In this issue of The Christian we are looking at the subject of progressive revelation and how God has gradually given more light to man in His ways with him. However, it is important to realize what progressive revelation is not. Over the centuries of man’s existence in this world, and particularly during the Christian dispensation, both men and women have attempted to add to divine revelation in a wrong way. Some of this has been undertaken under the umbrella of the profession of Christianity, while others have done so under the guise of false religions. Much harm has been done when people have accepted these false writings as if they were inspired, and, to use a scriptural phrase, “many [have followed] their pernicious ways” (2 Peter 2:22And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:2)).
The apocrypha books were written between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D., and later a number of so-called “other gospels” were also written, such as the gospel of Philip, the gospel of Thomas, the gospel of Peter, and several others. Most of these were eventually rejected as not being part of the canon of Scripture. Then, during the seventh century A.D. the Koran was written by Muhammad, again purporting to have divine authority, to the point of founding a new religion — Islam.
More recently, during the nineteenth century, a number of people claimed to have had a vision from the Lord and were supposedly led to write things that were alleged to be “on par” with the inspired Word of God. Notable among these are the writings of Ellen White, who founded Seventh Day Adventism, and the writings of Joseph Smith, who founded Mormonism. Throughout its history, the Roman Catholic Church has claimed the right to add to the Word of God. One blasphemous example is their claim that the virgin Mary ascended to heaven, body and soul, at the time of her death. This was called her “assumption” and was adopted into Roman Catholic belief in 1950 by the late Pope Pius XII.
Paul Completed the Word
In assessing the claims of these authors and what they have written, we must remember several things. First of all, we read in Colossians 1:23: “I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill [or complete] the word of God.” Paul is speaking here of himself and the revelation God gave him of the truth of the assembly. All is displayed in the revelation of this truth; Paul completed the Word of God. Yes, details were added by what was written later by John, but no new truth was brought out. Anything since Paul that claims to be new truth cannot be inspired.
Second, new revelations that are given of God never repudiate or teach something contrary to what was given before. Rather, the new revelations build on what was given before and expand on them. For example, the Koran claims to be a new revelation, yet it rejects the deity of Christ and, in many cases, teaches the opposite of what He said.
In summary, we can trust what the Word of God says, for it “hangs together” in a way that no human book ever could. There are hints of New Testament truth in the Old Testament, without the actual revelation of that truth, and the New Testament writers constantly refer to the Old Testament. All is in perfect unity while also being progressive. For this reason, a solemn warning is given at the end of the book of Revelation, regarding those who might add to or take away from the inspired Word. “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:8989LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)).
W. J. Prost