An Attempt To Date
the Apocalyptic Revelation of Jesus Christ
October, 2014
G.D.O'Bradovich III
[incomplete]
revelation
The following citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary. Secondary sources are in red.
Etymology:
< Anglo-Norman revelaciun, revelacioun, revelatiun, Anglo-Norman and Middle French revelacion, revelation (French révélation ) an instance or experience of disclosure or communication of knowledge by divine or supernatural means (second half of the 12th cent. in faire une revelatiun ),
the fact of such disclosure or communication of knowledge by divine or supernatural means (c1190),
disclosure or exposure by a person of something previously unknown or kept secret (c1300; rare before 1611),
the last book of the New Testament, the Apocalypse (14th cent. in plural in le livre des revelacions, 1553 in singular la revelation de Saint-Jean ),
enlightenment (a1419 in Anglo-Norman), a work by an author other than St John the Divine in which a person's divine revelations are described (1476 in the passage translated in quot. 1483 at sense 2b; the sense ‘an unexpectedly excellent person or thing’ is not paralleled in French until later: 1902) and its etymon post-classical Latin revelation-, revelatio manifestation, revealed truth (Vulgate),
divine disclosure (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian),
action of uncovering or revealing, the last book of the New Testament (4th cent.), a work by an author other than St John the Divine in which a person's divine revelations are described (13th cent. in the passage translated in quot. 1483 at sense 2b)
< classical Latin revēlāt- , past participial stem of revēlāre reveal v. + -iō -ion suffix1.
Compare Old Occitan revelacio (14th cent.), Catalan revelació (14th cent.), Spanish revelación (early 14th cent.), Portuguese revelação (14th cent. asreuelaçom, reuelaçon), Italian rivelazione (end of the 13th cent.; also †revelatione, †revelazione).
In form reuealation influenced by reveal v.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) Apoc. p. 681
Heere endith the Apocalips, or Reuelacioun of Seynt Joon the euangelist.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Rev. (heading)
The summe of the Reuelacion.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxvjv,
They call the Bishop of Rome..the whore of Babilon, described in the Reuelation.
c1585 R. Browne Answere to Cartwright 43
In the Reuelation, the twelue Apostles are called the twelue foundations.
a1658 J. Cleveland Wks. (1687) 49
What Scriptures call The Revelation, is most mystical.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Rev. i. 1
It is eminently call'd the Revelation.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 392
The third painting in this series is the subsequent vision, in the 4th and 5th chapters of the Revelation of John the Divine.
a1768 T. Secker Serm. (1771) VI. 69
The Revelation of St. John is accused of Obscurity, and consequently of Uselessness.
1846 Tennyson in Mem. I. 238
There was no more sea, says St. John in Revelation.
1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island vi. xxix. 181
One side was blank, for it had been the last leaf; the other contained a verse or two of Revelation.
(a) Without the. More fully Book of Revelations. Also in extended use.
[c1450 (1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) 10 (MED),
Þe holy apostle seynt Iohn..in þe booke of his reuelaciouns þat is cleped þe Apocalips, seiþ þat he seiȝ a best, [etc.].]
1531 tr. E. Fox et al. Determinations Moste Famous Vniuersities vii. f. 138v,
If any man shall adde vnto them [sc. the writings of St John], god shall cast vnto hym those plages and vengeances, whiche be wrytten in his boke of reuelations.
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare i. 12
S. Iohn that wrote the bookes of Apocalyps, or Reuelations, shal come againe with Elias, and Enoch to reproue Antichriste.
1675 W. Cave Antiquitates Apostolicæ 116 in Bp. J. Taylor & W. Cave Antiquitates Christianæ,
It was about the latter end of Domitian's Reign, (as Irenaeus tells us) that he wrote his Apocalypse or Book of Revelations.
1691 T. P. Blount Ess. 15
The Rhemists in their Annotations upon Revelations the 14th.
?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. ii. 26,
I have heard a little Domine or Curate..tell the People from--Revelations.
1791 M. De Fleury Diuine Poems & Ess. (Contents),
Meditations on Revelations xii. 6.
1818 T. L. Peacock Nightmare Abbey i. 19
He would condole with Mr. Glowry,..quote Revelations with Mr. Toobad.
1842 R. I. Wilberforce Rutilius & Lucius 81
In..the book of Revelations, they are called the angels of the Churches.
1898 G. Parker Battle of Strong x,
He saw..the gracious figure of a girl; and a book of revelations was opened and begun.
(b) With the. In early use it is sometimes difficult to distinguish whether the reference is to the book or to the revelations themselves.
[?1542 R. Taverner On Saynt Andrewes Day Gospels f. xxxiii,
The reuelacions of saynt Ihon set forth in the boke of the Apocalipse.]
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum at Iohn,
He treateth mooste of the Deuinitie in his gospell, who also dyd wryte the reuelations.
1643 E. Douglas Star to Wise (title-page),
Her petition, Shewing cause to have her Book Licensed, Being The Revelations Jnterpretation.
1656 A. Wright Five Serm. 211
Many prophesies are to be fulfilled.., among which that in the Revelations is one.
1672 H. Dodwell Two Lett. Advice i. xxiii. 101
The scandalous licentious person is like the Dragon in the Revelations.
1708 Brit. Apollo No. 39. 1/2
They look upon this Passage in the Revelations as their strongest Fort.
1755 T. Amory Mem. Ladies 25
As St. John..expresses it, in the third chapter of the Revelations.
1806 R. Southey in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1850) III. 34
Reading the Revelations..was my favourite part of the Christian religion.
a1871 A. De Morgan Budget of Paradoxes (1872) 358
For myself,..I am the first Beast in the Revelations.
Etymology:
< Anglo-Norman revelaciun, revelacioun, revelatiun, Anglo-Norman and Middle French revelacion, revelation (French révélation ) an instance or experience of disclosure or communication of knowledge by divine or supernatural means (second half of the 12th cent. in faire une revelatiun ),
the fact of such disclosure or communication of knowledge by divine or supernatural means (c1190),
disclosure or exposure by a person of something previously unknown or kept secret (c1300; rare before 1611),
the last book of the New Testament, the Apocalypse (14th cent. in plural in le livre des revelacions, 1553 in singular la revelation de Saint-Jean ),
enlightenment (a1419 in Anglo-Norman), a work by an author other than St John the Divine in which a person's divine revelations are described (1476 in the passage translated in quot. 1483 at sense 2b; the sense ‘an unexpectedly excellent person or thing’ is not paralleled in French until later: 1902) and its etymon post-classical Latin revelation-, revelatio manifestation, revealed truth (Vulgate),
divine disclosure (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian),
action of uncovering or revealing, the last book of the New Testament (4th cent.), a work by an author other than St John the Divine in which a person's divine revelations are described (13th cent. in the passage translated in quot. 1483 at sense 2b)
< classical Latin revēlāt- , past participial stem of revēlāre reveal v. + -iō -ion suffix1.
Compare Old Occitan revelacio (14th cent.), Catalan revelació (14th cent.), Spanish revelación (early 14th cent.), Portuguese revelação (14th cent. asreuelaçom, reuelaçon), Italian rivelazione (end of the 13th cent.; also †revelatione, †revelazione).
In form reuealation influenced by reveal v.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) Apoc. p. 681
Heere endith the Apocalips, or Reuelacioun of Seynt Joon the euangelist.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Rev. (heading)
The summe of the Reuelacion.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxvjv,
They call the Bishop of Rome..the whore of Babilon, described in the Reuelation.
c1585 R. Browne Answere to Cartwright 43
In the Reuelation, the twelue Apostles are called the twelue foundations.
a1658 J. Cleveland Wks. (1687) 49
What Scriptures call The Revelation, is most mystical.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Rev. i. 1
It is eminently call'd the Revelation.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 392
The third painting in this series is the subsequent vision, in the 4th and 5th chapters of the Revelation of John the Divine.
a1768 T. Secker Serm. (1771) VI. 69
The Revelation of St. John is accused of Obscurity, and consequently of Uselessness.
1846 Tennyson in Mem. I. 238
There was no more sea, says St. John in Revelation.
1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island vi. xxix. 181
One side was blank, for it had been the last leaf; the other contained a verse or two of Revelation.
(a) Without the. More fully Book of Revelations. Also in extended use.
[c1450 (1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) 10 (MED),
Þe holy apostle seynt Iohn..in þe booke of his reuelaciouns þat is cleped þe Apocalips, seiþ þat he seiȝ a best, [etc.].]
1531 tr. E. Fox et al. Determinations Moste Famous Vniuersities vii. f. 138v,
If any man shall adde vnto them [sc. the writings of St John], god shall cast vnto hym those plages and vengeances, whiche be wrytten in his boke of reuelations.
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare i. 12
S. Iohn that wrote the bookes of Apocalyps, or Reuelations, shal come againe with Elias, and Enoch to reproue Antichriste.
1675 W. Cave Antiquitates Apostolicæ 116 in Bp. J. Taylor & W. Cave Antiquitates Christianæ,
It was about the latter end of Domitian's Reign, (as Irenaeus tells us) that he wrote his Apocalypse or Book of Revelations.
1691 T. P. Blount Ess. 15
The Rhemists in their Annotations upon Revelations the 14th.
?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. ii. 26,
I have heard a little Domine or Curate..tell the People from--Revelations.
1791 M. De Fleury Diuine Poems & Ess. (Contents),
Meditations on Revelations xii. 6.
1818 T. L. Peacock Nightmare Abbey i. 19
He would condole with Mr. Glowry,..quote Revelations with Mr. Toobad.
1842 R. I. Wilberforce Rutilius & Lucius 81
In..the book of Revelations, they are called the angels of the Churches.
1898 G. Parker Battle of Strong x,
He saw..the gracious figure of a girl; and a book of revelations was opened and begun.
(b) With the. In early use it is sometimes difficult to distinguish whether the reference is to the book or to the revelations themselves.
[?1542 R. Taverner On Saynt Andrewes Day Gospels f. xxxiii,
The reuelacions of saynt Ihon set forth in the boke of the Apocalipse.]
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum at Iohn,
He treateth mooste of the Deuinitie in his gospell, who also dyd wryte the reuelations.
1643 E. Douglas Star to Wise (title-page),
Her petition, Shewing cause to have her Book Licensed, Being The Revelations Jnterpretation.
1656 A. Wright Five Serm. 211
Many prophesies are to be fulfilled.., among which that in the Revelations is one.
1672 H. Dodwell Two Lett. Advice i. xxiii. 101
The scandalous licentious person is like the Dragon in the Revelations.
1708 Brit. Apollo No. 39. 1/2
They look upon this Passage in the Revelations as their strongest Fort.
1755 T. Amory Mem. Ladies 25
As St. John..expresses it, in the third chapter of the Revelations.
1806 R. Southey in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1850) III. 34
Reading the Revelations..was my favourite part of the Christian religion.
a1871 A. De Morgan Budget of Paradoxes (1872) 358
For myself,..I am the first Beast in the Revelations.
apocalpyse
1. (With capital initial.) The ‘revelation’ of the future granted to St. John in the isle of Patmos. The book of the New Testament in which this is recorded.
OE Rule St. Benet (Tiber.) xii. 36
Æfter þysum sy gecweden an ræding of apocalipsin gemyndelice butan bec.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 81
Herof seid Seint Johan þe ewangeliste in apocalipsi.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 74
‘Hit isan derne halewi seið sein Iohan þe godspeller in þe apocalipsi.
c1400 Rom. Rose 7395
That sallow horse of hewe, That in the Apocalips is shewed.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 1437
The Pocalyps of Ion.
1581 J. Walker in A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion (1584) iv. sig. Z iiij b,
The Laodicean Councill omitteth Lukes Gospel & the Apocalyps.
1667 Milton Paradise Lost iv. 2
That warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) xliv. 230
The long-controverted point whether Rome in the great Apocalypse was signified by Babylon.
1. Of or pertaining to the ‘Revelation’ of St. John. apocalyptic number n. see Rev. xiii. 18.
1663 J. Spencer Disc. Prodigies 314
The Apocalyptick Angel which should pour out one of the Vials upon the Beast.
a1711 T. Ken Edmund in Wks. (1721) II. iv. 104
A Babylonian purple Robe he wore, Like that of the apocalyptick whore.
1859 D. Masson Life Milton I. 481
Meade was at the head of the Apocalyptic commentators.
†3. Of persons: Dealing with the Apocalypse or with prophetic revelations generally; apocalyptical.
1667 E. Chamberlayne Present State Great Brit. i. Introd. 3
Without consulting our Astrologers or apocalyptic men.
c1690 R. South Serm. V. ii. (R.)
That some apocalyptick ignoramus or other must presently..pick it out of some abused, martyred prophecy of Ezechiel.
1. The writer or recorder of the Apocalypse, St. John the Divine; also = apocalypst n.
1629 J. Lightfoot Erubhin 107
The diuine Apocalyptick writing after Ierusalem was ruined.
1872 A. De Morgan Budget of Paradoxes 292
If the cyclometers and the apocalyptics would lay their heads t
Connected or dealing with the Apocalypse, or with prophetic revelations generally.
a1638 J. Mede Apostasy Latter Times in Wks. (1672) 91
In his [St. John's] Apocalypticall vision.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. xiv. 26
Much sympathizing in spirit with our Apocalypticall zelots.
1858 H. W. Longfellow Courtship Miles Standish iv. 5
As out of the heavens, with apocalyptical splendours, Sank the city of God, in the vision of John the Apostle.
OE Rule St. Benet (Tiber.) xii. 36
Æfter þysum sy gecweden an ræding of apocalipsin gemyndelice butan bec.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 81
Herof seid Seint Johan þe ewangeliste in apocalipsi.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 74
‘Hit isan derne halewi seið sein Iohan þe godspeller in þe apocalipsi.
c1400 Rom. Rose 7395
That sallow horse of hewe, That in the Apocalips is shewed.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 1437
The Pocalyps of Ion.
1581 J. Walker in A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion (1584) iv. sig. Z iiij b,
The Laodicean Councill omitteth Lukes Gospel & the Apocalyps.
1667 Milton Paradise Lost iv. 2
That warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) xliv. 230
The long-controverted point whether Rome in the great Apocalypse was signified by Babylon.
1. Of or pertaining to the ‘Revelation’ of St. John. apocalyptic number n. see Rev. xiii. 18.
1663 J. Spencer Disc. Prodigies 314
The Apocalyptick Angel which should pour out one of the Vials upon the Beast.
a1711 T. Ken Edmund in Wks. (1721) II. iv. 104
A Babylonian purple Robe he wore, Like that of the apocalyptick whore.
1859 D. Masson Life Milton I. 481
Meade was at the head of the Apocalyptic commentators.
†3. Of persons: Dealing with the Apocalypse or with prophetic revelations generally; apocalyptical.
1667 E. Chamberlayne Present State Great Brit. i. Introd. 3
Without consulting our Astrologers or apocalyptic men.
c1690 R. South Serm. V. ii. (R.)
That some apocalyptick ignoramus or other must presently..pick it out of some abused, martyred prophecy of Ezechiel.
1. The writer or recorder of the Apocalypse, St. John the Divine; also = apocalypst n.
1629 J. Lightfoot Erubhin 107
The diuine Apocalyptick writing after Ierusalem was ruined.
1872 A. De Morgan Budget of Paradoxes 292
If the cyclometers and the apocalyptics would lay their heads t
Connected or dealing with the Apocalypse, or with prophetic revelations generally.
a1638 J. Mede Apostasy Latter Times in Wks. (1672) 91
In his [St. John's] Apocalypticall vision.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. xiv. 26
Much sympathizing in spirit with our Apocalypticall zelots.
1858 H. W. Longfellow Courtship Miles Standish iv. 5
As out of the heavens, with apocalyptical splendours, Sank the city of God, in the vision of John the Apostle.
citations in chronological order
OE Æfter þysum sy gecweden an ræding of apocalipsin gemyndelice butan bec.
1175c Herof seid Seint Johan þe ewangeliste in apocalipsi.
1225?c (▸?a1200) ‘Hit isan derne halewi seið sein Iohan þe godspeller in þe apocalipsi.
1384▸c (1850) Heere endith the Apocalips, or Reuelacioun of Seynt Joon the euangelist.
1400c That sallow horse of hewe, That in the Apocalips is shewed.
1440a The Pocalyps of Ion.
1450c (1400) (MED), ...in þe booke of his reuelaciouns þat is cleped þe Apocalips, seiþ þat ...
1531 ... and vengeances, whiche be wrytten in his boke of reuelations.
1535 The summe of the Reuelacion.
1542? The reuelacions of saynt Ihon set forth in the boke of the Apocalipse.]
1552 ... of the Deuinitie in his gospell, who also dyd wryte the reuelations.
1560 They call the Bishop of Rome..the whore of Babilon, described in the Reuelation.
1565 ... the bookes of Apocalyps, or Reuelations, shal come againe with Elias, and Enoch...
1581 (1584) The Laodicean Councill omitteth Lukes Gospel & the Apocalyps.
1585c In the Reuelation, the twelue Apostles are called the twelue foundations.
1629 The diuine Apocalyptick writing after Ierusalem was ruined.
1638a (1672) In his [St. John's] Apocalypticall vision.
1643 ... Shewing cause to have her Book Licensed, Being The Revelations Jnterpretation.
1645 Much sympathizing in spirit with our Apocalypticall zelots.
1656 Many prophesies are to be fulfilled.., among which that in the Revelations is one.
1658a (1687) What Scriptures call The Revelation, is most mystical.
1663 The Apocalyptick Angel which should pour out one of the Vials upon the Beast.
1667 Without consulting our Astrologers or apocalyptic men.
1667 That warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud.
1672 The scandalous licentious person is like the Dragon in the Revelations.
1675 .. (as Irenaeus tells us) ... Apocalypse or Book of Revelations.
1685 It is eminently call'd the Revelation.
1690c That some apocalyptick ignoramus or other must presently..pick it out of some abused,...
1691 The Rhemists in their Annotations upon Revelations the 14th.
1706? I have heard a little Domine or Curate..tell the People from—Revelations.
1708 They look upon this Passage in the Revelations as their strongest Fort.
1711a (1721) A Babylonian purple Robe he wore, Like that of the apocalyptick whore.
1755 As St. John..expresses it, in the third chapter of the Revelations.
1756 ...in the 4th and 5th chapters of the Revelation of John the Divine.
1768a (1771) The Revelation of St. John is accused of Obscurity, and consequently of Uselessness.
1791 Meditations on Revelations xii. 6.
1806 (1850) Reading the Revelations..was my favourite part of the Christian religion.
1818 He would condole with Mr. Glowry,..quote Revelations with Mr. Toobad.
1842 In..the book of Revelations, they are called the angels of the Churches.
1846 There was no more sea, says St. John in Revelation.
1858 ... with apocalyptical splendours, ... in the vision of John the Apostle.
1859 Meade was at the head of the Apocalyptic commentators.
1870 ...controverted point whether Rome in the great Apocalypse was signified by Babylon.
1871a (1872) For myself,..I am the first Beast in the Revelations.
1872 If the cyclometers and the apocalyptics would lay their heads t
1883 One side was blank... the other contained a verse or two of Revelation.
1898 He saw..the gracious figure of a girl; and a book of revelations was opened and begun.
1175c Herof seid Seint Johan þe ewangeliste in apocalipsi.
1225?c (▸?a1200) ‘Hit isan derne halewi seið sein Iohan þe godspeller in þe apocalipsi.
1384▸c (1850) Heere endith the Apocalips, or Reuelacioun of Seynt Joon the euangelist.
1400c That sallow horse of hewe, That in the Apocalips is shewed.
1440a The Pocalyps of Ion.
1450c (1400) (MED), ...in þe booke of his reuelaciouns þat is cleped þe Apocalips, seiþ þat ...
1531 ... and vengeances, whiche be wrytten in his boke of reuelations.
1535 The summe of the Reuelacion.
1542? The reuelacions of saynt Ihon set forth in the boke of the Apocalipse.]
1552 ... of the Deuinitie in his gospell, who also dyd wryte the reuelations.
1560 They call the Bishop of Rome..the whore of Babilon, described in the Reuelation.
1565 ... the bookes of Apocalyps, or Reuelations, shal come againe with Elias, and Enoch...
1581 (1584) The Laodicean Councill omitteth Lukes Gospel & the Apocalyps.
1585c In the Reuelation, the twelue Apostles are called the twelue foundations.
1629 The diuine Apocalyptick writing after Ierusalem was ruined.
1638a (1672) In his [St. John's] Apocalypticall vision.
1643 ... Shewing cause to have her Book Licensed, Being The Revelations Jnterpretation.
1645 Much sympathizing in spirit with our Apocalypticall zelots.
1656 Many prophesies are to be fulfilled.., among which that in the Revelations is one.
1658a (1687) What Scriptures call The Revelation, is most mystical.
1663 The Apocalyptick Angel which should pour out one of the Vials upon the Beast.
1667 Without consulting our Astrologers or apocalyptic men.
1667 That warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud.
1672 The scandalous licentious person is like the Dragon in the Revelations.
1675 .. (as Irenaeus tells us) ... Apocalypse or Book of Revelations.
1685 It is eminently call'd the Revelation.
1690c That some apocalyptick ignoramus or other must presently..pick it out of some abused,...
1691 The Rhemists in their Annotations upon Revelations the 14th.
1706? I have heard a little Domine or Curate..tell the People from—Revelations.
1708 They look upon this Passage in the Revelations as their strongest Fort.
1711a (1721) A Babylonian purple Robe he wore, Like that of the apocalyptick whore.
1755 As St. John..expresses it, in the third chapter of the Revelations.
1756 ...in the 4th and 5th chapters of the Revelation of John the Divine.
1768a (1771) The Revelation of St. John is accused of Obscurity, and consequently of Uselessness.
1791 Meditations on Revelations xii. 6.
1806 (1850) Reading the Revelations..was my favourite part of the Christian religion.
1818 He would condole with Mr. Glowry,..quote Revelations with Mr. Toobad.
1842 In..the book of Revelations, they are called the angels of the Churches.
1846 There was no more sea, says St. John in Revelation.
1858 ... with apocalyptical splendours, ... in the vision of John the Apostle.
1859 Meade was at the head of the Apocalyptic commentators.
1870 ...controverted point whether Rome in the great Apocalypse was signified by Babylon.
1871a (1872) For myself,..I am the first Beast in the Revelations.
1872 If the cyclometers and the apocalyptics would lay their heads t
1883 One side was blank... the other contained a verse or two of Revelation.
1898 He saw..the gracious figure of a girl; and a book of revelations was opened and begun.