Prerequisites and nature of biblical illumination

Biblical Illumination

What are the prerequisites to receiving illumination?

Illumination refers to a type of revelation that a reader may have while reading the Bible. Illumination refers to the Holy Spirit working through a person, helping them understand the truth of the written revelation. Moreover, according to Acts 17:11, there is no such thing as extra-scriptural illumination. Therefore, the most basic prerequisite to receiving illumination is that a person be actively reading the Bible. Furthermore, a person needs to be willing to receive illumination. The Holy Spirit is described as helping a person gain an understanding of Scripture; there is nothing to suggest that this is a coercive process.

What does illumination really look (or feel) like?

I think it is difficult to describe what illumination really looks or feels like, because it is a personal experience for the person undergoing the illumination. It would be easy to say that illumination feels like certainty, because it provides people with the feeling that that they are truly understanding Scripture. After all, with words having multiple meanings, uncertainty about translations, and the traces of a historical lifestyle in Scripture, it can be very daunting to try to understand which one of multiple-offered interpretations is accurate. Illumination takes away that uncertainty. However, to do define it as the removal of uncertainty would be incomplete, because the inherent fallibility of man means that someone can feel certain about something and still be wrong.

Can you provide any testimony of having received illumination?

One of the areas of discord in modern Christian discussion is God's view of homosexuals and homosexuality. Many Christians believe that God has labeled homosexuality a sin and considers that sin to be so grievous that it would warrant damnation. Other Christians believe that God, specifically through Jesus, had a message of love and that such condemnation of homosexuals would go against his message. I spent considerable time thinking about this issue, and was specifically pondering the issue while reading the Bible one day. I found myself drawn to certain passages that day, and, reading them, I felt as if I received a message that day, which was that Christianity was never intended to be a theocracy. It did not resolve my uncertainty about the seemingly conflicting messages about how one should treat homosexuals, but it did make me certain that it is Christ's job to judge, not mine.

How does illumination relate to academics, education, hard work and the study of the Bible?

My understanding is that illumination specifically refers to the work of the Holy Spirit, which is, not surprisingly, in the spiritual realm. Therefore, I do not think that illumination has a direct application to academics, education, and hard work outside of religion. However, I do believe that, once one is illuminated, it becomes impossible to separate religion from the rest of one's life. Furthermore, for me, illumination was not a conclusive event; I only feel as if I received guidance about one question that I had about the Bible. Therefore, I feel that illumination is an ongoing process, like many areas of knowledge acquisition.