Revelation

Revelation. It is not only the final book of the Bible but it is also a very descriptive word for the entirety of God’s Word, wherein He continuously reveals Himself and His love for us. Its Latin origin has two meanings: it is both something that reveals things that were heretofore hidden but also places some things behind a veil.

The languages of the original texts are mostly Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. Throughout both, there has always been an understanding that the words of man are not commensurate to convey the inestimable depth of God, His truths, the reality of the world He created and His love for us. A small example might be trying to describe color to a person born without sight.

Jesus spoke Aramaic, the lingua franca of the Near East for some time. (As a side note, Aramaic and the Syriac dialect are still spoken by a number of Christians in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, but the language is now considered endangered as many were either displaced or outright killed with recent events in the Middle East). There exists no word in either Aramaic or its parent language Hebrew to express “to have.” The closest equivalent is to say “By me is ____.” This itself shows a profound truth if we try to appreciate our true status in the world before our Creator. In other words, we cannot truly claim that we “own” anything, including our personal abilities, that did not originate or was given to us by God. We are stewards, not owners, and again, that applies not just to our personal lives, but His entire creation around us.

Jesus often revealed heavenly truths by speaking in earthly terms through parables but He also taught us in His Word. “Neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own” (Acts 4:32). “...know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Everything belongs to God and He is free to either give...or take away...at any time material riches, health, a beloved child, a good name, a friend, fame. These things are only entrusted to us. If they are taken away, we lose nothing, as they were not ours to begin with.

This is part of the peace in a Christian’s life. Christians are to be “have-nots” who do not live to be “haves.” Those who “have” worry about and fear possible losses. Instead, we give our lives to Him, wherein we receive not only forgiveness and joy in this earthly life but eternal life in heaven.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.