Can we interpret Bible prophecy?

We can only interpret prophecy to the extent that God, through another inspired writer^2,4,6,9, or “what is written”⁸, has revealed what it means^1,9. For example, we have cases where we would never even think to make the application on our own, and yet the inspired writer does⁵. In fact, interpreting Bible prophecy and how we handle it in general is the ultimate example of how Scripture interprets Scripture, or literally, God interprets God¹.

There are absolutely other cases where prophecy seems to be saying something we could readily understand and apply. First, maybe it’s just the words being used^{7 (many more examples)}. Or, maybe it’s the close proximity (e.g. context) of other verses that have been definitively interpreted by an inspired writer (ex: Isaiah 53, where not all verses are interpreted to describe Jesus). How does the sincere Bible student handle these?

Should we be coming to definitive conclusions about doctrine based on these situations? Is that not a form of adding to^3,8 His word? Are we not making ourself to be God (or, “puffed up” as Paul points out⁸? “Yes!” is God’s answer. This principle is part of the broader principle that there are some questions we cannot answer because God has not revealed it to us in His word.