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

The Letters to the Seven Churches (chapters 1-3) An experienced architect is able to narrate the history of a house. He examines and says: "This verandah is an addition: the marks near the windows and the door show it. The kitchen here has been enlarged: notice the flooring and the beam which supports the roof. To make a bigger bedroom for the children, the roof has been lengthened and a partition built, making use of the angular space that was vacant. Originally there were only two small bedrooms, a kitchen and the bathroom." He knows it because he is an expert builder. The Book of Revelation is like a house: it has been enlarged gradually, according to the needs of the seven communities. Some experienced architects have examined carefully the traces on the walls, the floor and the roof of this "house" and have drawn the following conclusions. John composed first chapters 4-11, probably in 64 AD, at the time of the persecution of Nero. As the persecution went on intensifying and the problems too, chapters 4-11 were no longer adequate. The "house" had to be enlarged. The people needed a deeper reflection on the persecution and on the politics of the Roman empire. To deal with this John wrote 12-22, probably in 95 AD, at the time of Domitian's persecution. Finally, he added chapters 1-3 and then completed chapter 22. You may ask how we can know all this. I ask you, "How does the architect know the historical development of a particular house?" Your answer, "Because he is a specialist". Similarly, for our knowledge about the gradual development of Revelation we depend on specialists of Scripture. Chapter 1-3 in which we find "the letters to the seven communities" are like the main entry to the entire book. These chapters transform Revelation into a warm and inviting letter. They are like the porch of the house, where John was welcoming the persecuted community members. Let us enter it. Title and introduction (1:1-3) The title of the book is: "A Revelation of Jesus Christ" (1:1). The introduction (1:1-3) points to the origin of this revelation: it comes from God through Jesus (1:1). It explains its value: it is the Word of God confirmed by Jesus (1:2). It also indicates its demand: it must be listened to and put into practice (1:3), its reward: happiness (1:3), and its urgency: "the time is near" (1:3).

. . . to be continued

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