“Apocalypse of John” – A Roman Catholic Perspective

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The last book of the Bible, Revelation, is “denounced” as a pure doomsday book. The term “apocalypse” is also generally misunderstood in this regard. A Roman Catholic perspective on the Book of John on Patmos shows that it is certainly worthwhile to study John’s Apocalypse itself. For when the Church of Rome says “no,” the answer is usually “yes.”

Apokalypse = Offenbarung

If a representative of the Roman Catholic Church reflects on the Book of Revelation, things could get very interesting. Indeed, the author of the article “The End of the World” in the Catholic media outlet “catholic.com” has his very own perspective on the last book of the Bible. (Source).

The author uses a major misunderstanding right at the beginning, and he’s certainly not alone in this. “We” associate Revelation with the Apocalypse, the end of the world, the Antichrist, the beast, the dragon, the vials of wrath, and the four horsemen, according to the author. After all, these are one of the most dramatic images in the Bible. Indeed, the Book of Revelation is also called “the Apocalypse of John.” But what does the Greek word “apocalypse” mean? As boring as it may sound, it simply means “revelation.” “The Apocalypse of John” is thus, in a nutshell, “The Revelation of John.”

Defamation must not be missing

He suggestively asks himself whether such doomsday scenarios aren’t the preserve of “crazy street preachers” and “fundamentalist sects.” Of course, the term “fundamentalism” must be mentioned in the same breath as sects. Fundamentalism, he argues, is naturally portrayed as dangerous. The only difference is that, in the actual term, the true foundation of the believer is Scripture alone. This foundation stands on the foundation of the Bible. For a Catholic of his ilk, this is absurd. But Ephesians 2:20 states:
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (KJV)

Fundamentalism in its original sense is already a declared enemy of the Church of Rome and thus also of ecumenism. This applies in particular to the interpretation of the Bible in the sense of fundamentalism. (Info).

What approach does the author take regarding how to deal with the depictions in Revelation? He is correct that Revelation “not only” describes a doomsday scene, but also contains some further details about God’s intentions. However, the author argues that one should avoid simply “sitting around” trying to predict the future and worrying in the process. All of this should be avoided. In other words, “don’t bother, don’t even read it.”

Origin and purpose of revelation

Why and for whom was the Book of Revelation actually written? This is stated right at the beginning of the “Apocalypse.” One only needs to read it for oneself: Revelation 1:1-2:
“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.“

This is immediately followed by the “uncoded” hint that it is more than just advisable to actually read Revelation, Revelation 1:3:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.“

It may well be that the author does not consider himself a servant of God, or rather, denies this to his readers, and therefore advises against reading the important references, let alone keeping them. “For the time is near,” the warning reads. Yes, but not, as is often interpreted, for the entire “program” of Revelation, but rather for the beginning.

There is a new earth and a new heaven, the author states. God Himself will dwell with His people. In this regard, however, one must not forget that the Roman Catholic Church sees itself as the incarnation of Christ on earth. Therefore, Mary is not only the “Mother of God” but also the “Mother of the Church.” A vision that is inconsistent with the teachings of Revelation anyway.

Just “enjoy”

The Catholic author concludes that humanity can “enjoy” the course of history because, after all, we know the happy ending. Exactly, that’s what the Catholic Church would love. Not to look into the Bible itself, perhaps to discover the true connections. What was once resolved in the Middle Ages through brute force is no longer possible today. Once, the Bible was banned for the common people, under threat of punishment, declared too stupid to understand the written word, and then unconditional obedience was demanded for blind belief in one’s own teachings, again under threat of punishment.

But God gave His Word so that every person could hear, read, and understand it. And not to a self-appointed priestly caste that enforced its position solely through a healthy dose of superstition and the use of state power to impose its paganism on people. The nature of the Church of Rome hasn’t changed a jot, nor its teachings; only the strategy it employs. (Info).

Lean back? Study the Bible yourself!

The prophet Daniel was able to describe in advance more precisely what is absolutely relevant in the Book of Revelation. Just by comparing Daniel chapter 7 with Revelation chapter 13, one can see that the “Apocalypse of John” is a continuation or supplement to chapters 7 through 12 of Daniel. Indeed, the papacy, consisting of the Holy See and the Church, plays a central role in these prophecies. (Info).

As is so often the case, the exact opposite of what is being expounded from the realms of the Roman Catholic Church applies in this case. So sit down and read Revelation. It’s better to start with the Book of Daniel to get an initial overview. You can certainly seek inspiration and guidance from various sources (Example), but it’s always important to independently verify what you read or hear based on the Word of God itself.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)