REVELATION

          Revelation has to do with God making Himself know to mankind.  Hebrews 1:1-3 is the key passage which will be mentioned below.

1) THREE ASPECTS DISTINGUISHED

               Revelation and Reason:  Although reason is important, God has reveled Himself apart from human reason.  Reason is used in philosophy and theology,  but is appropriate as far as it goes.  However, reason only leads to uncertainty as to its authority.  "But the natural man receiveth not the things of  the Spirit of  God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14--Caps for emphasis).  The truths of  God's revelation of  Himself are understood only spiritually.  Therefore, a person must first be right with God in order to comprehend fully the truth of  the Bible.  This is not to say that a man can not reason things out to a certain degree, but his reason fails him when it comes to a full understanding of  God.  It is modern philosophy which ridicules revelation and thinks human reason is sufficient.

               Revelation and Inspiration:  These two truths concerning the Bible are often confused.  They must be distinguished.  The confusion is due in part to the fact that they must meet in a single point to produce the infallible Word of God, the Bible.  Revelation has to do with the presenting of  truth by God to man.  Inspiration is the process of  committing that revealed truth into language which man understands.  The two often occur together, but there are many cases of  their occurrence separately.  By revelation, Joseph was warned to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.  By inspiration, Matthew recorded that fact accurately (Matthew 2:13-15).  On the other hand, the human authors of  many of  the books of  the Bible recorded items they themselves saw, said, and/or experience.

              Revelation and Illumination:  These two aspects of  Biblical truth are often confused.  God has in the past revealed Himself and His truth.  This truth was in turn by inspiration recorded by various people.  We in turn are illuminated by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 John 2:27, for just a few passages) to understand the truth of  God. Revelation ceased with the completion of  the Bible.  Any one that claims a revelation from God today is either confusing revelation with illumination, they are liars, or they are deceived.

2) ITS NATURE

          The rational argument for revelation is based on the very nature of  God.  Having postulated a Supreme Being, God, either that God is able to reveal Himself or He isn't.  If  He is not able to reveal Himself, then, He is not really a supreme being.  Being able to reveal Himself leads to whether or not He wanted to reveal Himself.  If  He does not want to, then we can know absolutely nothing about Him except from our own finite, puny reasoning.  However, according to the Bible this Supreme Being, God, has revealed Himself.  There are seven aspects to this revelation.

          His revelation through Nature:  The Bible repeatedly affirms that God has revealed Himself through nature.  The key passage (but certainly not the sole one) is Psalm 19:1-4--"The heavens declare the glory of  God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of  the world."  This passage clearly states that nature shows forth God.  Notice also the emphasis on speech, language, words. God has made Himself known in nature, and all speech, every language, and words acknowledge His revelation.  Every tribe, no matter how primitive, acknowledge a Supreme Being.  Whether it is due to fear of  nature or otherwise, there is still that knowledge of  Him.  Romans 1:19-23 bears this out.  This writer is not dealing with God as Creator as such here, although it is certainly true enough that His creative work is in view.  As important as this revelation is, however, it is not enough to lead a person to a right relationship with Him.

          His revelation through Providence:  This aspect deals with the execution of  God's program in every age. Numerous passages in the Bible set forth this idea.  (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Daniel 2:31-45; Hosea 3:4, 5; Matthew 23:37-25:46; Acts 15:13-18; Romans 11:13-29; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; the entire book of  Revelation)  This providence of  God is limitless, and history is basically His Story.  His providence is seen in His knowing a sparrow falls, His providing for the various animals, His numbering of  the hairs of  our head.  Every time this writer combs hair, he loses a few.  He knows how many and it falls under His providence.

          His revelation through Preservation:  This aspect deals with God sustaining the universe.  In speaking of  the Lord Jesus Christ (though the concerns not with Christ's part in this at this time) one reads in Colossians 1:17, "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [hold together]."  Science does not REALLY know what holds the atom together.  This writer's understanding of  this verse is the Lord Himself holds it together.  Acts 17:28 also bears this out: "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being."  The title in the Old Testament, Almighty God conveys the idea preservation.

          His revelation through Miracles:  This aspect deals with God working apart from the laws of  nature.  Many who find fault with the Bible criticize it on this very point.  As Chafer well states, "Whatever may be relevant to the fullest understanding of  all that miracles disclose, it is certain that they serve to reveal God to man." (Systematic Theology, I:56). Miracles were one of  the chief means of  showing that Jesus Christ is God.

          His revelation through Direct Communication:  This aspect has to do with God speaking to man.  The Bible set forth the fact that God did so directly with audible voice, through visions, dreams, and what are called theophanies (which are visible manifestations--generally in human form--of  God).  In each of  these cases the message was authoritative. Related to this, but not identical to it, is God revealing Himself to those who are in prayer.  This is, of  course, not a visible revealing, but rather a very strong impression upon the heart and mind.  It is important, however, not to rely upon these impressions apart from a proper knowledge of  the Word of  God.  This writer has not cited any Scripture in this connection, but the Bible is abundantly clear.  Moses was doubtlessly the main one to whom God spoke directly.  Many times the Bible says, "Thus saith the Lord"; or "the Lord spoke to me saying."  However, that means of  communication has ended with the completion of  the written Word of  God.

          His revelation through Incarnation:  Though this is anticipating other great truths, this aspect shows that God has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.  John 1:14, 18 clearly show this revelation of Himself.  So does Hebrews 1:1, 2 which states, "God who at sundry times and in divers manners [different ways--which was discussed in the previous aspect] spake in time past unto the father by the prophets, Hath in these last day spoken unto us BY HIS SON [Caps for emphasis],  Whom He hath appointed heir of  all things, by Whom also He made the worlds."  Clearly the coming of  Jesus Christ into this world is an important revelation of  God.  This aspect will, of course, be discussed later in the appropriate places.

          His revelation through the Scriptures:  This aspect of  revelation is for us today, who have no other revelation, the most important.  Our main knowledge of  God is through the Scriptures.  Our knowledge of  His dealings with mankind is through the Scriptures.  This is the main reason why the Bible is so important.  The life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are facts of  history which have been set forth by others than the writers of  Scripture, but the Bible is our main source for these facts.  In any event the Bible is God's record of  truth (Cf. 1 John 5:9-12).

There are other minor aspects one could speak of such as it is varied in its themes,  and it is final.  In any event, the revelation of  God is primarily redemptive in its nature and purpose.

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