Letting the Holy Spirit carry him, Christ invited John, who represents us, to his glorious throne in heaven, attended by the 24 elders, who are considered to be redeemed saints, and the four living creatures, who represents the four evangelists: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John (Revelation 4:1-11). It was the “open house” of Christ’s heavenly throne. In Revelation 4, the focus was the throne and its magnificence. This spiritual “open house” continues in Revelation 5 to focus on the scroll with the seven seals. The First Reading of Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, Revelation 5:1-10, is John’s testimony to the scroll with the seven seals held by Christ on his heavenly throne.
The scroll contained the writing of God’s eschatological works to be revealed, as its seven seals are opened one by one. The seven seals (Revelation 5:1) means that the scroll is completely sealed. This suggests that only the qualified person can open the scroll to reveal its content by breaking the seven seals. The qualified one to break the seven seals and open the scroll is the triumphant Christ, the lion of Judah, the slain Lamb of God (Revelation 5:5-6a). He is the victor because he conquered death (2 Timothy 1:10) through his Paschal Mystery – his passion, death, and resurrection, as the Lamb of God who takes the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
Now, Christ also reveals his seven horns and seven eyes (Revelation 5:6b). These symbolize his omnipotence and omniscience. In fact, his seven eyes are the seven spirits (Revelation 1:4-5; 3:1) to watch over the Church, represented by the seven churches that he evaluated (Revelation 2:1-3:22). The seven eyes of Christ, the seven spirits, which are the Holy Spirit in fullness, are also the seven burning torches (Revelation 4:5), which reflects the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3). And these are directed to the world (Revelation 5:6b), as Christ watches over us from his throne in heaven.
John testifies that Christ the Lamb, the lion of Judah, came and receive the scroll with seven seals from the right hand of the Father (Revelation 5:7). This evokes Jesus receiving the scroll of the prophet Isaiah not only to begin proclaiming the Good News but to reveal his identity as the anointed one, the Christ, as he began his public ministry in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-19). The fact that Christ the Son received the scroll from the right hand of the Father means that he is authorized to open the scroll and reveal its content with the Father’s authority, as right hand symbolizes authority.
Though there was a lamentation over the fact that no creature can handle the scroll (Revelation 5:2-4), Christ, who is begotten of the Father (i.e. John 1:1, 14, 18), not created, is the only one qualified to break all the seven seals. Now, as Christ the Son receives the scroll with the authority, the four living creatures and the twenty-f our elders sing a new hymn (Revelation 5:8):
Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and to break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God
hose from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth (Revelation 5:9-10).
Then, countless angels cry out (Revelation 5:11):
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12).
Furthermore, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out:
To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever (Revelation 5:13).
In response to this doxology, the four living creatures respond with “Amen” and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Christ the King, who received the scroll with authority (Revelation 5:14).
So what is in the scroll? What kind of God’s work is written?
Basically, the content of the scroll, which Christ is to reveal by breaking one seal after another, is the tribulation and judgement necessary to consummate the establishment of the new heaven and earth. What is revealed upon breaking each seal are as follows.
First Seal (Revelation 6:1-2): The question about the rider of the white horse, Christ or Anti-Christ.
Second Seal (Revelation 6:3-4): The rider of the red horse represents those who are at war, killing each other, perhaps, kings on earth.
Third Seal (Revelation 6:5-6): The rider of the black horse holds a measurement scale, and this indicates economic hardship.
Fourth Seal (Revelation 6:7-8): The rider of the green pale horse represents death, followed by hell. This indicates suffering and death will come with wars, making the scene hellish.
Fifth Seal (Revelation 6:9-11): The souls under the altar are martyrs, those who are killed by the forces of anti-Christ because of their faith in Christ. As they are heroic victors in faith, they are given white robes (Revelation 6:11; 7:13-14).
Sixth Seal (Revelation 6:12-17): Series of cataclysmic events, as manifestation of Christ’s wrath, and an indication of the nearness of Christ’s return (i.e. Mark 13:24-27; cf. Jeremiah 10:2; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:30-31; Joel 3:15).
Seventh Seal (Revelation 8:1) the silence in heaven before the appearance of the seven angels with trumpets (Revelation 8:2) for further unfolding of the tribulation.
Now, how does the Gospel Reading (Luke 19:41-44) can be related to the First Reading (Revelation 5:1-10)?
The Gospel Reading text is Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, which actually took place in 70 AD. It is in juxtaposition to the persecution, tribulation, and series of catastrophic events, described in the scroll.
As Christ’s return draws near, such event are to occur, and the faithful will suffer greatly, as no creation will remain intact. However, only those who keep faith and live in Christ and in the Holy Spirit will be redeemed as victors and ushered to his Kingdom.
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