Apocalyptic Prophecy: Christ’s lifting of the veil

In the book of Exodus we learn that Moses had to wear a veil over his head because the light of God that was reflected on his face was so intense that the Israelites were afraid to approach him, and the veil protected them from being overwhelmed when he spoke to them. 

2 Corinthians 3:13-6:

"We are not like Moses, which put a vail over his face, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament which vail is done away in Christ."

This is a veil that covers the hearts of those who hear the laws of Moses without understanding its deeper meaning, it is a veil of ignorance, spiritual death and a barrier between man and God that covers humanity. Moses had accepted the light, but the Israelites had been blinded and were not ready to experience it. 

Paul writes that it is through Christ that the vail is done away, Jesus has come to lift the veil so that we may see God clearly, Jesus is unveiling the true meaning of the Law and those that come to God through faith in Jesus Christ are freed from the veil and are able to receive the glory of God, fulfilling the prophecy given to us by Isaiah: 

Isiah 25:7:

"And he will destroy on this mountain, the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations."

This prophecy speaks of the removal of ignorance, the unveiling of truth, and the restoration of access to God. The veil, that separates humanity from the divine light of truth and understanding, will be lifted by Christ, allowing all nations to see Gods truth clearly. 

Matthew 27:51-2:

"And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised."

It happens just as prophesied, God tears the veil of the second  temple in Jerusalem, the temple being the home of the place where God resided, in the holy of holies. The veil was the barrier that separated the outer and inner sections of the temple, only a high priest could walk through this veil and experience a connection with God, and with this the veil becomes symbolic as the barrier between god and man, just as it was symbolised in the book of exodus with Moses who had experienced Gods light, wearing a veil to protect those who’s hearts were not ready to experience it. This barrier is shattered by the death of Christ, who dies for our sins, to liberate us through his righteousness back towards a relationship with God. Jesus death is significant as now people can approach God directly without the need for priests or sacrifices.

The veil has been lifted, and there’s a word for this happening, and it is here we discover the true meaning of a word tainted by time, the word is Apocalypse. 

There’s a funny thing about words, and human language, it’s not as rational as we may believe, definitions evolve, meanings change amongst the flux of the dissipating epochs of civilisations. Not understanding this simple fact about words sets a dangerous precedent for the modern man, as we continue to base entire world views on emotional reactions attached to perceived definitions of words. 

And one of those false perceptions is the apocalypse. 

Many Christians today fear the idea of apocalypse, their minds plagued with visions of the final destruction of the world, damage on a catastrophic scale. It’s pretty bleak, but our entire view changes on this when we look towards the New Testament, and its ancient Greek word 'apokalypsis', which is where our English word apocalypse comes from. 

The word literally translates as uncovering, revelation or the lifting of the veil, signifying the act of revealing something that was previously hidden. The term apocalypse refers to revelation of divine truth, although our current understanding of this term is largely influenced by its use in the book of revelation in the bible which is also known as the Apocalypse of John which opens with:

Revelations 1:1:

"The revelation of Jesus Christ"

The word here for revelation, in the original new testament, is apocalypse, reading: The apocalypse of Jesus Christ.

We are being taught who Christ is and told what he has done. Christ has torn open the veil that acted as the barrier between the divine light and mankind. 

The apocalypse isn't just about the end, it’s about the beginning of clarity, of access and truth. Christ removes the veil of ignorance so we can return to God through him. 

2 Corinthians 3:18:

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Studying scripture, self-control during lent, and deep prayer routines are all valuable steps on our path towards God as we actively participate in his glory, but the deeper call is transformation, all of these things are to lead us towards an awakening, a surrender of our ignorance, a lifting of the veil to bask in the eternal light of divine truth, an apocalypse.  

Hebrews 10:19-22:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having out hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Through Christ, the veil of ignorance that separated humanity from God, first symbolised by Moses’ veil and later the Second Temple’s veil, is torn away. His death fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy, lifting the shroud over all nations and revealing divine truth to all of humanity.