Revelation and its Challenge

The Father speaking

When God speaks, all should listen and be ready to obey.

Consider the ten words of Creation: "And God said...". These words are found in Genesis 1.3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26,29; 2.18. The comments in Psalm 33.6-9, relative to creation, are full of praise, meaning, and challenge. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

Consider also the ten words of the Commandments in Exodus 20: "And God spake all these words, saying...Thou shalt have no other gods before me". At the conclusion of the giving of the commandments, vv.22 and 23 record: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt you say unto the children of Israel. Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Thou shalt not make with me gods of silver…".

The Lord Jesus speaking

At the close of the Beatitudes, given on the mount, the Lord Jesus addressed the hearers with a challenging word: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings (words) of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…" (Mt 7.24-29).

Wise indeed is the one who fully endorses in heart, and demonstrates in life, the challenges of the Holy Scriptures.

Prudent indeed is the Christian who allows the Word of God to secure solid foundations for his/her faith and future.

James has this to say about this issue: "...receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (lives). But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was" (James 1.21-24).

The Holy Spirit speaking

"He that hath an ear (an ear to hear) let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Rev 3.22). This is the seventh occurrence of the exhortation. The sevenfold use of an identical statement underscores its significant importance. Had the hearers of the seven churches given heed to the words of the Holy Spirit, they would have enjoyed and experienced preservation and prosperity in local testimony.

It takes spiritual ears to hear and receive spiritual words. Only those who desire to do the Spirit’s will can enjoy the Spirit’s wealth.

The Holy Spirit is speaking expressly to the assemblies, and these final days of testimony demand complete adherence to His Word, and unquestioning obedience to His will.

Revelation and its Caution (Warning)

Just before the canon of Scripture is completed, the Lord Jesus sounds forth the final warning. Tampering with the Word of God, in any way, is divinely prohibited. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev 22.18-19).

Similar warnings are given in other parts of the Scriptures. God said in Deuteronomy 4.2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it".

Again, in Proverbs 30.5-6, we read, "Every word of God is pure...Add thou not unto his words".

This warning holds good to the present day. May this study confirm our confidence in the Bible as the complete canon of Divine Revelation.

Concluded.