Category: The Revelation of Jesus Christ
This letter is about The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is going to have a day. On that day He will be uncovered. He will come out from hiding and show Himself. He will bring retribution upon all of His enemies and the oppressors of His people. And He will bring grace, salvation, relief, glory, honor, and joy to those who remain faithful to Him. Today there are many mockers and scoffers who poke fun at our silly notions about Christ being the king of the universe or returning to earth. But a day is coming when the mocking will cease and will be replaced by mourning and teeth-grinding. He will not hide forever. This final book of the Bible captures in graphic imagery what it will mean for the world and the Church.
Consider other passages which speak of the revelation of Jesus Christ:
I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:4-8).
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-- for our testimony to you was believed (2 Thess. 1:1-10).
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9).
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation (1 Peter 4:12-13).
This biblical finale records in advance the majestic display of the glory of Jesus Christ.
God also revealed previously hidden truth to the apostles. Paul received direct revelations from Christ so great that the Lord sent a humbling agent to him to keep him from growing arrogant because of them (2 Cor. 12:1, 7). His knowledge of the gospel came through such a direct revelation (Gal. 1:11-12). So also was his understanding that the Gentiles were to be the recipients of the inheritance promised by God to the Jews (Eph. 3:3). Paul prays that the church in Ephesus would receive a Spirit (or spirit) of revelation (Eph. 1:17).
So, is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," Christ revealed or a revelation about Christ? Or both? It is both. The coming revelation of Jesus Christ is revealed to its readers by The Revelation of Jesus Christ. As we read The Revelation, we are reading of things which were previously hidden and unknowable by human research (Jesus is revealing them) of the unveiling of the glory of Christ (Jesus is revealed).