Tag Archives: Revelation

4. Jesus Christ, The Revealer And The Revealed

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Jesus Christ

The word Jesus is from the Hebrew word Yeshua, meaning “Savior.” The word Christ is from the Greek word “Christos,” translating the Hebrew word Messiah, meaning “the anointed one.” The very name Jesus Christ proclaims Him Savior and Anointed One.

In Revelation 1:1 we have the title “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” and in verse two it is called the “testimony of Jesus Christ.” This makes it clear that the subject of the Book is ‘Jesus Christ.’

In Daniel 9:25 the Hebrew word Messiah is also called a “Prince,” (KJV). It means “the anointed of Jehovah,” a title given to a consecrated person, as the priests, kings, or saints. Those consecrated to God by the anointing were therefore holy. It was revealed to Daniel that a Messiah would come before the final end of the Jewish nation and city of Jerusalem, (Daniel 9:24-27). The fact that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, had come revealed that it was the “time of the end” for the fleshly nation.

The Title ‘Revelation’

Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary [ZPBD] says: “The title [Revelation 1.1] which the book itself assumes may mean either ‘the revelation which Christ possesses and imparts,’ or ‘the unveiling of the person of Christ.’ Grammatically, the former is preferable, for this text states that God gave this disclosure to Christ that He might impart it to His servants.” (ZPBD pp. 716-17)

We need not choose between the two meanings, for He is both. The Book of Revelation is actually both the unveiling of Christ and the revelation He possesses and imparts. He is both the Revealer and the Revealed.

His Revelation, then, is that which He reveals of the hidden wisdom, that which can only be known by spiritual insight, I Corinthians 2.10. This secret wisdom is also mentioned in Colossians 2.2b-3: “To have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (RSV) These “treasures,” previously hidden in Christ, are now revealed in HIm.

The Hidden Wisdom

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians also speaks of this wisdom which is hidden in Christ: “For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ,” (1.9 RSV).

That Jesus is the source of a hidden wisdom is attested also in I Corinthians 2:7-8: “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (RSV)

The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ is to reveal these hidden things: I Corinthians 4:5: “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, [is revealed] who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”(RSV) He came “with clouds” during the destruction of the City of Jerusalem.

The Gospel Hidden in the Old Testament

Indeed, the gospel was preached to Abraham and the prophets in a hidden or esoteric form, (Galatians 3:8 and Romans 1:1-4). The Promised Seed through Isaac was Christ, hidden within the fleshly lineage until the time of His incarnation, (Galatians 3:16-19). The Heir of the Promise was hidden until the fulness of time, (Galatians 4:30-31). The hiddeness is not only visual but also auditory: the voice of God which was heard on Sinai and then through the prophets has now become silent except through this Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:1-2.

So the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the visual, audible, intellectual and spiritual appearance of God.

Further discussion and referents for this lesson may be found on pages 72-74 of my book Revelation in Context and the accompanying notes.

2. ‘Revelation’ – Meaning In Context

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Dear Friends,

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be blind? Have you ever tried to find your way in the dark even in your most familiar surroundings? If so, you know that you can become utterly confused. Without light, we cannot orient ourselves in time or space.

The first born of God’s creation was Light. God is Light, I John 1.5: “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Jesus was the First-born of creation, so He is Light, born of God. Jesus described Himself as Light: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‘I AM the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life,” John 8.12.

And Jesus has bequeathed Himself to us as Light: “Ye are the Light of the world. A city set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 5.14-16.

Just as by natural light our eyes can see, so God’s Word is the Light for our soul and spirit: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” Psalm 119.105.  It reveals the Truth that guides us spiritually to avoid the pitfalls of darkness: “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light,” Ephesians 5:13-14.

Trying to go through life without the Light of God is like driving down the interstate at night without headlights.

This lesson is about the meaning of ‘Revelation’ as Perfection of Light, which is Jesus.

What did the word ‘Revelation’ mean to the Jewish world of 68 AD?

Urim ve Thummim

(Follow the Scriptures on this one and you will be blessed. Don’t give up here.) For one thing, it meant the precious gift that was only given to the High Priests in the Old Testament, called in Hebrew Urim ve Thummim, literally translated “Perfection of Light.” (Usually left untranslated in the KJV.) This special gift to the High Priest gave them spiritual insight that was required for the guidance of the nation, Israel.

Historically, this gift had not returned to their High Priests after the Babylonian captivity, more than 400 years earlier. By 68 AD they were desperately longing for this gift of the Holy Spirit. Revelation 1.1 tells us that God gave this gift to Jesus Christ, thereby proving His divine anointing as the Great Eternal High Priest, chosen of God: “The revelation, [Urim ve Thummim], of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him.”

Biblical Context For ‘Urim ve Thummim’

Remember, this study is about keeping the Scriptures found in the Book of Revelation “In Context.” For the Biblical context of the Urim ve Thummim read and meditate the following Scriptures:

So “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” means “The perfection of light.” The light which God spoke in Genesis 1:3 has come to its full perfection in Jesus Christ in Revelation 1.1.

For further discussion and referents for this subject see my book Revelation in Context, pages 56-61. Revelation in Context is available locally at the Living Word Bookstore in Shawnee, Oklahoma or www.Amazon.com, or www.XulonPress.com.
Free downloads are also available at www.revelationincontext.sermon.net.
Next Lesson: The Greek meaning of the word Revelation.

Revelation In Context

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The book Revelation In Context, by Irene Belyeu, is a literary and historical commentary on the Biblical Book of Revelation with supporting referents and notes.

Although you will find many helpful articles and blog posts regarding this historical and inspirational book on this website, seekers of the truth of the Revelation will want to study and explore more in depth by purchasing the book.  There are two editions of the book available.

  • Volume 1 — This book is for the serious seeker of the truth of the Revelation and would be ideal for a class setting where each student has a copy of Volume 1 also with access to the Complete Edition as a reference work. (397 pages)
  • Complete Edition — This book contains all of Volume 1 and, in addition, all of the Referents and Notes from the Bible, Rabbinic writings, the Apocrypha, and Enoch. (657 pages)

Printed versions of the book may be purchased online at: Xulon Press and the Complete Edition from Amazon; and Volume 1 from Amazon. It is also available at Living Word