March 2002 BOOK OF REVELATION      (continued from previous issue) By Carlos Mesters

From the first 'reading' to the second    continue The seventh plague is the plague of God's anger against the nations that had revolted. It is the plague of the Judgement when the servant of God are rewarded and meant to "destroy those who are destroying the earth" (11:18). We may say that this second plan is the long rambling echo of the thunder heard at the end of the seventh plague (11:19). It is the plan of the judgement and condemnation of those who persecute the people of God. Most courageously John takes his stand against the Roman emperor, and challenges him in the name of the persecuted people: "In spite of you, tomorrow will be another day!" To combine both plan into a single book, John made two minor additions to the first one. He adds the vision of the small scroll (10:8-11) through which he receives this order: "You are to prophesy again, this time against many different nations and countries and languages and kings" (10:11). As if to say, "The book is not over after the seventh plague; there will still be many prophecies. The first plan, contained in the scroll with the seven seals, is now over. We shall now read the second plan described in the small sweet-and-sour scroll". Then he added the vision of the two witnesses, Moses and Elijah (11:1-3). In the expectation of the people, they were to come back to prepare for the final Judgement (Sir. 48:10; Mal. 3:33). Hence through this vision John directs the attention of the readers to the theme of the judgement. When everything is over, after the final judgement, John will come back once more to the topic of the seven communities, and describe the results of their combat and the new future they were preparing for, through their fraternal organisation. This is the great vision of the new heavens and the new earth (21:22-21). Here John gives us an important lesson: he is faithful not only to God but to the persecuted people too. He wants his text, besides, to be a real and concrete response to the problems suffered by the people. Hence he searches for the best manner of expressing himself, modifying the plan and working out another. What always matters for him is to pull off the veil and reveal the Good News of God present within the events lived by the people.

. . . to be continued

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