The miracles which accompany Revelation are proof of Divine
Almightiness, and, because of that, witness to the truth of Revelation.
Prophecies, being proof of Divine Omniscience, also witness to the truth of
Revelation.
A genuine
miracle can be examined from the ontological,
psychological and teleological points
of view. As an ontological phenomenon,
a miracle is a phenomenon of the supernatural power of Divine Omnipotence in
the facts of usual life. Psychologically,
a miracle produces a soul-stunning sensation. As a teleological phenomenon, a miracle always has a definite aim,
sense, and a deep moral meaning: revealing to people the nature of divine love
and truth. Therefore, a genuine miracle is always the best and most graphic
proof of the divinity of Revelation.
The Savior
taught as one who had the authority to reveal the Truth to people. In order to
prove His divine might and goodness, and also the might of those who had faith
in God and love toward people, He occasionally performed miracles and
demonstrated other spiritual phenomena. Sometimes these miracles carried an
undoubted and exceptionally supernatural character such as the resurrection of
the dead, healing at a distance by word alone, and subduing the storm also by
word; sometimes they were combined with causes, such as the healing of a man
born blind with the help of a mixture from spittle; and at other times, for
their accomplishment, the personal effort of the man was necessary — mainly, in
the manifestation of the power of faith, such as the walking upon the water of
the Apostle Peter.
Of a singular
aspect are miracles which represent in themselves fully natural phenomena, but
which are performed in a strictly definite moment, as a result of which the
wonder proves to be in the extraordinary coincidence of two phenomena, such as
the Hebrews’ crossing of the Red Sea and the failure of Pharaoh’s army to do
so, or the earthquake and the obscuration of the sun at the death of the
Savior.
Not less of a
notable proof of the truth of divine Revelation is prophecy. The prophet Isaiah
attaches a decisive meaning to prophecies in the work of disclosing the truth
of divine Revelation. Present your case, says
he to the idolaters, let your gods
approach and tell us what is to happen; let them tell us something before it
happens, and we will consider it with our minds, and will find its result, or
let them tell us the things that are coming hereafter. Tell us, what will
happen in the future, and we will know that you are gods (Isaiah 41:21-23).
In the New Testament, the Savior Himself pointed to His prophecies of the
future as a sign of His divine dignity: Now
I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I
am he (John 13:19).
The exceptional
and enormous meaning that was attached to the Old Testament prophecies by the
Savior is seen from the message of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke
24:27). The power of proof of Revelation by prophecies was compared by the
Savior to the resurrection of the dead: If
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead (Luke 16:31).