November 2000

BOOK OF REVELATION
 (continued from previous issue)         By Carlos Mesters


The Second Route (12:1-22:21)
Chapter 12 is a new beginning. John has a new vision. He sees two signs in heaven: a pregnant Woman who cries out on account of her labour pains (12:1-2), and a huge Dragon (12:3-4) which represents Satan, "the primeval serpent" (12:9). The woman and the Dragon are fighting with each other. This is the war already announced in the earthly paradise, at the beginning of creation (Gen. 3:15). The Dragon wants to devour the child about to be born (12:4); but, at the very instant of birth, the child is taken up to the side of God in heaven (12:5), and the Dragon is defeated (12:7-9). This is the victory of Jesus, who rises from the dead and enters heaven victorious (12:10-12). Let us not forget, however, that John is still living in 95 AD. Therefore he is transported in spirit simultaneously to the creation of the world and to the beginning of the new creation which begins with the resurrection of Jesus.

From the heights of heaven John, by the side of the victorious Jesus, looks once again to the future and shows a second route for the journey of the persecuted people. First he describes the events between the years 33 and 95 (12:13-17), thereby explaining the origin of the persecution that is shaking the communities. Then he describes the persecutions suffered by the Christians in 95 AD (13:1-14:5). On the one side is the Roman empire - the Beast - who receives the full power of the Dragon (13:1-18), and on the other side is Jesus - the Lamb - who receives his full power from God, and his army counts 144,000 virgins (14:1-5). Finally John receives the final announcement he has to make of the events that will happen between 95 AD and the end of history (14:6-13). Whatever follows, as we shall see, is only the very detailed description of this announcement which prophesies the condemnation and total defeat of the forces of evil (14:14-22:21).

Thanks to these two maps of the route, John gradually removes the veil which was covering the events of the persecution, and reveals in them the presence of the Good News of Jesus. These maps offer to the people an all-embracing vision of God's Plan and of its unfolding in history. He shows how the persecution is part of this Plan - and only one stage in its unfolding. It is a necessary stage before the end is reached. Reading the two maps the people discover at what stage of their journey they are at. The darkness of the persecution is illumined from within, the veil falls away gradually and the face of God is again recognised in the history of the people.

The Seven counsels of John
Before beginning the systematic reading of the Book of Revelation, it is good to recall the seven good counsels which John has left us. These are found here and there throughout Revelation. They tell us how we should read his book:

  1. Read and Listen as a community
    John says: "Blessed is anyone who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed those who hear them" (1:3). He speaks of a single reader and several hearers. Besides, he suggests that the reading be made in a community. In fact, he writes Revelation for the communities (1:4, 11).

  2. Do not add or subtract anything
    If one does not know the text of the Book of Revelation, if one has not yet read it or has only heard about it, this is not enough. It is necessary to read well what is written, without adding or subtracting anything. On this point, Jesus says: "This is my solemn attestation to all who hear the prophecies in this book: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him every plague mentioned in the book. If anyone cuts out anything from the prophecies in this book, God will cut off his share of the tree of life and of the holy city, both of which are described in the book" (22:18-19).

  3. Use your intelligence
    John writes for unlearned people but he has faith in their intelligence. Twice he asks them to use their intelligence and discover the meaning of what he describes (13:18; 17:9). The intelligence and wisdom of the people when they gather as a community keep the imagination in the right direction.

. . . to be continued  

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