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Self-Discovery and God's Revelation in the Bible

Revelation, from the Greek apokalupsis, signifies an "uncovering" or "bringing to light" of what was previously hidden or obscure [1, 2, 8]. In a biblical context, it refers to God's supernatural self-disclosure and the communication of his purposes and plans [1]. This divine revelation has been committed to writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, forming the Scriptures [1]. The Bible is not merely a record of revelation but is considered the revelation itself in written form, intended for the accurate preservation and propagation of truth [1].

The concept of revelation is central to understanding God and humanity's relationship with him. The Hebrew word for "know" (as in "know God") implies an experiential and relational understanding, similar to how it describes human sexual relations [14]. To "know God as Yahweh" is not just to grasp abstract facts, but to be in an ongoing relationship where one continually learns about God's identity and desires [14]. This relational knowledge is presented as the only true rescue from the human predicament of sin [14].

God's revelation has unfolded in various ways and at different times, as noted in Hebrews 1:1 [1, 13]. Not all revelation was given to a single prophet; rather, different prophets received distinct portions of divine truth [13]. For instance, Noah received revelation concerning the quarter of the world from which the Messiah would come, Abraham learned about the nation, Jacob about the tribe, David and Isaiah about the family, Micah about the town of nativity, and Daniel about the precise timing [13]. This progressive unveiling culminated in Jesus Christ, through whom God has spoken most fully [11, 13]. As Matthew Henry notes, the entire Bible is a revelation of Jesus Christ, with all revelation coming through him and centering on him [10]. Christ, as the king and prophet of his church, reveals the methods of his governance and the things to come [10].

The New Testament book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is explicitly titled "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 1:1) [6, 7, 8]. This book, authored by the Apostle John around A.D. 96, is the only prophetic book in the New Testament canon [7]. It serves as an "unveiling of those things which had been veiled" and a "manifesto of the kingdom of Christ," providing a "traveling manual" for the Church [8].

Beyond the written word, revelation also refers to specific events or manifestations. The "revelation of Christ" can refer to his second advent, expressed by Greek words such as apokalupsis, parousia, and epiphaneia [4]. This signifies a future uncovering of Christ's glory [4]. Believers are promised to "see his face" in divine glory through Christ Jesus, experiencing an intuitive knowledge of God "face to face" [12]. This vision implies a deep, personal recognition and understanding of God, where believers are known by Him even as they know Him [12].

The names "Deuel" and "Jediel" both carry meanings related to "the knowledge of God" or "the renewing of God," underscoring the biblical emphasis on knowing God [3, 5]. This knowledge is not static but involves an ongoing, experiential relationship that transforms individuals [14]. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this process, revealing divine truths to believers [9]. The inspiration of thoughts, particularly concerning truth essential for salvation, is attributed to the Spirit, while the inspiration of words is characteristic of prophets [9]. The secrets of revelation are unveiled by God, not because those who know them withhold them, but because revelation itself is an unveiling of what was previously hidden [9].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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. Rev”
  2. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Apocalypse — uncovering, revelation”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Deuel — the knowledge of God”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation of Christ — 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.)”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jediel — the knowledge, or renewing, of God”
  6. Revelation “This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, -- Revelation 1:1”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book of — =The Apocalypse, the closing book and the only prophetical book 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, howev”
  8. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 1 (introduction): 1TITLE: SOURCE AND OBJECT OF THIS REVELATION: BLESSING ON THE READER AND KEEPER OF IT, AS THE TIME IS NEAR: INSCRIPTION TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: APOSTOLIC GREETING: KEYNOTE, "BEHOLD HE COMETH" (Compare at the close, Rev 22:20, "Surely I come quickly"): INTRODUCTORY VISION OF THE SON OF MAN IN GLORY, AMIDST THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS, WITH SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND. (Rev. 1:1-20) Revelation--an apocalypse or unveiling of those things which had been veiled. A manifesto of the kingdom of Christ. The travelling manual of the Church for the G”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:10: revealed . . . by . . . Spirit--The inspiration of thoughts (so far as truth essential to salvation is concerned) makes the Christian (Co1 3:16; Co1 12:3; Mat 16:17; Joh 16:13; Jo1 2:20, Jo1 2:27); that of words, the PROPHET (Sa2 23:1-2; Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:5), "by the word of the Lord" (Co1 2:13; Joh 20:30-31; Pe2 1:21). The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announ”
  10. Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 1:1: Here we have, I. What we may call the pedigree of this book. 1. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is so; for all revelation comes through Christ and all centres in him; and especially in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, and concerning his Son. Christ, as the king of his church, has been pleased thus far to let his church know by what rules and methods he will proceed in his government; and, as the prophet of the church, he has made known to us the things that shall be hereafter. 2. It is a revelation which God gave unto Chris”
  11. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 21:37: 21:37 Finally: God’s revelation climaxed in Jesus (see 13:16-17; Heb 1:1-2).”
  12. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 22:4: see his face--revealed in divine glory, in Christ Jesus. They shall see and know Him with intuitive knowledge of Him, even as they are known by Him (Co1 13:9-12), and face to face. Compare Ti1 6:16, with Joh 14:9. God the Father can only be seen in Christ. in--Greek, "on their foreheads." Not only shall they personally and in secret (Rev 3:17) know their sonship, but they shall be known as sons of God to all the citizens of the new Jerusalem, so that the free flow of mutual love among the members of Christ's family will not be checked by suspicio”
  13. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 1 (introduction): THE HIGHEST OF ALL REVELATIONS IS GIVEN US NOW IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS, AND WHO, HAVING COMPLETED REDEMPTION, SITS ENTHRONED AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND. (Heb 1:1-14) at sundry times--Greek, "in many portions." All was not revealed to each one prophet; but one received one portion of revelation, and another another. To Noah the quarter of the world to which Messiah should belong was revealed; to Abraham, the nation; to Jacob, the tribe; to David and Isaiah, the family; to Micah, the town of nativity; to Daniel, the exact”
  14. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 6:7: 6:7 Then you will know that I am the Lord: The Hebrew word translated know is always based on experience and relationship. The same word is used to describe human sexual relations. To know God as Yahweh is not just to know abstract facts about him, but to be in a relationship with him in which we are always learning who he is and what he wants us to do. This is the only true rescue from the human predicament of sin described in Gen 3–11. The importance of “knowing the Lord” in the book of Exodus is seen in its recurrence, especially in Exod 5–18 (5:2; 7:5, 17; 8:10”
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