Divine Revelation

[glen smith]

In preparation for teaching a Bible study on divine revelation a new introduction was produced.
The intro takes the form of a questionnaire as a means to engage the Bible students into thinking about the subject.
It is posted here for your use if you wish to use it.

What have you determined about God and Divine Revelation?
Introduction to a Bible study on Divine Revelation

How the following questions are answered will demonstrate what you believe about divine revelation.

1. “Does deity reveal?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

2. If deity reveals, “How does deity reveal?”
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

3. If the determination is that deity does in fact reveal and there is a method or procedure for the revelation the next question should ask about the product of the revelation:
a. “Is the method or the manner in which the revelation is transmitted dependable? i.e. is the product reliable?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
If the answer is yes, then what are the products of divine revelation?
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
b. or “Is what is produced corrupted through the process of transmission?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

4. If the determination is that divine revelation has produced a reliable product the next question is to ask about the relative value of the revelation.
a. Is the revelation subordinate to human reason?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
b. Is the revelation only of relative value due to corruption or to being irrelevant to moderns?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
c. Is the revelation absolute?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

5. Depending upon how question #4 is answered one ought ask either or,
a. “Does divine revelation carry with it divine authority so as to demand compliance?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
b. or “May those receiving the revelation take it or leave it or pick and choose based upon their own reasons?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

6. Given that divine revelation has produced a reliable product requiring compliance to divine authority, it is then appropriate to ask,
“What does deity reveal?” i.e. “What is the content of the revelation?”
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

8 June 2017 old scribe

[Lou Newton]

In preparation for teaching a Bible study on divine revelation a new introduction was produced.
The intro takes the form of a questionnaire as a means to engage the Bible students into thinking about the subject.
It is posted here for your use if you wish to use it.

What have you determined about God and Divine Revelation?
Introduction to a Bible study on Divine Revelation

How the following questions are answered will demonstrate what you believe about divine revelation.

1. “Does deity reveal?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

2. If deity reveals, “How does deity reveal?”
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

3. If the determination is that deity does in fact reveal and there is a method or procedure for the revelation the next question should ask about the product of the revelation:
a. “Is the method or the manner in which the revelation is transmitted dependable? i.e. is the product reliable?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
If the answer is yes, then what are the products of divine revelation?
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
b. or “Is what is produced corrupted through the process of transmission?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

4. If the determination is that divine revelation has produced a reliable product the next question is to ask about the relative value of the revelation.
a. Is the revelation subordinate to human reason?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
b. Is the revelation only of relative value due to corruption or to being irrelevant to moderns?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
c. Is the revelation absolute?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

5. Depending upon how question #4 is answered one ought ask either or,
a. “Does divine revelation carry with it divine authority so as to demand compliance?
What is your belief? (YES or NO)
b. or “May those receiving the revelation take it or leave it or pick and choose based upon their own reasons?”
What is your belief? (YES or NO)

6. Given that divine revelation has produced a reliable product requiring compliance to divine authority, it is then appropriate to ask,
“What does deity reveal?” i.e. “What is the content of the revelation?”
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

8 June 2017 old scribe

1 - God reveals himself to the whole universe if anyone has eyes to see. He has been revealing Himself since the creation, for the creation reveals the glory of God.

2 -however God desires to reveal Himself. He is the sovereign and we are the servants.

3 -a - refer to 2 b -if there is any corruption it is the fault of the man not God. If the man is surrendered and trusts in God instead of his ability to hear, then the Lord is able to make a man understand. Not only is the Lord able to make a man understand, He is able to cause the man to KNOW that he is hearing from God without one shred of doubt. This is not the way God always speaks to a man, but He is able when He desires.

4 -revelation from God is absolute truth and never wrong. The problem with many men is that they do not wholly trust in God and instead are trusting in their ability to hear. This results in much deception.

Although the revelation from God is absolute truth, that does not mean the one spoken too will understand that truth. But if he seeks God, the Lord will probably lead him to understand over time. This is also a cause of much deception. Nebuchadnezzar definitely heard from God through Daniel, but Nebu did not understand and built the gold statue himself and tried to force all to worship it because he was convinced that the dream was from God. But he did not think about his understanding of it being wrong. The key is to make sure one is following God and not trying to lead. Also one has to test every spirit and if it is from God the message will agree that God became a man and shed His blood for us. If the message does not declare this is some way, it is not from God.

5 - this should be easy for anyone to see by simply reading the scriptures. God spoke to Moses and some did not obey and the earth opened up and swallowed them up. One does not need to obey the words of a false prophet. But if God sends a true prophet then they ones spoken to have responsibility to seek God and obey. The whole of scripture supports this truth.

6 - whatever the Lord desires to reveal.