Revelation By The Author Heb. 11: 17-19 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO of Revealed by the Author

Though over 40 men were used to pen the words of the books of the Bible, there is but one author, the Lord God.  You know this because there are some things written in the Old Testament, the details of which are not completely revealed until the New Testament.  Those additional details are revealed by the author.  They are not contradictions, but rather supplemental details.  Here are some classic examples:

Abraham’s faith – Heb 11:17-19 – it is not until the New Testament that we find that Abraham’s faith in the promise that his seed would multiply through Isaac was based, in part, on his belief that Isaac would rise from the dead.  This information was revealed by the author.

The magicians’ names – 2 Tim 3:8 – Paul tells us the names of the magicians who tried to imitate Moses’ miracles in order to cause Pharaoh to doubt God’s words.  They were Jannes and Jambres.  Their names were revealed by the author.

Moses’ resurrection – Jude 9 – when Moses died in Deut 34, the Bible says that “no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day,” [Deut 34:6].  They couldn’t find his sepulcher because he was removed from where God buried him.  He was able to appear with Jesus and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration because he had been resurrected by Michael the archangel.  You had to read this in the New Testament to get it.  That detail was revealed by the author.

Mary’s genealogy – Lk 3:36 – in Mary’s genealogy we find Cainan inserted between Arphaxad and Sala, which doesn’t match the genealogy in Gen 10:24.  The fact is that Arphaxad is Salah’s grandfather through Cainan.  But you had to read that in the New Testament to know the whole story.  This additional detail was revealed by the author.

Jeremiah’s words – Matt 27:9 – Matthew says that the prophecy fulfilled in Matt 27:9 was spoken by Jeremiah.  But you can’t find it anywhere in the book of Jeremiah.  As a matter of fact, you find the prophecy in Zech 11:13.  So, is this an error?  Far from it.  It is a detail revealed by the author.  Jeremiah “spoke” these words; Zechariah “wrote” them.

The Lord’s words – Acts 20:35 – Paul quoted Jesus as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  But you can’t find anywhere in the gospels where Jesus said that.  This additional information was quoted by Paul and written by Luke because it was revealed by the author.

When you see these details revealed by the author, you realize that there are many things in the Bible that you won’t fully understand until the Lord reveals them to you.  He won’t add to his completed words; but he will help you to understand them when the time comes.  For instance, when Jesus quoted Zech 13:7 in Matt 26:31, the disciples didn’t realize the author of that prophecy knew exactly when it was going to be fulfilled.  He just revealed it to them right then.  Likewise, there are verses that pertain specifically to the Tribulation saints, and they will only fully understand them when the author reveals them, and not before then.