"Unto Us God Revealed"
Revelation is the "Act of revealing; the disclosing to others of what was before unknown to them." Paul said, concerning the gospel of Christ, "We speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden." (I Cor. 2:7). The gospel was not a mystery in our present sense of "mysterious" "occult" or "spooky;" but it was God's military secret-His plan for overcoming the powers of Satan. Wicked people "made covenants" with the Satanic powers (Isa. 28:14-f) ; but God planned to lay in Zion "a precious cornerstone of sure foundation" and break this covenant. Because the "rulers of this world" did not know God's secret, they crucified the Lord of glory, (I Cor. 2:8) but in His resurrection Christ "led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Eph. 4:8.
Continuing with Eph. 4:11 we read, "And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." These were divinely inspired men unto whom God revealed the mystery, in order that they might make known, through the church, His wisdom. (Cf . Eph. 3:9f.) The "us" of our subject (I Cor. 2:10 refers to such men, who received God's truths through revelation. TODAY WE ARE CONVINCED OF TRUTH, THROUGH FAITH IN THE INSPIRED WORDS WHICH THESE MEN PENNED.
Paul declares, Eph. 3:2f; "If so be that ye have heard of the, dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward: how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men,, as it hath now been revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit." The apostles and prophets (of New Testament) received t r u t h through revelation, but others must READ WHAT THEY WROTE.
In, Ezek. 13 God issues a solemn warning to those who "prophesy out of their own heart is," "that say, 'Jehovah saith,' but Jehovah hath not sent them." Yet, the religious world today is filled with so-called prophets who lightly rattle, "God told me this-" and "God told me that--." Several months ago a divorced woman, who did not even claim a scriptural cause, became very angry when I refused to officiate at a second marriage. She said, "I asked God about this, and He said it was all right." Opening the Bible, I suggested, "Let me ask God, and see what he says." When I began to read from Matt. 19 and I Cor. 7, the woman was appalled. She could scarcely believe that anyone, even Matthew or Paul, would question what "God told her."
The apostle Peter, knowing that he must die, wrote "I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance." (2 Pet. 1:15). Again, 3:1f. "This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto. you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles." Luke announced (Lu. 1:3-4) that he would write "that thou might est know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed."
The written Word of God is our rule of faith and practice, and we demonstrate our respect for the authority of heaven by the way we accept and adhere to this TRUTH. The gospel of Christ, revealed unto chosen witnesses, confirmed by "signs following," is contained in the written Word. Let us not imagine a vain revelation, but let us study what was written for our instruction, "rightly dividing the word of truth."
Truth Magazine I:8, pp. 1, 3
May 1957