Students of Bible prophecy lose much when they would follow the non literal, allegorizing, symbolic approach when trying to understand what God is saying in His written word. Not that there aren't symbols in the Scripture of Truth, nevertheless, the symbols represent something that God will reveal the truth to the diligent student, see Matt. 7:7-11. Arthur Pink once said "The Bible is not a lazy man's Book", few I venture to guess would disagree with him on this? It should be an accepted rule that "if the plain sense makes the most sense then it must be the best sense".
Dr. John Gill was a noted reformed Bible expositor who many Bible students refer to in the present day including the present writer. I have learned much from this most able expositor, especially from his studious research into the ancient Jewish commentators on the Old Testament. Nevertheless, we must ever be on our guard not to treat the writings of notable expositors as if they were God's very words. I have touched elsewhere on this ere blog on this topic before, especially in regards to the Genesis creation account.
And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Revelation 16:8.
On this verse Dr. Gill writes;
"Not literally; and so designs not a violent heat, which shall go before, and be a preparation for the burning of the world..."
The only reason Dr. Gill couldn't take this verse literally is because he believed the heliocentric deception. In his exposition on Genesis 1:16 he writes "according to Sir Isaac Newton it is (the sun) 900.000 times bigger" (than the earth). To visualize an angel pouring a vial over something of that magnitude would be a stretch! But, if the sun and moon are tiny little (in comparison with the Earth) "lights" under the firmament, then all difficulty in taking verses like this in the Revelation literally disappear at a stroke!
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. Isaiah 13:10.
Dr. Gill writes;
"This and what follows are to be understood, not literally, but figuratively...and the moon shall not cause her light to shine: by night, which she borrows from the sun." (emphasis mine).
"Borrows from the sun"? But! God didn't say that! God's word says the moon shall not cause her light to shine. (my emphasis).
It should be evident that "science falsely so called" 1 Tim. 6:20 has caused men to err in their understanding of God's word. I think it a fearful thing for men to prefix "not literally" to what God hath literally said, or no? If true believers can explain away what God has plainly said, is it any wonder that infidels mock the biblical flood account and a whole lot else beside?
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