Commentaries on the Apocalypse
"When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is near (Luke 21:28)."
The unfinished comments on the Apocalypse have not been issued in a separate edition: they were added at the end of the Notebooks from 1945 to 1950 where they make up a 77-page work[1]. Commenting on the Book of Revelation (another name for the Apocalypse) is a challenge, as the subject has been extensively explored. Yet the content is so profound that it was long believed to have been dictated directly by the Holy Spirit to Maria Valtorta as with the Lessons on the Epistle of Saint Paul written at the same time. Several indications lead to the conclusion that the author, unobtrusive, is Maria Valtorta herself. The author, indeed, speaks of "we" to designate the human kind. Adam and Eve are her ancestors. She speaks of the three Persons of the Trinity in the third person, etc. There are also some inaccuracies which, according to Salton’s mode of reading, can conflict with dogma[2], reinforcing the hypothesis of a human author. On the other hand, these comments "attributable" to Maria Valtorta complement or overlap with many dictations of Jesus in the work.
The Apocalypse in the Work of Maria Valtorta[edit | edit source]
The Apocalypse (in Greek), or Revelation, takes its name from the word that begins the work: "Revelation of Jesus-Christ, which God entrusted to Him to show His servants what must soon happen; this revelation He made known to His servant John through the sending of His angel".
Some exegetes have disputed that it was written by the apostle John, but for Maria Valtorta, as for ancient tradition, there is no doubt: its author is Good John the Evangelist. He would have written it on Patmos in the last years of Emperor Domitian. This emperor reigned from 81 to 96 and wanted to establish divine worship for himself. Faced with resistance, notably by Christians, he undertook his persecutions around 95. It is during these first large-scale persecutions that Pope Anacletus (or Cletus), the third Pope after Saint Peter and Saint Linus, died. Maria Valtorta describes his martyrdom in one of her visions.
The apocalypse is a literary genre already used by Daniel, mainly in chapters 7 to 9 of his book. It is not the only example; Jewish literature provides others.
As with many prophecies, the apocalyptic visions of John are seen in the eternal present of God. The events therefore seem near (chapters 1:3 – 3:11 – 22:7) and John ardently calls them in his last chapters (22:20). This wish closes the Bible.
The images he uses are less descriptive than symbolic, which is why the comments provided by Jesus to Maria Valtorta are of great value for understanding present times as well as the Future, up until the end of this world. These comments of Jesus are scattered throughout the visions, seizing the opportunities.
Where to find these comments[edit | edit source]
They are not properly part of The Gospel as it was revealed to me since the Apocalypse came later. They are found in other writings. Here is where the comments on the 22 chapters of the Apocalypse of St John are located:
- 1 – Purpose and preparatory vision[3] See: Commentary on the Apocalypse (Notebooks from 1945 to 1950) - Notebooks of 1943, August 16 - Notebooks of 1944, January 16 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, February 18, 1947 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 1.
- 2 and 3 – Letter to the seven Churches[4] See: Commentary on the Apocalypse (Notebooks from 1945 to 1950) - Notebooks of 1943, August 18 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, February 11, 1946 - Azarias no. 35 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3 - Lesson No. 18.
- 4 – The Throne of God and the heavenly court[5] See: Commentary on the Apocalypse (Notebooks from 1945 to 1950) - Notebooks of 1944, January 20.
- 5 – The seven seals[6] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 20 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, October 23, 1947 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 9.
- 6 – The first six seals[7] See: Notebook of 1943, August 20 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3.
- 7 – The number and fate of God’s elect[8] See EMV 424 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, July 12, 1946 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3.
- 8 – Opening of the seventh seal, the first four trumpets[9] See: Notebooks of 1943, September 13 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3.
- 9 – The fifth and sixth trumpets[10] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 20 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3 - Lesson No. 5.
- 10 – The little book[11] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 20 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3.
- 11 – The two witnesses and the seventh trumpet[12] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 5, August 21 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 5.
- 12 – The seven signs. The Woman and the Dragon[13] See: Notebooks of 1943, July 23, August 22, August 23, December 9, December 11 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, June 2, 1946, October 23, 1947, December 23, 1948 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 5.
- 13 – Second and third sign: The Beast from the sea and the Beast from the earth[14] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 22, August 27, August 28, December 11 - Notebooks of 1944, January 25, March 25 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 5, Lesson No. 25.
- 14 – Fourth sign: The Lamb and the Virgins. Fifth sign: the three Angels. Sixth sign: a son of man[15] See: Notebooks 1943, August 22, October 29 - Notebooks of 1944, January 20.
- 15 – Seventh sign: the Angels with the seven plagues[16] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 22.
- 16 – The seven bowls[17] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 22.
- 17 – The great Babylon[18] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 22 - Notebooks of 1944, January 25 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 5, Lesson No. 46.
- 18 – The fall of great Babylon[19] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 27.
- 19 – Hymn of praise. The Wedding of the Lamb. Christ armed for battle. Victory over the Beast and the false prophet[20] See: Notebooks of 1943, August 22, October 29 - Notebooks of 1944, January 25.
- 20 – Satan bound, the thousand-year reign. The final judgment[21] See: Notebooks of 1943, July 23, August 17, August 22, September 16, October 29 - Notebooks of 1944, January 25 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 5.
- 21 – The new world and the new Jerusalem[22] See: Notebooks of 1943, July 30.
- 22 – Blessing of the elect, angel’s attestation, closeness of the time of retribution, Jesus’ attestation[23] See: EMV 652 - Notebooks of 1943, August 22, October 29, December 9 - Notebooks from 1945 to 1950, December 7, 1947 - Commentary of St Paul to the Romans, Lesson No. 3.
To go further[edit | edit source]
In the Bible[edit | edit source]
- Amos 8:9-12 : When my day arrives...[24]
- Daniel 9:27 : the abomination of desolation.[25]
- Daniel 11:31 : Profanation of the holy place, cessation of perpetual sacrifice.[26]
- Daniel 12:11-12 : the abomination of desolation will last 1,290 days.[27]
- Joel 3:1-5 : Announcement of the last days, signs and prophets.[28]
- Matthew 24 : The last days, the signs, the final coming, the last judgment.[29]
- Matthew 25[30] : The last judgment.
- Mark 13:1-37 : The last days, no one knows the hour, watch.[31]
- Luke 17:20-37 : as in the flood (Genesis 6:11-14) and as Sodom (Genesis 18:20-21).[32]
- Luke 21:5-35 : The last days.[33]
- John 14:3 : Jesus announces He will return.[34]
- Acts 1:10-11 : Jesus will return as He ascended to heaven.[35]
- Acts 2:16-20 : Peter announces the end of times.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 : The resurrection of the dead.[36]
- 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 : Warning against false gospels.[37]
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 : Warning against false Apostles.[38]
- Galatians 1:6-9 : There will be no other gospels.[39]
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 : the resurrection of the dead and the ascension of the living.[40]
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 : The day of the Lord will come like a thief.[41]
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 : announcement of the great apostasy of The Antichrist.[42]
- 2 Timothy 3:1-5 : the ultimate perversion of men.[43]
- 2 Peter 3:9-13 : the earth and the sky will be destroyed.[44]
- And, of course: the entire Apocalypse.[45]
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church[edit | edit source]
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church
- CCC 585 : The destruction of the Temple.
- CCC 667-670 : He will return in Glory.
- CCC 671-672 : …waiting for all to be subjected to Him.
- CCC 673-674 : The glorious advent of Christ, hope of Israel.
- CCC 675-677 : The ultimate Trial of the Church.
- CCC 678-679 : To judge the living and the dead.
- CCC 715 : The Holy Spirit at the end of time.
- CCC 726 Mary at the dawn of the Last Times.
- CCC 731-741 : The Spirit and the Church in the last days.
- CCC 769 : The Church fulfilled in glory.
- CCC 972 : Mary, eschatological Icon of the Church.
- CCC 988-996 : The resurrection of the body.
- CCC 997-1001 : How the dead are resurrected?
- CCC 1002-1004 : Resurrected with Christ.
- CCC 1023-1029 : Heaven.
- CCC 1030-1032 : Final Purification or Purgatory.
- CCC 1033-1037 : Hell.
- CCC 1038-1041 : The Last Judgment.
- CCC 1042-1050 : The hope of the new heavens and the new earth.
- CCC 2771 : The prayer of the last times.
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The notebooks no. 121 and 122 contain comments on certain passages of the Apocalypse and close the long series of autograph notebooks of Maria Valtorta. Unlike the previous notebooks, the dates of writing are indicated only briefly (September to November 1950) on the frontispiece of the two notebooks. Furthermore, the text is not introduced by the usual "Jesus says". The Author does not name himself and does not speak in the first person as in the "dictations". He remains a commentator
- ↑ "The Father and the Son were always one, even if the Son had temporarily assumed a human Person without thereby losing His eternal divine Person" (Commentary on the Apocalypse). The Incarnation of the Word is not "temporary" but definitive, and the Catholic Church defined that the Word assumed both natures, human and divine, in His single divine person (cf. Council of Chalcedon - Denzinger no. 302)
- ↑ 1 – Purpose and preparatory vision
- ↑ 2 and 3 – Letter to the seven Churches
- ↑ 4 – The Throne of God and the heavenly court
- ↑ 5 – The seven seals
- ↑ 6 – The first six seals
- ↑ 7 – The number and fate of God’s elect
- ↑ 8 – Opening of the seventh seal, the first four trumpets
- ↑ 9 – The fifth and sixth trumpets
- ↑ 10 – The little book
- ↑ 11 – The two witnesses and the seventh trumpet
- ↑ 12 – The seven signs. The Woman and the Dragon
- ↑ 13 – Second and third sign: The Beast from the sea and the Beast from the earth
- ↑ 14 – Fourth sign: The Lamb and the Virgins. Fifth sign: the three Angels. Sixth sign: a son of man
- ↑ 15 – Seventh sign: the Angels with the seven plagues
- ↑ 16 – The seven bowls
- ↑ 17 – The great Babylon
- ↑ 18 – The fall of great Babylon
- ↑ 19 – Hymn of praise. The Wedding of the Lamb. Christ armed for battle. Victory over the Beast and the false prophet
- ↑ 20 – Satan bound, the thousand-year reign. The final judgment
- ↑ 21 – The new world and the new Jerusalem
- ↑ 22 – Blessing of the elect, angel’s attestation, closeness of the time of retribution, Jesus’ attestation
- ↑ Amos 8:9-12
- ↑ Daniel 9:27
- ↑ Daniel 11:31
- ↑ Daniel 12:11-12
- ↑ Joel 3:1-5
- ↑ Matthew 24
- ↑ Matthew 25
- ↑ Mark 13:1-37
- ↑ Luke 17:20-37
- ↑ Luke 21:5-35
- ↑ John 14:3
- ↑ Acts 1:10-11
- ↑ 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
- ↑ 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
- ↑ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
- ↑ Galatians 1:6-9
- ↑ 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
- ↑ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4
- ↑ 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
- ↑ 2 Timothy 3:1-5
- ↑ 2 Peter 3:9-13
- ↑ The entire Apocalypse