The Christ of the Apocalypse: Talk 6

 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. Talk six. The Divine Warrior, the Rider on a White Horse. Then I saw heaven open, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name inscribed, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

In chapters 1 to 3, we've seen the mystery of Christ who appears to John in the form of a glorified angel who is present to the faithful on earth. We have looked at images of Christ, the lion, lamb of God, and Lord of the universe in heaven, beginning in chapter 5. In chapter 19, John turns our focus to the mystery of the return of Christ in glory and judgment at the end of time. In John's vision of the rider on the white horse, we encounter one of the most magnificent and powerful images in the book. The Word of God, this King of Kings and Lord of Lords, rides forth from heaven, accompanied by the armies of angels. The striking image of the sword emerging from the mouth of the rider recalls a detail of the angelic Jesus in chapter one and reminds us of the power of the Word of God. This rider wears many diadems or crowns, as is only fitting for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Called by many names, this word of God who rides forth out of heaven, is said to have a secret name that only he knows. His robe is said to be dipped in blood, a reference to the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday. In the verses that follow, John goes on to speak of the approaching destruction of the opponents of God and of the Lamb. The beast, the false prophet, and their allies on earth, the kings and generals, and all who have proven to be the enemies of God.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet, who had performed in its presence the signs by which he had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image.

SPEAKER_00 3:34

Certainly, John's rider on a white horse represents a striking reversal of the image of Jesus riding a small, borrowed donkey in the Gospel accounts of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The irony of this reversal of images is one that would not have escaped the early Christians, who were being persecuted and were awaiting with faith and hope for the triumphant return of their crucified and risen Lord in glory at the end of time. In the verses from chapter 19 that we have just heard, it is important to bear in mind that no battle is described. The enemies of God assemble against the rider and his angels, but are immediately defeated by the power of the Word of God who died upon the cross. Many scholars observe it is John's position that the only battle, the decisive battle, fought by the Lamb was on the cross on Good Friday. The Word of God who rides forth out of heaven does not come to bring about destruction and the end of the world, but rather to usher in God's recreation of it. We must remember that the voice of the Father states clearly in chapter 21, verse 5, Behold, I make all things new.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

These two, the beast and the false prophet, were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur, and the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

One of John's purposes in writing the book of Revelation is to bring his audience to make a choice. So the language in chapter 19 sets before the reader a clear choice: either the marriage feast of the Lamb or the nightmare feast of God's judgment, to choose the highest and most beautiful reward or to face the most dreadful punishment. Given John's rhetoric or art of persuasion, the language here should be approached less for its literal meaning than for its intended effect upon the reader. John's strong language serves to remind his audience of both the crisis signaled by the arrival of God's final judgment and of the urgent importance of living now every day so that we might be found worthy to enter into that new creation. At the same time, the problems posed by John's violent language can neither be ignored nor easily dismissed. What is important to remember is that just like the other writings of the New Testament, the apocalypse teaches that it is through faith in God and never through violence that one comes to share in Christ's victory. Therefore, the basic attitudes of humility, the patient endurance exemplified by the Lamb, must also be present in those who would be his courageous witnesses. Ultimately, John's language aims to transform the audience, calling forth in us conversion, repentance, and to the patient endurance of the saints. Again, the strong language is aimed at moving the world of the audience from the values of the Roman Empire to those of the everlasting kingdom of God. At the same time, no matter what difficulties we may be facing, whether personally or collectively, John's visions remind us of the great importance of prayer amid the great spiritual struggle that will see the arrival of a new heaven and a new earth. Regarding the power of prayer, St. Maximilian Colby comments that our influence in the natural order depends upon our position, upon work, abilities, circumstances, and other things. But in the supernatural order, we can influence without measure, precisely through prayer, so that the future of the world depends upon hands raised in prayer. The future of the world depends upon hands raised in prayer. Please join us now as we pray to Saint Michael the Archangel.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.