Category: Bible Teaching

Progressive Revelation^[1]

Revelation of Truth is progressive and is best explained by this passage:

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28).

Notice Albert Barnes’ note on the progression of maturity in Mark 4:28^[2]:

1.    For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself – That is, it is done without the power of man. It is done while man is engaged in other things. God gives it its power.

2.    First the blade – The green, tender shoot, that first starts out of the earth before the stalk is formed.

3.    Then the ear – The original means the stalk or spire of wheat or barley, as well as the ear.

4.    The full corn in the ear – The ripe wheat. The grain swollen to its proper size. By this is denoted, undoubtedly, that grace or religion in the heart is of gradual growth.

a.    It is at first tender, feeble, perhaps almost imperceptible, like the first shootings of the grain in the earth. Perhaps also,

b.    Like grain, it often lies long in the earth before there are signs of life.

c.    Like the tender grain, also, it needs care, kindness, and culture. A frost, a cold storm, or a burning sun alike injure it.

d.    So tender piety in the heart needs care, kindness, culture. It needs shelter from the frosts and storms of a cold, unfeeling world. It needs the genial dews and mild suns of heaven;

e.    In other words, it needs instruction, prayer, and friendly counsel from parents, teachers, ministers, and experienced Christians, that it may grow, and bring forth the full fruits of holiness.

f.      Like the grain, also, in due time it will grow strong; it will produce its appropriate fruit – a full and rich harvest – to the praise of God.

Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

It would appear at first glance that these two verses oppose each other, but when we take into account the progressive nature of revelation we see a parallel between plant growth and the spread of fire.

2018 California Wildfires:^[3]

The 2018 wildfire season was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season on record in California, with a total of 8,527 fires burning an area of 1,893,913 acres (766,439 ha), the largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season….as of December 21. The fires have caused more than $3.5 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $1.792 billion in fire suppression costs. Through the end of August 2018, Cal Fire alone spent $432 million on operations. The Mendocino Complex Fire burned more than 459,000 acres (186,000 ha), becoming the largest complex fire in the state’s history, with the complex’s Ranch Fire surpassing the Thomas Fire and the Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889 to become California’s single-largest recorded wildfire.

…On August 4, 2018, a national disaster was declared in Northern California, due to the extensive wildfires burning there.

In November 2018, strong winds aggravated conditions in another round of large, destructive fires that occurred across the state. This new batch of wildfires includes the Woolsey Fire and the Camp Fire, the latter of which killed at least 86 people with 3 still unaccounted for as of 4 December 2018. It destroyed more than 18,000 structures, becoming both California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record.

…Humans have been recorded as the main cause of wildfires in California. Various causes, both intentional and accidental, such as arson, unattended campfires, fireworks, cigarettes, cars, and power lines have contributed to this increase in the number of fires.

A direct contributor to the 2018 California wildfires was an increase in dead tree fuel. By December 2017, there was a record 129 million dead trees in California.

Wildfire defined: “A wildfire or wildland fire is a fire in an area of combustible vegetation occurring in rural areas.”^[4]

Wildfire types can be generally characterized by their fuels as follows:

1.    Ground fires are fed by subterranean roots, duff and other buried organic matter. This fuel type is especially susceptible to ignition due to spotting. Ground fires typically burn by smoldering, and can burn slowly for days to months.

2.    Crawling or surface fires are fueled by low-lying vegetation on the forest floor such as leaf and timber litter, debris, grass, and low-lying shrubbery. This kind of fire often burns at a relatively lower temperature than crown fires (less than 400 °C (752 °F)) and may spread at slow rate, though steep slopes and wind can accelerate the rate of spread.

3.    Ladder fires consume material between low-level vegetation and tree canopies, such as small trees, downed logs, and vines. Kudzu, Old World climbing fern, and other invasive plants that scale trees may also encourage ladder fires.

4.    Crown, canopy, or aerial fires burn suspended material at the canopy level, such as tall trees, vines, and mosses. The ignition of a crown fire, termed crowning, is dependent on the density of the suspended material, canopy height, canopy continuity, sufficient surface and ladder fires, vegetation moisture content, and weather conditions during the blaze. Stand-replacing fires lit by humans can spread into the Amazon rain forest, damaging ecosystems not particularly suited for heat or arid conditions.^[5]

A true revelation is an unveiling of existing truth of which the individual was previously unaware.  Others may already know that truth, but the revelation is a personal opening of biblical truth.

Romans 16:25-26, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”

This concerns the revelation of the Church, which was spoken of in the Old Testament but not revealed in its entirety until the birth of the Church in Acts 2. Now, today, we read the Old Testament and see parallels, types and shadows which reveal the Church. These truths were always present in the Word of God, but not understood, unveiled, and revealed until the Church’s nativity.

According to David P. Johnson and Jared S. Runck, “progressive revelation indicates that divine revelation unfolds across the story of Scripture with ever-increasing detail and dimension; later revelation always and only adds to prior revelation and never detracts or overturns it.”^[6]

Galatians 1:10-24 speaks of Paul’s travel through the Word of God and how Christ revealed the message of the Gospel to Him.  Then he met certain Apostles and found that the same revelation he had received from the Lord was the same Gospel they received and preached:

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me” (Galatians 1:10-24).

A true unveiling of revelatory truth will be “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” (see Isaiah 28:10). In other words, progressive revelation builds upon what you already know.

Sometimes God gives clear, sudden and supernatural insight, which Paul identified as either the gift of the Word of Knowledge, or the gift of the Word of Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8).

Things to remember:

Scripture interprets Scripture.

1.    Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established:

a.    Deuteronomy 17:6, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.”

b.    Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

c.    Matthew 18:16, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

d.    2 Corinthians 13:1, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

e.    1 Timothy 5:19, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”

2.    Your revelation will never contradict biblical truth – the old illustration of a man who said God told him to divorce one woman to marry another – this contradicts all biblical precedent.  Only one reason in the New Testament for divorce (adultery, fornication).

3.    If it’s “too good to be true” it probably is.

Deut. 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

1 Sam. 3:7-21, “(7) Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him….(21) And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” 

This implies that the revelation of God’s Word is a matter of maturity.  As we grow in the wisdom and stature of God’s Word we will receive (be entrusted with) more truth.

Truth is multilayered like an onion.

When we realize that God is revealing truth to us we are humbled and need to realize that while others may not know the truth – yet – we are responsible for the manner in which we share it.

With regard to Spiritual gifts, some people think that they are more Spiritual than others because of their gifting, but this is not true. Truly spiritual people are into the ministry of:

·       Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, “(18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

·       Restoration – Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

The more of the Word of God you read and hide in your heart (by memorization and meditation) the greater opportunity you give God to reveal deeper truth to you.  As God reveals more truth you will hunger more and more for His continual revelation: “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. 42:7).

“…The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).  A balance of God’s Word and living in the power of the Holy Ghost will reveal Spiritual truth as well.  Simply put, there are some things people never see in the Bible because they are not Spirit led (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Amos 3:7-8, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”

When God speaks or reveals truth to His servant they can’t help but be filled with a desire to speak it, regardless of the positive or negative consequences.

Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

Fire spreads and as long as there is fuel it will grow. Our hungry heart searching for more of Jesus Christ is the fuel that ignites the fire of progressive revelation, and when our hearts can no longer contain the fire the compulsion, a drive, to share the flame of the progressive revelation of truth that our Lord has revealed to us.

^[1] Notes from an email to Dave Martin regarding progressive revelation dated 9/11/2006.

^[2] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Mark 4:28.

^[3] 2018 California Wildfires. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_California_wildfires. Accessed: 2/26/19.

^[4]  Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Third ed.). Cambridge University Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0-521-85804-5. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009.

^[5] Wildfire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire#Spread. Accessed: 2/26/19.

^[6] David P. Johnson & Jared S. Runck. (2017). Handbook of the Prophets, p. 8-9.