What is Revelation?

The deeper Biblical meaning

Revelation is a word that is thrown around a lot in church. Whether it be from prophets, pastors, or our own individual revelation, we hear this word often. But do we REALLY know what revelation means and the process of obtaining true revelation? We can obtain knowledge, but knowledge alone is not revelation. We can be reading our Bibles, and a verse pops off the page. Is that revelation? It can be, but it also cannot be. So, what is revelation? To find out, let's look at Ephesians 1:17. 

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him (NASB).

The first thing we want to notice in this verse is we are given a spirit of revelation. This word spirit is the Greek word pneuma, Strong's 4141. It means breath and is the word used for the Holy Spirit. We cannot have revelation without the Holy Spirit. It is the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing onto the pages of the Word that brings it to life so our souls can grasp spiritual truth and revelation. Reading the Bible as you would any other book does not bring life and revelation. You can obtain knowledge, but not revelation. 

The word revelation is the Greek word apokalupsis, Strong's 602. It means laying bare, making naked; a disclosure of truth, instruction; God making information known, especially to His close associates. If we look this word up in Hebrew, it is Strong's 6172, ervah. Ervah means nakedness, nudity, exposed, undefended. It is from Strong's 6168, arah, meaning bare, nude, uncover, pour out, make oneself naked. In both the Greek and Hebrew meanings, we see that to walk in true revelation, there is a nakedness involved. It is to those who are close associates of God that He gives revelation.

True revelation requires a Garden of Eden relationship like Man and Woman had with God before sin. 

In the Garden, Man and Woman were naked and not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). They walked with God in the Spirit (Genesis 3:8). When sin entered, they began to cover themselves and hide from God (3:7,10). The barrier of sin was now between them and God to be able to hear His voice accurately and clearly. 

As new covenant believers, we have access to the Spirit once again to walk as Man and Woman did in the Garden. It is from this place of intimacy and nakedness we can have true revelation, which is vital for these days we are living in. 

Let’s not confuse knowledge with revelation. We need to pray as Paul, Father, give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. When we have true revelation from God, then we obtain the knowledge of Him. Apart from intimacy and nakedness, we cannot know God. For knowing Him requires vulnerability, humility, and surrender.

May the Holy Spirit begin to breathe onto the pages of the Word in greater measure in your life as He equips you with wisdom and deep revelation.

Shalom,

Brandee