Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
The Apocalypse - Prophetic symbolism, or Symbolic history?	David	Monday, April 2, 2007
Question: What is the Church's teaching on The Apocalypse? Is it Prophetic symbolism meaning Chirst commanded St. John the Evangelist to write The Apocalypse? Who wrote the book in a symbolic way yet it is a revelation of the things that were, are and will be. We are actually witnessing some of the events foretold in this book, but many still lie in the future. And we should all be ready no matter what the time we are in, now or the future because the time is at hand. Or is it Symbolic history meaning some guy whom may or may not be St. John the Evangelist wrote it in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for Christians of all time, and whether or not these visions were real experiences of the author or simply literary conventions employed by him is an open question. And we should use The Apocalypse more as a guide when things get bad or real bad like the time is was written. I tell you, I pray it is more of the first, because the latter places doubt on who wrote it, why even have doubt or questions when it is written "I John, your brother and partner in tribulation..." and more importantly if The Apocalypse was written for the Christians at the time, and not so much us. The book then in some little way would be a lie in that Christ did not come back! Peace, David
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear David: The Book of Revelation is first of all about the first century. It is coded narrative talking about the anti-Christ (666) that was the Emperor Nero. The Book of Revelation also has a prophetic nature of the end times. The Book of Revelation is also a coded narrative teaching on the Mass. I would suggest you read the book by Scott Hahn: The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. As far as "end times" is concerned, if I have a heart attack while typing this post then the end times of my world will be NOW. We all need to be ready at all times to meet our Lord. The end of the world is irrelevant. Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

The Apocalypse - Prophetic symbolism, or Symbolic history?

David

Monday, April 2, 2007

Question:

What is the Church's teaching on The Apocalypse? Is it Prophetic symbolism meaning Chirst commanded St. John the Evangelist to write The Apocalypse? Who wrote the book in a symbolic way yet it is a revelation of the things that were, are and will be. We are actually witnessing some of the events foretold in this book, but many still lie in the future. And we should all be ready no matter what the time we are in, now or the future because the time is at hand.

Or is it Symbolic history meaning some guy whom may or may not be St. John the Evangelist wrote it in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for Christians of all time, and whether or not these visions were real experiences of the author or simply literary conventions employed by him is an open question. And we should use The Apocalypse more as a guide when things get bad or real bad like the time is was written.

I tell you, I pray it is more of the first, because the latter places doubt on who wrote it, why even have doubt or questions when it is written "I John, your brother and partner in tribulation..." and more importantly if The Apocalypse was written for the Christians at the time, and not so much us. The book then in some little way would be a lie in that Christ did not come back!

Peace,
David

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear David:

The Book of Revelation is first of all about the first century. It is coded narrative talking about the anti-Christ (666) that was the Emperor Nero.

The Book of Revelation also has a prophetic nature of the end times.

The Book of Revelation is also a coded narrative teaching on the Mass.

I would suggest you read the book by Scott Hahn:

The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. As far as "end times" is concerned, if I have a heart attack while typing this post then the end times of my world will be NOW. We all need to be ready at all times to meet our Lord. The end of the world is irrelevant.

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum