This essay explores the five major revelations of the Word of God from a mystical Hebrew Catholic and Torah-observant perspective, focusing on the relationship between the different stages of revelation and their significance for spiritual life, especially the connection between the Oral Torah, Written Torah, the Incarnation of the Messiah, the coming of the Shekhinah, and the final unification of Heaven and Earth in the Divine Will.
The First Revelation: Assiyah - Torah in Act
The first revelation, Assiyah, is the initial unfolding of divine reality at the beginning of creation. In Jewish mysticism, this corresponds to the act of creation itself, as described in Bereshit (Genesis). The revelation of God's Word in this stage is not yet fully formed or articulated but is revealed in action. This is understood as the Oral Torah in Act, the living, dynamic presence of God's creative power moving through creation. As the Zohar teaches, "The Torah is the blueprint of creation," and from the first moment of creation, God’s Word was active in bringing all things into being. This act of creation is ongoing, renewed daily, reflecting God's continuous involvement in the world.
From a Hebrew Catholic perspective, this first revelation corresponds to the immanent presence of God, whose Word is not confined to a written text but flows through the fabric of creation itself. Just as the universe is created by the Word, so too does this Word sustain and guide creation moment by moment. In Catholic theology, this resonates with the understanding that Christ, as the Eternal Word, was present from the beginning, "through whom all things were made" (John 1:3). This cosmic presence of the Word is not just a historical reality, but an ever-present force that is constantly renewing the world.
The Second Revelation: Yetzirah - Torah in Form
The second revelation, Yetzirah, is the Promulgation of Torah as the Written Torah, given at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai). This is the moment when the Word of God takes on form, becoming accessible to the people of Israel in a structured, written format. It is the revelation of Torah in a way that can be studied, internalized, and lived. In Jewish tradition, this is a critical turning point, as the revelation on Sinai marks the moment when the people of Israel enter into a formal covenant with God through His Word.
The Written Torah is the crystallization of the Oral Torah, which encompasses all the hidden and esoteric aspects of the Divine wisdom. From a Torah-observant perspective, it is essential that the Oral Torah continues to guide the understanding of the Written Torah, ensuring that the deeper, mystical aspects of God's revelation are not lost. Catholic mysticism similarly holds that the Scriptures are not merely a historical account but a living revelation that continually speaks to the soul. The Eucharist, as the living Word of God, is the ultimate form of Torah in this stage, as it is the Word made flesh, fully manifest for all to partake in.
In Catholic mysticism, the Written Torah is seen as a precursor to the fulfillment of the Word in Christ. Jesus, as the Incarnate Word, is the ultimate realization of the Torah in its fullest form. He fulfills the law and the prophets, as He Himself declares in the Gospel of Matthew (5:17), embodying the Torah in both its written and oral expressions.
The Third Revelation: Beriyah - Torah in Spirit
The third revelation, Beriyah, corresponds to redemptive salvation, where the Word of God is revealed in the Spirit. This revelation marks a transition from the external Torah (written law) to the internal, transformative Torah in the heart of the believer. In Jewish mysticism, this revelation signifies the new creation in the Messiah, where the spiritual essence of the Torah becomes alive in the believer’s soul, enabling the faithful to live according to God's will with a renewed heart and spirit.
From a Hebrew Catholic perspective, this stage aligns with the coming of Mashiach(the Messiah) in total humility, as described in both Jewish and Christian texts. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ represents the embodiment of the Word of God in the flesh, revealing the Torah in its fullest expression as both written and living law. This moment signifies a deeper revelation of God’s will, which is no longer confined to external observance but now dwells in the hearts of the faithful. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this transformation, as it empowers believers to live in accordance with God’s plan, manifesting the redemptive work of Christ in their lives.
This moment of spiritual rebirth, emphasized in the writings of the Apostle Paul, particularly in Romans 8, is the beginning of man becoming a "new creation" in Mashiach. In Catholic terms, the redemption wrought by Christ enables believers to be "born again" through baptism, which is an inward transformation, aligning the believer's will with the Divine Will, leading them to an intimate, living relationship with God.
The Fourth Revelation: Atzilut - The Coming of Mashiakh in Glory
The fourth revelation, Atzilut, is the coming of the Messiah in glory, a manifestation of the Shekhinah. The Hebrew word "gillui" means revelation or manifestation, and it is at this stage that God’s glory is revealed in its fullness. This revelation of divine glory, which is intimately connected to the Mother (the Shekhinah), unveils and reveals the Son, who is the Divine Will, through creation. It is in this manifestation that the glory of God is made known to the world in a powerful and transformative way.
In Christian mysticism, the gillui shekinah finds its fulfillment in the Second Coming of Christ, when the glory of God will be revealed in all its splendor. This is the moment anticipated by Catholic saints, such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who foresaw a spiritual "intermediate coming" of Christ, a time of renewal and purification before the final judgment. For both the Jewish and Catholic mystic, this revelation brings the faithful closer to the vision of the spiritual resurrection of the dead, where both Jews and Gentiles are united in the mystical body of Christ, leading to the "Ingrafting" of the Jewish people into the fullness of the Church.
The Eucharist, in Catholic theology, is seen as a manifestation of this glory, where the Divine Will is present in the form of bread and wine, allowing the faithful to participate in the very life of Christ. This is the ultimate "revelation" of the Shekhinah, as the Eucharist is the living presence of the Divine Word, fully manifest in the world.
The Fifth Revelation: The Final Consummation in the Divine Will
The final revelation, the Fifth Revelation, is the ultimate consummation of all things in the Divine Will. This is the realization of the Messianic Era, the time when Heaven and Earth are united in the fullness of God’s glory. In this stage, there is the final Resurrection of the Dead and the Final Judgment, where time and history come to an end. In this revelation, all things are brought into alignment with the Divine Will, and the faithful live eternally in the presence of God.
From both a Jewish and Catholic mystical perspective, this final stage represents the ultimate union of God and creation. It is the fulfillment of the hope for redemption, where humanity, freed from sin and death, enters into an eternal relationship with God. The Divine Will, having been made manifest in all stages of history, reaches its final fulfillment, and Heaven and Earth become one in perfect harmony.
In Catholic terms, this is the vision of the New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21:1-4, where there is no more sorrow, death, or pain, and God dwells among His people in eternal communion. In Jewish mysticism, this is the arrival of the Shabbatof all creation, where the world enters into its final, perfect state of rest.
Conclusion
The five revelations of the Word of God—spanning from the creation of the world to the final consummation of all things—form a profound and mystical journey towards union with the Divine. These stages of revelation are not separate but interconnected, as each successive revelation builds upon the previous one. From the Torah in Act, to the Torah in Form, to the spiritual renewal brought by the Messiah, to the glorious coming of the Shekhinah, and finally to the eternal consummation of creation in the Divine Will, each stage draws the faithful closer to the heart of God. For both Torah-observant Jews and Hebrew Catholics, these revelations are not just historical events but living spiritual realities that continue to shape the faithful's relationship with the Divine in every moment of life.
Footnotes
Zohar 1:1. See also Sifrei, a collection of Jewish teachings about the role of Torah in creation.
John 1:3; Catholic Catechism, 281. See also St. John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love.
St. Paul, Romans 8:1-11.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, 7:9.
Revelation 21:1-4.