If I say the word revelation, what comes to mind? Maybe an epiphany? A startling idea? Eureka! Right?

The American Heritage Dictionary defines revelation as "the act of revealing or disclosing; something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized." There is also the theological definition of "a manifestation of divine will or truth."

Now, what does the word apocalypse mean to you? Nuclear war? Armageddon? Holocaust? End of the world?

My wife and I really enjoy the show "Heroes". But I cringe every time they talk about stopping the big explosion that was coming at the end of the first season. Inevitably, they say an apocalypse is coming. They're trying to stop the apocalypse.

Apocalypse is just a transliteration of the Greek word apokalupsis, which is also the original name of the last book of the New Testament. Revelation is from the Latin revelatio. It's the same word! According to Thayer's Lexicon, apokalupsis means a "laying bear, making naked; a disclosure of truth, instruction; manifestation, appearance."

Now, with that in mind, let's look at where this word appears in Scripture:

"Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, 'You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness [apokalupsis]?'"

1 Samuel 20:30

"A light to bring revelation [apokalupsis] to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

Luke 2:32

"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation [apokalupsis] of the righteous judgment of God..."

Romans 2:5

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing [apokalupsis] of the sons of God."

Romans 8:19

"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation [apokalupsis] of the mystery kept secret since the world began..."

Romans 16:25

"So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation [apokalupsis] of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

1 Corinthians 1:7

"But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation [apokalupsis], by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?"

1 Corinthians 14:6

"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation [apokalupsis], has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."

1 Corinthians 14:26

"It is necessary, though not profitable, to boast. I will come to visions and revelations [apokalupsis] of the Lord..."

2 Corinthians 12:1

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations [apokalupsis], a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure."

2 Corinthians 12:7

"For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ."

Galatians 1:12

"And I went up by revelation [apokalupsis], and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain."

Galatians 2:2

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation [apokalupsis] in the knowledge of Him..."

Ephesians 1:17

"How that by revelation [apokalupsis] He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already..."

Ephesians 3:3

"And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed [apokalupsis] from heaven with His mighty angels..."

2 Thessalonians 1:7

"That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ..."

1 Peter 1:7

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ..."

1 Peter 1:13

"But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed [apokalupsis], you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

1 Peter 4:13

"The Revelation [Apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John..."

Revelation 1:1

So, I've completely belabored the point to bring you to this: if Revelation is about a "dramatic disclosure," an uncovering, the righteous judgment of God, making mysteries known, a bringing of grace, the revelation of the glory of Jesus Christ, a thing of praise, honor, and glory, then why do we look upon the book as some dark, mysterious tome of nuclear holocaust and black helicopters and bad acting? (Frankly, this guy comes about as close as most bestsellers in finding proof that David Hasselhoff is actually the Antichrist. As soon as Tyndale House finds out about him, I'm sure a book deal will follow.)

Did it really take 1,762 years for Darby, Scofield, Pentecost, Ryrie, LaHaye, Lindsey, and Van Impe to finally explain this mysterious book to us? Or, is it just possible that John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote to seven actual churches in Asia in the first century and they knew and understood exactly what he was saying - and they found in it praise, honor, and glory as they read about "things which must shortly take place"?