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Bible Dictionaries
Revelation, Appearing, Manifestation
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or The words ἀποκάλυψις, ἐπιφάνεια, and φανέρωσις have somewhat similar meanings: the first and second are translated 'appearing,' and the first and third 'manifestation.'
ἀποκάλυψις (from ἀποκαλύπτω, 'to remove a covering, reveal') is the title of the Book of Revelation, and this gives the character of the word. The Apocalypse is not exactly a prophecy, but a revelation : it was not to be sealed up, as the prophecy of Daniel, and a blessing is pronounced on him that readeth and them that hear and keep the things written. The word is mostly translated 'revelation.' In Luke 2:32 the A.V. has "a light to lighten the Gentiles," but a more exact rendering is "a light for revelation of the Gentiles." In 1 Corinthians 1:7 it is rendered 'coming' and in 1 Peter 1:7 'appearing,' but 'revelation' would be better in both places.
ἐπιφάνεια (from ἐπιφαίνομαι, 'to come into light, appear') occurs six times in Paul's writings and refers to the appearing of "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ," 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13 . In the first passage it is rendered 'brightness' in the A.V., but this is not its meaning. It might be translated 'appearance (or, appearing) of His coming' with earlier English versions. In 2 Timothy 1:10 it is applied to Christ's first appearing; in the other passages to His appearing in glory, hence not to the moment when the raised and changed saints will meet Him in the air ( 1 Thessalonians 4:15,18 ) before He appears. Note, that in 2 Timothy 4:1 , the judgement of living and dead is not said to be "at his appearing and his kingdom" as in A.V.; but that, according to the correct reading, the last clause is a second ground of the apostle's charge to Timothy, "and by his appearing and his kingdom.' The force of the word is rather 'appearance' than 'revelation.'
φανέρωσις (from φανερόω, 'to make manifest') occurs but twice in the N.T. and is not applied to the appearing of Christ, but to what is manifested in the Christian. In 1 Corinthians 12:7 it is the "manifestation of the Spirit," and in 2 Corinthians 4:2 the "manifestation of the truth."
The verb (φανερόω) occurs often: God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3:16; "when the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory." Colossians 3:4 . Again, in 1 Peter 5:4 : "when the chief Shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory." See also 1 John 2:28 , and 1 John 3:2 . It is applied to the saints in Colossians 3:4 , where it is in contrast with their life being hidden (as now) with Christ in God; but, flowing out of the same wonderful identification with Him, when He is manifested they shall be manifested with Him in glory: thus the word has its force by contrast with the being previously hidden, though known to exist.
In Hebrews 9:26 it is His first coming, "hath he been manifested": noting in connection with this passage that the A.V. has the same rendering, 'appear,' for two other words; at Hebrews 9:24 for ἐμφανισθῆναι(ἐμφανίζω), where Bengel notes the fitness of the original word in respect to God — 'he appears before the face of God for us;' and in Hebrews 9:28 for ὀφθήσεται (ὄπτομαι), lit ., 'he shall be seen' — leaving open, as so many other passages in the epistle, a double application — to the saints now at His coming for us, and to Israel at His appearing in glory.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Revelation, Appearing, Manifestation'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/r/revelation-appearing-manifestation.html. 1897.
