In the Apocalypse, the verb, erchesthai usually refers to the coming of God or of Christ. The imperative here (Rev 6:1) could tally with the demands of the Spirit, of the bride, and of John (22:17,20), all of whom ask for the coming of Christ. In this case, he would be coming to the aid of his own by means of a conquering power that will punish the persecutors of his Church. (From the Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 477, #38, notes on Revelation 6:1-2)
The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, ercou) in 6:1, 3-5, 7 is a gloss directed to John, i.e., “come and look at the seals and the horsemen!” But the command ἔρχου is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen. The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses. (NET Bible Notes)
This is a sort of different way of understanding chapter 6 verse 1 of Revelation. Most of the modern translations of Revelation 6:1 omit the second imperative with the effect that the four living creatures each command a horseman to come. So for example in the Latin Vulgate we have
dicens, tamquam vocem tonitrui: Veni, et vide.
in English this is translated, "saying, in a voice like thunder: Come and see." With both 'Come' and 'see' understood as imperatives seemingly in relation to John. On the other hand most modern translations (I assume drawing from an old Greek script) omit "ed vide". For example:
I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!" So I looked, and here came a white horse! (NET Bible)
The command of the living creature is directed to the horseman. This shorter translation opens up for a little different understanding. If this understanding has any merit we could assume that in a broader context the living creature is almost praying for the Coming of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. The breaking of the First Seal officially inaugurates his plan to Come Again. This plan includes the coming of the four horsemen. So one could understand this as desirable, as Good News, worthy of a prayer, that Jesus would break the Seal, that the horsemen may come forth, evil may be overcome, perfect justice may prevail and that Jesus would finally come again as the culmination of all these mysterious events.
In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis came up with an inventive and insightful way of describing virginity: Eschatological!
159. Virginity is a form of love. As a sign, it speaks to us of the coming of the Kingdom and the need for complete devotion to the cause of the Gospel (cf. 1 Cor 7:32). It is also a reflection of the fullness of heaven, where “they neither marry not or are given in marriage” (Mt 22:30). Saint Paul recommended virginity because he expected Jesus’ imminent return and he wanted everyone to concentrate only on spreading the Gospel: “the appointed time has grown very short” (1 Cor 7:29). Nonetheless, he made it clear that this was his personal opinion and preference (cf. 1 Cor 7:6-9), not something demanded by Christ: “I have no command in the Lord” (1 Cor 7:25). . .
161. The value of virginity lies in its symbolizing a love that has no need to possess the other; in this way it reflects the freedom of the Kingdom of Heaven. . .Whereas virginity is an “eschatological” sign of the risen Christ, marriage is a “historical” sign for us living in this world, a sign of the earthly Christ who chose to become one with us and gave himself up for us even to shedding his blood. Virginity and marriage are, and must be, different ways of loving. For “man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him”.
This above video has been circulating on social media, and I think this is an excellent example of the direction the Western society is headed. A zombie apocalypse featuring this school of thought which treats all forms and all concepts as equals. This conceptual blunder (to put it mildly) leads to many errors in faith and morals not to mention outright insanity as is clearly demonstrated in the video.
Identity is an abstract concept which is ultimately rooted in form. In identity one compares forms. Form refers to what is bounded from an immediate surrounding. You trace the lines. You compare this form to that form. If your brain is working properly you think these two forms are different, distinct, unique to some degree. Gee this form has something or does/has done some action that this other form doesn't have, or do. They are unequal. You measure and dissect differences, you code DNA, you note what it can or cannot do, and vice versa. And you name these two forms.
Identity: a description which distinguishes this form from that form used repeatedly in official and unofficial settings.
Regardless of the description or anyone's opinion about identity, identity is ultimately rooted in form. The subjective aspect, that is the description is ultimately traced back to the form itself. Form is objective. One has no choice when it comes to form. Form is what an object has before light even reaches our eyes from the object. Form is the thing speaking for itself. Form precedes opinions.
To learn more I will link my unique and independent series of articles on basic ontology and physics. These articles are built up over years and I have a treasure trove of valuable quotes and research, especially on the notion called Form. Form is the most important concept in philosophy because it enables one to resolve the ontology of the word referent, a cornerstone of critical thinking and rational analysis. These articles will enable you to destroy all intellectual hogwash and charlatans of this age. They can also help enhance one's understanding of the Sacred Script. As a bonus there are also some nice physics articles at that blog, but I won't link those in.
The Roman Catholic Church is said to have more than one billion members worldwide. With this comes all sorts of groups and diversity. Diversity and a spectrum of groups can be great manifestation of God's work, but not always. This article is a quick description of some tendencies in the members of a group within the Church which could be labelled ultra-conservative or radical traditionalist. There is a whole spectrum of ultra-conservatism, radical traditionalism or plain conservatism but this list should be able to paint a sufficient picture: * They tend to criticize or outright reject the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. Some in this group even think the evil in the Church and the World today was a result of Vatican II: a thought that is beyond insane. (historically, a group usually breaks away from the Church after each major ecumenical council.)
* They tend to favor the Traditional Latin Mass or in extreme cases outright reject the current form of the Mass in favor to the TLM.
* They tend to favor the 'good ole days' and in extreme cases want to go back to the good ole days.
* They tend to favor a stodgy and decadent form of Thomism/Aristotelianism. I would even suppose that some rad trads idolize Aquinas, maybe even Augustine, much to the ruin of their brains. (Note: there is literature of thousands upon thousands of good Catholic Christian thinkers)
* They have Pharisaical tendencies. All the criticism Jesus launched at the Pharisees can be applied to this group.
* They tend to act Triumphalist or take the attitude that before the 60's the Church was right about everything She did.
* They tend to overemphasize petty religious laws, rules, precepts, (e.g. Canon laws) in contrast to the immaculate morals in the Way of Christ Jesus.
* They tend to overemphasize eschatology, and I might add have a naive understanding of eschatology to the point of outright heresy, schism.
* Their personal interpretations of Sacred Scripture are appalling, or cut and paste
* Pending context, they tend to act domineering or the extreme opposite: overly submissive
* They tend to behave superficially or petty
* They lack critical thinking and rational analysis skills
* They have the habit of appealing to authority especially Magisterial documents without understanding how the Magisterium works or how Magisterial Teachings relate to Divine Revelation. Online they tend to blindly quote Magisterial documents without any sort contextual analysis or thought-process.
* They tend to overemphasize specific Marian Apparitions such as Fatima.
* Some in this group are European Monarchists.
* Some in this group promote a new wave of Geocentrism based in the U.S. Some in this general group actually believe in Geocentrism!!!
* Some of the more extreme members of this category doubt or outright reject the Messianic authority of the elected Popes since Vatican II.
* Some seem especially vulnerable to false private revelations and claims that so and so is this Petrus Romanus or the Two Witnesses.
* They tend to act prudish (which is not the tried and true virtue of chastity/modesty)
* They tend not to be uptight at Mass or in prayer
* They tend to have an unrealistic view of the Roman Catholic Church (not to mention the world)
* They are idealogues
* Some seem especially vulnerable because of mental illness or perhaps some other life trauma.
* Some cut themselves off from Pope Francis and the rest of the Church. In other words they are schizmatic.
The reason I made this list is because I have witnessed the young and the naive fall prey to the wolves of this group. I thoroughly understand how much direct and indirect harm the members of this group can inflict on the innocent sheep of Christ Jesus. It is a TERRIBLE thing to witness. These sorts of people need special help and healing that comes from Jesus alone.
I advise in all sincerity to not associate with these people. Turn away from them and never look back. Do NOT follow their teachings. There are other ways to learn and live the Catholic Christian Faith than through these people. Listen I'll be the first to admit that the world is messed up and the Church is suffering now, but this is no excuse to go extreme in your beliefs. Where is your Faith, your Hope, your Love. Your fortitude? Your brilliance? You invest yourself in these lunatics? You sit back whining and complaining like baby rad trads?
There is still a lot of good in the world, and this is inspired by the Spirit. Jesus alone has authority to heal the Church and the world. Not some loons who claim to be the Messiah, or Petrus Romanus or the Two Witnesses. Just look at these pale loons on youtube. They are clearly sick people. You can see it in there faces. Don't be daft. Something is not right with these people.
And don't follow me or my teachings. Follow Christ Jesus and use your brain. Be brave and be your own unique child of God. Follow and learn from Pope Francis who holds the keys. Follow the Scriptures; learn the Magisterial teachings; learn critical thinking and rational analysis skills. Again accept and follow Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and his valid successors!
When one does a comparative analysis of Jesus' address to the Seven Churches of Asia one will notice a little progression which lends an argument in favor of each Church succeeding one another, and each Church having a time figuratively represented by the seven golden lampstands. Jesus says to John "the seven lampstands are the seven Churches" recorded in verse 19 of chapter 1. We could imagine that each stand has oil or a candle and these will only burn for so long on Earth.
After not having focused on his return in his address to the first five, in the sixth and seventh Churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea respectively, we see that Jesus hints that his Return is imminent.
To Philadelphia he says,
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. (Rev 3:11)
Then to Laodicea he says,
Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! (Rev 3:20)
And so it seems like that in the time of Philadelphia Jesus is on the way to the house, the Church on Earth, approaching quickly so to speak. But when Laodicea succeeds Philadelphia, Jesus is standing at the door and knocking, indicating that he will Return from Heaven in the time of Laodicea.
I also noticed that Jesus gives a singular favor to Philadelphia. He promises Philly that he will "keep them from the hour of temptation, which shall overcome the whole world in order to test those living upon the earth." This hour of temptation which will overcome the whole world seems to clearly reference the reign of Antichrist. This time of Antichrist's reign is brief less than a decade and so Jesus fittingly uses the figure of an hour. This is in opposition to the tribulation for ten days in the Church of Smyrna which I think represents ten major persecutions led by ten Roman Emperors in the nascent Church. Some of these Roman Emperors reigned for two decades, for example Diocletian from 284 to 305 in addition to the general persecution lasting for centuries with the intensity increasing and decreasing pending emperor. Antichrist on the other hand will overcome the whole world for no more than seven years, and then Jesus will return. Jesus will prevent the Church of Philadelphia from the advent of Antichrist, but he will not prevent Laodicea.
Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Rev 5:1-5) And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals . . . (Rev 6:1)
We all know the Lamb is the risen Jesus. Why then do we speculate how the Tribulation will begin??? Jesus alone, out of all Heaven and Earth, is found worthy to open the seals, thus unleashing the white horse and rider with his Divine mission. If the first seal represents the beginning of the so called End Time events or broadly speaking the Tribulation, it is Jesus who initiates and officiates. Extremist Arabs who belong to an Islamic apocalyptic cult do not initiate the events of the Tribulation. The Second Divine Person does. Nations do not initiate the events by dropping nukes or waging a war; the sinful Christian Church does not initiate the events; Jews do not, Muslims do not; Mother Nature does not; the Pope does not, a maniac murderer who thinks he is Mahdi and head of an Islamic State does not, a stock market crash does not, Antichrist does not . . . Jesus does. Again, Jesus does. Jesus has patiently allowed his Church to journey and he will course correct and heal her through a masterfully conducted Tribulation which is also replete with miracles, graces, turning points, mercy, sufferings, and so on. This is Jesus' Tribulation. This is his work. No one else or nothing else initiates this little Tribulation. One would think that this would be obvious, but the people who write eschatology these days seem oblivious to this concept clearly signed into the Script.
Furthermore, when the prophetic narrative flows into the white horse, it is implied that Jesus is the One who imparts the crown to the rider of the white horse. The crown comes from Heaven. Similar with the rider of the red horse (the second seal) who could be an Angel. An authority is granted to him from Heaven. Similar with the rider of the black horse (third seal) who could be an Angel. This Angel is instructed either by one of the four living creatures, or Jesus from Heaven, since John heard a voice from the midst of the four living creatures. Similar with the fourth. These riders are given authority and instructions to complete a mission, from God and no one else. The four horseman are Divine strategies. There is intention, aim, purposes, goals, implied. These are not senseless and meaningless 'forces' progressing through the Earth. The the inhabitants of the Earth do not initiate them. Jesus is the One who is officiating over these events. This is Jesus' Tribulation. If the reader is so daft as to not pick up on these important and reasonable narrative points whether made explicit or implied then he is disqualified from interpretation.
Happy Good Friday. This painting is by priest and mystic Zlatko Sudac, from the islands of Croatia. He painted this with his own blood on canvas in a sort of mystical experience he had!!!
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. (John 12:32)
