revelation

Revelation is the act of making something known that was previously hidden, or the information itself that is made known. It can refer to disclosures of fact, truth, or divine will. The word comes from Latin revelatio, from revelare “to unveil.”

In philosophy and theology, scholars distinguish general revelation, the knowledge of God or ultimate reality available through nature, history, and human experience, from special revelation, which is understood as a direct communication believed to come from a deity through miracles, prophetic messages, or sacred scriptures.

In Christianity, general revelation is found in creation and conscience; special revelation is conveyed through the Bible, in particular the New Testament, and is believed by many Christians to be completed in the person of Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, presents apocalyptic visions attributed to John; its authorship and interpretation are widely debated.

In Islam, revelation (wahy) refers to the sending of God's message to prophets, with the Qur'an regarded as the literal and final revelation revealed to Muhammad over a period of years. In Hinduism and other traditions, revelation can refer to rishis perceiving eternal truths (shruti) or scriptures revealed through enlightened teachers.

Outside religious discourse, revelation denotes the uncovering of new information or a discovery, as in journalism or science (a revelation about a phenomenon). In culture, Revelation is also used as a title for various works of fiction and media.