· Bibliology ·

Lecture Eight:  The Concept of Revelation II – Special Revelation

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. The Means of Special Revelation

A. The Lot

Prov 16:33.  “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (cf. Acts 1:21-26)

B. The Urim and Thummim

Special breast plate 12 stones. Probably stones placed inside this ceremonial pouch.

Ex 28:30…ezra2:63

(Ex 28:30; Num 27:21; Deut 33:8; 1 Sam 28:6; Ezra 2:63)

C. Dreams

1. During the Old Testament Period

Gen 31:11-13.

2. At the Second Coming of Christ

Joel 2:28.  “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

3. Not Restricted to Believers

Gen 20:3, 6.

Gen 31:24. God spoke to laben not to mistreat jocab

Gen 40-41 God spoke to pharaoh in a dream

D. Visions

Isa 1:1.  “The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”

Isa 6:1.  “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.”

cf. Ezek 1:3.

E. Theophanies

Gen 16:7-14

Ex. 3:2

Cf. 2 Sam 24:16; Zech 1:12

F. Angels

Dan 9:20-21.  “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill – while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.”

Luke 2:10-11.  “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’”

Rev 1:1.  “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.  He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…”

G. The Prophets

2 Sam 23:2.  Last words of David:  “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” (Cf. Zech 1:1)

Eph 3:5.  “[The mystery of Christ was] not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit of God’s holy apostles and prophets.”

Preachers today are not properly prophets.

H. Events

Mic 6:5.  “My people, … remember [your journey] from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

Ezek 25:7.  “…I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations.  I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries.  I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord.”

I. Jesus Christ

The incarnation was the supreme revelation of God to us.

John 14:9.  “[Jesus said,] Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

John 3:2.  “[Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

John 1:14.  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Rom 5:8.  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

J. The Bible

1. The Nature of Biblical Revelation

a. The Bible is God’s Revelation to Humankind

It is the revelation itself…not just a record.

b. The Revelation in the Bible is Accurate

John 17:17.  “Your word is truth.”

c. The Revelation in the Bible is Progressive

From less specific events to more specific ones.

Heb 1:1-2.  “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

d. The Revelation in the Bible is Purposeful

2 Tim 3:15-17.  “…[T]he holy Scriptures … are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2. Two Approaches to Biblical Revelation

a. Fideism

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. It attests the validity that scripture is true. It’s a presupposition coming from the Holy Spirit.

b. Empiricism

Is it believable. Evidences to prove that the Bible is true…based on experiences.

II. The Necessity of Special Revelation

“The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 116)

A. The Bible is Necessary for the Beginning of the Christian Life

Rom 10:13-17.  “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’  But not all the Israelites accepted te good news.  For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

“The Bible is necessary for salvation, then, in this sense:  one must either read the gospel message in the Bible for oneself, or hear it from another person.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 117)

“[A]lthough … people can know that God exists and can know something of his laws apart from Scripture, it seems that there is no possibility of coming to saving faith apart from specific knowledge of God’s words of promise.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 118)

B. The Bible is Necessary for the Maintenance of the Christian Life

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written:  “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’”  (Matt 4:4; quotes Deut 8:3)

“[O]ur spiritual life is maintained by daily nourishment with the Word of God…  To neglect regular reading of God’s Word is as detrimental to the health of our souls as the neglect of physical food is detrimental to the health of our bodies.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 118)

“[Moses] said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, …  They are not just idle words for you – they are your life.  By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  (Deut 32:46-47)

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”  (1 Pet 2:2)

C. The Bible is Necessary for a Certain Knowledge of God’s Will

We have to know what He says to be able to do what His will is.