The book of Revelation is titled the revelation of Jesus Christ. The Greek noun apocalypsis means unveiling. In the book of Revelation, apocalypsis refers to the visible appearance of Jesus Christ when He returns from heaven with His angels. This unveiling occurs on the day of the Lord. The book provides an advance record of His visible appearance in glory to overthrow the rulers of this world and establish His Kingdom on earth. In the New Testament, apocalypsis appears in eighteen places, and in ten of those places it is used literally to denote the visible appearance of a person or thing. The unveiling of Jesus Christ fulfills the gospel message that the Kingdom of God will be established on earth.

The book of Revelation bears the title the Revelation of Jesus Christ rather than the Greek title Apokalypsis Ioannou. Apokalypsis means unveiling, disclosure, or revelation. This title indicates an uncovering of knowledge about things which must shortly take place rather than a collection of arcane prophecies, mysteries, symbols, and warnings. The contents of the Apocalypse originated with the Father, passed to Jesus Christ as Head of the church, and then to the disciples through John for their instruction, preparation, and edification. A blessing rests on those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy because the time is near. The Apocalypse functions as a gift of grace that spurs obedience and a closer relationship with God through conformity to His instructions. The apostle John received the vision while in the Spirit on the day of the Lord, a time setting that points to end-time events when God through Christ will intervene in world affairs. The long description of the Revelator in the Apocalypse confirms His identity as the eternal God who was dead and is alive forevermore, possessing the keys of Hades and of Death.

The Apocalypse as it is in Greek is a book of unveiling of disclosure. Most people think of Revelation as a book of weird symbols that they do not understand. God put this book in the Bible not to hide anything but to disclose it to reveal it. That is why it is called Revelation. The meaning of apocalypse in Greek which is revelation in English has to do with opening it up and making it understandable. He is giving the book of Revelation to teach something opening something up revealing it.