BIBLICAL BRIEFS 54
The title of the book, Revelation, in the Greek language, is the word “apokalupsis”, and is derived from “apokalupto” as the verb, “to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown”. Different to how we were conditioned by the church and by Hollywood, it has NOTHING to do with the end times as such. The word means disclosure, unveiling, in other words, to make known true identity, or to reveal that which is hidden. This is also definitely not John’s revelation, but actually the “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1: 1). Not only does it explain the true character of Jesus, but it also explains in a symbolic way how Jesus had been increased through the Christ, and how the Christ will be apocalupto(ed), be revealed (Gal 1:16, Rom. 8 :19; Matt 16: 17-18). In Col. 3: 4, it is stated as follows: “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed [apokalupto], then you also will be revealed [apocalupto] with Him in glory.” The book, Revelation, is a symbolic book, and should by no means be read literally. The innermost nature of all the “animals” is clearly symbolic, the logical symbolic number-system used in the book, the allegorical nature of episodes, all of them, indicate that we cannot read the text literally. In other words, the antichrist is not a specific person, nor is the beast a specific historical-determinable enemy; the number 666, the mark of the beast on the hand and the forehead, all must be read symbolically within the main theme of the book. Considering that this prophetic book also deals on a deeper level with the revelation of the Christ as it is today, it is of utmost importance that we should get a new understanding regarding this misunderstood book, which through the course of years has been greatly mythologized through the ways of religious thinking. This also prevents us to come to the fullness of understanding God’s masterplan for the restoration of all things on earth.
Dr. Tom Gouws
