2022/08/01

50. Revelation Chapter 15-16

As discussed in the previous article, if a person dies with the accidental information attached closely to his will, he becomes an evil spirit and remains in the world. In the same way, man's will that was too attached to earthly life, even if it does not become an evil spirit, will also remain in the world because it cannot follow the Word, "Let there be," returning to God at the time of his death. This fact is in accordance with the parable in which Jesus talked about the rich man clothed in purple and fine linen who enjoyed a lavish life every day and the poor man Lazarus (cf. Luke 16:19-31). They both died, and Lazarus was taken to Abraham's bosom by angels while the rich man was tormented in Hades. Abraham gave the reason for this, saying, "Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." The Holy Eucharist awaits the cooperation of the faithful to take with Him, one by one, upon His own death, these tormented wills that had died and remained on earth and the wills of those who were evil spirits (cf. this blog № 49). In other words, He is waiting to be received by the congregation. Therefore, when a believer bravely sets out for the Mass, God will protect the realm of the consciousness of this believer who decided to go to the Mass. The "temple" mentioned in Revelation as "the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended" (Revelation 15:8) refers to the realm of the believer's consciousness at this time. So, what are the "seven plagues of the seven angels" described here? First, we can see that the "one of the four living creatures" (Revelation 15:7) that gave these angels the golden bowls full of the wrath of God is the Gospel of John (cf. this blog №12). That is because the phrase in chapter 16, "The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, 'It is done!'" (Revelation 16:17), coincides with the phrase in John's Gospel, "When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30). In addition, this scene of Jesus' death on the cross is linked to the parable of the Good Shepherd, in which Jesus repeatedly said that he would lay down his life for his sheep (cf. John 10:1-42). In the Gospel of John, after Jesus entered public life, he had constant disputes with those who heard him speak. The first of such disputes happened in the scene of Jesus healing a sick man on the sabbath at a pool called Beth-za'tha (cf. John 5:1-47), and the Gospel writes this pool is by the "Sheep Gate." From the description of chapter 10, which begins with the parable of the sheepfold, we can read the psychological transition of those who took offence at Jesus' words and eventually tried to kill him. This process coincides with the "seven plagues of the seven angels" in Revelation. The words, "seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended" (Revelation 15:1), can be understood by this coincidence. (continued)

Maria K. M.