Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Another World is Possible
“… there was silence in
heaven…” Revelation 8:1
Revelation is the last book in the Bible
and often, the last book we want to read! Mention ‘Revelation’ and scary images
about “Armageddon”, “666” and strange symbols as coded prophecies of future
events come immediately to our mind. Yet, what is often overlooked is the fact
that this book has a profound message of hope, especially for people who are in
despair. As the Biblical scholar Pablo Richard points out, the most powerful
readings of Revelation are through the eyes of the oppressed living out their
Christian faith in the context of the modern empire.
Chapter 8 begins with a series of seven
trumpets. According to Jacques Ellul, the vision of the trumpets announces the
coming of God in human history, to live and suffer like human beings but
ultimately overcome the powers of evil. The earlier chapters depicted heaven
and the Lamb on the throne. The focus henceforth, however, is on Christ in the
world – the Word that became flesh – and all the struggles that this ‘humanity
of God’ implies.
Chapter 8 begins with silence. “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there
was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” This silence is in contrast to the jubilant songs of the “great multitude
that no one could count,” described in the previous chapter. Bastiaan Wielenga
describes this silence as heaven holding its breath because of what is about to
happen on earth. We may think of this as stunned silence in expectation of
God’s coming to judge (Hab. 2:2). The silence, however, is short lived. The
last of the seven seals has been broken heralding the advent of a new era when
the seven trumpets are given to the angels. These are the trumpets that announce
the coming of God as the king of the earth (Psalms 47 & 98). When the
seventh angel blows the trumpet, “The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.”
(Rev. 11:15).
It is
true that the book of Revelation has terrifying images of death and
destruction. The cosmic plagues depicted in chapter 8 that will hit the earth
(vs. 7), the sea (vs. 8), the sweet-water rivers (vs. 10), and heaven and sky
(vs. 12) too can be seen today as the pollution of the earth, sea and air. In
the midst of all this chaos, however, this book is also the affirmation that
“another world is possible”. The concluding chapters have a strong
message of hope: “See, the home of God is among mortals, He will dwell with
them; they will be his people, and God himself will be
with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 21: 3-4).
Thought for the day: Is Revelation one of the most
misinterpreted books of our times?
Prayer: In the midst of despair, O
Lord, help me to see your silent but reassuring presence.
Dr.
Jesudas M. Athyal. Carmel MTC, Boston