The Beliefs of John Robert Stevens

John Robert Stevens defined revelation in this way: “Revelation is the communication by God of His will and truths to man.”¹ The Bible is a record of revelations given by God to his prophets and recorded in written form. God continues to give revelation to those who seek Him today (I Corinthians 2:6–13); however, Stevens taught that the revelation given in each new generation never contradicts the Bible. The Bible is used by God to communicate revelation.

Revelation is a powerful experience in the Lord, and it creates a deep faith. As Jesus said about Peter’s revelation that He was the Son of God, “…the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Revelation is greater than a convincing argument, because it is a direct impartation from God and is not dependent on human reasoning. This is an important distinction, because Stevens felt that if someone were talked into something, they could just as easily be talked out of it. Jesus told Peter, “flesh and blood did not reveal this to you” (Matthew 16:17). Although Peter had heard many reports about Jesus, none of that mattered because he had his own revelation of who He was.

Stevens applied this principle of revelation to his own teachings, stating that every believer needed to find their own experience of revelation from God, through His Word. He didn’t count on his skills as a teacher to be the bottom line in anyone’s relationship with the Lord.

I am not a salesman who tries to talk you into something every time you come to church. I want you to hear the Word and look to the Lord, and have the Lord make it so real to you that it is a revelation you will never walk away from, that you believe it in your heart.²

Stevens linked the idea of revelation with dedication, noting Jesus’ teaching that “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God” (John 7:17). When a believer is completely committed to do His will, God’s response is to reveal His will through revelation. When Jesus said, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53) some of His disciples left because they were not willing and could not receive it. However, those who were dedicated to do His will truly received the revelation of this and were able to accept it (John 6:60-68).

The term revelation appears 5,457 times in Stevens’ written materials.