Apocalypse means unveiling.
It is the Greek word behind the title of the last book of the Bible: the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
In ordinary speech people use it for catastrophe and the end of the world.
In Scripture an apocalypse is God pulling back the curtain so that the church can see who Jesus is, who wins, and how this age will close.
The first line of the last book is, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.” The word is apokalypsis: a revealing, not a hiding. Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and portions of the Gospels already speak in this manner—visions, symbols, beasts, thrones, and the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse so that His people would not be deceived when wars, rumors, and false christs arise. John was told to write what he saw and send it to the churches. The point of biblical apocalypse is pastoral. It steadies saints under pressure. It shows the Lamb on the throne while empires roar. It warns the unrepentant and comforts those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Popular use of the word as a synonym for ruin misses the center. The last book is not first a calendar of disasters. It is the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
- Apocalypse means revelation: God making known what was hidden.
- The book called Revelation is an apocalypse of Jesus Christ, given for His servants.
- Biblical apocalyptic writing uses visions and symbols to tell the truth about history and the end.
- The aim is that the churches hear what the Spirit says and overcome.
- Fear of the future is not the fruit of this unveiling. Worship and endurance are.
- Jesus spoke of the end so that no one would lead His people astray.
- The last word of an apocalypse is not chaos. It is the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.
- Unveiling – The curtain is drawn back on heaven’s throne and earth’s end.
- Revelation of Jesus – The first subject is the Son of Man, the Lamb, the King.
- For the Servants of God – Given to churches, not to satisfy curiosity.
- Symbolic Vision – Beasts, seals, trumpets, and bowls picture real powers and real judgments.
- Call to Overcome – Each church is told to hear and to conquer.
- Present Comfort – The Lamb has already been slain and is already worthy.
- Future Consummation – The first heaven and the first earth pass away; God dwells with man.
- Revelation 1:1-3 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
- Revelation 1:7-8 – “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him… ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”
- Daniel 2:28, 44 – “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries… And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.”
- Daniel 7:13-14 – “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man… And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.”
- Daniel 12:4, 9 – “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end… Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”
- Matthew 24:4-6, 30-31 – “See that no one leads you astray… And then they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
- Mark 13:23 – “But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.”
- Luke 21:28 – “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 – The man of lawlessness is revealed, and the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to nothing by the appearance of His coming.
- 1 Peter 1:13 – “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:7 – “…so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Romans 2:5 – “…you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
- Romans 8:18-19 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”
- Revelation 5:5-6 – “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered… and between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”
- Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
- Revelation 21:1-5 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”’”
- Revelation 22:6-7, 20 – “These words are trustworthy and true… ‘And behold, I am coming soon.’… ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
- Amos 3:7 – “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”
- Isaiah 24:1-3, 23 – The earth laid waste, and the Lord of hosts reigning on Mount Zion.
Apocalypse is unveiling.
The last book of the Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ, given to show His servants what must take place.
Do not read it first as a codebook of disasters. Read it as a letter to churches from the risen Lord.
Blessed is the one who reads, hears, and keeps what is written.
The Lamb has conquered. The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.
Straighten up. Raise your heads. Your redemption is drawing near.
Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.