Second Reading for Mass, May 9, 2010

Reading 2

Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

This is an unusually clear reading from the Book of Revelation. For a few reasons which we will get to, it is clear that the selection is a portrait of the afterlife.

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain

The hills of Jerusalem are not "great, high mountains." They are small, relative to their geographical context."Mountains," on the other hand, are the Bible type, or symbol, for "God's dwelling place."

and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.

So, this Jerusalem is one from God!

It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.

"Stone" = the Rock type which is the type, or symbol, of "the Church."

It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.

"Twelve" is the number type, or number symbol, meaning, "all of the tribes of God's people."

There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.

"Three" is the number type, or number symbol, meaning, "the will of God." "Gate" or "door" is the type of symbol referring to "Christ." "East" means "Christianity." "North," like "mountain," means "God's dwelling place." "South" means "the ungodly." I believe that "west" is the type, r "sybol," for "sin." So, it looks like the intent of this portion of the picture is to tell us, "God's will" ("three") "is that the Christians" ("east"), "the Godly" (north"), the sinners" ("west") "and the ungodly" ("south") should enter Heaven by Christ" (gates").

The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

"The wall" = "the Church," I am sure.

I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.

"Temple" is also the type, or symbol, for "the Church." No church is needed in Heaven.

The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,and its lamp was the Lamb.

"Sun" = "a testing presence of God." "Moon" = "the lesser light which rules the night" -- Lucifer. No "testing presence of God," no Lucifer, will be in Heaven, either.