parchment or papyrus wound around a stick to which it was fastened. It thus resembled the roll of a player-piano. The writing was on the side of the parchment that rolled in. The roll which St. John saw in the vision was written on both sides and sealed down with seven seals. The writing on both sides symbolizes fulness of knowledge concerning the future. The number "seven" also indicates completeness or universality as noted above. [1] Consequently the Apocalypse embraces the entire history of the Church from the time of Christ until the consummation of the world.
3-6. Christ, the lion of the tribe of Juda, is alone found worthy to break the seven seals and open the book. In this vision St. John sees our Lord in His sacred humanity It is the same Christ whom the Baptist pointed out as the Lamb of God. His standing attitude becomes the triumphant Saviour. He is upon the throne of God because of His divinity. He is true God of true God, equal in all things to the Father.
The appearance of being slain is a reference to the holy sacrifice of the Mass in which Christ is mystically sacrificed although He stands triumphant at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
The seven horns and seven eyes are the seven spirits of God, the angels whom Christ sends forth into the world as His ministers. Angels also represent the bishops and priests whom our Lord sends to teach and
- ↑ See above, page 20.
