What "Apocalypse" really means.

[Stormcrow]

This might seem a bit elementary to some but, in the interest of clearing some of the confusion surrounding the word "apocalypse" and what the book of Revelation is all about, I thought I would post an "epiphany" I had about this word tonight.

First of all, the Greek word for "apocalypse" is "apokálypsis", and it literally means "lifting the veil" as to reveal what is behind or underneath it.

"Lifting the veil." Paul writes:

{14} But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. {15} But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; {16} but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. {17} Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. {18} But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NASB)

​

Now please follow me carefully on this: the Book of Revelation is not about colored horses, mystical cities in the sky that literally come down to earth, or about some boogeyman named "THE ANTICHRIST" who threatens to bring hell on earth.

The Book of Revelation is about the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ. It even says so in verse 1:1

{1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, Revelation 1:1 (NASB)

One purpose of the book is to "lift the veil" on events happening behind the scenes in heaven that would manifest themselves on the earth exactly as Christ prophesied they would when He was here on earth.

But more importantly, it's to show its readers that the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ was completely and utterly in control of everything that was "soon to take place": Everything that happens in the book is the direct result of the intervention of Jesus Christ Himself. Everything.

Once you begin to understand this, you'll see that Satan has no power; that the so-called "antichrist" is a creation of imaginative minds, and that we have no more to fear from the events in the book than did its faithful readers almost 2,000 years ago.

The veil has been lifted. There is no mystery about the book. And while some passages remain arcane and difficult to understand, that has more to do with social, cultural and temporal differences with the people of that time than any mystical or "occultic" (hidden) meaning or intent on the part of Jesus or John.

This is all to say that the Book of the Apocalypse is not about the end of our world but the one who controls it. We can understand the book if we understand this most fundamental premise above all and work from there.

Peace. Out.

 

[reba]

Very interesting. I do hope we members allow this to develop into a discussion.

 

[Asyncritus]

This might seem a bit elementary to some but, in the interest of clearing some of the confusion surrounding the word "apocalypse" and what the book of Revelation is all about, I thought I would post an "epiphany" I had about this word tonight.

First of all, the Greek word for "apocalypse" is "apokálypsis", and it literally means "lifting the veil" as to reveal what is behind or underneath it.

"Lifting the veil." Paul writes:

{14} But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. {15} But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; {16} but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. {17} Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. {18} But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NASB)

​

So far so good. Now the dubious parts arise.

Now please follow me carefully on this: the Book of Revelation is not about colored horses, mystical cities in the sky that literally come down to earth, or about some boogeyman named "THE ANTICHRIST" who threatens to bring hell on earth.

The Book of Revelation is about the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ. It even says so in verse 1:1

I beg to differ. Jesus is mentioned so rarely in the book, by comparison with the number of times God is mentioned, that I would hesitate to even think this.

The very plain statement in ch 4.11 is:

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

John is forbidden to pray to the angel in these terms:

Re 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

One purpose of the book is to "lift the veil" on events happening behind the scenes in heaven that would manifest themselves on the earth exactly as Christ prophesied they would when He was here on earth.

This cannot possibly be true. The evils described in the Revelation are:events happening behind the scenes in heaven??????

You mean that in heaven there is a 'great whore' (ch 17), a dragon (ch 12) that "... waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:

No, far from it.

But more importantly, it's to show its readers that the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ was completely and utterly in control of everything that was "soon to take place": Everything that happens in the book is the direct result of the intervention of Jesus Christ Himself. Everything.

Is it? Is the murder and persecution of His followers the direct result of the intervention of Jesus Christ Himself? As in ch 12 just quoted? I hardly think so, Stormcrow.

The veil has been lifted. There is no mystery about the book. And while some passages remain arcane and difficult to understand, that has more to do with social, cultural and temporal differences with the people of that time than any mystical or "occultic" (hidden) meaning or intent on the part of Jesus or John.

I'm afraid I can't agree with this. The book, as you say below, has arcane pieces - but these are all easier to understand once we begin to use consistently, that great principle of interpretation: scripture by scripture.

This is all to say that the Book of the Apocalypse is not about the end of our world but the one who controls it. We can understand the book if we understand this most fundamental premise above all and work from there.

This I agree with, as the Book itself says:

4.11 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honour and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.

The ending of the book is particularly significant in this regard:

21.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

That's where it is all headed - to the Glory of God, through the Redeemer He has appointed.

 

[Sinthesis]

That's where it is all headed - to the Glory of God, through the Redeemer He has appointed.

Do a word study on "Redeemer" and it will become apparent that Jesus is God.

 

[Asyncritus]

Do a word study on "Redeemer" and it will become apparent that Jesus is God.

You sure about this?

A redeemer is anyone who redeems.(Strangely, the word 'Redeemer' does not occur in the English NT - the AV).

There are plenty of human redeemers:

Sample:

Le 25:25 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.
Le 25:26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it;
Le 25:29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.

Ru 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
Ru 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

God has redeemed Israel:

1Ch 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

God redeems individuals:

Ps 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Ps 69:18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
Ps 72:14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

God redeemed Jesus from the power of the grave:

Acts 2.25 For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.

31 he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32 This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.

Jesus redeems us from our sins:

Ac 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Ac 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Ac 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

God has given Jesus the authority to raise us from the dead and judge us:

Jn 5.26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Jn 6.40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

So can you show me how all this proves that Jesus is God?

 

[Stormcrow]

I did not want this thread to venture too far afield from the premise I laid out in the OP regarding the meaning of the word "apocalypse." It's clear that our current understanding and usage of this word has come to mean something radically different than what John intended it to be.

As far as whether Jesus is God, well, I addressed that issue here:

http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=38891&p=578835&viewfull=1#post578835

Please respond accordingly to that post in that thread.

Thanks.

 

[Stormcrow]

As I had written my OP in a hurry and quite tired, I wanted to revisit some of the issues I brought up to make sure people are clear on what I mean by this thread.

The great thing about the Greek language is that a single word can convey so much more about a thing or idea than the English language can. While we use modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) to color words with meaning, the Greek can convey meaning - in many cases - without such embellishment. In other words, Greek is a language both rich in meaning and economical in use.

So when we look at the word "apokalipsis" (apocalypse) and see that it has both a definition (revelation) and is a rich metaphor ("lifting the veil"), we can begin to understand why it John used it to express the deep meaning behind his visions.

Again, the word does not mean what most people believe it means today: "end of the world." The purpose of its use was to reveal the nature and working of the risen, ascended, and glorified Christ as a source of hope and blessing to those who were undergoing intense persecution. The message to the seven churches to whom it was written was to show them that not only was Jesus Christ alive and working in heaven to manifest the Father's will on earth, but that He was in control. The victory was theirs.

It remains ours today. Because Christ reigns (and His reign is from everlasting to everlasting), we reign as victors with Him. God wanted us to know this in no uncertain terms, which is why the veil to the heavenly temple was lifted, so we could see our King and High Priest at work, fulfilling the promises of God.

What the Book of Revelation shows us, then, is a top-down view of events as they were soon to unfold, according to Revelation 1:1. We get a glimpse "behind the curtain" to see Christ open the seals of judgment and see His enemies made His footstool.

Revelation shows us what He meant by the Olivet Discourse from heaven's perspective. When you study Revelation and Matthew 21-26 together, for instance, you cannot help but see the similarities.

Put simply, Matthew tells us what's going to happen, Revelation tells us who is behind it: the risen, ascended, glorified Christ.

 

[Sinthesis]

Strong's G602 - apokalypsis
Only used 18 times in the KJV:o

Luk 2:32 - A light to lighten602 the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Rom 2:5 - But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation602 of the righteous judgment of God;

Rom 8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation602 of the sons of God.

Rom 16:25 - Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation602 of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

1Cr 1:7 - So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming602 of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Cr 14:6 - Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation602, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

1Cr 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when ye come together , every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation602, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

2Cr 12:1 - It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory . I will come to visions and revelations602 of the Lord.

2Cr 12:7 - And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations602, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure .

Gal 1:12 - For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation602 of Jesus Christ.

Gal 2:2 - And I went up by revelation602, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation , lest by any means I should run , or had run , in vain.

Eph 1:17 - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation602 in the knowledge of him:

Eph 3:3 - How that by revelation602 he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

2Th 1:7 - And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed602 from heaven with his mighty angels,

1Pe 1:7 - That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth , though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing602 of Jesus Christ:

1Pe 1:13 - Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober , and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation602 of Jesus Christ;

1Pe 4:13 - But rejoice , inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed602, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy .

Rev 1:1 - The Revelation602 of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass ; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:​