Articles
A Revelation
The book of Revelation is one of the most difficult to understand of all the books of the Bible, and mostly because of the highly-figurative language and symbolism within it. It is by definition apocalyptic literature, but that fact itself has led many to misunderstand its purpose and meaning. The term apocalypse simply means “to uncover; reveal,” and that is the purpose and content of the book of Revelation, hence its name. Unfortunately, many now use the term apocalyptic to mean “a final, cataclysmic battle between good and evil” that points to the end of the world.
While the book title Revelation is all about a revealing of visions to the apostle John about events “which must shortly take place” (Rev. 1:1), there are some other notable ‘revelations’ [plural] throughout the Bible that we should consider, for they teach us some worthwhile lessons a lot easier to understand than the book of Revelation, and of greater significance to us today.
The Revelation of God’s Plan for Our Salvation. Surely, we would acknowledge that this is one of the greatest revelations of all! The apostle Paul, when writing to the Gentile Christians in Ephesus, noted that the message he had preached to them — “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” — was not of man but “by revelation He [God] made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets”(Eph. 3:1-6).
This message of salvation for all [not just for the Jews] was indeed ‘good news,’ but it could not have been good news had it never been revealed! The possibility of eternal life was something God “promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching” (Titus 1:2, 3); in other words, that plan that enabled sinful man to attain eternal life through forgiveness of sins was revealed through the preaching of the gospel — just as Paul also wrote. This was the plan “which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:9, 10). In this plan, that Christ would be Savior “was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Pet. 1:20, 21). Note in all these passages that the plan, once hidden since before the world was even created, was then revealed, and revealed through the preaching of the gospel.
Let us be eternally grateful for God’s grace that has granted “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23b), but let us also thank God He did not keep this plan hidden from us, for we would clearly have no hope of forgiveness of sins or eternal life in heaven had it been kept hidden from us! But that was God’s “eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:11) and by which God’s wisdom would be made known “to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10). We thank God His plan for our salvation has been revealed, and that we can understand it and obey it!
The Revelation of God’s Righteousness. The apostle Paul also wrote to the Roman Christians that he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16); why? He continues: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith” (Rom. 1:17). Not only was God’s wisdom revealed in the preaching of the gospel plan of salvation, but also God’s righteousness in conceiving and executing such a plan that would make our salvation possible!
Think about it: Every man has sinned (Rom. 3:23) and, as such, all are separated from God and with no means of reconciliation. Man was truly “without strength” (Rom. 5:6) and “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1), yet God knew every man would sin before He even created us — and created us anyway! But how could man be reconciled to Him, since sin was the cause for separation and man, stained by sin, could offer nothing in exchange for his justification?
Here again is the wisdom of God, and His righteousness demonstrated in this one act of Christ’s sacrifice! Paul noted the magnitude of man’s sin, but also noted that we are saved because we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:24-26).
God was both “just” [the price for sin was paid, not merely ‘overlooked’] and the “justifier” [the one who declared the believer ‘right’ in His sight], and that because of the plan accomplished in the death of Jesus Christ. God’s righteousness is thus revealed! He was not a cruel and unjust God who demanded an impossibility of man [an offering for sin], and neither did He leave us without the means of forgiveness.
The Revelation of Self. The wise writer tells us, “As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man” (Prov. 27:19). It is important that we acknowledge this, for though we may be successful in hiding who we truly are to other men, God is not fooled, for “the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). We may hide our true intentions, true feelings, and true nature, but God knows who we truly are because He looks into our hearts [our minds] and sees all. We may hide our evil act, erase our web browser’s history, tell ‘little white lies,’ and get away with many things, but we cannot escape from God’s sight and knowledge of who we are.
It is important we acknowledge this and live accordingly now, too, for it will be in the final judgment He “will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s heart” (1 Cor. 4:5). Yes, it is in judgment “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl. 12:14). Since “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10), hiding it now will do us no good then.
Jesus noted, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matt. 12:35), so we need “good treasure” in our hearts if we are to truly be “good.” As the wise writer said, “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7), and that is true for all men, whether they are misers, generous, evil, or good.
These ‘revelations’ should be significant to all men, for they help us to know and be prepared for the time “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (2 Thess. 1:7, 8).
Now you know! — Steven Harper
