mean the individuals who belong to the Kingdom or the Kingdom itself?

Yes!
that is exactly the literal meaning of the figurative language The good seed represent the kingdom of God

We are the good seed on this earth(which is the field) planted by Jesus Christ the day he resurrected.

Have you ever heard this statement that the Glory of God covers the earth like the waters covers the sea?
It implies that believers covers this earth in population as God promised Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous like the sands of the sea shores.

Today, you can't possibly estimate accurately the number of Christians living worldwide on this earth, they are so numerous, that is a fulfilment of prophecy

paxonel:
on the stand point that his kingdom was not here on earth to antagonize worldly kingdoms such as that of the the ancient province of Isreal that was governed by Pilate. That also implies that his kingdom does not consist of a land or a capital city or army of warriors or Territory, but something abstract which is the mind of people, believers.
they enter by simply believing and nothing more
everyone that believes are on this earth, they all constitute the kingdom of God on this earth. But they are not here to antagonize earthly kingdoms, hence the kingdom of God is not of this earth.
Yes!
that is exactly the literal meaning of the figurative language The good seed represent the kingdom of God

We are the good seed on this earth(which is the field) planted by Jesus Christ the day he resurrected.

Have you ever heard this statement that the Glory of God covers the earth like the waters covers the sea?
It implies that believers covers this earth in population as God promised Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous like the sands of the sea shores.

Today, you can't possibly estimate accurately the number of Christians living worldwide on this earth, they are so numerous, that is a fulfilment of prophecy

Sinners, demons and devils also believe and as a result they have access granted them into the Kingdom of God,explaining the field, which belonged to God, had even evil seeds planted in it...please try keep your responses terse and to the point abeg!

---

Let's start with your template again please?

1. Jesus Christ stated that His Kingdom is not of this world, declaring also that all those who believe in Him(saints, sinners, demons, & devils) enter into His Kingdom. So, isn't it instead the case that the field is in fact the Kingdom of God, and not the earth as you assume?

2. Your statement on the good seed and the tares, are we to assume you refer here instead to the individuals in the Kingdom and not Kingdom itself?

Kobojunkie:
Sinners, demons and devils also believe and as a result they have access granted them into the Kingdom of God,explaining the field, which belonged to God, had even evil seeds planted in it...please try keep your responses terse and to the point abeg!

---

Let's start with your template again please?

1. Jesus Christ stated that His Kingdom is not of this world, declaring also that all those who believe in Him(saints, sinners, demons, & devils) enter into His Kingdom. So, isn't it instead the case that the field is in fact the Kingdom of God, and not the earth as you assume?

2. Your statement on the good seed and the tares, are we to assume you refer here instead to the individuals in the Kingdom and not Kingdom itself?

you shouldn't come back with the same questions i have address. If you are not satisfied then go pick your bible and confirm what i have said whether it is true or not, because i can't possibly give you everything here, ok.

And if you still want to get people do the very things you want them to do before you call them Christians go ahead.

Afterall, even boko haram will want people to do things in their way before they regard them as Muslims otherwise they are infidels

There are lots and lots of figurative languages in the Bible that most readers takes literally!
For instance God told Adam from the beginning "From dust i created you so prove yourself worthy of life or you will return to dust" Genesis 2:17 compare to 3:17-19

That's the overall message of the Bible!
It's either man continue to live by food both physical and spiritual or miss any of the two and began deteriorating until he expires. Matthew 4:4 compare to Deuteronomy 8:3

But later when God's word began using figurative languages like Hell and Lake of Fire most readers forgot the overall message of the Bible and start saying "the dead are not REALLY dead" or "people don't die for REAL" {Genesis 3:4} whereas God's word consistently reminds us that when people die they no more take part in whatever happens amongst the living! Ecclesiastes 9:5-10

Satan and his demons are also out there promoting the first LIES ever which is "God can't return man to non-existence, once life began it's either you continue enjoying or suffering for all eternity"

So the stage is set, on whose are you?

God said He is the starter of our existence and so He has the ability to stop as in end it.

Or

Satan who said God can only start life but can't end it.

Whoever realize that God's word is full of figurative speeches shouldn't have any problem with this, all you need to do is meditate on God's will from the beginning:

Creation, Man dominates all other creatures with love, man continue to subject himself to his Creator, man lives forever, any amongst mankind that feels like dominating his fellowman is about to make himself God over others so such a person will be exterminated!

That is God's will!

MaxInDHouse:
There are lots and lots of figurative languages in the Bible that most readers takes literally!
For instance God told Adam from the beginning "From dust i created you so prove yourself worthy of life or you will return to dust" Genesis 2:17 compare to 3:17-19

That's the overall message of the Bible!
It's either man continue to live by food both physical and spiritual or miss any of the two and began deteriorating until he expires. Matthew 4:4 compare to Deuteronomy 8:3

But later when God's word began using figurative languages like Hell and Lake of Fire most readers forgot the overall message of the Bible and start saying "the dead are not REALLY dead" or "people don't die for REAL" {Genesis 3:4} whereas God's word consistently reminds us that when people die they no more take part in whatever happens amongst the living! Ecclesiastes 9:5-10

Satan and his demons are also out there promoting the first LIES ever which is "God can't return man to non-existence, once life began it's either you continue enjoying or suffering for all eternity"

So the stage is set, on whose are you?

God said He is the starter of our existence and so He has the ability to stop as in end it.

Or

Satan who said God can only start life but can't end it.

Whoever realize that God's word is full of figurative speeches shouldn't have any problem with this, all you need to do is meditate on God's will from the beginning:

Creation, Man dominates all other creatures with love, man continue to subject himself to his Creator, man lives forever, any amongst mankind that feels like dominating his fellowman is about to make himself God over others so such a person will be exterminated!

That is God's will!

well said!

Kobojunkie:
Sinners, demons and devils also believe and as a result they have access granted them into the Kingdom of God,explaining the field, which belonged to God, had even evil seeds planted in it...

In this passage, "Tabernacle" and "Holy Hill" are figurative for the Kingdom of God and vice versa, and lordists are excluded.

P.s. We both know you will object and disagree and argue till Kingdom come so forgive me if I do not respond.