Читать книгу Apocalypse. Interpretation of the XXI century - Valeriy Sterkh - Страница 6

The Greek word for “apocalypse” means “revelation”. When the Church writers use this word, they typically mean the supernatural message through which God reveals to man some truths related to Faith and his Divine Mysteries:

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (Col 1:26—27).

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them (Rom 1:17—19).

This is why John begins his “Apocalypse” in the following way:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw (Rev 1:1—2).

I John, …was in the Spirit… (Rev 1: 9—10).

In the giving of the Revelation to John, all the three Divine Persons were present: God the Son, because it says: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”, God the Father, because it says: “Which God game unto him”, and the Holy Spirit, because it says that John saw prophetic signs in the Spirit.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 Jn 5:7).

The message of the revelation that came through John, contains some of the deepest mysteries about God’s providence in relation to man. These mysteries are given in a series of symbolic visions, most of which are not explained in the book. However, the Church Fathers were able to grasp the overall message of the Revelation. Many of them wrote their own interpretations on this book or its parts.