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Dear Father Bellon,
I wrote to you a year ago, for matters of a different nature; as your reader, I thank you again with all my heart for all you do which is so useful to those who, often young people like myself, seek and find in you authority and charity, in so many ways.
This morning, before the Holy Mass, I was reading the book of the Apocalypse,text whose exegetical risks I know well.The usually most problematic places did not disturb me, however, as I was now familiar with those passages which in the past were most critical for me; rather, I reflected (right towards the epilogue, in chapter 22), on the identity of the angel who speaks to Saint John. The commentaries to which I referred often take for granted that he is an angelic being stricto sensu, who perhaps reports, “mouth and ears” of his Sovereign just as his etymological meaning of “messenger” would suggest, the words of Our Lord (hence he says, in verse 13: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”).
Immediately before, however – and here is the textual difficulty – the angel, in the act of adoration of Saint John (the verb used here in the Greek text is interesting), replies: “Be careful not to do so! I am a servant with you, your brothers […]” (v. 9).
At the same time, however, the aforementioned declaration (“I am the Alpha and the Omega”) would seem to affirm the divine nature of the speaker.
After an overall consideration of the text, I was confused: is it therefore an angel in the way we understand it modernly, or an epiphany of Jesus? On the one hand, thanks to a quick reflection, the anxieties resulting from the difficulty itself have dissolved (…), at the same time, however, the original doubt remains: what therefore is the identity of the angel? Under what lens should the above warning be interpreted?

I ask your forgiveness for the long question, the resolution of which is probably simpler than my explanation might lead one to believe.

I take this opportunity to ask, aware that I can rely on it, for your prayer for the Lenten journey that has just begun, and I assure you of mine in the Holy Rosary.

Davide

Priest’s answer

Dear Davide, 
1. as in other passages of the Apocalypse, the subject who speaks is not determined. Sometimes it is the angel, sometimes it is Jesus. Sometimes it is also John.
The Jerusalem Bible notes on Ap 22,6: “The entire sequel appears like an epilogue. It is a kind of conversation between the angel (or Jesus) and the seer, a commentary on the visions reported in the book and the use that should be made of them.

Most of the expressions are already scattered throughout the book.

The epilogue (vv.16-20) is clearly attributed to Jesus”. (t/n)

2. Marco Sales’ comment is more detailed and of greater help: “In the epilogue (6-21) all the promises of the Apocalypse are solemnly confirmed by an angel (6-7), and then by Saint John (8-9), and again by an angel (10-11) and finally by Jesus Christ (12-17).

The faithful are implored to respect the text of the book (18-19), and then there is a new affirmation of Jesus Christ (20) and it ends with a wish to all the faithful (21)’’. (t/n)

3. Commenting in detail on the individual verses, Marco Sales continues: “he told me. Here too (cf. Rev 19.9) the person speaking is not indicated, but from the context it can be deduced that it is an angel (v. 8), probably the one who showed John the celestial Jerusalem (21.9), or the one mentioned in chapter 1,1”. (t/n)

4. In v.7 “The angel speaks on behalf of Jesus Christ, and his words summarize the entire purpose of the Apocalypse, which is to prepare men for the coming of the divine Judge.In vv 8-9 Saint John solemnly certifies that he was a witness to the things written in this book.” (t/n)

5. “In v.12 it is Jesus Christ speaking. He will come soon (3,11) as Supreme Judge and will reward each person with reward or punishment according to the works they have done (cf. 2,23).Al v. 13 Jesus attests to being the alpha and the omega, thus showing that he is God, equal to the Father and therefore is able to keep his promises and threats”. (t/n)

6. In v. 20: “It is Jesus Christ speaking again. He promises his coming soon and the Apostle on his behalf and that of the whole church invites him to keep his word and says to him: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” The Bible thus opens with the creation of the world and ends with the glorification of humanity in God.” (t/n)

7. “Come, Lord Jesus” it is the translation of the aramaic formula Maranathà, which was used in the community of Jerusalem.
This invocation is also reported by Saint Paul in 1 Cor 16,22 and in the Didache 10,6.

With this beautiful invocation, I bless you, I thank you for the precious memory in prayer and I assure you of mine.

Father Angelo