The topic is and is not about the book in the New Testament. In the case of the Bible, there is much argument about the book and what it means. It isn’t the point here to join the arguments, it is to talk about the word and what it means. The basic meaning is to make something known. In the case of the New Testament, it means to reveal something new or astounding about God.
What about the ordinary everyday revelation? Like having it revealed that you were in love with that one girl. If it was in public school days, then you were often embarrassed for that to get out. There is something to consider and that is that what was revealed was already there, you just didn’t want it to get out.
Have you ever had a personal revelation? There was something always there and suddenly, it became known. It came to mind. It jumped out at you from something you had not seen that way. The biggest revelation we will ever have is when we discover that the Living Creator of the universe has and is within us this whole time. I believe that is the moment of “salvation”.
The Gospels indicate that the resurrection of Christ is our “salvation”. It can be better said as the salvific moment. Here is the point, it is not new information, it is not a prophecy come true, it is a revelation of something already there. In fact, it is ancient. It has been there since the universe began.
And I guess that brings it back to the New Testament. If Revelation is about what is already there, what does that book in the Bible really mean? Is it a prophecy? Is it a look at what was happening at the time? Or is it revealing age old truths that have always been there? It is not for me to choose for you. It is my goal to move you (and me) to a new perspective and possibility.
The second great revelation in life is when you understand that the Creator of the universe is personal and wants to work on that relationship with you. God has always wanted that relationship with us. When that is revealed to us, maybe we ought to believe it.
TMM