Systematic Theology

General Revelation

The Bible is God speaking to us. Most believers do not pay attention to God’s word and thats the reason He doesn't say much to them.

Jaspreet Virdee

09 May 2026 • 14 min read

May You Not come Behind In Any Spiritual Gift

REVELATION

We now move ahead in our study of systematic theology, which is simply the whole counsel of God in any given teaching, topic or doctrine.

The foundation of the believers life is the simple fact that “GOD HAS SPOKEN”. The whole Bible is undergirded by the truth of this divine communication to us. The Bible is God speaking to us. Most believers do not pay attention to God’s word and thats the reason He doesn't say much to them. This fact is very important because the God we are dealing with is invisible. Since we cannot see God, we must hear Him in order to know Him.

Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.

1 Timothy 6:16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

The above verse in Deuteronomy 4:12 shows that God spoke but they did not see Him. Here they experienced God through what they heard from Him. John 1:18 tells us that the Son who is the Word, shows us what the invisible God is like. 1 John 4:12 tells us that people can experience God through love in us. There are those who claim to have seen God The Father. This is not sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:16 tells us that no one has ever seen God or can see Him. However we can know by Him by revelation because He has spoken. Notice in Genesis 3:8 when God came to visit man, they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden. How can voice walk? It was the word of God walking in the Garden. They did not see God face to face. They knew God through what He said to them.

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Again I saw Jesus standing about where the top of the tent should be, and I went to Him through the air. When I reached Him, together we continued on to Heaven. We came to the throne of God, and I beheld it in all its splendor. I was not able to look upon the face of God; I only beheld His form. The first thing that attracted my attention was the rainbow about the throne. It was very beautiful. The second thing I noticed was the winged creatures on either side of the throne. They were peculiar-looking creatures and as I walked up with Jesus, these creatures stood with wings outstretched. They were saying something but they ceased and folded their wings. They had eyes of fire set all around their heads, and they looked in all directions at once. I stood with Jesus in the midst, about 18 to 24 feet from the throne. I looked at the rainbow first, at the winged creatures, and then I started to look at the One who sat upon the throne. JESUS TOLD ME NOT TO LOOK UPOUN HIS FACE. I could only see a form of a Being seated upon the throne. Jesus talked with me for nearly an hour. I saw Him as plainly as I ever saw anyone in this life. I heard Him as He spoke to me.

— I Believe In Visions By Kenneth E Hagin

Since we cannot see God, we must hear Him if we are to know him. The more than eight hundred repetitions of “saith the Lord” in the Bible give us great assurance that the invisible God has made himself known.

This is one of the spiritual reasons why God does not allow idols. We do not know God by sight, but by faith born of revelation.

Deuteronomy 4:15-19 “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, [16] beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, [17] the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, [18] the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. [19] And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

What about Mosses?

The Bible describes Moses as having a face to face relationship with God. This must be understood alongside the passages saying that no man can fully see God’s face.

The verse often referenced is:

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” — Exodus 33:11

But only a few verses later, God tells Moses:

“Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” — Exodus 33:20

So “face to face” in Exodus 33:11 cannot mean Moses literally saw God’s unveiled divine face. It describes intimate, direct fellowship and communication — not a full vision of God’s being.

Other Scriptures help explain this:

“If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision… My servant Moses is not so… With him will I speak mouth to mouth…” — Numbers 12:6–8

This means Moses received unusually clear revelation compared to other prophets. God communicated directly with him rather than mainly through dreams and symbolic visions.

Even then, Moses only saw a limited manifestation of God’s glory:

“thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” — Exodus 33:23

So the biblical balance is:

Moses had extraordinary intimacy with God.
He spoke with God directly and personally.
But he still did not see God in His full unveiled face.

“Face to face” is therefore relational and communicative language describing closeness, openness, and direct fellowship with God.

“A true concept of revelation can be derived only from revelation itself.” - Herman Bavinck

As we’ve discussed, theology and sound doctrine depend on God’s self-revelation. Attempting to understand God without His revelation leads us astray, swept up in “every wind of doctrine”. We begin teaching doctrines as “commandments of men“ and even worse, delve into “doctrines of devils”. (Read ST -2 for more on different types of doctrine.) If God is infinite and we are finite, we can’t exactly "think" our way up to Him; He has to reach down to us. It is not true to say that God is unable to be understood, but it is true to say that he cannot be understood fully or exhaustively.

TWO TYPES OF REVELATION

God reveals Himself in two primary ways: general revelation and special revelation.

General revelation

The principle trait of this generation is that man has forgotten God. For man to have forgotten God, it is necessary for man to have known God. Many do not realise that God has generally revealed Himself to ALL mankind. We call this general revelation because it reaches to everyone in all of God’s creation.

General revelation in creation:

Psalms 19:1-6 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. [2] Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. [3] There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. [4] Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, [5] which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. [6] Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

General revelation is God’s communication of Himself to all people, at all times, and in all places. It is "general" in both its audience and its content. It doesn't tell you how to get saved, but it does tell you that a Creator exists and that He has a specific character.

General revelation is enough to convict, but not enough to convert. It establishes that there is a God to whom we are accountable (Romans 1:20), but it doesn't mention Jesus, the Cross, or the specifics of grace.

God has revealed Himself to all mankind through His creation. Anyone who takes the time to look at creation will have this revelation. In fact creation ministers the reality of God to man. That is the message of psalm 19. Notice the phrase “what can be known about God” In Romans 1:19. God can be known in a limited way through creation. Notice God has shown it to all mankind - His existence and power. It is a clear and accessible revelation. Notice Psalm 19:2, creation reveals the existence of God 24/7! All day and night. Therefore the Romans 1:20 concludes - “they are without excuse”. Notice the phrase “ever since the creation of the world” in Romans 1:20 - since creation began, it has been ministering the revelation of God to all mankind.

God’s general revelation within man:

Since mankind is created in the image and likeness of God, mankind has a moral conscience in them.

Romans 2:14-15 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

We see in the passage of Romans 2:14 above that all mankind has the work of the law written on their hearts. This is God’s general revelation within man. Whether they be Jews who knew about God through the OT saints or Gentiles, all mankind has the law in their hearts. That is why everyone knows it is wrong to steal or lie. It IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT this is not the same us God supernaturally writing His laws in our hearts according to Jeremiah 31:33. This passage in Jeremiah refers to those who have been born again.

General revelation is not potential revelation, but actual revelation: “The heavens declare” (Ps. 19:1) and “God hath shewed it” (Rom. 1:19). Every problem mankind faced after the fall comes as a result of a defection from this revelation of the existence of God.

Despite this general revelation, the rest of the world does not know God personally, apart from the Jews, until the gospel arrives to in their hearts. However many in ancient Isreal did not know God despite having the law and the prophets. Mankind responds to the inner witness of conscience with wilful rebellion, leading to a moral callousness. As Paul says in Romans 1:21, they “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

General revelation through God’s providence:

Acts 14:17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Paul in Acts 14:17 is speaking to pagans in Lystra who did not possess the Scriptures like Israel did. Instead of quoting the Old Testament first, Paul points them to creation and providence. The revelation of divine providence is that God is good. Jesus tells us to continue this providence by loving our enemies so that God’s general revelation of the goodness of God through providence may continue to those who do not know God.

The idea is that God’s hand is visible in the rise and fall of nations and the preservation of humanity despite our best efforts to self-destruct.

General Revelation is so "clearly perceived" (Romans 1:20) that to deny it requires an active, ongoing effort.

General Revelation Of Gods wrath

Romans 1:18-28 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. [26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Luke 13:1-5 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? [3] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? [5] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Romans 1:32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

In Romans 1:18, Gods wrath is the reason why the Gospel was revealed. God did not want anyone to perish. Paul uses the present passive indicative (for the wrath of God IS being revealed). This means the wrath isn't just a future event (Judgment Day); it is presently unfolding right now. It isn't revealed through lightning bolts or natural disasters. In the context of Romans 1, God’s wrath is revealed through abandonment. Later in the chapter, Paul says "God gave them over" (v. 24, 26, 28). The greatest manifestation of God’s wrath in the present age is simply God letting us have our own way and allowing us to experience the natural, destructive consequences of our choices.

Paul categorises the targets of this revelation of wrath into two ways:

1. Godlessness: Sin against the first table of the Law (vertical). It’s the failure to worship and honor God.

2. Wickedness: Sin against the second table of the Law (horizontal). It’s the injustice we perpetrate against other humans.

Notice that godlessness precedes wickedness. When our relationship with the God is broken, our relationships with each other inevitably fracture.

Imagine trying to hold a beach ball underwater. The ball wants to pop up (General Revelation), but "wickedness" is the hand that forcefully holds it down. Satan has a primary goal to create systems that help mankind suppress this general revelation in mankind, lest he should try to seek after God and find Him.

Notice Romans 1:32. Even those who lack God’s Word know that they should worship God alone and do what is good and right, and yet they still continue in sin. Thats why wrath of abandonment is justified.

Now lets look at the passage of Luke 13:1-5. In the ancient world (and often today), people operated on a "karmic" or Retribution Principle: If something terrible happened to you, it must be because you committed a specifically terrible sin.

Jesus flatly denies this. He asks, "Do you think they were worse sinners?" and answers with a definitive "I tell you, no.

When we see "wrath" or "calamity" in the news, our response shouldn't be to ask, "What did they do wrong?" but rather to realise, "I am just as guilty, and I am only standing here because of God's mercy."

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

The Universal phenomena of religion

The natural revelation of God leads to the formation of religion unless God’s supernatural revelation comes on us. Belief in God and religion are the most natural phenomena in all the world, and the most strenuous efforts by modern governments and educational systems to eradicate them have failed. Satan takes advantage of this revelation of God to blind many from the one true God. The Gospel is the antidote.

Despite seven decades of intense atheistic propaganda in the Soviet Union during the twentieth century, when the USSR collapsed in 1991, almost two-fifths of the population in Russia indicated that they believed in God. In 2008, over half indicated that they believed in God and were somewhat religious, and less than one in five declared themselves as without any religion. - (Reformed Systematic Theology: Volume 1: Revelation and God)

All world religions are the human response to General Revelation. World religions are essentially "General Revelation gone wrong" - people take hold of the truth, but use it for their own purposes rather than surrender to the one true God.

Even though General Revelation is reaching everyone, without Special Revelation, we will always twist the truth into an idol. Rather than glorify God, people redirect their religious impulse and plunge into the worship of idols (Rom. 1:23, 25).

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for IMAGES resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Mankind is culpable for turning from “the glory of the incorruptible God” to worship God’s creatures (Rom. 1:23). This is the case whether one considers traditional tribal religions, “new age” spirituality, or idolatrous modern secularism.

The folly of atheism

Psalms 14:1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

Psalms 10:4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The person who denies the reality of God is a “fool” (Ps. 14:1). This is not an insult to the person’s intelligence so much as a recognition of his stubborn refusal to acknowledge what he knows (Rom. 1.21) because of his pride and wickedness (Ps. 10:4). The general revelation of God condemns atheism, which is the failure of mankind to acknowledge and glorify God as God and give him thanks (Rom. 1:21). General Revelation is so "clearly perceived" (Romans 1:20) that to deny it requires an active, ongoing effort. Atheism therefore is not ignorance, but suppression of the general knowledge of God revealed creation, conscience and providence.

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