"All Will Be Revealed"

The mysterious phrase grew in proportion to the wait. As mystery usually does.

Our family Christmas gift opening was in progress when one daughter received a gift that said, “Give this to…” her sister. Puzzled looks around the Christmas tree. She gave it to that sister, who opened it. It was just what that sister wanted! To her quizzical look, the answer was, “All will be revealed.”

A few opened presents later, that sister received a tagged gift that said, “Give this to…” the first sister. She, in turn, opened the gift, the exact replica of the first one. It was just what she wanted! But—but—what’s going on?

“All will be revealed,” was the enigmatic reply from their parents.

The gift giving, at last, was winding down as the evening waned. But there was another present that bore the tag, “Mystery gift. Anyone can open this.”

There were question marks on every face.

“All will be revealed” was again the smiling reply.

Another family member opened the now suspiciously-familiar box to reveal a replica of the other two identical gifts.

Consternation was complete.

At last, the revelation.

Which is more compelling, the mystery? Or the revelation? Which is more desirable? Which gives the greater thrill?

What if the revelation turns out to be disappointing? A collective sigh and groan at the let-down caused by the anticipation—but woefully inadequate to have caused it?

This revelation was both fun and amusing. Two identical gifts had been ordered from the Shopper’s Friend—Amazon—in order to satisfy the same wish of the two daughters. Only one was delivered. Amazon was contacted, and the money for the second one refunded. The next day, the second one came. Amazon was again contacted: “Another one is already on its way, keep it, no charge!” Thus, three identical gifts for the price of one. (Don’t try this. It was totally innocent on our part.)

The revelation did not disappoint the anticipation. The third box’s contents were divided up among other family members who happily received part of the “mystery gift.”

There is a much different sort of revelation that awaits every person, whether we are anticipating it or not. It will be out of all proportion to anything Amazon can deliver, even at no charge. A revelation that will exceed all mystery, every expectation, even informed guesswork.

To one who reads the Bible, the revelation hinted at in the first pages grows in anticipation and certainly some mystery as one reads on.

A young Albanian friend tells this story: his sisters wanted him to read the Bible, but he was a convinced Muslim and tore up each successive Bible they gave him. Finally, to prove them wrong and shore up his faith in Islam, he read it, beginning at the beginning. By the end of the thirty-ninth book, he was persuaded of one thing: someone, a very important someone, was being written about and was to come to be the savior of Israel. He was curious, so he kept reading. As he read the New Testament, very soon the person who was to come was revealed—at Christmas.

He was revealed as Jesus, the Savior.

It was by that revelation that his heart was won over. He no longer had any objections to the God of the Bible. Rather, he became a convinced follower.

After opening the best Christmas gift ever, he found it was just what he wanted—but hadn’t known it. And, besides all that, he found his life purpose.

However, by the end of the sixty-sixth book (the whole of the Bible), the reader will find that “all” is not yet revealed which can be digested by finite minds, including educated scholars. There is plenty of anticipation left. Enough of mystery to cause the reader to tremble. Enough that makes clear—even more is yet to come.

Despite its name, the last book of the Bible known as “Revelation” cannot begin to reveal all. John, the writer, records what he saw in a vision with descriptions that defy the imagination. He writes of other-worldly creatures, of a sealed scroll, of thrones and a bottomless pit, of stars falling from heaven and terrible wars on earth, of multitudes without number who worship a Lamb. Of a final, great victory and the healing of the nations. Of a new heavens and a new earth.

And of the Person who came and who will come again. Who says, in fact, “I am coming soon.”

And then—and only then—will all be revealed.

It’s fantastic. It is too much to grasp, even for John. He fell on his face. He is still anticipating the final revelation. As we are.

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him…” i

It’s the mystery gift, waiting to be opened.

For those who open it, there will be no disappointment. It will be just what we wanted—and didn’t know it.

i The apostle Paul, I Corinthians 2:9