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SPECIAL TOPIC: WAYS OF REVELATION

Believers believe the Creator Redeemer God, the only God, has spoken to us. This belief is based on three related truths.

  1. God has revealed Himself in His acts (i.e., Revelation).
  2. He has chosen certain humans to record and explain these acts (i.e., Inspiration).
  3. His Spirit helps believers understand and apply these truths (i.e., Illumination).

These truths have been communicated in the Old Testament in several ways. The following are quoted from NIDOTTE.

  1. The NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 354, has an interesting summary of the ways YHWH reveals Himself in Genesis.
    1. by words (BDB 55) ‒ Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 21:12-13; 22:1-2
    2. by visions ‒ Gen. 15:1-6 (BDB 303); 46:2-4 (BDB 909 I)
    3. by dreams ‒ Gen. 20:3-7 (BDB 538); 28:12-15 (BDB 321); 31:10-13 (BDB 321), 24 (BDB 538)
    4. by theophanies (lit. “appeared,” BDB 906) ‒ Gen. 12:7; 17:1; 18:1; 26:2,24; 35:1,9; 48:3
    5. by the angel of YHWH ‒ Gen. 16:7-13; 21:17-19; 22:11-12,15-18; 31:11
  2. There is extensive literature, both in Egypt and Mesopotamia, concerning dreams and their interpretation. It is interesting that the two Hebrew persons involved interpreting dreams each worked for pagan kings.
    1. Daniel in Mesopotamia
    2. Joseph in Egypt
    The NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 154, makes an interesting comment about the three kinds of dreams.
    1. natural sleep, Ps. 126:1; Isa. 29:7-8; Eccl. 5:7
    2. false revelation, Jer. 23:25,27,32; 27:9-10; 29:8; Zech. 10:2
    3. true revelation, Gen. 20:3; 28:12; Num. 12:6; 1 Kgs. 3:5; Dan. 2:28; Matt. 1:20
    Visions can often occur at night, but seem to be different from dreams. The exact nature of the difference is not stated. YHWH communicates to a person’s subconscious using symbols and images with which they are familiar.

In the New Testament these same methods continue (selected examples).

  1. by words
    1. directly from the Father and Son (i.e., Matt. 2:12,22; Luke 3:22; Acts 9:4-5,10; 2 Cor. 12:9)
    2. by inspired apostolic writers/speakers (i.e., the New Testament)
  2. by visions/dreams
    1. the magi (i.e., Matt. 2:12)
    2. Joseph (i.e., Mat. 2:1,19)
    3. Peter (i.e., Acts 10:3,17,19)
    4. Paul in several ways
      (1) bright light and Jesus’ voice, Acts 9:3-4
      (2) a vision, Acts 9:10
      (3) a vision, Acts 16:9,10
      (4) a vision, Acts 18:9
      (5) a trance, Acts 22:17
      (6) an angel of God, Acts 27:23
    5. Ananias (i.e, Acts 9:10)
  3. by angels
    1. Mary (i.e., Luke 1:26-38)
    2. Joseph (i.e., Matt. 1:20)
    3. Zacharias (i.e., Luke 1:11-23)
    4. all Apostles (i.e., acts 5:19-20)
    5. Peter (i.e., Acts 10:3; 11:13; 12:7-10)
    6. Paul (i.e., Acts 27:23)
  4. by the Spirit
    1. Elizabeth (i.e., Luke 1:39-55)
    2. Zacharias (i.e., Luke 1:67-80)
    3. shepherds (i.e,. Luke 2:8-20)
    4. Peter (i.e., Acts 10:19-20; 11:0-12)
    The Bible is not the words of men but the words of God! He has chosen to reveal Himself to us!

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