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REVELATION, BOOK OF, in the Bible, the last book of the New Testament.
Title.—According to the best authorities a CA (in the subscription) 2, 8, 82, 93, the title of this book is awoKaXv4ies 'Iwavvov. Some cursives (1, 14, 17, 25, 28, 31, 38, 51, 90, 91, 94, 97) read Or. (+ TOO aylov 1, 25, 28, 31, 38, 51, 90, 94) 'Iwavvov rob' BeoXbyov; Q and 12, 61r. 'I. Tel, OeoX. Kai evayyeXiorov; P and 42, i) aW. TOv alrOQTbXOV 'I. Kai ebayyeXlo-vov (The word " apocalypse " gives the current title not only to this book, but to a large body of Jewish and Christian writings. This is one of the first instances of its use in this sense in existing literature. An earlier use is probably to be found in the title of the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, which =ypa4 T;7s leroKaX6bews roil' Oa pobx viov Tel) Nnplate The title is different from what the New Testa-went use of the term would have led us to expect, i.e. 'A1roK&AvtPcs 'IiQov, which are indeed the opening words of this book. Withthe latter phrase we might compare Gal. i. 12, where we have auroKaXisliews'Incrov"Xpivrov, " revelation from Jesus Christ." For the book is a revelation made by Gcd to Jesus Christ, who through His angel made it known to John for transmission to the churches. Instead of this the Church substituted the name of the disciple through whom the message was delivered for that of his Master, and designated our Apocalypse " The Apocalypse of John." This title was familiar before the end of the 2nd century.