How God in Heaven Communicates to Men on Earth  

Understanding God’s Word, the Holy Bible

Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression, the human race has been cut off from this high privilege. 

Through Jesus and the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with Heaven. God has communicated with men by his Spirit, and divine light has been imparted to the world by revelations to his chosen servants. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21.

During the first twenty-five hundred years of human history, there was no written Scriptures. Those who had been taught of God, told their knowledge to others, and it was handed down from father to son, through successive generations.

The preparation of the Written Word, [our Bible] began in the time of Moses. Inspired revelations were then written into an inspired book. This work continued during the long period of sixteen hundred years, from Moses, the Historian of Creation and the Law, to John, the recorder of the most sublime Truths of the Gospel.

The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men.

The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit has shed light into the minds and hearts of his servants. He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed, have themselves written the thought in human language.

The Ten Commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were written by His own hand. They are of divine, and not human, composition. But the Bible, with its God-given truths expressed in the language of men, presents a union of the divine and the human.

The same union existed in the nature of Christ, who was the Son of God and the Son of man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was of Christ, that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:14.

Written in different ages, by men who differed widely in rank and occupation, and in mental and spiritual ability, the books of the Bible present a wide contrast in style, as well as a diversity in the nature of the subjects unfolded. Different forms of expression are used by different writers; often the same truth is more strikingly presented by one than by another.

As several writers present a subject from different angles and relations, there may appear, to the shallow, careless, or prejudiced reader, to be disagreement or contradiction, where the thoughtful, reverent student, with clearer insight, sees the underlying harmony.

As presented through different individuals, the truth is brought out in its varied aspects. One writer is more strongly impressed with one phase of a subject; he grasps those points that harmonize with his experience or with his power of perception and appreciation; another seizes upon a different phase; and each, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, presents what is most forcibly impressed upon his own mind; a different aspect of the truth in each, but a perfect harmony through all. And the truths thus revealed unite to form a perfect whole, adapted to meet the wants of men in all the circumstances and experiences of life.

God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and he himself, by his Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language; yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth.

In his Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of his will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

We need the Help of the Holy Spirit

Yet the fact that God has revealed his will to men through his Word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Saviour, to open the Word to his servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings. And since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be contrary to that of the Word.

We test the Spirit by the Word of God

The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to take the place of the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. And Isaiah declares, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit, by the errors of people who, claiming to be Spirit led, say they have no further need of guidance from the Word of God. They are governed by impressions which they think is the voice of God in the soul. But the spirit that controls them is not the Spirit of God. Following impressions and neglecting the Scriptures, leads only to confusion, deception and ruin. It does the work of the evil one.

Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is so important to the followers of Christ, it is one of the tricks of Satan, through the errors of extremists and fanatics to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit, and cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord himself has provided.  

The Spirit teaches Individuals

In harmony with the Word of God, His Spirit was to continue its work throughout the entire period of the gospel dispensation. During the ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light to individual minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in the sacred canon.

The Bible itself relates how, through the Holy Spirit, men received warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, in matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures. And mention is made of prophets in different ages, of whose utterances nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.

Jesus promised His disciples, “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.” “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth;  . . . and He will show you things to come.” John 14:26; 16:13. Scripture plainly teaches that these promises, were not just for the apostolic days, but they extend the church of Christ in all ages.

The Saviour assures his followers, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. And Paul declares that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the church “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12, 13.

God’s Holy Word, the Bible is the very foundation of the Christian Life today as in the past. And it is through the guidance and light brought to our minds by the Holy Spirit that we can understand correctly and apply the precious truths to our minds and lives.

Satan know this and continues to do today what he has been doing since the fall of our first parents, cast doubt on God’s Word and try to get people to reject the True Holy Spirit and accept evil spirit counterfeits instead.

The great controversy between good and evil will increase in intensity to the very close of time. In all ages the wrath of Satan has been directed against God’s Word, His Law, His True Holy Spirit and His followers. Now, in our day, he comes “having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12. He will work “with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

For six thousand years that master-mind that once was highest among the angels of God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin. And all the depths of Satanic skill and subtlety acquired, all the cruelty developed, during these struggles of the ages, will be brought to bear against God’s people in the final conflict. Can you wonder that we see God’s Word doubted, criticized and ridiculed all over today?

In the great final conflict, Satan will use the same policy, show the same spirit, and work for the same end, as in all preceding ages. That which has been, will be, except that the coming struggle will be marked with a terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed. Satan’s deceptions will be more subtle, his assaults more determined. He will show “signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22.