What About Latter-Day Revelation from God?

by Clem Thurman
via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 47, Nov. 21, 2008.

QUESTION:

Is the Bible the complete and final revelation from God or is He continuing to give revelation through certain chosen people or organizations, such as the Mormon Church, The Catholic Pope ex-cathedra, Mohammad via the Koran, The New World Translation, Ellen G. White, etc.?

ANSWER:

Nearly all of the denominations that have sprung up since 1800 have as a basis "latter-day revelation." That is, some religious leader (nearly always self-appointed) claimed to have direct communication from God in which is revealed a new system of religion. But the Bible says, "God is not a God of confusion, but of peace" (I Corinthians 14:33). We know, therefore, that all of these cannot be from God, for they contradict one another in many different ways. God has always wanted His people to "be of the same mind and of the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10), and He exhorts us, "Let there be no divisions among you."

But we don't have to concern ourselves over which one of these "latter-day revelations" is right because the Bible clearly shows them all to be false. All of God's Will for man is given to us in the Bible, and we are forbidden to have any other guide. "Every Scripture is inspired of God and is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (II Timothy 3:16,17).

I had a couple of young men come to my door a few years ago with much the same message, new revelation, as is being discussed in this question. They claimed that God had revealed many new teachings that were not in the New Testament, that this was "another testament of Jesus Christ." As we discussed this and compared it with the Bible, I asked them if this "new teaching" had been preached by Paul and the other apostles. They replied, "No." I then read with them the Scripture:

"I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from Him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye have received, let him be anathema" (Galatians 1:6-9).

They nearly knocked the door off its hinges getting out of my house, and I haven't seen them since! And so it is with all of these "latter-day revelators."

When the apostle John completed the Book of Revelation in about A.D. 96, all of God's Will had been revealed and recorded. When some were not content to abide by the Scriptures, the apostle Paul wrote: "That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written" (I Corinthians 4:6). If it had not been written in the days of the apostles, it is counterfeit! Again, note these Scriptures:

"Seeing that His divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us by His own glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).

"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." (II John 9-11).

"I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which 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 from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18,19)

And one more:

"Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

These passages of Scripture show us that God's Will has been completely and for all times revealed to us in the Scriptures. Man dare not tamper with it -- by adding to it or taking from it -- for it will make man "complete," lacking in nothing. Our plea is simple. Return to the Bible as the only guide in religion, the only authority. Then we will all be one in Christ, as He prayed that we would be (John 17:20,21) and commanded that we be (I Corinthians 1:10-13).