Revelation As The Main Principle In Authentic Religion Anciently

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[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]REVELATION was the main principle which characterized authentic religion.
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[FONT=&quot]Authentic religion differs from simple religious history and from theology by theologians.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The ancient Judao-Christians realized that their knowledge and logic alone was insufficient to learn about God.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]REVELATION ALWAYS EXISTED AND IS A MEDIUM OF LEARNING AND COORDINATION OF GODS PLAN IN THE EARLY JUDAO-CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]REVELATION WAS TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL IN THE WORLD WHO BECOME ABLE TO RECEIVE AND USE IT[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]All mankind in all ages of the world were to have some degree of insight through the spirit given them. Like purifying waters, He shall sprinkle each with a spirit of truth, effectual against all the abominations of lying and sullying by an unclean spirit. Thereby He shall give the upright insight into the knowledge of the Most High and the wisdom of the angels, making wise those following the perfect way.” (1QS, 4Q)[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]REVELATION AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION OF MANKIND BY GOD[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]“[/FONT][FONT=&quot]And I, the instructor, have known you, O my God, by the spirit which you gave me, and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]I have listened faithfully to your wondrous council by your holy spirit. You have opened within me knowledge[/FONT][FONT=&quot].....[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]” (4Q) “ ...when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]All of the “[/FONT][FONT=&quot]γραφαι[/FONT][FONT=&quot]” as sacred texts were also to benefit from the spirits guidance. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]THE PRINCIPLE OF REVELATION IS BOTH IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT IN ALL SACRED LITERATURE[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]“ ..the angel Gabriel was sent …, To a virgin ... MARY. “ (Lk 1:26-28) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][JOSEPH AND MARY] were “ ... warned of God in a dream. “ (Matthew 2:12)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...[/FONT][FONT=&quot]the angel [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of the Lord [/FONT][FONT=&quot]appeareth to JOSEPH [/FONT][FONT=&quot]in a dream, , ...[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]“ (Matthew 2:13) ...ZACHARIAS was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, ... “ (Luke 1:67-70) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“... ELIZABETH was [/FONT][FONT=&quot]filled with the Holy Ghost[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: “ (Luke 1:41)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELD... the angel of the Lord came upon them...I bring you good tidings... there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host . “ (Luke 2:8-10; 13-14)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... SIMEON.... the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. “ (Luke 2:25-26)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... there was one ANNA, a prophetess... “ (Luke 2:36-37) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ [JESUS]... there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. “ (Luke 22:42-43)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] “ …The …angel of the Lord spake unto PHILLIP, saying, Arise, and go toward the south... “ (Acts 8:26)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ CORNELIUS, a centurion ” also reports “ …an angel of God coming in to him, and saying”...send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon... ” (Acts 10:1-8) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...PETER went up upon the housetop to pray...” and “fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened...And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat... “[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] “ PHILLIP the evangelist....had FOUR DAUGHTERS, virgins, which did prophesy. “ (Acts 21:8-9)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ And as we tarried...there came down from Judaea [/FONT][FONT=&quot]a certain prophet, named AGABUS[/FONT][FONT=&quot]... ” who prophesies regarding Pauls future. (Acts 21:10-13)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...there were in the church that was AT ANTIOCH CERTAIN PROPHETS and teachers...As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work...So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost...sailed to Cyprus. “ (Acts 13:1-4)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ And JUDAS AND SILAS, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. “ (Acts 15:32) ETC, ETC
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[FONT=&quot]PROPHETIC REVELATION INVOLVES TRANSMISSION OF THEOLOGY FROM GOD (IT’S SOURCE) RATHER THAN THE CREATION OF THEOLOGY BY HUMAN THEOLOGIANS[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]e.g. MOSES and the other prophets are not creating theology, but rather he transmits what he is told in revelation by God to others[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]As agents of God, the ancient prophets did not themselves create commandments and theology according to their own understanding and their own logic (as theologians did and still do), but rather, they received them from God by personal revelation and then they transmitted them to the people at large. It is not creation of theology as the later theologians did, but rather it is a transmission of theology from God as only prophets can do.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]REVELATION AS A PRINCIPLE OF GUIDANCE AND UNITY IN THE AGENTS / SERVANTS OF GOD[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The spirit was a constant guide to those who were constantly able to listen to its’ guidance. : “As the [wind] moves through the harp and the strings speak, 2 So the spirit of the Lord speaks through my members, and I speak through his love....7 and his praise he gave us on account of his name; our spirits praise his Holy Spirit. (Odes of Solomon #6 1-2) To the ancients, revelation was an enduring principle of unity and coordination of separate efforts.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Individuals were to speak and teach according to the spirits’ guidance, they were also to ACT according the spirits’ guidance[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Thus “…the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:29) This principle of guided action applies to all individuals who receive revelation. The apostles are NOT simply going where their best judgment sent them (since their judgments were often overturned by revelations telling them to do otherwise&#8230,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]THE WANING OF REVELATION AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE AFTER THE APOSTLES DIED[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]The early christian apologist Justin Martyr reminded the Jew Trypho of that the loss of revelation as communication from God meant the loss of authentic relationship with God[/FONT][FONT=&quot] when pointing out that the Jews had lost the gift of prophets among them as the ancient Jews had among them. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]In the same vein, the shift of post apostolic Christianity from Prophetic derived theology to Theologian derived theology is significant. More and more, individuals were losing faith in this principle and even disdaining those christians who professed it. The later “christianities of the theologians” were themselves, relegated to the same position of the Jews who had lost prophetic religion.
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[FONT=&quot]REVELATION WAS ONE PRINCIPLE THAT ANCHORED THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO IT’S CORNERSTONE JESUS[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Justin Martyr and Origen explain how the earliest Judao-Christians interpreted the conversation between jesus and Peter (e.g. Matt 16:18-19). early Christians believed the immovable “rock” upon which the church of Jesus Christ was to be established, built upon and guided by, was upon the principle of revelation.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

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[/FONT][FONT=&quot]1) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]AUTHENTIC REVELATION FROM GOD TO MANKIND WAS THE GRAND PRINCIPLE CHARACTERIZING AUTHENTIC RELGIION IN ALL AGES WHEN AND WHERE AUTHENTIC RELIGION HAS EXISTED[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The relationship implied by authentic religion differs from the study of religious historians or the theorizing of theologians, (neither of which requires communication from God or a relationship with God...). Religious history can be memorized and taught by an atheist and the theorizing and creation of various religious theologies can be done by anyone, from “arm-chair” theologians to relatively agnostic philosophers. However, the communication of prophetic revelation within authentic, living religion cannot BE taught or exercised independently of God’s approval, but instead, is a gift from God to mankind; given when and where and to whom God will. [/FONT]


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[/FONT][FONT=&quot]2) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]THE PRINCIPLE OF REVELATION ALWAYS EXISTED AND IS A MEDIUM OF LEARNING AND COORDINATION OF GODS PLAN ACCORDING TO THE EARLY JUDAO-CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW[/FONT]



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[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A) - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]MANKINDS' INSUFFICIENCY WITHOUT REVELATION[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Anciently, the nature of the spirit within man was believed to be such that our spirits were relatively ignorant, but that it may be taught and improve in moral knowledge, however, the ancients understood that this progression in moral knowledge and understanding, and indeed, all important religious guidance, was to be accomplished most efficiently under the influence of the holy spirit; a paraclete who was to help those who would listen to the insight and knowledge it would give them. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Thus they said : “How can a man understand without knowledge or hearing? [...] He [God] created insight for his children by much wisdom He uncovered our ears that we may hear [...] He created insight for all those who pursue true knowledge and [...] all wisdom is from eternity, it may not be changed [...] (4Q299 Frag. 8)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“According to my knowledge I speak. But I am mere spit (?), a vessel of clay, what shall I speak unless You open my mouth? How shall I understand unless you give me insight? What shall I say unless You reveal it to my heart?” (4Q427 Frags. 10, 24, 42 + 4Q427 Frag. 3 Col. 20:32-34) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Jewish psalm relates gratitude that there was a mechanism for man to obtain the moral insight they entered mortality to obtain. “...to the children of your [God’s] truth you have given insight {...] for ever. “ (1QH + 4Q428 Frag. 7 Col 18:24-29) , And, that mechanism involved the Holy Spirit and revelation to mankind as a central principle of moral education.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This concept of mankinds’ relative ignorance and relative dependence upon God for a greater degree of moral insight expressed by the earlier Judao-Christian writers, “What can I speak, unless You have opened my mouth? And how can I reply, unless You have given me insight? ” (1QH + 4Q428 Frag. 7 Col. 18)is the same sentiment underlying later religious sentiments such as Pauls reference to this principle : “...what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation,or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? “ (1 Cor 14:1-6)[/FONT]





B) - [FONT=&quot]REVELATION WAS TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL IN THE WORLD WHO BECOME ABLE TO RECEIVE AND USE IT[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]All mankind in all ages of the world were to have some degree of insight through the spirit given them. As early Jewish Haggadah points out that “...without the gift of the holy spirit, Adam could not have found names for all; he was in very truth a prophet, and his wisdom a prophetic quality.” The Haggadah (Ideal Man)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Thus Ode of Solomon #6 describes the directing and coordinating influence of the spirit thusly : “As the [wind] moves through the harp and the strings speak, 2 So the spirit of the Lord speaks through my members, and I speak through his love....7 and his praise he gave us on account of his name; our spirits praise his Holy Spirit.( Odes of Solomon #6 1-2) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The ancient symbolism of the spirit flowing from its source and moving over the earth and coordinating the Lords plan was often compared to the flow of water, streaming from its source fountain, which ultimately was God, who uses his spirit to coordinate and direct his plan throughout the entire earth to those who are able to listen to the spirit and to “drink from these spiritual waters” the spirit will provide them.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Though the Dead Sea Jewish text describes the Holy Spirits influence in the world “ Like purifying waters, He shall sprinkle each with a spirit of truth, effectual against all the abominations of lying and sullying by an unclean spirit. Thereby He shall give the upright insight into the knowledge of the Most High and the wisdom of the angels, making wise those following the perfect way.” (1QS, 4Q255-264a, 5Q11 Col 4 vs 15-26 ) the author Of Ode describes the sending forth of God spirit into the world as a enlargening stream: “ For there went forth a stream, and it became a river great and broad; indeed it carried away everything,.... For it spread over the face of all the earth, and it filled everything. 11 Then all the thirsty upon the earth drank, and thirst was relieved and quenched; 12 For from the Most High the drink was given. 13 Blessed, therefore, are the ministers of that drink, who have been entrusted with his water. 14 They have pleased the parched lips, and have restored the paralyzed will. 15 Even lives who were about to expire, they have seized from death...18 Because everyone recognized them as the Lord’s, and lived by the living water of eternity.” (Odes of Solomon #6) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This same symbolism of the Holy Ghost and it’s revelations to mankind as flowing “water” continued to be used and taught in Jesus time by Jesus himself : “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; ….” John 7:38[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] “When, united by all these precepts, such men as these come to be a community in Israel, they shall establish eternal truth guided by the instruction of his holy spirit.” (CHARTER 1QS, 4Q255-264a, 5Q11 Col. 9 )[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]C) - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]THE PRINCIPLE OF REVELATION IS BOTH IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT IN ALL SACRED LITERATURE[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Though no one seriously questions the principle of prophets and revelation from God to Israel chronicled by Old Testament texts and the vast epigraphia, this principle of personal revelation to individuals continued into the early Christian Era as witnessed by peri-c.e. era Judao-christian Texts. The many witnesses that God and angels spoke to Judao-christians is woven throughout all sacred literature.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For examples :[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“ ..the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin ... MARY.“ (Lk 1:26-28) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The couple [JOSEPH AND MARY] were “ ... warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. “ (Matthew 2:12)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...[/FONT][FONT=&quot]the angel [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of the Lord [/FONT][FONT=&quot]appeareth to JOSEPH [/FONT][FONT=&quot]in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, ...[/FONT][FONT=&quot]“ (Matthew 2:13)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to JOSEPH in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel:“ (Matthew 2:19-20) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ [JOSEPH]... being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee…” (Matthew 2:22) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“ ... ZACHARIAS “ ... And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. “( Luke 5:11)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...ZACHARIAS was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, ...“ (Luke 1:67-70) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“... ELIZABETH was [/FONT][FONT=&quot]filled with the Holy Ghost[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: “ (Luke 1:41)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELD... the angel of the Lord came upon them...I bring you good tidings... there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host. “ (Luke 2:8-10; 13-14)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... SIMEON.... the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. “ (Luke 2:25-26)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ... there was one ANNA, a prophetess...“ (Luke 2:36-37) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“ [JESUS]... there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.“ (Luke 22:42-43)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] when MARY returned to the sepulcher after Jesus’ resurrection : “ ... two men stood by them in shining garments... “ (Luke 24:4-7) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JOHN THE BAPTIST describes his prior revelation : “ ... he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending...“ (John 1:33)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ..MARY stood without at the sepulchre ...And seeth two angels in white...“ (John 20:12)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]STEPHEN, “ ... being full of the Holy Ghost, .... saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, …“ (Acts 7:55-56)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ …The …angel of the Lord spake unto PHILLIP, saying, Arise, and go toward the south... “ (Acts 8:26)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ CORNELIUS, acenturion ” also reports “ …an angel of Godcoming in to him, and saying”...send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon...” (Acts 10:1-8) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...PETER went up upon the housetop to pray...” and “fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened...And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat... “[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ While PETER thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them... ” (Acts 10:9-34) after which CORNELIUS, having seen his own angel, relates his revelation to Peter.... (Acts 10:9-34)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ While PETER yet spake.... the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.... “ (Acts 10:44-48)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ PHILLIP the evangelist....had FOUR DAUGHTERS, virgins, which did prophesy. “ (Acts 21:8-9)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ And as we tarried...there came down from Judaea [/FONT][FONT=&quot]a certain prophet, named AGABUS[/FONT][FONT=&quot]... ” who prophesies regarding Pauls future. (Acts 21:10-13)[/FONT]


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[FONT=&quot]“ ...there were in the church that was AT ANTIOCH CERTAIN PROPHETS and teachers...As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work...So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost...sailed to Cyprus. “ (Acts 13:1-4)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ And JUDAS AND SILAS, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. “ (Acts 15:32)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“ ...the angel of the Lord came upon him [PETER], and a light shined in the prison... ” (Acts 12:7-9)[/FONT]




[FONT=&quot]D) - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]REVELATION AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION OF MANKIND BY GOD[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Ancient Judao-Christians understood the role of and profound value of revelation from God. They were taught to “... desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. ...” Thus if it was through revelation they were to receive their most profitable instruction and wisdom, then the ancients were admonished not merely to “covet to prophesy..”. (1 Cor 14:39) but also to listen to prophetic counsel by the prophets among them. “... Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (1 Cor 14:29-31) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“[/FONT][FONT=&quot]And I, the instructor, have known you, O my God, by the spirit which you gave me, and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]I have listened faithfully to your wondrous council by your holy spirit. You have opened within me knowledge[/FONT][FONT=&quot].....[/FONT][FONT=&quot]” (THANKSGIVING PSALMS - Frags. 10, 24, 42 + 4Q427 Frag. 3 Col. 20:11-13) “ ...when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” (1 Cor 14:26) The principle is that revelation (e.g. prophesy, etc.) was greatly valued and that in this and other ways the spirit of the Lord “ ... teaches us his ways. ” (THE ODES OF SOLOMON ODE 3) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In was in this context they sang in the early Psalms “ Let us honor the Spirit of the Paraclete : let us bless our Lord Jesus who has sent to us the Spirit of Truth....When the Holy Spirit came, he revealed to us the way of truth and taught us ....” THE COPTIC PSALM-BOOK (allberry 9-11); [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“ ...the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.“ (John 14:26) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]They were to be thankful ” ...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened...” (Eph 1:16-18) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The promise to the early saints was that the anointing of the spirit was to abide within them and if so, “ ....ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. “ (1 John 2:27) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“ ....you have caused the Paraclete to live in us, you have set up angels (over us)... Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers - 7:4; 9-11; 17[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“... O LORD, for You [/FONT][FONT=&quot]have sustained me with [/FONT][FONT=&quot]your strength, and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]your Holy Spirit[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. “ (4Q429 Frag. 1 Col. 15:6) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It was not merely their speech and discussions that benefited from revelation but all of the “[/FONT][FONT=&quot]γραφαι[/FONT][FONT=&quot]” as sacred texts were to benefit from the spirits guidance. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The Prophet Ezra asks the Father to “...send the Holy Spirit to me”. And upon having this gift given to him, Ezra will be able to “write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things which were written in your Law...” And he will do this “ ... that men may be able to find the path, and that those who wish to live in the last days may live. ” (Fourth Book of Ezra 14:22) [/FONT]




E) - [FONT=&quot]PROPHETIC REVELATION INVOLVES TRANSMISSION OF THEOLOGY FROM GOD (IT’S SOURCE) RATHER THAN THE CREATION OF THEOLOGY BY HUMAN THEOLOGIANS[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Even the great Prophet ENOCH admits that he has insufficient understanding of eternal principles, but he witnesses that “ ...the Holy One, blessed be he, bestowed upon me wisdom heaped upon wisdom, understanding upon understanding, prudence upon prudence......Ch 9 v1 ...the Holy One, blessed be he, laid his hand on me and blessed me.... ” (3rd Enoch 7:1 ; 8:2 & 9:1)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The youthful ABRAM, before he becomes acquainted with the true God, wished aloud for the very principle underlying revelation : “ If [only] God will reveal himself by himself to us! ” However, once the young Abraham is prepared, God does indeed reveal himself to Abram and makes promises to him and guides him : “ Then a voice came speaking to me twice: “ABRAHAM, Abraham!” And I said “Here I am.” And he said, “Behold, it is I, Fear not, for I am Before-the-World and Mighty, the God who created previously, before the light of the age. .... I will set down a covenant. I will announce to you guarded things and you will see great things which you have not seen, because you desired to search for me, and I called you my Beloved. ...And I will announce to you in them what will come upon those who have done evil and just things in the race of man. ” (The Apocalypse of Abraham 9 1-10) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Neither does the prophet MOSES create theology, but he transmits what he is told in revelation by God as “ ...Moses drew near the cloud, knowing that God was there. And then God told him his statues and his judgments, and he detained him forty days and forty nights. And there he commanded him many things and showed him the tree of life,...And he commanded him about the tabernacle and the ark of the Lord and about the sacrifice...And he showed him their likeness in order that he might make them according to the pattern that he had seen. And he said to him, “Make me a sanctuary, and the tent of my glory will be among you. ” (Pseudo-Philo 11:15)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]LEVI, in speaking to his sons spoke of the revelation that prepared him for receiving the levitical priesthood. “ ...I awoke from my sleep. I said, This is a vision, and because I was astonished that I should have had a vision, I kept this one too to myself, revealing it to no one. ”(THE WORDS OF LEVI Oxford Geniza text Col. A + 1Q21)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]THE PATTERN IS THAT RELIGIOUS LEADERS OPERATE AS AGENTS OF GOD TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY FOLLOW GODS’ GUIDANCE BY DOING AND SAYING WHAT HE DIRECTS THEM TO DO AND SAY – THEY DO NOT OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Though we refer to Moses as the deliverer of Israel (since he is the prophet who physically led Israel), God makes it clear to the prophet EZRA that Moses (and all other Prophets, and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]αποστελοι[/FONT][FONT=&quot])[/FONT][FONT=&quot] are simply agents and servants of God; following Gods instructions. Thus t[/FONT][FONT=&quot]he Lord says to the prophet Ezra “ I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them commandments through my servants...” (The Fourth Book of Ezra 2:1) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]As agents of God, the ancient prophets did not themselves create commandments and theology according to their own understanding and their own logic (as theologians did and still do), but rather, they received them from God by personal revelation and then they transmitted them to the people at large. It is not creation of theology as the later theologians did, but rather it is a transmission of theology from God as only prophets can do. [/FONT]

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.. (2 Pet 1:21)

[FONT=&quot]Though Jesus tells his disciples that “... Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23) still, the disciples are not able to use this gift arbitrarily and according to their own will, but as God wills. They are given special authorities, but authority comes to them AFTER they are given the anointing of the spirit which will guide them in using this power. Jesus FIRST breathes on them and says “ ...Receive ye the Holy Ghost... ” and AFTERWARDS, gives them this authority.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]F) - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]REVELATION AS A PRINCIPLE OF GUIDANCE AND UNITY IN THE AGENTS / SERVANTS OF GOD[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]The spirit was a constant guide to those who were constantly able to listen to its’ guidance. When the apostolic Father Ignatius (a text from the lifetime of an apostle of those who could have known a living apostle) describes this coordinating and guiding influence of the spirit “As the hand moves over the harp and the strings speak so the spirit of the Lord speaks in my members … ” he is simply repeating the principle old testament era writers referred to when they wrote : “As the [wind] moves through the harp and the strings speak, 2 So the spirit of the Lord speaks through my members, and I speak through his love....7 and his praise he gave us on account of his name; our spirits praise his Holy Spirit. (Odes of Solomon #6 1-2) To the ancients, revelation was an enduring principle of unity and coordination of separate efforts.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]“5 For I do not know what I say, but God bids me utter each thing.... (Sibylline Oracles second book vs 5 and 25-32) In the same manner that individuals were to speak and teach according to the spirits’ guidance, they were also to ACT according the spirits’ guidance. Thus “…the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:29) This principle of guided action applies to all individuals who receive revelation. For examples : [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The apostles are NOT simply going where their best judgment sent them (since their judgments were often overturned by revelations telling them to do otherwise&#8230, for example, they “… were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia…” and “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. (Acts 16:6-7) Instead, “… a vision appeared to Paul in the night…” directing him to Macedonia as it was through such visions that “…the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:9-10) [/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Peter says regarding the Pagan Convert Cornelius : “…The Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting…” The Gentile Cornelius had himself “…seen an angel…” and ultimately even the reluctant among the disciples understood that despite any reservations any of them had, “…God [had] also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:12-18) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Just as Cornelius has a personal revelation which mediates his conversion, the anti-christian Saul also has a daytime vision which mediates his conversion : “…about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?“ and after a conversation with the resurrected Lord, Paul is told by Jesus to “…go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.” (Acts 22:6-10) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Lord tells Ananias “ … Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem… 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (Acts 9:10-16) Ananias may not want to go, but he does as his revelation guides him. Thus the spirit not only teaches and witnesses, but it coordinates the efforts of disciples and makes the spread of the gospel throughout the world more efficient as the Gospel plan unfolds[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Paul received a blinding noonday revelation that tells him to meet Ananias to be healed while Ananias receives his separate but coordinating revelation to meet paul in order to restore Paul’s sight. Though mankind moves by their own choice, God still remains in control and coordinates the efforts of mankind by revelation. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It is not merely the general church authorities who are to receive revelations, but the early disciples understood they also were to receive revelation for themselves. Thus Paul found disciples who said to him “…through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. “ (Acts 21:4) Mary, Rabbi Simeon, Anna the prophetes, the shepherds (abiding in the fields) and the general church disciples are all able to receive revelation relative to their station and position.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Sometimes the revelation was encouragement, other times the Judao-christians was not merely given advice for themselves, but could advise others based on what they are is told by revelation as Paul tells his ships’ captain : “… there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; … God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Acts 27:22-24) [/FONT]





[FONT=&quot]2) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]THE WANING OF REVELATION AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE AFTER THE APOSTLES DIED[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]The early christian apologist Justin Martyr reminded the Jew Trypho of that the loss of revelation as communication from God meant the loss of authentic relationship with God[/FONT][FONT=&quot] when pointing out that the Jews had lost the gift of prophets among them as the ancient Jews had among them. Justin taught trypho that the fact that Jews had lost the manifestations of revelation and no longer had living prophets among them while the Christians of his time DID have authentic prophets among them was the main evidence that Gods approval and favor had left the Jews and passed to the Christianity of Justin’s day. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In the same vein, the shift of post apostolic Christianity from Prophetic derived theology to Theologian derived theology is significant. Though post-apostolic theologians could provide religious theories and precepts supporting the evolving christianities, they could never bestow the gift of the holy ghost which was the guiding principle of authentic Judao-Christianity. However, early texts show that faith in revelation and revelation itself, did not suddenly stop, but continued active in the early authentic Christian worldview.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For example, as the early martyr POLYCARP entered the stadium where he was martyred, “ …there came a voice from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp, and act like a man. And no one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard the voice. “ (Ignatius to Polycarp 9:1)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Early post-apostolic Judao Christian converts were still taught and still understood that it was still the spirit which gave them the greatest knowledge and understanding of religious principles : “And I, the instructor, have known you, O my God, by the spirit which you gave me, and I have listened faithfully to your wondrous council by your holy spirit. You have opened within me knowledge in the mystery of Your insight, and a spring of [Your] strength...” (THANKSGIVING PSALMS - Frags. 10, 24, 42 + 4Q427 Frag. 3 Col. 20:11-13) If it was “only through the spirit” that one could truly understand and live authentic, living religion, then the loss of this manifestation of the spirit was tantamount to losing THE best chance at understanding and living authentic religion. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Holy Spirit was not merely to lead them without the disciple having gained anything, but instead, they were to be taught and to gain understanding through the spirit. Thus Ignatius addresses his audience as “ fellow students” and he admonishes them to use their prayers to “... Ask for greater understanding than you have.” (Ignatius to Polycarp 1:3) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The ancient Christian did not merely pray, but they expected their prayers to be answered . “....ask, in order that the unseen things may be revealed to you...” (Ignatius to Polycarp 2:2) The early Christians were to “.... ask the Lord that you may receive the intelligence to understand them.” Hermas 79:6 They were to “ ...entreat God on behalf of the catechumens: v4 that he may reveal to them the gospelof his Christ, illume them, and give them understanding, educate them in the knowledge of god teach them...” (Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers #10 A prayer on behalf of the catechumens (AposCon .5-8))[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This principle of revelation that was so central to Judaic and early Christian religion became less common as Christianity evolved away from early beliefs and practices so much so that, at some point early Christian writers were seen to encourage christians to continue to have faith in this principle of revelation just as the Jews had to be encouraged to have faith in their prophets (which they tended to reject during the lifetime of the prophet). [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For example, the chronicler of the Passion of Perpetua and Felicity seeks to remind the Christians of his day that continuing examples of faith and revelation were still valuable, saying : “ If the ancient examples of faith, such as both testified to the grace of God, and wrought the edification of man, have for this cause been set out in writing that the reading of them may revive the past, and so both God be glorified and man strengthened, why should not new examples be set out equally suitable to both those ends?... For these in like manner will some day be old and needful for posterity, though in their own time because of the veneration secured to antiquity they are held in less esteem. But let them see to this who determine the one power of the one Spirit by times and seasons; which the more recent things should rather be deemed the greater, as being “later than the last.” This follows from the preeminence of grace promised at the last lap of the world’s race. For “In the last days, saith the Lord, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh, and their sons and their daughters shall prophesy: and on my servants and on my handmaidens will I pour forth of my Spirit: and their young men shall see visions, and their old men shall dream dreams.” And so we who recognize and hold in honor not new prophecies only but new visions as alike promised, and count all the rest of the powers of the Holy Spirit as intended for the equipment of the Church, to which the same spirit was sent bestowing all gifts upon all as the Lord dealt to each man, we cannot but set these out and make them famous by recital to the glory of God. “ ( The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity ch one)[/FONT]

FIVE OF FIVE FOLLOWS
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[Clearly]

Post Five Of Five



[FONT=&quot]The young convert Perpetua and her companions live in a time when Christianity still believed in personal revelation and still used it as Perpetua tells us when one Brother in chains asks her to ask God regarding their future as prisoners; whether they will ultimately be set free, or whether they will be sent to fight the animals and die in front of the anti-christian pagan crowds : “then my brother said to me: ‘ Lady sister, you are now in great honor, so great indeed that you may well pray for a vision and may well be shown whether suffering or release be in store for you. ’ And I who knew myself to have speech of the Lord, for whose sake I had gone through so much, gave confident promise in return, saying : ‘Tomorrow I will bring you word.’.(Chapt 4)” [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]PERPETUA has perfect faith that God will communicate the very vision she then describes[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Her companion SATURNUS also believes in this principle and has his own revelations to share with his condemned fellow-christian prisoners. : “... the blessed Saturus also has made known this vision of his own, which he has written out with his own hand. (Ch 11) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]More and more, individuals were losing faith in this principle and even disdaining those christians who professed it. The later “christianities of the theologians” were themselves, relegated to the same position of the Jews who had lost prophetic religion. And they never knew it. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Early Phillip warned these Christians who no longer had faith in revelation : “If one goes down into the water and comes up without having received anything and says, “I am a Christian,” he has borrowed the name at interest. But if he receives the Holy spirit, he has the name as a gift. He who has received a gift does not have to give it back, but of him who has borrowed it at interest, payment is demanded.” (The gospel of Phillip) Even those individuals attempting to counterfeit revelatory Christianity were reminded by Phillips warning that if they did not actually receive the spirit, the counterfeit was not benign but that there was a cost and a terrible effect. This profound point was important because it was “only through the spirit pervading God’s true society can there be atonement for a man’s ways, all of his iniquities; thus only can he gaze upon the light of life and so be joined to his truth by his Holy Spirit, purified from all iniquity.... (CHARTER 1QS, 4Q255-264a, 5Q11 Col. 3) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]

3) - REVELATION WAS ONE PRINCIPLE THAT ANCHORED THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO IT’S CORNERSTONE JESUS[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It was such early contextual understanding of the spirits role in authentic religion that Justin Martyr and Origen explain how the earliest Judao-Christians interpreted the conversation between jesus and Peter (e.g. Matt 16:18-19). They taught that the early Christians believed the immovable “rock” upon which the church of Jesus Christ was to be established, built upon and guided by, was upon the principle of testimony and revelation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For example, In his 54th Homily on matthew, the great Christian apologist Chrysostom Matthew 16 meant to the ancient Judao-Christians. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Peter… saith, "[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God[/FONT][FONT=&quot]."[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What then saith Christ? "[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona[/FONT][FONT=&quot], for [/FONT][FONT=&quot]flesh and blood hath not revealed it [/FONT][FONT=&quot]unto thee.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]" [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After mentioning other examples of acknowledgements of Jesus’ sonship Chrysostom asks : Why then is this man blessed? Because he acknowledged Him very Son… in this case He also signifies who had revealed it. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Chrysostom explains that, in the interpretation of his day, it was the principle of revelation that distinguished human opinion from authentic religion so that after being given revelation on this subject, Peters’ saying was “no longer a human opinion, but a divine doctrine.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Chrysostom explained why Jesus interrupts his discourse on revelation with the words “Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas.” : What then saith Christ? "Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas." "Thus since thou hast proclaimed my Father, I too name him that begat thee;" all but saying, "As thou art son of Jonas, even so am I of my Father."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]chrysostom continues : "And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church;" that is, on the faith of his confession.” Chrysostom has already explained to us that it was not mere “confession” he was referring to (since others had also similarly confessed with their mouths...). But rather it was the quality and the type of confession based upon revelation for which Peter was blessed. And then, speaking of the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]εκκλεσια[/FONT][FONT=&quot] which Jesus was to establish, Chryostom comments : "And the gates of hell" shall not prevail against it." "And if not against it, much more not against me. So be not troubled because thou art shortly to hear that I shall be betrayed and crucified."[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Chrysostom confirms the earliest interpretation of these sayings of Jesus in his 19th Homily on John, first chapter, saying : “He [Jesus] puts it more authoritatively, saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon, because My Father hath revealed it to thee"; and again, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock [of revelation as Chrysostom explained] I will build My Church." (Matt. xvi. 17, 18.) [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]As if to make sure he is not misunderstood, Chrysostom explains that, to the ancient Christians, this reference to “cephas” or “the rock” references to and demonstrates that the Lord who stood in front of Peter was the very God “who altered names, who called Abram "Abraham," and Sarai "Sarah," and Jacob "Israel.” And that it was NOT Peter himself was the rock of the church of Jesus Christ in the early Christian interpretation. Just as Peter was never a standing Bishop in early Christian interpretation, Peter was never the ”Rock” of the Church of Jesus Christ in early Christian interpretation. Such later interpretation were created by theologians in specific later Christian circles as Origen makes clear as well. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The very, very early historian/theologian ORIGEN poignantly reminds us of the earlier (and more authentic) interpretation of Matthew 16 (rather than the one created by the later roman congregation bent on gaining pre-eminence). In his Book 12 commentary on matthew Origen reminds us that the testimony of JESUS was to be given to all believers by revelation, and that it was REVELATION from God ( who remained “leader” of his church) that his disciples and his church would be lead. This is what, in his day, was meant as the “rock” upon which the testimony of Jesus would be obtained and Jesus’ church would be led. Origen explains this early principle : [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

And perhaps that which Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," if we say it as Peter, not by flesh and blood revealing it unto us, but by the light from the Father in heaven shining in our heart, we too become as Peter, being pronounced blessed as he was, because that the grounds on which he was pronounced blessed apply also to us, by reason of the fact that flesh and blood have not revealed to us with regard to Jesus that He is Christ, the Son of the living God, but the Father in heaven, from the very heavens, that our citizenship may be in heaven, revealing to us the revelation which carries up to heaven those who take away every veil from the heart, and receive "the spirit of the wisdom and revelation" of God. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Origen explains that, in the early Christian worldview, those who are blessed with revelation as a witness that Jesus is truly the Son of the Living God, were blessed because they had this revelation just as Peter was blessed for having received this revealed witness. Origen makes this very clear that it is not merely their simple oral confession of Jesus, but rather the confession and a witness originating from revelation (i.e. the light from the father…having shown in our heart..). And if we too have said like Peter, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," not as if flesh and blood had revealed it unto us, but by light from the Father in heaven having shone in our heart, we become a Peter,…. For a rock is every disciple of Christ of whom those drank who drank of the spiritual rock which followed them, and upon every such rock is built every word of the church, add the polity in accordance with it; for in each of the perfect, who have the combination of words and deeds and thoughts which fill up the blessedness, is the church built by God.

Origen is NOT saying that "all disciples lead", as Peter was to preside, but rather that ALL disciples may obtain the same testimony of JESUS in the same manner as Peter did. By having it revealed to them by the Father (i.e. by revelation) .
The testimony of Jesus was to be had by REVELATION. “…[/FONT][FONT=&quot]the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]“ Rev 19:10;[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Thus, I believe that in the ancient Judao Christian Worldview, Authentic revelation from God to mankind is the principle that characterizes authentic religion from the very beginning of the world and that it has existed in all ages and places where authentic religion has existed and when it ceases, so ceases inspired and authentic religion according to the ancient judao-christian worldview.[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Clearly[/FONT]

 

[Dale]

Should we make use of modern revelations?

Part of the problem is, how do we know which revelations are valid?


Obviously, many are not.


*

*

 

[ebia]

Revelation exists in all religious traditions. What marks out the Judeo-Christian tradition is events.

 

[Clearly]

1) Dale asks in post #6 “ Should we make use of modern revelations?”

I believe that all authentic revelation from God has profound value regardless of the time in which one lives and that we should never disregard communication from God to us. If a person says a prayer asking for knowledge concerning the existence of God and Jesus as a redeemer, then any revelation from God to that person as a witness that God exists or that Jesus is the redeemer is as valuable in our age as in any prior age. The process of personal specific guidance by the spirit in our lives today, can bless and unify and coordinate human efforts in modern times just as much as anciently.

This is NOT to say that all claims to revelation are authentic (whether modern or anciently).




2) Dale asks in post #6 “ Part of the problem is, how do we know which revelations are valid? “

This is a great question and I certainly think it is a valid question.

My belief is that we are all born generally ignorant of what revelation is, i.e. regarding; what revelation is like; and how to recognize it and that Christians who have faith in revelation and experience it grow in their ability to recognize and make sense of it and make use of it.

For example, the child Samuel (OT Samuel chap 3) hears a voice and mistakes it for Eli calling him because he “did not yet know the Lord” (vs 7) Finally the third time the Lord speaks, it is the prophet Eli who “...realized that the Lord was calling the boy [samuel]” and it is Eli who makes Samuel aware of what Samuel is experiencing. Though the boy Samuel eventually became a prophet and came to experience and recognize and understand and use revelations given him, still, he started out ignorant of revelation as do the rest of us.


The young Abram goes through virtually the same process as he converts from idolatry to the true God who reveals himself to Abram (in the abrahamic youth texts). I do not see us as learning this process any differently.

The ancient texts often place mankind in the position of “Students” in mortality, who are to learn the moral principles God is trying to teach them. Thus the early Christian text, 2nd Clement says : “we are being trained by the present life” (2 clement 20:2) New testament era Ignatius is correct to say to the Ephesians, “I speak to you as my fellow students. For I need to be trained by you in faith, instruction, endurance, and patience. (Ig-eph 3:1)

God taught the prophet Sedrach “...that there are nations which have no law, yet fulfill the law; they are not baptized, but my divine spirit enters them and they are converted to my baptism, and I receive them with my righteous ones...” and yet there are others “...baptized with my baptism and anointed with my divine myrrh, but they have become full of despair and they will not change their mind. Yet I await them with much pity....” (The Apocalypse of Sedrach 14:5-7)

In this same way that large groups of individuals in non-Judao-Christian “nations” learned to listen to the inspiration given them anciently, whereas some Judao-Christians lost faith in such principles, it may still be just as true today that large groups of individuals have learned to listen to lessor inspiration given them to their great advantage (which ultimately will lead them to Christ) just as some christians have lost the ability to listen to greater manifestations available to them to their disadvantage.

The odes of Solomon describe this distribution of inspiration as Gods “thought” being “like a letter” and his will “descended from on high. And it was sent from a bow like an arrow that has been forcibly shot. 7 And many hands rushed to the letter, in order to catch (it), then take and read it. (Odes of Solomon #23 vs 4-7) Why some hands wanted and were able to “catch it and read the will of the lord” whereas others lacked the faith or the will to grasp it, is difficult to say. However, it seems to be a repeated theme that those who, in sincerely, WANT such letters of inspiration, and have the faith to seek and take them, also are able to learn, over time, to correctly read them.

I am trying to describe this process in post # 53 in the thread “Who wrote the bible” by saying “ Though the experience of authentic revelation cannot be a shared experience, still, the principle of Revelation often carry within the revelations themselves, objective evidence that the specific experience is not a malignant psychological phenomenon generated by ones’ own psyche. Barring those faking revelation, those who are confused (e.g. mistake “emotions” for revelation, etc), and the mentally unstable, the person who in actuality receives the witness of Gods’ existence by direct revelation from God are able to simply declare this specific and discrete bit of knowledge of Gods existence “as one having authority” to do so and “not as the scribes” who must quote scripture, or logic, or tradition or “archaeological finds” as their authority for declaring the existence of God. “

Perhaps I can offer a couple of very simple examples of what I mean that authentic revelation often carries within the revelation itself, the evidence that it is true revelation and how repeated experiences would serve to help one distinguish authentic revelation from normal dreams or inspiration from simply "having a great idea" (that may not BE revelation).

The first example applies to two brothers, gaining an education on different continents who have, after both gaining testimonies of Jesus, made commitment and plans through consistent weekly mail to attend school together over a period of more than a year and, each of the brothers, living on different continents, receives a separate revelation that changes their plans.

In their separate revelations, each are told NOT to do as they plan, but are each told instead, to take different (and separate) paths than they planned for so long. Both have the same revelation, concerning the same subject, on the same day, at the same time. They each write a letter to one another on the same day describing the experience as the reason to change these plans. The letters, which take a week for delivery, each cross in the mail.

One brother starts his letter explaining his change of plan with the sentence:
"Dear Larry, I hope you are not disappointed, but the Lord has told me we are not supposed to go to school together." And then he writes what he feels he was told to do. The other brother writes
"Dear Gary, I hope you are not disappointed, but the Lord has told me we are not supposed to go to school together." And then he writes what he feels HE was told to do."

Though neither may be able to tell initially whether the “inspiration” they initially felt, actually came from the Lord, the unfolding circumstances of both feeling the same profoundly strong inspirational experience, at the same time, on different continents and writing the same words, provide some degree of reassurance that the experience was not simply an arbitrary decision based on some other subconscious or conscious indecisiveness.

One can certainly attribute a single occurrence like this to an unusual coincidence. But as such occurrences continue to occur, fairly frequently and consistently, over a lifetime, then at some point, one can become sure that such feelings of inspiration are not manufactured by one’s own psyche. (Especially if two separate individuals are involved as in this example). The objective elements that exist include the letters, the postal date stamps, the actual dates within the text of the letters, the brothers diaries, etc. All of which can be referenced as evidence of the experience.

Perhaps I can offer another example of inspiration that carries within the experience, evidence that it was authentic. Perhaps I can use one of the same brothers.

In the second example, one of these brothers is asleep, in bed with his wife, having a dream that is "different" than the normal dream types. He is in a house and his father is standing over a pile of the things the son will inherit when the father dies. The son explains that he does not want the "things" but rather he wants the father to stay. During the dream, the son is told that the father is going to die; is given some other detail and then awakens at 3 am.

He awakens his groggy wife and describes the dream and the information he is given to his wife. He stays awake and writes down the dream in his diary and, being very early in the morning, he goes back to sleep with difficulty as he considers what happened. He is able to call his Father (who lived far away), discuss his love, respect etc, but does not tell the father about the dream (for reasons outside this discussion). 48 hours later, the father indeed dies suddenly of a heart attack while digging a post hole. The Father had no known heart disease (though to be fair the father had known hypertension).

As with the first example, the “dream” the brother is given has objective elements that the dreamer can use to objectively analyze the chances of his dream being simple coincidence or if it was actually real or a “fantasy”. The brother may ask his wife if he actually awoke her and told her of the dream; he can view his diary; look at his phone record for the phone call, etc. In this experience, he is given data that his own psyche is unable to manufacture (the accurate prediction of a future event) and, though this single incident can be called a lucky coincidence, the recurring pattern of such experiences cannot, at some point as the continue to recur, be attributed to simple "good luck".

The point is, just as with Samuel and Abraham (and presumably all of the rest of us), the recognition of revelation and what is inspiration from the spirit and what is simply “a good idea that pops into our mind” may not BE clear, but as we seek the spirit and gain experience, then it becomes more clear that certain experiences (which tend to bring us closer to God and jesus and serve to guide us in directions God wants us to go, and help us to understand God’s plan for us,) are indeed inspiration and others are simply “good ideas”. As one has more experience and knowledge, one seems better able to tell the difference.




3) Ebia said in post #7 : “ Revelation exists in all religious traditions.”

I believe that Ebia is probably correct in this claim.

I think God’s point to the prophet Sedrach that “.. there are nations which have no law, yet fulfill the law; they are not baptized, but my divine spirit enters them ....” could be used to support Ebia’s point.

1Qs (charter), 4Q, 5Q all tell us that God “ shall sprinkle each with a spirit of truth, effectual against all the abominations of lying and sullying by an unclean spirit.” And that it is by this process that God “ shall give the upright insight into the knowledge of the Most High and the wisdom of the angels, making wise those following the perfect way...”

3rd Enochs’ discussion of “the curtain of the Omnipresent One” which stands before God by which God views all generations describes all generations including “ ...Adam and his generation, ...Noah and the generation of the flood, ...Abraham and his generation, ...the teachers of the children in Israel and their generations, their deeds and their acts; the teachers of the children of the gentiles and their generations, their deeds and their acts;...all the prophets of Israel and their generations, their deeds and their acts; all the prophets of the gentiles and their generations, their deeds and their acts...And I saw: the Messiah the son of Joseph and his generation, and all that they will do to the gentiles.....(3rd Enoch 45:1-5)

Enochs point that there would be prophets among Israel AND among the gentiles and that “the gentiles” are specifically related to what “the Messiah the son of Joseph” and “all that they will do to the gentiles….” Specifically supports the idea of these specific ancients believing that revelation and prophets would exist among the Gentiles and that God was watching what the messiah would do “among the gentiles.”

I think Ebias’ point that traditions regarding revelation exists in other religion traditions (perhaps “all&#8221 is consistent with early Judao-christian themes described in these textual examples.

Clearly
eitzdrok