Mysteries of God in the Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is the final book of the New Testament canon and is unique in its prophetic nature [1, 3]. Its Greek title, Apokalupsis, signifies an "uncovering" or "unveiling" of that which was previously hidden or obscure [2, 3]. This concept of revelation implies a divine disclosure of God's purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has been committed to writing [2].
The book itself begins by stating its origin: "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) [4]. This establishes Jesus Christ as both the source and the primary subject of the book's message [10]. The author, identified as John, is widely believed to be John the Apostle, whose name appears four times within the text [1, 3]. The date of writing is generally placed around A.D. 96, during the reign of Domitian [1].
The "mysteries of God" in Revelation refer to the divine counsels and methods of God's government over the church and the world, which are presented as being "written down in a book" held in God's hand [11]. These divine designs are fixed and determined, with every part adjusted and agreed upon [11]. However, these predictions are often conveyed through "mysterious symbols, numbers, and word pictures," making them abstruse and difficult to understand [9, 10]. Matthew Henry notes that while earlier biblical revelations might have been like waters up to the ankles or knees, the visions in Revelation become "a river that cannot be passed over" [9].
The book's visionary nature is characteristic of apocalyptic writing, a genre that communicates inspired messages through such symbolic means [10]. The opening chapters describe John's vision of "the great God, the governor of all things," followed by a sight of "the model and methods of his government" [11]. This includes visions of a throne in heaven (Revelation 4:2) [5], lightning and thunder (Revelation 4:5) [7], and a multitude crying out "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (Revelation 7:10) [6]. These elements contribute to the profound and often enigmatic nature of the divine mysteries revealed in the text. The "secret of the Lord" is understood to be with those who fear Him, encompassing His purposes, providences, and plans for redemption and eternal life, which the Spirit reveals to them [8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book of — =The Apocalypse, the closing book and the only prophetical book of the New Testament canon. The author of this book was undoubtedly John the apostle. His name occurs four times in the book itself (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8), and there is every reason to conclude that the "John" here mentioned was the apostle. In a manuscript of about the twelfth century he is called "John the divine," but no reason can be assigned for this appellation. The date of the writing of this book has generally been fixed at A.D. 96, in the reign of Domitian. There are some, howev”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Revelation Of St. John — the last book of the New Testament. It is often called the Apocalypse, which is its title in Greek, signifying "Revelation," + Canonical authority and authorship.--The inquiry as to the canonical authority of the Revelation resolves itself into a question of authorship. Was St. John the apostle and evangelist the writer of the Revelation? The evidence adduced in support of his being the author consists of (1) the assertions of the author and (2) historical tradition. (1) The author's description of himself in the 1st and 22d chapters is certai”
- Revelation “Revelation 1:1 (NASB) — 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,”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 4:2 cross-references: 1 Kings 22:19, Isaiah 6:1, Jeremiah 17:12, Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 3:12, Ezekiel 10:1, Daniel 7:9, Hebrews 8:1, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 4:5, Revelation 4:9, Revelation 5:1, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 6:16, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 12:5, Revelation 17:3, Revelation 19:4, Revelation 20:11, Revelation 21:5, Revelation 21:10, Revelation 22:1”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 7:10 cross-references: Psalms 3:8, Psalms 37:39, Psalms 68:19, Psalms 115:1, Isaiah 43:11, Isaiah 45:15, Isaiah 45:21, Jeremiah 3:23, Hosea 13:4, Jonah 2:9, Zechariah 4:7, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 3:6, John 1:29, John 1:36, John 4:22, Ephesians 2:8, Revelation 4:2, Revelation 4:6, Revelation 4:9, Revelation 5:7, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 12:10, Revelation 19:1, Revelation 21:5, Revelation 22:3”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 4:5 cross-references: Genesis 15:7, Exodus 19:16, Exodus 20:18, Exodus 37:23, 2 Chronicles 4:20, Psalms 18:13, Psalms 68:35, Ezekiel 1:13, Joel 3:16, Zechariah 4:2, Zechariah 4:11, Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:3, 1 Corinthians 12:4, Hebrews 12:18, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:19, Revelation 16:17”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:14: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him,.... The secret of his purposes with them; as his purpose according to election; his resolution to redeem his chosen ones by his Son; his design to call them by his grace; his predestination of them to the adoption of children, and eternal life; which are the deep things of God the Spirit of God reveals; and all which are made manifest to them in effectual calling; and the secret of his providences is with them; some are made known to them that fear the Lord before they come to pass; as the destruction of Sodom and Go”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 6 (introduction): The book of the divine counsels being thus lodged in the hand of Christ, he loses no time, but immediately enters upon the work of opening the seals and publishing the contents; but this is done in such a manner as still leaves the predictions very abstruse and difficult to be understood. Hitherto the waters of the sanctuary have been as those in Ezekiel's vision, only to the ankles, or to the knees, or to the loins at least; but here they begin to be a river that cannot be passed over. The visions which John saw, the epistles to the churches, the ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:1: 1:1-11 Revelation opens with a three-part introduction, including a prologue (1:1-3), a letter introduction (1:4-8), and a historical introduction (1:9-11). 1:1 The word revelation (Greek apokalupsis) introduces the book’s visionary nature as apocalyptic writing (see Revelation Book Introduction, “Apocalyptic Writing”). God communicates his inspired message through mysterious symbols, numbers, and word pictures. • from (or of) Jesus Christ: He is both the source and the main subject of the book. • the events that must soon take place: Cp. 3:11; 22:6-7; Luke 18:”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 5:1: Hitherto the apostle had seen only the great God, the governor of all things, now, I. He is favoured with a sight of the model and methods of his government, as they are all written down in a book which he holds in his hand; and this we are now to consider as shut up and sealed in the hand of God. Observe, 1. The designs and methods of divine Providence towards the church and the world are stated and fixed; they are resolved upon and agreed to, as that which is written in a book. The great design is laid, every part adjusted, all determined, and every thing pas”