DeletedUser
Well, since God still controls the events of our world, I assume you mean "Why does God not appear to man anymore?" What we must understand is that God works in dispensations. That is, He has multiple short-term plans in His overall long-term plan. Let me explain. In the past, God’s message has been that you must get on the ark to survive destruction. However, I’m not building an ark in my back yard. And, yet again, God’s gospel to others has been to follow Moses through the wilderness to the promise land. Well, I’ve not bought any tickets to go to Israel. You see, God’s plan isn’t always the same – what He’s done in the past isn’t always what He wants done today.
That being said, “Why does God not appear to man anymore?” Well, we must first look to see why God appears to man. God has appeared to men in the past to give them guidance or correction. When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, they could not read the Bible to see what they should do – it hadn’t been written yet. God had to lead them. Here is another example, the prophets told the Israelites what God wanted them to do in certain situations. Why? Because Israel did not have a completed Bible. When the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was about to conquer Israel, the Hebrews could not look in the Bible to see what they should do – the book of Jeremiah hadn’t been written yet. They had to go to Jeremiah and ask him what it was that the Lord wanted them to do.
The Lord appeared to the Apostles in the early Church because we needed guidance. A new dispensation was starting – the Church Age. This age, which had previously not been explained in the Bible, was only referred to as the “Mystery.” You see, salvation had always been offered to people by joining the nation of Israel. However, Salvation was now being offered to everyone regardless of their race. This was something new, which had never been explained in the Bible. Therefore, God revealed it to us by speaking directly with His Apostles. Now we have the entire New Testament. There is nothing more which we need to know. So, we see that God only appears to men when there is something which He desires to reveal to us which we cannot learn in the Bible. The last revelation that we have been given was the Revelation unto the Apostle John. It is the last book in our Bible.
However, there will come a time when God shall reveal Himself to men once again. A new, seven-year dispensation will come about which the Bible refers to as the Tribulation period. During this time people will need revelation from God because the Bible, so far, does not speak to much about it. After this Tribulation, God will come to earth and rule it for one thousand years. This is called the Millennium dispensation. God will appear to all again.
That being said, “Why does God not appear to man anymore?” Well, we must first look to see why God appears to man. God has appeared to men in the past to give them guidance or correction. When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, they could not read the Bible to see what they should do – it hadn’t been written yet. God had to lead them. Here is another example, the prophets told the Israelites what God wanted them to do in certain situations. Why? Because Israel did not have a completed Bible. When the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was about to conquer Israel, the Hebrews could not look in the Bible to see what they should do – the book of Jeremiah hadn’t been written yet. They had to go to Jeremiah and ask him what it was that the Lord wanted them to do.
The Lord appeared to the Apostles in the early Church because we needed guidance. A new dispensation was starting – the Church Age. This age, which had previously not been explained in the Bible, was only referred to as the “Mystery.” You see, salvation had always been offered to people by joining the nation of Israel. However, Salvation was now being offered to everyone regardless of their race. This was something new, which had never been explained in the Bible. Therefore, God revealed it to us by speaking directly with His Apostles. Now we have the entire New Testament. There is nothing more which we need to know. So, we see that God only appears to men when there is something which He desires to reveal to us which we cannot learn in the Bible. The last revelation that we have been given was the Revelation unto the Apostle John. It is the last book in our Bible.
However, there will come a time when God shall reveal Himself to men once again. A new, seven-year dispensation will come about which the Bible refers to as the Tribulation period. During this time people will need revelation from God because the Bible, so far, does not speak to much about it. After this Tribulation, God will come to earth and rule it for one thousand years. This is called the Millennium dispensation. God will appear to all again.
I'd like to thank you, and would like to let you know that your views are very much appreciated, brother Rilly Rob. And I know He who knows it all appreciates it much as well that you would decide to read the Bible more often that you used to. He should always come first in our lives, as He is the beginning. And only He gives us beginnings..even at whatever that ends, he gives as much a new beginning to whoever deserves in the light of His mercy.
