Then the angel said to me,
“Write this:
'Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.'”
That's a rather simple conclusion to an astonishing revelation about the future. As the Prophet Amos had many centuries before, John of Patmos predicted the fall of the Roman Empire, which he compared to the Babylonian Empire. The world had already seen more than a few cities rule enormous territories with their military, economic, religious, and social power. The Jews remembered Babylon in particular for destroying their holy city Jerusalem and sending its citizens to all parts of the world.
And so John recalls the fall of Babylon and predicts the fall of Rome. This passage might have been used to forecast the eclipse of the later Byzantine, Holy Roman, French, English, and Spanish empires. And today's American empire. (Every age produces its own type of empire with different technological and economic realities. They might not look the same to a distant observer.)
John said of Rome:
No melodies of harpists and musicians,flutists and trumpeters, (the arts)will ever be heard in you again.No craftsmen in any tradewill ever be found in you again.No sound of the millstone (food chain)will ever be heard in you again.No light from a lamp (power grid)will ever be seen in you again.No voices of bride and groom (family and social life)will ever be heard in you again.Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”
And yet he concludes,
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
Freedom is frightening and the promise of freedom often sounds like a threat. On our way to peace, solidarity, and security we will experience the collapse of all that is familiar, predictable, and apparently safe. God's kingdom will certainly demand more than we are willing to pay, but we will pay it. Having made our vows as Christians, we must find ourselves swept along through terrors more real than the thrills of a roller coaster.
But, as we heard yesterday,
"...not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Oh! By the way, Happy Thanksgiving!
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.