What is Continuing Revelation?

 

 

Proclamations of Continuing Revelation are no longer just segregated to certain denominations and sects within Christianity. The spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues are practiced even in mainstream conservative churches. With many of the most popular worship music lyrics filled with emotionalism and descriptions of the supernatural, many believers wouldn’t bat an eye at a member saying that they had a “word from the Lord” or “God told me…” But does the Bible actually support this rising trend?

 

Many believers claim that God speaks to them, either with an audible voice or with an internal impression. Some even claim that God speaks to them through visions or in the utterance of a prophecy. A large amount of professing Christians believe in the gift of tongues – whether it is an angelic language to be used in church, or a private prayer language. These are all examples of Continuing Revelation.

 

What’s Wrong with Continuing Revelation?

 

One of the major problems with Continuing Revelation is that it undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. It is a proclamation that the Bible is not our sole source of God’s revelation. If the Bible is a closed canon – if it is complete – with no new revelation or prophets, then using the Bible as only a “model of revelation,” as many of the leading Continuationists proclaim, is not only erroneous but dangerous.  We know from Scripture that the Bible is indeed a closed system of truth. It is completely sufficient as it is. Further, we are commanded to not add anything to it.

 

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19

 

Scripture is Theopneustos, God-breathed:

 

 

Here is an article to learn more about the Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of Scripture: https://strivingforeternity.org/the-inspiration-inerrancy-and-authority-of-scripture/

 

Scripture itself is God speaking. Theopneustos means “God-breathed.” Inspiration does not mean that it contains God’s revelation to man, nor does it mean that men wrote it and somewhere hidden inside is God’s words. Inspiration means each and every word in the Bible was breathed out by God.

 

“God said to Moses, ‘Go, and I, even I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” Exodus 4:12

 

“All that I command you, you shall speak…. Behold, I have put My words into your mouth.” Jeremiah 1:7, 9

 

“for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:21

 

You cannot hold to Sola Scriptura, the Biblical principle that says God’s Word is the only divine authority, if you hold to Continuing Revelation, because it is directly opposed to the sufficiency of Scripture. We can see the sufficiency of Scripture and the closed canon discussed in Jude 3:

 

“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” Jude 3.

 

• In Greek, it is even more clear. The definite article before the word “faith” identifies it as the one and only faith.
• Then in the same passage, we can see the Greek word hapax, which is translated “once for all.” This word is said in such a way that it signifies once for all time, with lasting results.  
• Here also, the word “delivered” in Greek is an aorist passive participle. This indicates an act that had been completed at some point in the past and does not continue, it was fully completed.  We can see here that the faith was given to men by God. The revelation given by God to men has been completed. There is no need for prophets or other means of divine revelation.

 

What’s more, scripture warns us that there will be more false prophets as time continues, and to be wary of them.

 

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

 

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  1 John 4:1

 

The Canon is Closed

 

Scripture is the standard by which a Christian measures everything – from the words of those claiming to be prophets to even what books belong in the Bible itself. Canon itself means “a rule, measuring rod, or standard.” Our measuring rod for all of life is Scripture.

 

We know that Scripture, as we have it, fits according to the rules of the canon. The books contain no contradictions and no errors in history, geography, or theology. The New Testament books of the canon were added in accordance to apostolic authorship – an apostle or one of their closest companions wrote them. The books also must pass the test of content, the books must teach exactly what the apostles themselves taught. Lastly, the New Testament books must also pass the test of the early church response, if it was generally accepted by the earliest churches.

 

Conclusion

 

 

Many who hold to Continuing Revelation say that they are not trying to add to Scripture or even that their Continuing Revelation is anything equal to Scripture. They claim that their prophecy is merely the clarifying of Scripture. However, clarifying Scripture is not done by the utterance of a so-called Prophet. Clarifying difficult passages of Scripture is achieved by the study. There are absolutely no shortcuts when it comes to spiritual growth.

 

It is vitally important that we distinguish between what is true and what is false. We do this by searching the scripture diligently, for it alone is our authority and standard.

 

Here is a podcast episode on the Authority of Scripture:

https://strivingforeternity.org/the-authority-of-scripture-ep-4/