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Q: I recently started taking a course in Revelation at the University of Ottawa, which made me wonder many things about the Church and corruption. I am worried about the "beast" that is coming out of the seven hills, and the association of 666 with the Pope and the Church. Could the story of Jesus destroying the market in the temple be related to the statues common in our cathedrals? (Brandon)
Dear Brandon:
The questions you ask are not unfamiliar, as they are frequently raised by some of our brethren in other Christian churches. What does seem a little unusual, however, is that you should have been exposed to what seems to be such criticism of the Catholic faith during a course on Revelation at Ottawa University. Presumably the lecturer balanced his or her remarks by also presenting the Catholic response to such arguments, though you do not mention this. If he or she did not, it becomes a very serious matter that should be raised with the Ottawa University authorities. One of our VEYO associates would do this for you, if you so wish.
As for any interpretation of the number 666, the Book of Revelation was written in Greek, so those playing around with numerology should be using Greek rather than Latin numerology. Those using Greek numerology have come up with the name "Nero Caesar", which, assuming you subscribe at all to the notion of a hidden code, would make more sense as far as identifying "the beast” of Revelation, since he was the first emperor to persecute Christians. That would also explain the "seven hills" reference that seems to concern you. Besides, Vatican City is not built on seven hills, but on only one, Vatican Hill, which is not one of the seven hills upon which ancient Rome was built. Those seven hills are east of the Tiber River, while the Vatican Hill is on the west.
Certain writers and speakers using Latin numerology often come up with the title "Vicar of the Son of God" (Vicarius Filii Dei) and assume it is a reference to the Pope. Those words are close to a title used by the Pope (Vicarius Christi), but the words 'Vicarius Filii Dei'have never been used to describe the Pope at any time in history. In any case, as proof you can spin words and numbers whichever way you want, the name of Martin Luther, it seems, founder of Protestantism, also tallies up to 666 if you use Latin numerology, as does that of Ellen Gould White, founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, not to mention hundreds of other names. To their credit, no one in the Catholic Church runs around associating the father of Protestantism, or Ellen Gould White, with the "beast" of Revelation, and if they did, they most certainly would be reprimanded by Church authorities. When you read or hear these statements, Brandon, which require such an effort of verbal and numerical gymnastics, you really ought to question the motives of the people who make them. Are they on a genuine search for truth, or are they simply engaging in anti-Catholicism.
Interpretations of Revelation need to be made using proper, balanced scholarship, and not twisted and distorted to fit the personal, sometimes biased agendas of certain groups and individuals. In some cases in the past, this manipulation of Sacred Scripture has even become deadly, with cults arising led by powerful leaders who exploit the words of Revelation to produce doomsday scenarios, creating fear, and sometimes injury and death among their followers.
Pope Benedict XVI was a noted academic and scripture scholar of the highest order before his elevation to the papacy. During one of his General Audiences, as part of his catecheses on the Church's apostolic ministry, His Holiness focused on the Apostle John's teaching in the Book of Revelation, and his talk (reproduced below) is the very essence of balance and good scholarship:
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In the last Catechesis we had reached the meditation on the figure of the Apostle John. We had first sought to look at all that can be known of his life. Then, in a second Catechesis, we meditated on the central content of his Gospel and his Letters: charity, love. And today we are still concerned with the figure of John, this time to examine the Seer of the Book of Revelation. And let us immediately note that while neither the Fourth Gospel nor the Letters attributed to the Apostle ever bear his name, the Book of Revelation makes at least four references to it (cf. 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8).
It is obvious, on the one hand, that the author had no reason not to mention his own name, and on the other, that he knew his first readers would be able to precisely identify him. We know, moreover, that in the third century, scholars were already disputing the true factual identity of John of the "Apocalypse".
For the sake of convenience we could also call him "the Seer of Patmos" because he is linked to the name of this island in the Aegean See where, according to his own autobiographical account, he was, as it were, deported "on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Rv 1:9).
"Apocalypse" coined by John
It was on Patmos itself, "on the Lord's Day... caught up in ecstasy" (Rv 1:10), that John had a grandiose vision and heard extraordinary messages that were to have a strong influence on the history of the Church and of entire Western culture.
For example, from the title of his book — Apocalypse, Revelation — the words "apocalypse, apocalyptic" were introduced into our language and, although inaccurately, they call to mind the idea of an incumbent catastrophe.
The Book should be understood against the backdrop of the dramatic experiences of the seven Churches of Asia (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) which had to face serious difficulties at the end of the first century — persecutions and also inner tensions — in their witness to Christ.
John addresses them, showing acute pastoral sensitivity to the persecuted Christians, whom he exhorts to be steadfast in the faith and not to identify with the pagan world. His purpose is constituted once and for all by the revelation, starting with the death and Resurrection of Christ, of the meaning of human history.
The first and fundamental vision of John, in fact, concerns the figure of the Lamb who is slain yet standing (cf. Rv 5:6), and is placed before the throne on which God himself is already seated.
By saying this, John wants first of all to tell us two things: the first is that although Jesus was killed with an act of violence, instead of falling heavily to the ground, he paradoxically stands very firmly on his own feet because, with the Resurrection, he overcame death once and for all.
The other thing is that Jesus himself, precisely because he died and was raised, henceforth fully shares in the kingship and saving power of the Father. This is the fundamental vision.
On this earth, Jesus, the Son of God, is a defenceless, wounded and dead Lamb. Yet he stands up straight, on his feet, before God's throne and shares in the divine power. He has the history of the world in his hands.
Thus, the Seer wants to tell us: trust in Jesus, do not be afraid of the opposing powers, of persecution! The wounded and dead Lamb is victorious! Follow the Lamb Jesus, entrust yourselves to Jesus, take his path! Even if in this world he is only a Lamb who appears weak, it is he who triumphs!
The subject of one of the most important visions of the Book of Revelation is this Lamb in the act of opening a scroll, previously closed with seven seals that no one had been able to break open. John is even shown in tears, for he finds no one worthy of opening the scroll or reading it (cf. Rv 5:4).
History remains indecipherable, incomprehensible. No one can read it. Perhaps John's weeping before the mystery of a history so obscure expresses the Asian Churches' dismay at God's silence in the face of the persecutions to which they were exposed at that time.
It is a dismay that can clearly mirror our consternation in the face of the serious difficulties, misunderstandings and hostility that the Church also suffers today in various parts of the world.
These are trials that the Church does not of course deserve, just as Jesus himself did not deserve his torture. However, they reveal both the wickedness of man, when he abandons himself to the promptings of evil, and also the superior ordering of events on God's part.
Well then, only the sacrificed Lamb can open the sealed scroll and reveal its content, give meaning to this history that so often seems senseless. He alone can draw from it instructions and teachings for the life of Christians, to whom his victory over death brings the message and guarantee of victory that they will undoubtedly obtain. The whole of the vividly imaginative language that John uses aims to offer this consolation.
The Woman, the great dragon
Also at the heart of the visions that the Book of Revelation unfolds, are the deeply significant vision of the Woman bringing forth a male child and the complementary one of the dragon, already thrown down from Heaven but still very powerful.
This Woman represents Mary the Mother of the Redeemer, but at the same time she also represents the whole Church, the People of God of all times, the Church which in all ages, with great suffering, brings forth Christ ever anew. And she is always threatened by the dragon's power. She appears defenceless and weak.
But while she is threatened, persecuted by the dragon, she is also protected by God's comfort. And in the end this Woman wins. The dragon does not win.
This is the great prophecy of this Book that inspires confidence in us! The Woman who suffers in history, the Church which is persecuted, appears in the end as the radiant Bride, the figure of the new Jerusalem where there will be no more mourning or weeping, an image of the world transformed, of the new world whose light is God himself, whose lamp is the Lamb.
Dark and light sides of reality
For this reason, although John's Book of Revelation is pervaded by continuous references to suffering, tribulation and tears — the dark face of history —, it is likewise permeated by frequent songs of praise that symbolize, as it were, the luminous face of history.
So it is, for example, that we read in it of a great multitude that is singing, almost shouting: "Alleluia! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready" (Rv 19:6-7).
Here we face the typical Christian paradox, according to which suffering is never seen as the last word but rather, as a transition towards happiness; indeed, suffering itself is already mysteriously mingled with the joy that flows from hope.
For this very reason, John, the Seer of Patmos, can close his Book with a final aspiration, trembling with fearful expectation. He invokes the definitive coming of the Lord: "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rv 22:20).
This was one of the central prayers of the nascent Christianity, also translated by St. Paul into its Aramaic font: "Marana tha". And this prayer; "Our Lord, come!" (I Cor 16:22) has many dimensions.
It is, naturally, first and foremost an expectation of the definitive victory of the Lord, of the New Jerusalem; of the Lord who comes and transforms the world. But at the same time, it is also a Eucharistic prayer: "Come Jesus, now!” And Jesus comes; he anticipates his definitive coming.
So it is that we say joyfully at the same time: "Come now and come for ever!”
This prayer also has a third meaning: "You have already come, Lord: We are sure of your presence among us. It is our joyous experience. But come definitively!”
And thus, let us too pray with St. Paul, with the Seer of Patmos, with the newborn Christianity: "Come, Jesus! Come and transform the world! Come today already and may peace triumph!” Amen!" (General Audience, August 23, 2006)
As for statues in Catholic churches and homes, let us be perfectly clear. For Catholics, these are not "idols". Catholics do not worship statues; no matter how many times this is repeated. Do you yourself not display photos of loved ones in your home, or carry them on your person? Does that mean you worship those photographic images? Of course not! For Catholics, statues are simply an aid to prayer, helping them focus their attention on their spiritual loved ones, Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Nothing more, nothing less.
You raise many more questions than can be answered here, so we strongly suggest you purchase a copy of the book, Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating, which deals with the issues you raise, plus many more. This book is available online at major booksellers' websites. You would also benefit by regular visits to Karl Keating's Catholic Answers website at http://www.catholic.com
It is not quite clear if you are Catholic or not, but if so, find out if there is an RCIA program in your local parish and join it so you can learn more about the richness of your Catholic faith. Obtain a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read it. Check out your local Catholic bookstore and see if you can purchase a good history of the Catholic Church, such as Triumph: The Power and Glory of the Catholic Church by Harry W Crocker III.
God bless,
Father Norbert