The Bible: Special Revelation

There are two types of Revelation:

General Revelation - The way that God reveals Himself to mankind indirectly often in a broad sense.

God is clearly seen through His creative work.

Psalm 19:1–4 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

Creation is enough to see that there is a creative God. He has painted a beautiful tapestry to think anything else is a cruel tragedy. Just think of all those who think that this old world just arrived here after millions of years. How sad!

General Revelation alone leaves mankind without excuse for their sin.

Romans 1:19–20 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Romans 1 is interesting. It quickly shoots down any thought that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. It also states that just by looking out at creation you are without excuse on judgement day. It doesn’t have to be homosexuality even though it is important that we know that homosexuality is a sin and not acceptable to God any sin could fit including murder hatred lust or taking God’s name in vain.

General revelation shows us how powerful God is.

Psalm 8:3–4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Do you know what 6.67 x 10*-11 power is Gravity

6.022 x 10*23 Avogadros number the amount of atoms in a mole of a substance. That is a lot. I don’t know who counted all of those. Well lets just put it this way they measuresd atomic weight of charged particles guys like JJ Thompson (electron) and Rutherford (proton) Chadwick Nucleus and comparted those to comparative weights of substance and wow there are a lot of atoms.

If you counted every atom at the rate of one a second it would take billions of years to count the atoms in a grain of sand.

3.0 x 10 * 8 meters per second is the speed of light. It takes 8 minutes for light to get to the earth.

When I consider just some of these things or the fact that mass energy is directly related to the speed of light e = mc squared.

Every single one of those things.

The fact that Jupiter has four large moons that you can easily see with a telescope or a solar ecclipse or

the fact that a scientist can use transient spectroscopy to find distant planets on other stars.

I just realize how great God is and how small I am.

God always has a witness.

Acts 14:16–17 “who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.””

Where is the gospel illegal?

North Korea. O Boy you better believe that you can’t have a copy of the Bible in Korea, but God gets copies of the Bible there.

Launching Balloons into North Korea. BUT

The Sentinelese in India - Most isolated tribe on earth 200 people and India enforces that you aren’t going there. Some people have tried and didn’t come back if you know what I mean. But General Revelation reaches them. They are without excuse

Brazil and Peru have about 200 uncontacted people. But God has witness

Jim Elliot and Nate Saint - Beyond the Gates of Splendor

The Korowai people of the jungles of Papau New Ginea live in treehouses.

God is close to every soul on earth through General Revelation.

Acts 17:26–27 “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”

I believe that God has a mission for every believer.

I just think about today how there is this large problem with immagrants in the USA. People have all kinds of opinions on them. They are here destroying are country, They are illegal and should be deported immediately. Let them stay! I like it when they bus a group of immigrants to Nancy Pelosi’s house and say here you go. Well how do you look at things. Politically I think that immigrants should be legalized or deported. But I am not just political more importantly I am spiritual. I believe that we have an opportunity to share the gospel to the immigrant. What did Jesus say about the least of these.

Whatever you have done to the least of these you have done it unto me.

God put on my heart to be the pastor of a church to reach out to the people of Port Crane I do that and it isn’t easy but God has me here.

God may have you ministering to the coworkers of the Raymond Corporation and if God puts it on your heart to go to Papau New Ginea you better do that.

Special Revelation - God using direct means to speak to humanity.

The primary source of Special Revelation - The Bible

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is the most important form of Special Revelation but it isn’t the only form.

Why other forms of Special Revelation?

The Bible wasn’t always complete. So God had to communicate to mankind in various ways.

The Lot

Acts 1:21–26 ““Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Casting lots was some times used to communicate God’s message. Do not do that today. But in the days before the completed word of God the method was rarely used to get God’s message. It has been used often to try and get demonic messages so don’t do this.

God controls every role of the dice.

Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.”

LISTEN CLOSELY! This is true, but that does not mean that God will communicate with you that way. He is not a meddler in cheap parlour tricks.

So the next time you are out their playing dice in the back alley with your children’s lunch money don’t say God please if you love me let this role my way. God controls those dice, you just probably won’t like what he does with them.

The Urim and the Thummim - two precious stones placed in the pouch of the high priests breastplate.

Exodus 28:30 “And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.”

The Urim was not a magical trinket.

1 Samuel 28:6 “And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.”

If you weren’t right with the LORD don’t consult the Urim

The Urim and Thummim gave spiritual guidance.

Ezra 2:63 “And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.”

We have something better than the Urim -

The Holy Spirit

How is the Holy Spirit better than the Urim and Thummim?

Dreams - a passive message from God while asleep

Genesis 20:3–6 “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.”

God had a message for someone He would speak to Him through a dream

Genesis 31:11–13 “Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ””

Dreams were God’s form of email.

I urge caution concerning dreams.

Dreams will not contradict God’s word.

Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

God speaks through dreams.

Daniel 2:28 “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:”

I have never had a dream or vision of the future, but I have been convicted and challenged to get on my knees from a dream. I have done things in my life after praying after having a dream. I do not God has DIRECTLY Communicated to me through a dream, but I believe that He has used dreams to get my attention. So when it comes to dreams proceed with caution

If God tells you in a dream to steal your neighbors car or wife. That message isn’t from God, rebuke the devil in Jesus name run, pray, and maybe move.

God spoke to prophets through dreams.

Numbers 12:6 “Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.”

God spoke to prophets through dreams.

I wish God could have spoken to me through dreams but I have something better. The complete word of God.

Why is the Bible better than a dream? Perminant

Why is the Holy Spirit better than a dream? You go to Him, you don’t have to wait for Him to come to you. Direct Access

Who did God speak to through a dream (not a vision) in the Bible

Abimelech

Jacob

Laban Genesis 31.24

Joseph Genesis 37.5-10

Cupbearer and Baker of Pharaoh Genesis 40

Pharaoh Genesis 41

Solomon 1 Kings 3.5-15

Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 2 and Daniel 4

Daniel Daniel 7

Joseph Matthew 1 and 2

The Magi Matthew 2

You may seem like there are more people in the Bible who have had dreams than the list above. I believe that the list contains every person who had a dream . But you think there are other people in the Bible who have had dreams. I warn you that they may not be having dreams but Visions.

What do you think is the difference between a dream and a vision?

Please turn in your Bible to Genesis 15 I want to look the premium vision of the Bible

Vision - an active message from God while in an altered state of consciousness.

Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.””

Genesis 15:5 “Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.””

Did Abraham get “saved” during a vision?

Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Abraham was very active during this vision.

Genesis 15:8–11 “And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.”

I must be honest with you. It is difficult from this text to determine what is vision and what isn’t. But I can tell you that much of this is vision. It is a very ominous part of scripture. Very almost mystical! I believe that it is true.

Abraham’s deep sleep led to a terrifying vision.

Genesis 15:12–14 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

The horror was when he learned about Egypt and the 400 years of slavery and the Exodus event.

Abraham’s vision of the blood covenant.

Genesis 15:17–18 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—

We do not need this vision because Jesus has died on the cross for us. Making the need for this type of vision obsolete.

God often spoke to prophets in visions.

Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

The Vision of heaven must have been amazing.

List besides Abraham and Isaiah

Jacob Genesis 46

God told him to go to Egypt to find Joseph

Balaam Numbers 24

God even gave visions to pagans when necessary

(Note the Donkey talking wasn’t the vision)

Samuel 1 Samuel 3

I think we all remember this story of the young priest hearing Samuel Samuel

Nathan the prophet 2 Samuel 7

Ezekiel had one of the most famous visions.

Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

God’s chariot of fire.

Ezekiel 1:4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

God’s heavenly vehicle (not an alien mothership) - we laugh but that may be more popular of an interpretation than what I am presenting.

The Living Creatures that Ezekiel saw.

Ezekiel 1:5–9 “Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.”

These are angels not aliens!!!!

They looked like a man

4 faces 4 wings

Calvs feet

The went straight forward

The faces of the living creatures were unique and had purpose.

Ezekiel 1:10–12 “As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.”

Man - Luke - Jesus is the perfect man

Lion - Matthew - Jesus is the lion of Judah

Ox - Mark - Jesus is the humble servant

Eagle - John - Jesus is the Son of God

Ezekiel saw the wheel in the middle of the wheel.

Ezekiel 1:15–20 “Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.”

Let me stress these are not aliens, these are angels that worship around God’s throne

They are the ministers of fire the Seraphim - The burning ones I believe but they could be a different class of angel

Like the Cherub who is more like the security team of God’s holiness. Not protecting it from you but protecting you from it.

Daniel had a lot of visions. Daniel 7-12

Obadiah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zechariah

Micaiah the son of Imiah

1 Kings 22:19 “Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.”

Amos

Jeremiah

Elisha’s servant

2 Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Job

Job 4:13 “In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,”

Did he get visions of the stars and behemoth and leviathan?

Zechariah Father of John the Baptist

Luke 1:22 “But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.”

Where did he get that vision?

Ananias

Acts 9:10 “Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.””

Paul (many visions)

Acts 16:9 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.””

Cornelius

Acts 10:3 “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!””

Peter

Acts 11:5 ““I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.”

He was in a trance when he saw a vision. Bible says it I believe it

The women at the tomb

Luke 24:23 “When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.”

This is different because it is a mass vision more than just to one person. Which is signigicant. More than one witness to the vision. Of course this is Jesus resurrection.

John

The entire book of revelation is vision.

Revelation 1:1–2 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

God does not use dreams and visions today like he used to.

1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”

I believe that some of the Old ways of special revelation today are not used like they were when the Bible was being published.

That being said. God may use a dream to get through to your thick head

God is in control of everything even dreams.

Genesis 40:8 “And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.””

A dream will never contradict God. I also believe that dreams are a sign gift when they tell the future and I believe that God has put the sign gifts on pause when it comes to special revelation about the future.

In other words God can use a dream to get your attention. Sure

Lottery numbers? No

Things that contradict God’s words? Absolutely Not

To tell the future or some new truth? Doubt it

All that to say.....

God will speak to people in dreams again.

Joel 2:28 ““And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”

I believe that this is speaking specifically of Daniel 70th week

God used Theophanies as special revelation

Theophany - Appearance of The Angel of LORD

I believe that the angel of the LORD is Jesus Christ before the incarnation.

Joshua 5:13–15 “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

See those take your sandals off your feet. That only applies to God.

Normal angels don’t ask you take the sandals off your feet.

Revelation 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.””

Who was the first person in the Bible to experience a theophany?

Hagar

Genesis 16:7–13 “Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?””

Abraham had an important theophany.

Genesis 22:11–18 “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.””

This was a direct foreshadowing of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Jacob wrestled a theophany.

Genesis 32:24–30 “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.””

Moses and the Burning bush.

Exodus 3:2–6 “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Once again take off your shoes

Israel in the wilderness had a unique theophany.

Exodus 14:19 “And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.”

Balaam is quite the character.

Numbers 22:22–35 “Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.” Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”

Gideon

Judges 6:11–12 “Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!””

Manoah and his wife

Judges 13:3–4 “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean.”

This is about the birth of Samson

David

2 Samuel 24:16–17 “And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.””

Angel of the LORD comes as messenger of judgment and David pleads for mercy

Elijah

1 Kings 19:5–7 “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.””

The personal Theophany to help Elijah

Possibly the Theophany of the fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:23–25 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.””

I think this should be a theophany even though it isn’t concrete. The phrase the angel of the LORD isn’t found their

Special Revelation is brought by ordinary angels.

Daniel 9:20–21 “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.”

The word angel literally means messenger.

Mary got her message from an angel too.

Luke 2:10–11 “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Angels brough messages of judgment.

Genesis 19:1–2 “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.””

I believe the angel of the LORD stayed back with Abraham

The most famous angel announcement:

Luke 2:9–15 “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.””

Angel of the LORD events go quite in the New Testament probably because Jesus was the angel of the LORD and He was here on earth

The Resurrection was announced by angels.

Matthew 28:2–7 “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.””

Angels freed the apostles from prison.

Acts 5:19–20 “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.””

An angel of the LORD, not the angel of the LORD

Angels even send messages to birds.

Revelation 19:17 “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,”

Animals can receive special revelation. A Donkey, a whale, birds even

Special Revelation came from prophets.

2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

Priest - From People to priest to God

Prophet - From God to prophet to people

Prophet was not necessarily a foreteller but a forthteller

I believe that today’s prophet isn’t given special revelation in the same way as Biblical prophets.

They are taking the established word of God and speaking it forth with the power of God. It’s power is from the Holy Spirit and from the Word of God. Which is better than what happened with the prophets.

God used Events as special Revelation

Micah 6:5 “O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.””

Sometimes the things that happened were God directly trying to get ahold of people.

God sent judgment to get his message across.

Ezekiel 25:7 “indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.””

Is the rainbow General or Special Revelation?

Genesis 9:13 “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”

Is a flood Special or General revelation?

Is losing a war or a nation crumbling Special or General Revelation? Or is it just a part of God’s Sovereign will? Or is it just the consequences of our actions?

I don’t know. Other than yes it is an act of God’s sovereign will

On March 31st there was a 1.5 Coronal mass Ejection. (A solar flare)

It was a big boom on the sun. 8 minutes later the shock wave hit the earth. Boom with some force behind it.

You didn’t feel it but the tectonic plates did. There was almost instantly a 7.6 earthquake in Tonga. Over by Australia followed. It was like a mouse trap that had been sprung. When it did it opened a big vent in a volcano seated right above it. Which will effect our weather in New York for a year.

That started a wild week of tectonic activity.

Those things were natural cause and effect. But God is sovereign over all of it. I believe it.

But God can use the same event to punish some and show his mercy to others.

I don’t get too excited when someone says this string of thunderstorms is God’s judgment on America. But I pay attention to see if God is trying to get my attention.

God speaks His grace through celestial events.

Matthew 5:45 “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The ultimate form of Special revelation is Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the safe way to see the Father.

John 14:9 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

We see God’s power through Jesus.

John 3:2 “This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.””

The Love of God is shown by Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Bible is the primary source of learning about Jesus

John 21:25 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

The Bible is the best source of special revelation and Jesus is it’s number one content.

John 20:31 “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

The Bible is the only source of truth.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

That doesn’t mean that other things aren’t true.

No just that the Bible is the standard by which all truth is measured.

The standard Kilogram is the measure by which all else are compared. The thing is you can’t touch that one it is on display in France some place, but the word of God is right here. You can trust it. Now when we talk about the inerrancy of scripture that means in its original form.

But I believe that you can trust this one in front of you. God will protect his word. You can count on that.

Will some try to pollute it. YES!!! They will be held accountable. But I believe that preserves his word.

Some like to the that the King James continues the innerancy of the original text. I would object and tell you don’t go down that rabbit trail, it is dangerous.

The truth is the gospel.

John 8:28–36 “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”