In the past century, with the popularity of Dispensationalism, the Book of Revelation (aka The Apocalypse) has been viewed as a prophecy of the Future, of the Tribulation, the Second Coming, and the New Heaven and New Earth.
But, there is an older tradition, an older understanding, which has sadly been overshadowed.
The Apocalypse is a view of the the Eucharistic Liturgy, whether one is talking of the Roman Mass or the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, or any of the other ancient rites of the Church.
Sunday worship is normative for the Eucharist
- I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet - 1:10;
Christ, our High Priest is involved
- and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast - 1:13
An altar is involved
- And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. 8:3-4
- "Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there" 11:1
- Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has power over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 14:18
Priest (presbyteroi, elders) are involved
- Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. - 4:4
- and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. - 14:3
- And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” - 19:4
Vestments are involved
- and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast - 1:13
- Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. - 4:4
- Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. - 6:11
- After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, - 7:9
- and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen, and their breasts girded with golden girdles. - 15:6
- He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. - 19:13-14
Some are consecrated celibates
- It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb - 14:4
There are lamp stands, or Menorah
- Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, - 1:12
- Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 2:5
Penitence is involved
- Read chapters 2 & 3
Incense is used
- And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; - 5:8
- And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, loud noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. - 8:3-5
The Eucharist, the Manna, is involved
- He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.’ - 2:17
The Prominence of the Virgin Mary
- And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. . . And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had borne the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. - 12:1-6; 13-17
Intercession of Angels and Saints
- And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints - 5:8
- When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” - 6:9-10
- And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. - 8:3-4
For further reference, I suggest one read "The Lamb's Supper", by Dr. Scott Hahn
Comments
Post a Comment