35. Revelation. Appearing. Manifestation

 
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 2:33And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. (Luke 2:3)2 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 Cor. 1:77So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Corinthians 1:7) it is rendered ‘coming' and in 1 Pet. 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (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 Savior Jesus Christ," 2 Thess. 2:88And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8); 1 Tim. 6:1414That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Timothy 6:14); 2 Tim. 4:1, 81I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1)
8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8); Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (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 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (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 Thess. 4:15, 1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)) before He appears. Note, that in 2 Tim. 4:11I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1), the judgment 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 Cor. 12:77But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (1 Corinthians 12:7) it is the "manifestation of the Spirit," and in 2 Cor. 4:2 The "manifestation of the truth."
The verb (φανερόω) occurs often: God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16); "when the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory." Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4). Again, in 1 Pet. 5:44And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4): "when the chief Shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory." See also 1 John 2:2828And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28), and 3:2. It is applied to the saints in Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (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 Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (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 ver. 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 ver. 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.