“Let Every Breath Praise the Lord”

The phrase “Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages” is commonly repeated in church. While we may say it quickly and move on, the depth of these words is truly amazing. A priest once shared with me how, during his ordination, the Holy Spirit opened up time before him and he saw the blessing he uttered spreading across the ages. Our words have a lasting impact that extends beyond our immediate surroundings. Just as technology allows us to communicate instantly across vast distances, the power of our words reaches into eternity. St. Kosmas of Aetolia foresaw advancements in communication that have since become reality, showing us that nothing is truly lost. The Word of God, like our words, transcends time and space. The four and twenty elders prostrated themselves and worshiped the eternal and living One (Rev. 5:13-14). This is a declaration of the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Moving on to the grand revelations, the Apostle witnessed the Lamb opening the seals of a book, a symbol of Christ’s incarnation. The seals being opened signify significant events that have already occurred, are happening presently, or are yet to come.

The first seal revealed a white horse with a rider holding a bow and a crown, going out to conquer. This imagery represents Christ going forth to conquer.

The second seal unveiled a red horse ridden by a figure given the power to take peace from the earth, allowing people to kill one another. This symbolizes the consequences of human sin, rather than God endorsing such violence.

The removal of the third seal brought forth a black horse with a rider holding scales, indicating scarcity of food. Despite the hardships caused by sin, God’s righteousness ensures essential provisions like oil and wine remain untouched.

These visions from Revelation serve as warnings and reminders of the consequences of human actions, emphasizing that individuals are accountable for their choices and not merely fulfilling predestined prophecies. Upon opening the fourth seal, a voice from the fourth beast called for the vision of a pale horse ridden by Death, followed by Hell. This horseman had the authority to kill a fourth of the earth’s population through various means. The imagery of the pale horse symbolizes the devastating power of Death, unleashed due to human sinfulness. As the end times approach, such destruction and evil will only increase, as Christ foretold.

In the vision of the fifth seal, the souls of martyrs who died for their faith were seen under the altar, crying out for justice. Their sacrifice and fidelity to God led them to eternal rest, awaiting the arrival of more martyrs who would join them. This vision reaffirms the immortality of the soul and the ultimate justice of God, who will vindicate those who suffered unjustly. The martyrs’ plea for justice highlights God’s desire for repentance and love, rather than punishment.

The martyrs were given white robes and told to wait a little longer for their fellow servants to join them in martyrdom. This message encourages those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for Christ to persevere, knowing that their ultimate reward and glory as martyrs is worth the wait. Let’s discuss the sixth seal: And I witnessed when He opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair, and the moon became like blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. The kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free person hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev. 6:12-17).

Thus concludes the sixth seal. The end of this seal signifies a great catastrophe; people scatter in fear, and in their despair, fear, and horror, they plead for the rocks to conceal them, sensing the wrath of God. Although God is not wrathful in the way we understand, our sins instill fear of God in us. A person who loves God does not fear Him, but one who lives in sin does. The guilty feel the wrath of God, as if a disaster has befallen us. However, it is not God who is angry and destroys us, but rather the sins of humanity that bring about destruction.

Revelation was written to convey the hopeful message that despite all that is, was, and will be, we should not despair or be frightened. We should have faith that God will ultimately prevail. A person of God should fear nothing and instead hold onto a blessed hope, an optimistic anticipation of the eternal Kingdom of God.

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