Today’s reading is from the book of Revelation chapter 4 and discusses the heavenly worship in the throne room of heaven.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111820.cfm
This heavenly discourse comes with a description that clearly identifies 24 other thrones and the “elders” that sit on those thrones and bow in worship “before the one who sits on the throne.”
We hear of the creatures who exalt the one who sits on the throne. “Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”” And when the 24 elders throw down their crowns before the throne they exclaim “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”
These words are not unfamiliar for Catholics because most of this discourse is exclaimed at mass each day, but do we really know which person of the trinity is being discussed sitting on the throne?
Given this description, who is this “Lord God almighty?” Is it God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit?
Wouldn’t it be great if all symbology in the Book of Revelation were this clear? But, yet, just two chapters before we have the description about the 7 churches; “to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Per′gamum and to Thyati′ra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice′a.”Rev 1:11
First mystery is why is there only 7 churches? Surely there were more churches by this time. During Mass today it was said the 7 represents the whole church. And in other bible study references it is commonly agreed that the number 7 represent completion. God finished his work of creation in 7 days. God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it.Gen 2:2-3 The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. Heb 11:30
And the Blessed Virgin Mary left Fr. Gobbi with many messages where she specifically wanted to unveil the mysteries of that last book because she believed they would be living through those times. In the Blue Book the only message about the 7 churches is in message 390.
390 — To the Angels of the Churches (Madrid (Spain); September 29, 1988
390a-“Beloved sons, . . . you have come from every part of Spain. . .
390d-This country of yours . . . is penetrated with a secularism which has particularly stricken the life of many priests and many religious. It has been lacerated by a deep interior division. It has been stricken in its pastors who, for fear of exposing themselves to criticisms, are remaining
silent and are no longer defending the flock which Christ has entrusted to them.
390e-To you, who are the angels of the Churches, I address today the sorrowful reproach of my motherly Heart, for your lack of faith, of zeal, of prayer and of holiness. The Lord is about to ask you for an account of how you have managed his vineyard and why you have permitted rapacious wolves to enter into it, disguised as lambs, in order to devour a downtrodden and dispersed flock.
390g-Entrust yourselves to the protection of your guardian angels . . .
390h-And in the end you will all be able to form part of the victorious army, guided by your heavenly Leader, the Woman clothed with the sun . ..
As we had read before, the Blessed Virgin Mary came to Fr. Gobbi to unveil the mysteries in the book of Revelation. What mystery does she unveil in this only message about the 7 churches?
She talks about the angels of the churches in reference to the entire body of priests that were present in Madrid Spain. But, in a diocese we know there is only one voice for that diocese and it is the bishop. And so the bishop would be considered the star, the Angel of that church as referenced in Rev 1:20. “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Mary also discusses Spain as one of those churches even though it is not listed in chapter 1. “Sister Anne” describes the a possible meaning of those 7 churches, the complete church, in her revelation series at https://houseofmaryomd.org/eschatology/apocalypse/mary-unveils-the-apocalypse .
“Sister Anne” has an interpretation like no other. That is that a grouping of sevens is obviously present in Revelation. And to go even further, she believes there are 7 groups of seven. But, even with the groups of 7, the first church referenced is in a way in common with the first seal and the first trumpet, and the first …
Next week we will not meet in person, but a FlockNote will be sent going into more detail on this topic.
Thank you everyone who participated this evening.