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Now I knew that their environment was at one temperature, that they, therefore, all had the same input, but they all indicated slightly different temperatures. Anyone would know from this that they were not reliable. Right away it was clear that the process by which they were manufactured, or the materials used in them, or whatever other factors went into making these particular thermometers, were not consistent. They had all "interpreted" the temperature differently (87:1) If I had only had one of these thermometers, and I had used it to record temperature measurements, I may have assumed that it was accurate. After all, it looked professionally made, and it seemed to behave as a thermometer should. I may have found no reason to doubt its reliability. But knowing that the others whose appearance and performance were similar gave different results changed everything (87:2) Now, if all of the Christian denominations are using the Word of God as their basis, then why do we get different "readings" from them, different interpretations? Can we continue to trust the process by which we arrive at these interpretations when the results are so visibly inconsistent? What does it take for us to realize that the complete meaning of prophecies is simply not available to us before fulfillment? (87:3) The word of God is creative; it has the ability to create good in the world through those who follow it. It can influence in the perfect way a multitude of different individuals in different situations if they but open their hearts to its message and obey its commandments: These are not ordinary words. It follows, therefore, that their significance cannot be fully grasped by mere mortals; nor can their meaning be exhausted. The deeper we go in our study of them, the more significant the meaning we find. But the fact remains that what the word of God means to one person may be different than what it means to another (87:4) Now, I am not implying that since it means different things to different people, we can never agree on its meaning. I'm simply stating that its meaning is great and we, as individuals, each receive only a share of its greatness (87:5) In speaking with Christian friends, although my understanding of the Second Coming is different than theirs, I do not feel the urge to inform them that their interpretations are wrong. And it is not simply due to common courtesy, which bids us respect the rights of others to express their views, that I do not show disapproval. In all that I have heard from those who are trying to understand what God has decreed for the Return of His Beloved Son, I have genuinely found truth. Each person has understood, to some extent, His Return (87:6) I believe, however, that the fullest understanding of His Return, can come only after recognition of Him at His Return. And if you reflect at all about the fact that among Christ's followers there are currently many different versions of how Christ will return, only one resolution seems possible to the dilemma presented to us by this disturbing and contradictory set of circumstances: namely, it can only be after the Return has been fulfilled, and Christ has been recognized, that there will be only one interpretation of the prophecies. Hence, Christians, themselves, must agree that fulfillment and recognition are necessary for the Christian world to have a unified vision of Christ's Return
(87:7)
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