For Paul, the greek word translated “revelation” (apokalypsis, ἀποκάλυψις) automatically denotes a purely non-physical event.
>• Richard Carrier: “The word for "revelation" is apokalypsis, the same word used for the title of the New Testament book of Revelations, and as there and elsewhere it means ‘manifestation’ in a spiritual sense—a vision. [Why I Don't Buy the Resurrection Story 6th ed. (2006)]
But no…
• Paul regularly uses ἀποκάλυψις to refer to an extra-mental event. 1
On the assumption that Paul experienced an extra-mental appearance of Jesus and wanted to communicate this, there is much clearer verbiage Paul could have used to communicate this physicality.1
But so what? Plausibly…
• That wasn't Paul's goal, and he had reason to use this revelatory verbiage.2