The new earth, eternal beatitude.

(Chs. 21-22)

The last two chapters of the book of the Apocalypse contain the most glorious and most

joyful pages of the Bible. They describe the beatitude of the righteous in the rejuvenated

world, where God will dry each tear from the eyes of the sufferers, where there no longer will

be death, nor weeping, nor cries, nor sickness. Life, to which there will be no end, will begin.

*** *** *** ***

Thus, the book of the Apocalypse was written during the time of increased persecution of the

Church. Its aim was to strengthen and comfort the faithful in the face of forthcoming strife. It

discloses the methods and artifice by which the devil and his servants attempt to destroy the

believers. It teaches how one can overcome the temptations. The book of the Apocalypse

sends an appeal to the faithful to be attentive to their spiritual state, to have no fear of suffering

and death for the sake of Christ. It shows the happy life of the saints in heaven and calls

to us to join them. Although believers sometimes have many enemies, they have many more

defenders in the form of angels, saints, and especially Christ, the Victor.

The book of the Apocalypse more vividly and more descriptively than any other book of

Holy Scripture reveals the drama of the battle between good and evil in the history of mankind

and demonstrates more fully the triumph of Good and Life.

Table 1. Letters to the Seven Churches.

Church

Subject

Ephesus

Rev. 2:8-11

Smyrna

Rev. 2:12-17

Pergamos

Rev. 2:12-17

Thyatira

Rev. 2:18-29

Sardis

Rev. 3:7-13

Philadel

Rev.3:7

Praise

Worked fervently, had

patience, repudiated the

corrupt.

Bore sorrow and

poverty.

Did not renounce

faith.

Good works, love, faith.

The last greater than the

first.

Did not defile your

garments.

Although weak

true to Christ.

Censure

Cooled in love.

— — —

Allow heretics into

your midst.

Allow heretics to sow

enticements.

You appear alive, but

you are dead.

— — —

Advice

Remember from whence

you fell and repent.

Be faithful till

death.

Repent.

Protect what you have.

Be alert, for you are

close to death. Repent.

Protect your sp

wealth.

What comes

“I shall remove your

lamp stand” (I shall

reject).

— — —

— — —

— — —

I shall come unexpectedly.

— — —

Reward

You will eat from the

tree of life.

You will elude

everlasting death.

You will partake of

hidden manna and

get a new name.

You will subjugate

pagans.

You shall receive a

white garment.

You will be ste

You will bear t

of God.

Old-Testament

period

Life in Eden (Gen. 2:9)

Slavery in Egypt

(10 plagues; Ex. ch.

7-12 .)

Wandering in the

Sinai desert.

Balaam seduces

Israel (Num. 25:1,

31:16)

Enticement of paganism

during the time of

Jezebel (3 Kgs.16: 31,

21: 21-26)

God’s judgement over

Israel and Judah (Ex.

1:9; 8th-6th cent. B.C.)

Babylonian bo

Extreme weake

Emergence fro

dage. Restorati

Jerusalem and

(Key of David)

New-

Testament

period

Time of Apostles. (1st

cent.)

Persecution of

Church by Roman

emperors. (2-4

cent.)

War with heresies.

Ecumenical

Councils.

Monasticism. (4-7

cent.).

Iconomachism.

Christianization of new

peoples (Slavs) “Rule

over pagans.” (7-12

cent. )

Flourishing of Church

art. Formalization of

religion. The fall of

Byzantium. Russian

Revolution. (13- 20

cent.)

Pressure from

Church weakn

conversion of J

(20th cent.)

Characteristics

of the given

periods

At first, spiritual zeal

and innocence; then- a

cooling.

Cleansing through

mourning and

sorrow.

War with heresy,

mental temptations.

Attainment of spiritual

maturity.

Outer ceremonial piety.

Punishment.

Loyalty to God

difficult circum

Table 2. Plan of the Apocalypse.

Visions

and chapters

Seven seals.

Heavenly

Adoration. Four

horsemen. (4-6)

Seven horns. First

calamities. Redemption

of the faithful.

(7-10)

Seven signs. The

Church and the

kingdom of the beast.

(11-14)

Seven bowls.

Judgement of sinners.

(15- 17).

Judgement

Babylon. Antichrist

false prophet. (18 -1

The Church triumphant

in Heaven.

Heavenly liturgy

(4-5). First Martyrs

(6:9-11).

The just of all nations

(7:9-17). Strength of

Saint’s prayers (8:3-6).

Adoration of God

(11:16-19).

Foretaste of victory by

Saints (12:10-12). The

innocents (14:1-5).

Hymn of those saved from

the beast (15;1- 4).

Preparation for the

marriage of the Lamb a

the Church. The marria

Hymn of the saints (19:

10).

Persecuted Church on

earth.

The imminent

suffering of the

faithful (6:11).

Identifying the chosen

prior to calamities (7:1-

8).

Measuring the temple

(11:1-2). Deeds of two

witnesses (11:3- 14).

Woman clothed with sun

(12:1-6 & 13-18).

Patience of the Saints

(13:10, 14:12-13).

Blessed is the courageous

(16: 15).

— — —

The world of sinners

and their punishment.

4 horsemen. Passions

at war within man.

Hence enmity,

poverty, & reciprocal

extermination (6: 1-

8).

First calamities. Partial

obliteration of nature

(8:7-13).

Sinners seduced and made

subject to the beast. Mark

of the beast (13:8 & 16-

17).

Greater punishment of

sinner. Total destruction

of nature (16:1-12).

— — —

Theomachistic world.

Antichrist. False

prophet.

— — —

— — —

Evil increases. Beast from

the sea- antichrist (13: 1-

10). Beast from the earthfalse

prophet (13:11-18).

Kingdom of the beast

(16:10-12). Harlot of

Babylon- center of

universal evil (17:1-18).

Casting down of Babylo

Joy in Heaven (18:1-24

The nether regions-

devil and demons.

— — —

Emanation of devilish

forces in the world.

Devil- the destroyer of

souls (9:1-12).

The dragon persecutes the

Woman- Church (12:3-4)

Plants seeds of temptation

(12:10-13 & 12:15-17).

Evil spirits entice people

to serve the beast (16:13-

14).

Evil force is strengthene

in the kingdom of the

beast (18:2).

Physical and spiritual

war. Regiments of

evil.

World’s calamities

emanate due to

discords within man

(6:1-8).

Angels at the river

Euphrates. First phase

of war (9:13-21).

War in Heaven (12:7-10).

Confrontation of the devil

with two witnesses (11:7).

Before the final conflict

(16:12). Armageddon

(16:16). Christ’s victory

(17:14).

Christ annihilates

antichrist & his armies

(19:11-21).

Description of the end

of the world and

Judgment.

Fear of the sinners

before the Judge

(6:12-17).

Comprehension of

God’s mystery (10:7).

Kingdom of the world

becomes the Kingdom of

God (11:15). The harvest

(14:14-20).

Judgment of pagans

(16:17-21).

Total annihilation of

Babylon. Punishment o

the beast and false prop

(19:19-21).

Main theme.

Introduction.

Heavenly Liturgy.

Disclosure of reasons

for worldly conflicts.

Meaning of martyr’s

suffering.

Growth of Heavenly

Church & increase of

calamities on earth. God

protects the faithful.

Deeds of the witnesses of

the church. The devil

directs theomachistic

forces against the Church.

Kingdom of evil

increases, but God brings

it to ruin. Judgment

begins with the sinning

world. The saved exult.

Judgment of theomachi

antichrist, and false

prophet. Center of

universal evil is abolish