Chapter 1—Heaven’s Means of Communication

That God has revealed Himself to humanity is foundational to the Christian faith. If God hadn’t taken the initiative in making Himself known to us, we would have remained in hopeless darkness. The essence and fullness of God’s being is beyond the capacity of human understanding. As Zophar said to Job, ” ‘Can you search out the deep things of God? / Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?’ ” In response to his own question, he continued, ” ‘They are higher than heaven—what can you do? / Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? / Their measure is longer than the earth / And broader than the sea’ ” (Job 11:7-9). Yet God has so manifested Himself to us that we can know something of Him—indeed, we not only can, but we must to be saved.GP 11.1

The two basic ways in which God has revealed Himself are called general revelation and special revelation. General revelation is God’s revelation of Himself to all people at all times and in all places through nature and people’s consciences. Special revelation comprises God’s revelations through the prophets as recorded in Scripture and His revelation through Jesus Christ.GP 11.2