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Question
Dear father,
thank you so much for all the times you have answered my questions.
Can you explain to me the meaning of this part of Chapter 13 of the book of Revelation:“Anyone destined for captivity goes into captivity. Anyone destined to be slain by the sword shall be slain by the sword. Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones”?.(Rev 13:10 NAB)
The new international Version translates this verse as follows : “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[c] with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people”. (Rev 12:10 NIV).
I am not clear on the relationship between performing an action and receiving the same action towards oneself.
Thanks in advance.
Answer from the priest
Dear friend,
1. The Jerusalem Bible in very concise terms writes what other interpreters (exegeters) express more widely: “Expression difficult to interpret. It can mean that the Church must remain steadfast, without resisting her persecutors at all costs or even that God’s punishment of the latter will be inexorable”.
2. The Dominican Marco Sales writes: “Persecutors will not fail to pay the penalty for their misdeeds, and persecuted Christians must remember that they must not oppose violence to violence, but will be saved through patience and faith (cf. Mt 26:52 ; Lk 21:19) “.
3. Alfred Wikenhauser writes: “How fearsome the beast is for the Church, we understand from the fact that its dominion extends over all peoples and all nations; there is no place where it is possible to escape her claims. It will then actually achieve the purpose she aims for, and she will see everyone bend their knees before her and finally her heart as well in her dominion. Only God’s elect will refuse to recognize her power even over consciences.It is therefore understood that at this point John inserts an urgent exhortation to readers to persevere with constancy and keep the faith. Christians are not called to rise up against the beast, but they must not even lend it adoration, but rather stubbornly oppose all the flattery and threats and be ready to face chains and death (cf. Mt 26:52) ”. He then says “The text of verse 10 is corrupted. The given version renders what must have been the primitive text in which an echo of Jeremiah 43.11 is heard: ‘whoever is destined to die goes to death; who in captivity ends up in captivity; whoever falls under the sword ‘(see Jer 15: 2).The invitation to pay attention shows what the precise purpose of the book”.
4. The Franciscan Angelo Lancellotti partly takes up what Wikenhauser said : “The sentence, taken from Jeremiah 15.2, is difficult to interpret, also due to the uncertainty of the textual tradition.While in Jeremiah the saying has a threatening tone for the incurable infidelities of his people, in our text it perhaps contains an encouragement to the persecuted faithful, so that they face with resignation and faith all the discomforts of persecution, sure that their sufferings will not remain unsaved; in fact, according to the words of Christ that echo in the second half of the present verse, “those who put their hand to the sword of the sword will perish” (Mt 26:52)”
I wish you all the best, I remind you in prayer
Father Angelo
Translated by Emanuele Menchiari
