These three words start the book of revelation, translated literally it reads 'revelation Jesus Christ' but is usually translated into English as either 'The revelation of Jesus Christ' (NIV, ESV, NASB, ISV, KJB) or 'A revelation of Jesus Christ' (YLT). The rest of the first verse tells us that this revelation of Jesus was given to him by God to pass on to his servants and that what is said will take place soon.
To begin with I want to mention something I recently stumbled upon whilst listening to something on the book of revelation and reading the verses again. It seems to be the way these things happen, you read a verse hundreds of times and never see something, then suddenly it hits you and you can't believe you missed it before. The revelation of Jesus Christ, say it a few times out loud, sounds to me like John is telling us what this vision is about. A revelation of Jesus Christ, who he is, what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do. Maybe John, having seen this vision and committing it to text decided to put in its introduction the meaning of what had been revealed to him. Not a revelation of the end times or a vision of the Armageddon but an unveiling of Jesus Christ.
On a more critical note a closer look at the first word of the book begins to show us some important things. Apokalupsis is only used this once in the entire book of revelation and is one of 18 uses of the word in the NT. It comes from the word apokalupto which means to reveal, lay bare or uncover. Keller points out that this word has links to the stripping off of clothes and a look through the LXX shows that the word is used either for the revealing or uncovering of God's truth (1 Sam 2:27, Am 3:7) or the removing of clothes to reveal the naked body or as a euphemism for sexual intercourse (Lv 18:6, Ez 16:36).
The image that comes to my mind is that of the crucifixion accounts where Jesus is stripped of his clothes and hangs dying on the cross. This though is not defeat but victory, what is happening in this moment is not the end but something much greater. As the physical signs of the temple curtain splitting, the earth shaking and the sky darkening took place something unseen was taking place. Something no one saw but was as real as the gruesome death taking place on that hill. Maybe that which was unseen, hidden from those who had joined this developing faith needed to hear what had happened. Maybe that is what revelation is about, the unveiling of what Jesus Christ has accomplished, the revealing of all that has happened so those that believe can stand firm in their faith.
