What Does Revelation Mean? A Biblical Definition of Revelation

What does the word “revelation” mean? What is the context of this word in the Bible and what is a biblical definition of revelation?

Revelation is…

The word revelation simply means a revealing of something or someone. It is to reveal what was before hidden. It’s like opening a curtain or a door and seeing what is behind it. The automakers make a revelation of their new models each fall and what was previously hidden is hidden no longer when it is revealed for all to see. Revelation then is the act of revealing or disclosing something that has not been known or seen before and the biblical definition fits very nicely with this secular definition.

God Reveals Himself

Long ago, God revealed Himself to Abram (later changed to Abraham) (Gen 12) and then to Moses in the burning bush (Ex 3) so for Abram and Moses, there was a revelation from God and that was their first ever revelation of God and it changed the course of human history. Through Abraham came the Promised Seed, Jesus Christ. The Bible is a book where God gradually reveals Himself more and more until finally, Jesus Christ arrives and we see the God-Man live a sinless life and die for the redemption of those who would trust in Him. Jesus Christ is God revealed and through Jesus’ atoning death, He brings us to a knowledge of God the Father as well as God the Holy Spirit so Jesus is able to reveal to us Who the Father and the Spirit are.

Jesus Christ’s Revealing

The story of the first revelation of Jesus, the God-Man, came to Mary and then to Joseph but also to “Simeon [who] was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” and so “when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32). Through an angel and then through Simeon, God revealed Who Jesus Christ is and slowly we can see God revealing more and more of Himself and Jesus said “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) so in Jesus Christ, the Father has now been revealed. God the Holy Spirit will be arriving shortly for the first time, revealing Himself as also God.

The Mystery of Jesus Christ Fully Revealed

Paul writes about the mystery of the gospel and it’s not so much a plan of salvation as it is the Man of salvation and that is Jesus Christ as he writes “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” (Rom 16:25). Paul had such great revelations that God allowed a thorn in his side, whatever it was, and Paul explains why; “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2nd Cor 12:7). Paul “did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal 1:12).

The Spirit’s Revelation

On the Day of Pentecost, in one of the greatest sermons in the Bible, Peter convicts the listeners that they murdered the Son of God but that was foreordained for their good and the good of the believers. Jesus had earlier promised the disciples that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) and “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4) so finally God the Holy Spirit has been revealed.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

We read earlier that God revealed Himself to Abram, then to Moses, and much later to Mary, Joseph, and then Simeon and finally to the disciples. Then Jesus Christ revealed the Father to the disciples and lastly, as I wrote earlier, the Holy Spirit was revealed on the Day of Pentecost. Now, the final revealing or what is called “the apokalypsis” or some call it in the English, the Apocalypse which was translated into the word “Revelation.” The word apokalypsis means; an unveiling, laying bare, making naked, or a revealing or disclosure, and by the way, it isn’t the Apostle John’s revelation at all; it is “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John” (Rev 1:1).

Conclusion

God has revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible. It is sufficient revelation to be saved and so mankind is without excuse. For all who have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ, someday they will get a full revelation of the Master. Paul wrote, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1st Cor 13:12). Speaking for myself, I cannot wait for the great day.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.