August 2001 BOOK OF REVELATION      (continued from previous issue) By Carlos Mesters

Guideposts for the First Stage (Chapters 4-11) After the letters to the communities, John leads the people to heaven itself. From on high they look down together on the earth and witness the events which are to happen (4:1). They witness them like the acts of a play in which they themselves are involved: the drama of human history. We too shall enter with them through the door which John has found opened (4:1). Let us prepare ourselves to enter the dwelling-place of God * not curious to know all and everything. But let us enter to meet God, to adore and receive from Him the understanding and courage we are seeking for. Let us enter . . . The vision of the throne of God (4:1-11) As we enter heaven, the first object that we see is the throne: "I saw a throne standing in heaven and the One who was sitting on the throne" (4:2). The vision of the throne is the backdrop of the entire Book of Revelation from its beginning (1:4) to its end (22:3). It reveals the greatness of God: invisible, from the height of this throne. God directs the final stage of His Plan, and this stage is just now beginning (4:1). The vision of the throne is like music played by several instruments. It begins very softly, and swells more and more until it bursts out into an acclamation: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God the Almighty!" (4:8). The name of God is proclaimed, "He was, and is, and is to come!" (4:8). This is the name which dates from the Exodus: Yahweh, God with us, God the Liberator (Ex. 3:14-15). As He begins the last stage of His plan of salvation, God bears the same name that He had at the beginning of the first stage. And He will keep this name to the end (11:17). God has not changed and will not change. The name Yahweh expresses how God had committed Himself to remain always with His people to liberate them. And God is faithful to His commitment. He gave many proofs of it. The Exodus was the first proof * "you will know that I am Yahweh" (Ex. 6:7), and the events now to be related will be the ultimate and definitive proof that He is Yahweh, the God who liberates. The name Yahweh is for the people of God a storehouse of faith, hope and love. The storm of the persecutions had blocked off this storehouse and the people had remained without any protection. John therefore drew from it to offer to the people the light and strength which they needed.

. . . to be continued

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