Quick Read #25: How did they know..?

by James

It’s odd how often we fail to see what’s right in front of us. How many times have we turned the house upside down looking for the car keys to find them in our pocket? Or used a saying not knowing where it came from like ‘a little bird told me’ which is not Mr. Shakespeare, it’s from King Solomon. But, this is not why we’re looking at this topic; it’s about the truly amazing things we don’t really notice. So, let’s look at some New Testament Scriptures from Peter and Paul.

The Apostle Peter: Knowing this first, that in the last days’ mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? (2Peter 3:3-4)

Paul was a little more forthright: men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure … (2Timothy 3:1-5)

Nearly two thousand years ago, Peter and Paul wrote about the moral and spiritual conditions we are seeing today. They had not seen each other since 50AD, and wrote their letters at different times and places. One must wonder how they both managed to write independently on similar themes concerning these days. Let’s now go back in time, and read what Paul said of Jesus being with Israel in their wanderings.

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, how that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:1-4)

When Peter wrote his letter, how did he know about the present state of the Church and growth of unbelief? How did Paul know about the moral state of the world two thousand years ahead of his time? But even more amazing; Paul knew Jesus was with Israel in the time of Moses. Did it come from their imaginings, or is there another explanation. Here’s what Paul said;

For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12)

And this is from Peter’s second letter: for no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Peter 1:21)

Paul tells us he received his revelation openly from Jesus, and Peter stated Prophets were moved by the Holy Ghost. Then the logical question is; who is the Holy Spirit in the writers? We get an answer from the Apostle John, in the Revelation from Jesus given to him at Patmos.

And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10)

So, how did they know? Their declarations were given to them by the Spirit of Prophesy. In other words, Jesus, the ‘one voice’ of Scripture told them directly, Spirit to spirit.