By Pastor Dave Farmer
Summary
General Revelation broadcast's the fact of God's Presence in the world around us. Now the message from God is more specific. God now tells us His purpose for creating the Universe, and His plan to redeem us and make us His children so that we might spend eternity with Him.
We come to a new aspect in the study of Revelation. General Revelation emphasizes the WORKS of God. Now we turn to Special Revelation which emphasizes the WORDS of God.
Definition of Special Revelation
Special Revelation is the activity of God whereby He gives us truth about Himself, His plan and purpose, primarily through His WORDS.
Demand for Special Revelation
It is critical to understand the need for Special Revelation. Let me illustrate why we need God to speak. The greatest moment in human history occurred when Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross. On the hillside of Golgotha, a hill outside the city limits of Jerusalem, a very large group assembled. These spectators all watched our Lord being brought to the crest of the hill, there nailed to a wooden cross and hung. Although everyone is watching the same event, we find a variety of explanations about what was happening.
A Victim of Injustice
Some looked at the cross and said, "What a tragedy! An innocent man being put to death for crimes He did not commit." Two convicted criminals were crucified with Christ that day. One of the men was making fun of our Lord, and the other reprimanded him saying:
" . . . Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done NOTHING WRONG." (Luke 23:40, 41)
This man expressed what many have said about Christ's death, "He was a victim of the jealousy and hatred of the religious leaders." This was the view held by Pontius Pilate. He said Christ was innocent:
And they [religious leaders of Israel] accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "{It is as} you say."And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I FIND NO GUILT IN THIS MAN." (Luke 23:2-4)
A madman
Some viewed our Lord as a deluded fanatic! They believed that He got what He deserved. It was the result of His insanity. They thought He was mad because He believes He is the Son of God.
In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking [Him], and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself, if He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him. He trusts in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him; for He said, "I am the Son Of God." (Matthew 27:41-43).
Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?" (John 10:20)
A false prophet
Still, others remembered the prophecies of Jesus. They thought He was a false prophet and they mocked Him.
[39] And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads
[40] and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:39-40)
The Son of God
The Roman centurion who carried out the sentence of crucifying our Lord Jesus Christ was convinced that day by what he heard and saw that Christ was the Son of God:
When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39)
Now we have a variety of interpretations for this one act. Which view is correct? They can't all be right. They could all be wrong, but they all can't be right. So until God speaks, we have no certainty as to which interpretation is true. It is absolutely essential to have the WORK of Christ on the cross to be followed by the WORD of God about the cross. It took the interpretation of heaven to give us the truth about the crucifixion.
Let me illustrate this in another way. It is a Sunday afternoon, and you and the family go for a drive. As you are passing your neighbor's house, you see him standing out front jumping up and down. This is a ridiculous scene, but someone in the car says, "He must have been stung by a bee." Another responds, "No, I think he is jumping for joy." Again, another replies, "No, his wife threw him out, and he is jumping mad." Now the point I am making is that until you walk up to that jumping man and he opens his heart to you and communicates why he is jumping, you don't have the foggiest idea.
God's WORD defines God's WORK. Historically we know that Christ died on a cross. But it is not until God speaks that we know that Jesus was dying for the sins of the world. It took the Word of God to explain that on the cross our Lord Jesus Christ was providing our so great salvation.
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us [as a substitute for us]. (Romans 5:8)
Differences Between General and Special Revelation
Special Revelation is for all people, but it was not given to all people. Remember General Revelation reaches everyone, everywhere. It is universal. However, Special Revelation is the transference of the truth of God to certain men. For instance, God said to Abraham, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; (Genesis 12:1)". There were thousands of people living in the city of Ur and General Revelation reached them all, but when God spoke, He specifically addressed Abraham and only Abraham heard His voice.
In the next article, we will explore the various means God uses to communicate His Word to us and His motive for giving His Word to us.