Extra-Biblical Revelation

[ResidentAlien]

Have you ever noticed that in virtually every case where a teacher or preacher of the gospel has gone completely out into left field it's because they supposedly received some new "revelation from the Lord?" Usually it's a twist on familiar scriptures that reveals something new that was previously "hidden."

When you listen to them describe how a new revelation has been acquired, the process follows a familiar pattern. It usually starts with some sort of conversation with God. For example, they're stumped by some passage of scripture; then they begin asking God questions and God replies with something that leads to more questions. Finally at the end there's an "Ah-ha!" moment when the new revelation is given or discovered.

These teachers almost seem to be in competition with one another to see who can come up with the latest (and most outrageous) revelation. In the process the true gospel gets thrown down and trampled on.

My question is this is there really any need for extra-Biblical revelation? If it's allowed, how are we supposed to know which "revelations" to believe? Don't we need one authoritative source?

 

[Dino246]

The questions at the end of your post need a bit of clarification.

Is there any need for extra-biblical revelation? Yes; that's why God talks to His kids. The Bible does not answer every question that a Christian could ask of God. We are to develop a relationship with Him, which includes Him speaking to us as well as vice-versa.

How are we supposed to know which revelations to believe? Those that are for you personally (or your immediate circle such as family, small group, business, etc.), don't contradict the Scriptures, and address a situation you are facing.

Don't we need one authoritative source? Yes; we have it. The Bible is the authoritative source.

If someone claims to have received a revelation about Scripture, test it carefully. It might be a revelation for that person, to address a specific situation, but it will rarely if ever be relevant for anyone else, and will never be "binding" on anyone else. If the 'recipient' treats it as binding, walk away.

 

[Nehemiah6]

My question is this is there really any need for extra-Biblical revelation?

Since we have a complete Bible and the spiritual gift of prophecy has ceased, we can conveniently ignore all these so-called revelations.

If it's allowed, how are we supposed to know which "revelations" to believe?

If they tickle your ears, they must be true.

Don't we need one authoritative source?

Absolutely: To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this
Word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa 8:20)

 

[Blik]

Since we have a complete Bible and the spiritual gift of prophecy has ceased, we can conveniently ignore all these so-called revelations.
If they tickle your ears, they must be true.

Absolutely: To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this
Word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa 8:20)

I think that it is absolutely necessary to accept extra material as we study the word. By this I mean we need to know history.

The book of Genesis was written by men who used the words as they understood them to record what God told them in spirit. As an example, salt is used in early scripture and salt meant something different to them than it means to us, we need to know what they thought of salt. God works with man and history records how that is.

We also need to know the history of the church. It has changed dramatically over these over 2,000 years since Christ. We need to know why it changed and if the change was the will of the Lord or the will of man in order to judge correctly the will of the Lord.

We should not study men in order to find the will of the Lord. We need to know how Luther changed the church, but we are to follow Christ not Luther. The same is true of Calvin, Wesley, and any other leader of the church.

Christ personally trained the twelve apostles and we are told he personally trained Paul for three years in Arabia. Those are the extras we may listen to, or ones they personally trained like Origen or Clement. These men led the church for 300 years, until Constantine decided to run the church with the rules of the world as Constantine ran Rome. Before that, people of the church stood firm against any ways of the world.

 

[Gideon300]

Have you ever noticed that in virtually every case where a teacher or preacher of the gospel has gone completely out into left field it's because they supposedly received some new "revelation from the Lord?" Usually it's a twist on familiar scriptures that reveals something new that was previously "hidden."

When you listen to them describe how a new revelation has been acquired, the process follows a familiar pattern. It usually starts with some sort of conversation with God. For example, they're stumped by some passage of scripture; then they begin asking God questions and God replies with something that leads to more questions. Finally at the end there's an "Ah-ha!" moment when the new revelation is given or discovered.

These teachers almost seem to be in competition with one another to see who can come up with the latest (and most outrageous) revelation. In the process the true gospel gets thrown down and trampled on.

My question is this is there really any need for extra-Biblical revelation? If it's allowed, how are we supposed to know which "revelations" to believe? Don't we need one authoritative source?

Yes there is, with a major qualifier. Such revelation will always be in line with God's word.

True revelation is helpful to gain understanding. One of the most helpful is to do with forgiveness. The word of God is crystal clear. Unforgiveness is never acceptable to God. Yet there are sometimes when it is humanly impossible to forgive from the heart. Saying the words, "I forgive you" is not enough.

A friend of mine, now with the Lord, had this problem. Before he was saved, his ex wife stole his money and caused the collapse of his business. He got saved but still was hostile. His church friends told him that he had to forgive. But how? So he went to the Lord and asked.

The answer he got was this: Ask Lord Jesus to forgive on your behalf. He saw it in the spirit like a courtroom. A lawyer represents the accused. You don't hire a lawyer and do the talking yourself. So Lord Jesus tells God that He is forgiving on our behalf. Lord Jesus represents us before God and God accepts the forgiveness as if it were us.

The next step is to ask Lord Jesus to work His forgiveness back into our own hearts. This really works. My ex wife abducted my children and I did not see them for 15 years. When I finally met up with them, I had not the slightest reaction towards her. This is entirely on account of what the Lord Jesus did for me, not my own ability.

When he told me this, I was most interested. I had a number of issues, including forgiving myself. I checked out what the Bible has to say. Two things stood out. First, Lord Jesus is always interceding for us. Second, we died and our lives are hidden in Christ with God. God does not see us in isolation. We are clothed in Christ and we are acceptable in the Beloved.

I've come across one other preacher who had the same revelation. It was Derek Prince. His explanation was not as detailed, but the basics were the same.

In conclusion, yes, revelation is a good thing. Paul prayed that all would receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation. However, all revelation must be matched to God's word. If it does not match, it is merely a mental imagination that must be rejected.

 

[Lanolin]

huh like what

what about the preacher who told my friend to cross out words in her Bible and replace it with other words that he thought were better. Er...

 

[Hone]

huh like what

what about the preacher who told my friend to cross out words in her Bible and replace it with other words that he thought were better. Er...

that my friend is not a preacher for GOD or the scripture's:

 

[Hone]

Have you ever noticed that in virtually every case where a teacher or preacher of the gospel has gone completely out into left field it's because they supposedly received some new "revelation from the Lord?" Usually it's a twist on familiar scriptures that reveals something new that was previously "hidden."

When you listen to them describe how a new revelation has been acquired, the process follows a familiar pattern. It usually starts with some sort of conversation with God. For example, they're stumped by some passage of scripture; then they begin asking God questions and God replies with something that leads to more questions. Finally at the end there's an "Ah-ha!" moment when the new revelation is given or discovered.

These teachers almost seem to be in competition with one another to see who can come up with the latest (and most outrageous) revelation. In the process the true gospel gets thrown down and trampled on.

My question is this is there really any need for extra-Biblical revelation? If it's allowed, how are we supposed to know which "revelations" to believe? Don't we need one authoritative source?

there are no more biblical revelation's, the Bible is complete, the only revelation's available to us are spiritual, they come to YOU, for YOU, to do as you will on your journey closer to GOD, who also happen's to be the one true & only authority for us christian's.

 

[ResidentAlien]

I guess the question I would always ask is: Does this new "revelation" have the ring of truth? Does the Spirit confirm to me that it is true? Is it contradicted by other scriptures? Who is making the claim? Do they teach false doctrine in other areas, or is their life characterized by bad fruit?

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

"Extra-Biblical" revelation is Always FALSE, because If it "matches" Scripture,
Then it is NOT "extra Biblical," Being SCRIPTURAL! Amen?

 

[John146]

My question is this is there really any need for extra-Biblical revelation? If it's allowed, how are we supposed to know which "revelations" to believe? Don't we need one authoritative source?

We have all we need in the word of truth, the Bible.

 

[John146]

there are no more biblical revelation's, the Bible is complete, the only revelation's available to us are spiritual, they come to YOU, for YOU, to do as you will on your journey closer to GOD, who also happen's to be the one true & only authority for us christian's.

There is no more revelation....but there is?

 

[John146]

Christ personally trained the twelve apostles and we are told he personally trained Paul for three years in Arabia.

Three years in Arabia? Actually, we are not told how long Paul was in Arabia (Mt. Sinai). I believe it was 40 days like Moses.

 

[Blik]

Three years in Arabia? Actually, we are not told how long Paul was in Arabia (Mt. Sinai). I believe it was 40 days like Moses.

I got this from Galatians telling about being trained by Christ. Gal. 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.

 

[John146]

I got this from Galatians telling about being trained by Christ. Gal. 1:18 Then gafter three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.

Paul went into Arabia for an unknown amount of time, then returned to Damascus. Then after three years in Damascus, he went to Jerusalem to see Peter.

Galatians 1
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I think that it is absolutely necessary to accept extra material as we study the word. By this I mean we need to know history.

The thread is not about "extra material" or information. It is about claims of direct revelations from God. Which would make the claimants into prophets. But when you examine their doctrines as a whole, they are frequently false. And even their prophecies are questionable.

 

[Hone]

There is no more revelation....but there is?

the Bible has a start and an end, in it are revealed ALL the prophecy's and the revelations of Christ, the only 2 prophecy's yet to be fulfilled is the revealing of the anti-christ to the world, and the coming of Christ. The Bible States no word shall be added or removed from it, and who could be worthy enough to receive further revelation's, if any ?

 

[John146]

the Bible has a start and an end, in it are revealed ALL the prophecy's and the revelations of Christ, the only 2 prophecy's yet to be fulfilled is the revealing of the anti-christ to the world, and the coming of Christ. The Bible States no word shall be added or removed from it, and who could be worthy enough to receive further revelation's, if any ?

Agreed, but you stated,

“the only revelation's available to us are spiritual, they come to YOU, for YOU, to do as you will on your journey closer to GOD,”

The only revelation is scripture, yes? As you read and study scripture, the Spirit will bring you into remembrance.

 

[DeanM]

There is revelation at times from scripture. Then there are the " God told me " people that I find suspect at best.

 

[DavidTree]

Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words,
lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar. Proverbs 30: 5-6

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice?
Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding? Isaiah 40

I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book
Rev 22