It is all done in the name of the Lamb, slain yet standing:
[11] And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands, [12] Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction. [13] And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them: I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever. [14] And the four living creatures said: Amen. (Apoc. 5)
This is the time of sin and penance:
[8] And behold a pale horse, and he that sat upon him, his name was Death, and hell followed him. And power was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. [9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord (holy and true) dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?[11] And white robes were given to every one of them one; and it was said to them, that they should rest for a little time, till their fellow servants, and their brethren, who are to be slain, even as they, should be filled up. [12] And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair: and the whole moon became as blood: [13] And the stars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig tree casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind: [14] And the heaven departed as a book folded up: and every mountain, and the islands were moved out of their places. [15] And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and tribunes, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of mountains:
[16] And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of their wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? (Apoc.6)
The Catholic altar has relics of martyrs of the Church under it, to this day. It is they who call us to repent form under the altar.
Here prayers of the saints are raised to Heaven joining our prayers:
And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. [4] And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel. (Apoc. 8)
This happens as the world outside drowns in sin:
the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: [21] Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts. (Apoc. 9)
Here the Church begins her liturgical work:
[16] And the four and twenty ancients, who sit on their seats in the sight of God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying: [17] We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and thou hast reigned. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest render reward to thy servants the prophets and the saints, and to them that fear thy name, little and great, and shouldest destroy them who have corrupted the earth. [19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail.(Apoc. 11)
Our Lady leads us the faithful Christians to battle:
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne.[.
[7] And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: [8] And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. [11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. [12] Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
[...]
the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Apoc.12)
The Eucharist is presented:
[1] And I beheld, and lo a lamb stood upon mount Sion[..]
Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth; because the grapes thereof are ripe. [19] And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God: [20] And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Apoc. 14)
Satan is bound and the world is judged:
he laid hold on the dragon the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. [3] And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should no more seduce the nations, till the thousand years be finished. And after that, he must be loosed a little time. [4] And I saw seats; and they sat upon them; and judgment was given unto them[...]
[12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works (Apoc 20)
Christ renews the world:
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth was gone, and the sea is now no more. [2] And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people; and God himself with them shall be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away. [5] And he that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me: Write, for these words are most faithful and true. (Apoc 21)
The struggle of the Book of Revelation is the struggle of the Church that unfolds today, toward the Second Coming of Christ. It should be read, as it was wrtiten, in the liturgical context of spiritual work in the heart of man, rather than historical context of wars between governments. Then the bones of the martyrs, the penance, Mary our Queen, the fire and the lamps and the incense, the trumpets, the Holy Book opened, the blood puring out -- all make sense.
There is a book on the subject by Dr. Scott Hahn, called "The Supper of the Lamb". Anyone interested in understanding the Book of Revelation should read it.
I really appreciated reading that book.
I have read this book. It is awesome. A totally different take than prophecy types on Christian tv. I think Scott Hahn is Amazing. I have 2 other books of his. I will always try to read this author. I went to a talk by him on Long Island NY. What a great lecture too.
Our separated brethern( Some are good decent christians) have been told so much nonsense and misunderstandings about Mary. I have personally prayed about the Immaculate Conception. While I prayed I left the computer on which without myself touching it. A web page came up on the browser explaining parts I did not understand on this subject with biblical reasoning. What a revelation miracle. I have since archived.
Just Pray. I pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy. I have had wonderful revelations since the last 5 years of these Daily prayers. Before I did not pray as much. These prayers are truly anointed. We ask pray from Mary not to Mary. We beseech for pray. Our separated brothers do not get it. There are two definitions beseeching to a person or specific pray to Diety only. But two definitions never the less. because when they see pray to Mary. Right away they only think of the Deity definition. In old english it comes from beseeching.