THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER: GOD REVEALING HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST (REVELATION)

The book of Revelation is a difficult book to read. This is because we have a difficulty understanding both what it says and how it says it. More light on these two areas will greatly facilitate our understanding and even enjoyment of the book of Revelation.

What it Says: As the name suggests, Revelation is all about disclosing the mind of God. People sometimes read it as a book of prophecy for our times, finding in Revelation predictions that are fulfilled in our days. The message of Revelation is certainly relevant to our times. But it was even more relevant to the times and situations in which it was written. Any serious attempt to understand Revelation, therefore, will have to start with its message for the Christians of the late 1^st century ad for which it was originally intended, before attempting to apply the message to our own present situation. The reader must adopt a THEN and NOW approach to avoid misinterpretation.

How it Says It: Revelation is an underground, politically subversive literature meant to deliver a message to Christian readers while at the same time confounding non-Christian readers. To achieve this end, the book uses code names and symbolism which would be familiar within the circle of its intended Christian readers but unfamiliar to those outside the circle. These codes and symbolism are sometimes numerical, such as the number seven for fullness, 12 and its multiples for the covenanted people of God, and 666 (or 616) for Caesar Nero(n). Unless we learn to think in terms of early Christian symbolism, we are likely to find Revelation a book that is difficult to read, if not misleading.

Revelation was written to encourage the persecuted Christians under the emperor Domitian. It was not written to reveal new things that are not already found in the teachings of Jesus in the gospels. What Revelation does is restate the teachings of Jesus, drawing out its implications to give hope to the persecuted people of God.

In Revelation 5:1, in the immediate context of today’s 2^nd reading, the visionary John is admitted into the divine presence. He sees at the right hand of the divine majesty a scroll written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. The written scroll symbolizes the deposit of the mind of God. It is written on both sides, which means that there is no more space for anything new. It is a complete revelation. It is sealed with seven seals, meaning that it is so completely locked and not available to everyone to take up and read. Next, John sees an angel proclaiming with a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals" (Rev 5:2-5).

This means that no one in all creation could break open the seal and reveal the mind of God contained in the scroll — no angel (in heaven), no human being (on earth), and no demonic spirit (under the earth). Only Jesus can break open the seals and reveal the mind of God. This is a graphic way of presenting the same revealed truth we have already in John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” In other words, Jesus, not Moses, and certainly not the imperial cult with its mediums and soothsayers, is the one and final authority for revealing the mind of God.

Today’s short second reading is a cosmic doxology in which the entire created order gives praise to Jesus as the only one who is worthy to be worshipped as God. This is a subtle repudiation of the claims of the Roman emperor who claims to be divine and worthy of worship. It is because Christians refused to worship Caesar as God that they were being persecuted. This passage reassures the early Christians that they are right in refusing to worship Caesar and worshiping Christ alone.

What message does this hold for us today? It challenges us to let nothing come before us and God as revealed by Jesus Christ. He is the sole authoritative reveler of the mind of God for the world. To him all praise and glory is due for ever and ever. Amen.