During the past few years some so?called prophetic revelations have been disseminated in our country. Some of them have reached my desk mailed even from Russia. It is claimed that they are the words of God given directly to His servants. What are we to think of them?

God has established His Church on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself as the Cornerstone. This foundation is the holy Bible (Eph. 2:20). It is completely sufficient and does not need to be made more complete. "The Scriptures cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

The disseminated "prophetic revelations" represent the extreme fanatical wing of Reformed Christianity. Their content is legalistic: Finland is threatened by destruction, repentance is demanded. But the sweet voice of the Gospel is missing. Forgiveness is the key for improving one's life. The necessity of conversion must be preached, it is true, but it is often preached in the wrong way. It is also true that a sinful way of life has always led to the destruction of a nation. But the future is unknown to us; so too are God's ways and thoughts. He is more patient than we are, because he wants to save and not to destroy. At best we can only surmise what might lie ahead.

The human character of these "prophetic revelations" is apparent from the fact that what they proclaim is not true.

In a printed pamphlet published in 1970 it is stated: "Sometime at the end of July or the beginning of August God has revealed to His servant in Satakunta that our nation will not see next Christmas unless this rebellious people, living in the sin of adultery and drunkenness repents of all of its sins." The people of Finland did not repent of all their sins, perhaps not even of one sin, but nevertheless Christmas came.

In another "revelation" it is stated: "My servant Luther was not a supporter of Infant Baptism. Infant Baptism is a delusion invented by the devil, who falsely used Martin Luther's name." This "revelation" presents a lie that is easily recognized by anyone who knows at least a little bit about history. Everyone can read the following from Luther's writings: "We are... persuaded by many good reasons to hold that child Baptism is right and that children do believe... child Baptism derives from the Apostles and has been practiced since the days of the Apostles. We cannot oppose it, but must let it continue..."

The Bible admonishes false prophets: "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood... let him who has My Word speak My Word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" (Jer. 23:25?28).