How do we know that the Bible is "finished"???

Question

They were in no hurry to write or finish it because it took 4000 years to do so. Prophets revealed the Lord's will to mankind and wrote down their words, teachings, and prophecies. Eventually someone got around to putting all of these writings together.

So if God called another prophet and he did the same, shouldn't those writings be considered scripture and be treated with the same respect as the bible?

....Please don't quote Revelations 22:18. Moses said the same thing in Deuteronomy 4:2.

Please don't say that God can't or won't call another prophet...he's God. He can do what he wants. Besides, there's prophecy that two prophets will come and be killed before his return to Jerusalem.

Secondly, how would we collectively as Christians recognize this prophet and recognize the writings as scripture?

Would most of us be too prideful or arrogant to recognize a modern day prophet? The Jews didn't recognize their Messiah....what makes us think we would be any different?

Ashley...The book of revelations wasn't the last book written chronologically. Those who canonized the Bible felt that it fit there the best, but other parts of the bible were actually written after revelations.

Answer 1

        The Bible is finished because it ends with the destruction of sin and the devil and with the Earth Made New and God's Perfect Plan restored.

>> So if God called another prophet and he did the same,
>> shouldn't those writings be considered scripture and be
>> treated with the same respect as the bible?

        There is another prophet, though, called by God, whom died only 92 years ago and is the most widely published and most widely translated female author in history. Her writings are highly respected, worthy of "scripture" consideration, but she gave explicit instructions that her writings not be treated so. She called herself a "lesser light" to point the way to the "greater light" which is the Holy Bible.

>> Secondly, how would we collectively as Christians
>> recognize this prophet and recognize the writings as
>> scripture?

        That will never happen because, as with the prophets of old, they were never welcome in their own lands and were most often killed by their own people -- the Jews. No modern religion will accept a prophet whom touts some other religion.

>> Would most of us be too prideful or arrogant to recognize
>> a modern day prophet? The Jews didn't recognize their
>> Messiah....what makes us think we would be any different?

        Exactly my point. ;-)

>> ...there's prophecy that two prophets will come and be
>> killed before his return to Jerusalem.

        Those two prophets (or witnesses) are the Old and New Testaments. They were symbolically killed when the French outlawed religion and declared an Atheist society. These two witnesses also symbolically lay dead in the streets, for three and one-half years, as Bibles were burned.

Answer 2

You know, this is a good question. I suppose the Biblical answer would be that God, in a sense, completed the Bible with the book of Revelation. Revelation details the end of time and the end of the earth. The Bible starts with the beginning (God created light, earth, man...) and finished with the end (the apocalypse). It just doesn't seem like more scripture would follow after Jesus revealed God's plan so completely.

Or perhaps, many don't think there is anything left to be added. The Bible, especially the New Testament, tends to be a bit repetitive when discussing how we should live. Jesus gaves us specific directions about how to live our lives and those directions are timeless. They don't need revision or updating.

Answer 3

What could I say to add to what's already been said?

There's some great answers here- in what they address, in variety, etc.

Given the meaning of the word, "Bible" (library), I don't see how it could be finished.

Honestly, have any of us been into a library that doesn't accept additional books?...

Yes, the Holy Bible, by definition is uh... holy, so that's a pretty specific criterium for any potential addition to meet.

Very few prophets were accepted at their time. Even in Jesus' time, there were comments about "stoning the prophets." Jesus, Himself, was killed for His claim to be the Son of God. (And, yes, every time He said, "The Son of Man will......" He was claiming to be who He was.)

I like to think that I'm able to recognize God's chosen witnesses and accept them. Sadly, I fear that many Chrisitans make too much of John's warning to not change the record of his revelation, and would be unwilling to accept continued guidance from a loving Father....



Which brings up an interesting point- Why DOES God want us to call Him, "Father"??? To me, the term implies both leadership and love. He wants us to rely on Him and trust Him as our own children rely on and us. He wants us to love him and obey him as wise children love and obey their parents. Maybe there's something more, maybe not. I know how I feel about our relationship with God.

Answer 4

Scripture for number one tells us the canon has been closed once and for all. God was smart enough, and I hate using that phrase, to know that if it was fully complete and every jot and tittle given the way He wanted it; in the future deceptive works could appear saying things that were a violation of His word and will.

Think what fun Satan would have producing supposed added works to holy script? But because canon is closed there can be no forgeries. This is a great thing.

Answer 5

I think most Christians today wouldn't accept a modern day prophet, thinking that God would make their prophet obvious, but he didn't do that with the Jews Messiah.

I know if someone added on to the Bible today, at least 90% of Christians wouldn't believe it.

Hm.

I do, however, think it'd be funny if the last two words of this addition to the Bible were "Just kidding."

Answer 6

I for one, am just looking for the two witnesses as said in Revelations, and after that, I know the Lord Almighty will plant his feet on the Mount of Olives, so He can tell us what's happening.

Answer 7

I'm with you.

The other funny thing about the verse in Revelations is that there was no bible compiled at the time. That verse solely refers to the scrolls on which revelations was written.

And before someone brings up Galations, wouldn't a different gospel leave out Christ? If it's a gospel about Christ and His teachings, wouldn't it be the same gospel?

Answer 8

The Holy Bible, contrary to the opinion of everyone else who has answerd so far, is definitely NOT finished. A quick examination of the New Testament will show that almost every book but Acts has an ending, either by a blessing , a salutation to individual believers, or an Amen. The Acts of the Apostles (The full name of the book!) does not. The book of Acts is a narrative account of the works God did up to that date through the 1st Century Apostles. The narrative simply ends with Paul in Rome. The acts or works that the Church of God and it's leaders have done since that time are not recorded in the Bible......YET.

To quote the commentary in your question:

***"They were in no hurry to write or finish it because it took 4000 years to do so. Prophets revealed the Lord's will to mankind and wrote down their words, teachings, and prophecies. Eventually someone got around to putting all of these writings together." ****

That process is still ongoing today, as it has been since the resurrection of the Messiah. God is still sending people (Whether you want to call them prophets or teachers is up to you.) to call sinners to repentance. This process will cumulate with the ministry of the Two Witnesses mentioned in Revelations, and then the end of this age will come.

There is an awful lot of stuff written about and by a lot of different people, it is going to take the Messiah's return in authourity to straighten out all the claims and counterclaims of those professing to come in His name. But do not be fooled, the remaining chapters of book of The Acts of the Apostles will be written for all surviving humanity to read and learn from when Messiah Yeshua returns to set up His kingdom on the earth.

***"So if God called another prophet and he did the same, shouldn't those writings be considered scripture and be treated with the same respect as the bible?"****

Eventually his writings and actions will be. The problem right now is there is so much religious confusion that it gets hard to make a judgement over who to believe on any given subject.

***"....Please don't quote Revelations 22:18. Moses said the same thing in Deuteronomy 4:2."***

Well, those verses really have no bearing on whether or not the Bible is "finished". What that verse is warning about is that we should not teach doctrines and practices that are not found in the scriptures. The following verses will help you understand those verses better:

Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.....

2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

***"Please don't say that God can't or won't call another prophet...he's God. He can do what he wants."****

I agree, I do not necessarily think that Ellen White was one of them. I do think that she brought some truth, especailly about the Sabbath, and that she got folks focused on the 2nd coming of Messiah Yeshua. I also think that Herbert W Armstrong was sent, whatever his faults and shortcomings were, to preach the truth in our modern age (1930's to 1980's), and a sizeable contingent of the people who came to see he was right still exists. I think Peter Waldo may have been one, and some other folks. Martin Luther, no, He just created another form of Roman Catholicism. These are my opinions, of course.

***"Besides, there's prophecy that two prophets will come and be killed before his return to Jerusalem."****

Absoultely! And as I mentioned above, in the Kingdom their actions will be recorded as scripture for all to read and marvel over.

****"Secondly, how would we collectively as Christians recognize this prophet and recognize the writings as scripture?Would most of us be too prideful or arrogant to recognize a modern day prophet? The Jews didn't recognize their Messiah....what makes us think we would be any different?"****

That is, absoultely the most IMPORTANT question a person could ask themselves as we get closer and closer to the end of this age!
The bottom line is that there are two sections of scripture that are going to summarize the teachings of these two final witnesses:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 and 1 John 2:3-6.

Edit: Dave C: The two witnesses are going to be actual people sent by God. Scripture does not support your comment.

Answer 9

God does His part of the thing well. There is no need for another one. Besides Paul said though he, or even an angel from heaven teach something different than what he taught, let that person that taught differently be cursed. Don't believe any other message we will receive because it is from Satan and not from God. As I said, God does His job completely.

Answer 10

It's all based on faith. If you read this new scripture and know it to be true, then accept it. The problem with Christianity nowdays is that it has become so corrupted and changed that most Christian religions do not resemble the primitive church.