TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 14: 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. (KJV)

Today I would like to deliver a message entitled “IF ANY THING BE REVEALED, LET THE FIRST HOLD HIS PEACE.” It is a bit long title, but is the word as written on the text.

This is the passage about prophesying in the church. So, it firstly says about using gifts of prophecy in the church such as, “The Lord says to some one like this,” or “It will be raining or fine tomorrow.”

But not only that, this passage seems to have double meanings, as many others are so.

For, it seems that this passage tells about prophecy of the Bible, especially of revelation of end time. It says of prophecy and revelation.

Many people interpret and comment on end time prophecies beginning with Revelation. But we should know the important point about these prophecies is revelation.

And, the Bible says clearly that the end time prophecies are not opened and sealed until the stipulated time so that no body can see them.

For example, the word “Revelation” means that for itself.

The word Revelation means to take out a cover, and it suggests that the end time prophecies are covered until the time stipulated of the Lord so that no body can see them by the time when the Lord takes out the cover.

And the Bible said the end time prophecy cannot be opened by any body until the stipulated time, when it was told to Daniel as below.

DANIEL 12: 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (KJV)

And the following passage also says like the above that this book of prophecy is shut up and no body can open or see it.

REVELATION 5: 1- 5 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (KJV)

I repeat. This end time prophecy will never be opened until the end time so that no body can see or read it. God says like that and so does the Bible.

But it is very regrettable that many teachers in the Christian church do no accept this clear proclamation of the Bible. They insist, “Revelation is already opened. I have opened it. We know all of it.” It shouldn’t be that some eventually condemn others for, “They are heretics, because their interpretations do not agree with mine,” based on their own interpretations that they insist they revealed.

If I read their interpretations, I find some explanations are written very seemingly true such as, “These seven seals show this,” or “These four horses refer to that.” And, people may even think and misunderstand that there already exists the right established theory of interpretation about Revelation.

But, these are totally wrong, if I may say plainly. For, the book which God has sealed in His authority cannot be simply opened by wisdom of men. Yes, the seal cannot be opened even a bit or read a little. Therefore, the interpretations on Revelation told before the time of the end are nothing but just stories of men’s wisdom or idea, or plainly speaking, just fantasies. Those who say like they have understood Revelation with the interpretations told 100 or 200 years ago do not understand that the seals will never be opened until the time God has stipulated. These old interpretations may be a little referred but cannot be relied on seriously.

One of the characteristics of these commentaries may be filled with wisdom of men. But we should know the Bible says to reveal, to take out the cover concerning Revelation. Until God reveals, no body will be able to open the seals.

We should clearly know that it is related to the time to reveal, to open the seals of, the end time prophecy. For, Daniel was commanded until the definite time like the time of the end comes, as is written, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.”

So, the end time prophecy is like time capsule, isn’t it? Time capsule is not opened till that time, once it is fixed to open on January 1, 2000 A. D. It is not opened in 1998 or 1999, regardless of being rich or of being good performance or not. But on January 1, 2000, all can open and see it. The time is linked to that.

Likewise, regarding the end time prophecy, too, the interpretation is solely related to the time, regardless of the interpreters being clever or not, or having good knowledge or not, or believing or not. Once the end time stipulated of God comes, such difficult Revelation will be opened thoroughly and plainly.

Many interpreters do not respect the time stipulated of God. They behave as someone great like they know all before God opens the seals. But, we should respect God’s sovereignty.

Well, let’s look at the text.

As the Lord has never given revelation for a long time regarding Revelation, people talk various things with their own ideas. Each says his own opinion. This is the above “the first.” It can never be prohibited to speak his own idea or result of his study till the end time. For, as long as God gives no revelation, there is no other way for us to guess or think it in our way.

But, at some stipulated end time God will suddenly give revelation for the end time prophecy. I do not know to whom, or how, but the Lord will give revelation at the stipulated time as He has promised. Well, if we should live in the days when revelation is given, we have one important thing to notice. It is “let the first hold his peace,” as said above.

Concerning this “the first”, it is not written as “the one who is given revelation first,” but simply as “the first.” So, it is suggested that revelation is not given to “the first.”

“The first” in short may mean all of interpretations, commentaries, teachers and theologians of the end time that exist before God give revelation. They may be of knowledge, recognized by many people and orthodox. But if they are not given revelation, they should hold peace.

If I say the idea like this, that when revelation is given in the end time let the first hold peace, it may seem like, “irreparable distortion,” or “deviation from the doctrine of the Bible,” but not so. Actually such happened in the days of Jesus and of the apostles.

The person who wrote the most letters in the New Testament, that is, the founder of doctrine of the church, is no other than Paul. And he did not say he studied very hard to understand concerning his teachings and interpretations. To the contrary, he often mentioned about revelation as below.

And Paul wrote also like this in the following passage.

EPHESIANS 3: 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (KJV)

Therefore, Paul said, “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, (but it is made known now.)” And, the same is true in the end time. It will not be opened till that time. But as long as God has declared to open revelation in the Bible, the word will be revealed and opened (not like before).

But, there is one problem at the time like this when revelation is opened. That is that “the first” will not hold peace. To the contrary, they will oppose in loud voice. But, “the first” is allowed to speak till the revelation is given, but once revelation is given to other man he should hold peace.

Once we read The Acts, we know it very well how persistently and obstinately “the first,” the Jews, scribes and Pharisees, opposed to Paul who was given revelation.

They were convinced of and so opposed to Paul as a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world or a ringleader of the sect, but the fact before God was, what, that Paul was given revelation of God.

We know how different idea and understanding of men are from the way of God. And, this is the exactly same in the end time, too.

Those of “the first” who enjoy lies like foolish and crooked interpretations and theologies will never admit this end time revelation or the people who are given revelation. To the contrary, they will expel them as movers of churches or heretics, sects. They will never hold peace but rather expel them. Those who say lies totally opposite to the Bible, “Revelation was given in the age of the first generation church but not any more later,” will stand at the head of the line.

Have they not read the words said to Daniel on Daniel 12: 9, “For the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end?” As long as the Word is closed till the time of the end, it will of course be opened, revealed.

Therefore, why then are those who insist, Revelation is opened in the end time,” not biblical? We should know those who say unreasonable lies are the very blind.

But, let’s take heed not to fall into such errors.

In the days of Lord Jesus the revelations of God were given to Lord Jesus, Peter, John, Paul and others, and they served based on these revelations.

We do not know how the Lord will work to open revelation in the end time. But, God has certainly said the people who are given revelations will stand and at that time “the first,” that is, those who are not given revelations, should hold peace.

Let’s respect the Word of the Lord.

Let’s do the will of the Lord in the end time.

End.