Revelation

"An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been" previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and "plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been" committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are "not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation" "itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation" and propagation of the truth. "Revelation and inspiration differ. Revelation is the supernatural communication of truth to the mind; inspiration (q.v.) secures to the teacher or writer infallibility in communicating that truth to others. It renders its subject the spokesman or prophet of God in such a sense that everything he "asserts to be true, whether fact or doctrine or moral principle," "is true, infallibly true."

#NAME? of the New Testament canon. The author of this book was undoubtedly John the apostle. His name occurs four times in the "book itself (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8), and there is every reason to" "conclude that the "John" here mentioned was the apostle. In a" "manuscript of about the twelfth century he is called "John the" "divine," but no reason can be assigned for this appellation." "The date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at "A.D. 96, in the reign of Domitian. There are some, however, who" "contend for an earlier date, A.D. 68 or 69, in the reign of" Nero. Those who are in favour of the later date appeal to the "testimony of the Christian father Irenaeus, who received" information relative to this book from those who had seen John "face to face. He says that the Apocalypse "was seen no long time" "ago." "As to the relation between this book and the Gospel of John, it "has been well observed that "the leading ideas of both are the" "same. The one gives us in a magnificent vision, the other in a" "great historic drama, the supreme conflict between good and evil" "and its issue. In both Jesus Christ is the central figure, whose" victory through defeat is the issue of the conflict. In both the "Jewish dispensation is the preparation for the gospel, and the" warfare and triumph of the Christ is described in language saturated with the Old Testament. The difference of date will go "a long way toward explaining the difference of style." Plummer's" "Gospel of St. John, Introd."

The second advent of Christ. Three different Greek words are "used by the apostles to express this, (1) apokalupsis (1 Cor." "1;7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:7, 13); (2) parousia (Matt. 24:3," "27; 1 Thess. 2:19; James 5:7, 8); (3) epiphaneia (1 Tim. 6:14; 2" Tim. 1:10; 4:1-8; Titus 2:13). There existed among Christians a "wide expectation, founded on Matt. 24:29, 30, 34, of the speedy" return of Christ. (See [533]MILLENNIUM.)

Related Bible Dictionary Terms:
Revelation Book of    Revelation of Christ