The Christ of the Apocalypse: Talk 4

 In these talks based on my book The Christ of the Apocalypse: Contemplating the Faces of Jesus in the Book of Revelation, I focus on the portrait of Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. St. John offers us a message of hope in difficult times, and his language is rich and symbolic: • How do we interpret the Apocalypse? • Do we interpret St. John literally? • Is the Apocalypse about the end of the world? • Or is it about the beginning of a new creation? Images that have captured the imagination include: the Four Horsemen, the Antichrist, the Number of the Beast, and the Battle of Armageddon. Yet the basic facts about the Book often go unnoticed: that the Apocalypse is – from start to finish – a Revelation of Jesus Christ, who will return in glory at the end of time to usher in a new heaven and a new earth. Finally, I offer some reflections on the relevance of John’s message of hope in our postmodern, post-truth world and post-human world. With the rise of artificial intelligence, and as the universe gives way to the metaverse, John calls us to give brave witness to the truth of the Gospel and so begin now to become a new creation in Christ. - Monsignor A. Robert Nusca OVERVIEW: Introduction to the Talks Talk 1: The Apocalypse of John: A Message of Hope in Difficult Times Talk 2: The Faces of Jesus in the Gospels: The Portraits of Jesus that Emerge in the Four Gospels Talk 3: The Faces of Christ: Jesus in the Book of Revelation Talk 4: Jesus Walks among the Seven Churches: Christ as Glorified Angel Talk 5: The Visions of the Lamb of God: We Examine the Image of the Slain Lion/Lamb of God. Talk 6: The Divine Warrior-The Rider on a White Horse: Christ Returns in Judgement & Glory at the End of Time. Talk 7: A Fourth Face: The Faithful Transformed by God’s Grace Talk 8: The Promises to the Victors: What does Jesus Promise to those who give Faithful Witness to the Gospel? Epilogue: The New Jerusalem: John's Message for us Today! Quotes referenced in these talks, can be found here https://arnusca.substack.com/p/references-for-the-faces-of-jesus To sign up for free to Msgr. Nusca's website, please see arnusca.substack.com to receive ongoing articles as they are published. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Through the kindness of our donors, the National Catholic Broadcasting Council presents. Let us learn together. Please join Monsignor Robert Nuska for The Christ of the Apocalypse.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Let us now turn our focus to the faces of Christ in the book of Revelation, beginning with the appearance of Jesus in the form of a glorified angel.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

In response to the sound of a loud voice like a trumpet, in chapter 1, verse 10, John turns to see who is speaking to him, and in the midst of the seven churches, symbolized by the seven golden lampstands, in Revelation 1.20, Jesus appears as a glorious, sparkling, fiery presence in the form of an angel. Jesus stands at the center of the seven golden lampstands, leading us to focus on his ongoing presence in the everyday life of the church, in the here and now. We see that Jesus is a powerful, shining presence who remains very close to the communities of faith on their journey. Jesus remains always very close to us.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force. To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write, These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, These are the words of the first and the last who was dead and came to life. And to the angel of the church in Pergamum, write, These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write, These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. And to the angel of the church in Sardis, write, These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write, These are the words of the Holy One, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. And to the angel of the church in Laodesia, write, The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

Jesus is described as holding seven stars in his right hand. The symbol of the sharp two-edged sword issuing from Jesus' mouth symbolizes the mighty power of God's living word. In the letter to the Hebrews, God's word is, and I quote, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints from marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The fiery angelic face of Jesus described in chapters 2 and 3 is at the same time the living voice of God, who speaks to the heart of a church that dwells not in the wilderness of a desert, but in the cities of Asia Minor. Here Jesus challenges the faithful to witness courageously to the values of the gospel amid the spiritual confusion of the time. Speaking directly to the situation of the churches, the voice of Jesus comforts, consoles, while at the same time exhorts, threatens, and issues a call to conversion. He calls the faithful to be a prophetic people who, like John, are prepared to share both in the mystery of Christ's own suffering, by living and preaching the gospel bravely, with courage, with conviction, and so acquire a share in Christ's own victory over the world and over the powers of sin and death. The verses of the Book of Revelation serve as the introductions to a remarkable series of seven letters dictated by the glorified Christ Himself. In these messages, intended for the faithful of the seven churches, the risen Christ not only tells us something about himself, but offers an assessment of each congregation. The faithful are told to repent, to remember what they have learned, to be watchful, to persevere, to be faithful, and to have no fear. Taken together, these letters reflect a mix of positive and negative elements. As we will see in further detail, Jesus promises the members of the seven churches that those who give bold, courageous witness to the gospel will eat of the tree of life which is in paradise. They will be given the crown of life. They will eat of the hidden manna. They will have power over the nations. They will be given the morning star. They will be pillars in the temple of God. They will dine with Christ and will be seated with Christ upon his throne in heaven. Taken together, the letters show us why it is that the faithful should live the gospel to the fullest as they proclaim God's message of salvation courageously, like St. John the Baptist and the prophets of old. These promises convey an exalted vision of a humanity that has been transformed, transfigured, and anglified in Christ. As John describes what the human person has been created for and is called to become through God's grace and a life of faith lived to the full. Throughout, Jesus calls the faithful to begin now, to prepare to enter the new Jerusalem, the sparkling eternal city, and the new creation that will appear at the end of time. The angelic Jesus, in essence, is saying, Give courageous witness to the truth of the gospel before a disbelieving world that is hostile to my message. Do not be afraid to share in the mystery of the cross, and you will acquire a share in what I am. In conclusion, let us pray together for the intercession, guidance, and protection of our guardian angels.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, and guide. Amen.