Skip to main content

Where in the Book of Revelation are the two great meals mentioned?

The most prominent and well-known mention of eating in the Book of Revelation is found in Chapter 19, which describes the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” The writer (who identifies himself as John) describes a scene in which he hears the sounds of a “great multitude.” He compares the sound to rushing water or thunder, and hears the voices praising God and celebrating the marriage of the Lamb and his Bride. John is instructed by an angel to write


Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.



In typical Christian metaphors, the Lamb is Christ and the Bride is the Church. In this passage, the Lamb dresses his Bride in fine, clean clothing, possibly representing Christ purifying the Church. In this celebration, Christ and the Church are united in heavenly glory, with the joy of this event compared to a great wedding reception.


There are other mentions of eating in Revelation, though none as prominent as the marriage supper. In chapter 2, John addresses the church in Ephesus, referencing the events of the early chapters of Genesis. John praises the Ephesians, but condemns them for having “forsaken the love they had at first.” He instructs them to hear the words of the Spirit, and promises that those who are victorious will eat from the Tree of Life, which was withheld from humanity in Genesis.


In chapter 10, John witnesses an angel holding a scroll. A voice from heaven commands John to take the scroll from the angel, and the angel instructs him to eat it. When John does this, he notes that the scroll tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth, but immediately becomes bitter in his stomach. A possible interpretation of these events is that the act of receiving the words of the scroll (through ingesting it) was a good experience, but that when the contents were fully digested and understood, they made John fearful of what was to come.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more