Ancient Anglican

These four final verses are the beginning of the substantive discussion of Paul’s letter and serve as Paul’s thesis statement that his audience must live a life worthy of the Gospel.

In these verses Paul tells us about the three adversities that he faces – Imprisonment, Rivalries, and Death – and how each of these adversities leads to the advancemnet of the Gospel and ultimate rejoicing.

As you read this introduction, think about how your own life is characterized by this great work of Jesus and how that work is accomplished in partnership with others. Think about what this work looks like presently in your life.

In one of the last letters Paul wrote before his execution, he rejoices with his first partners in his ministry and reminds them of the person they both work for.

In this Final Revelation, Jesus also assured her that “it was he who had revealed everything to me before.” Jesus specifically tells her “‘Be well aware that what you saw today was no delirium, but accept it and believe it, and hold to it, and you shall not be overcome.”

The question remains as to how we see this Reality that we are joint Beloveds with Christ? How can we know that we too are the Beloved of God? How can we not only understand the Trinity but experience it in our lives? How can we be assured?

God’s message to Julian is for patience to await for God’s will to be carried out at the right time. She recognizes that impatience prevents her (and us) from living life now, and simply knowing the perfect end that will come should be enough.

In this Revelation, Christ reminds Julian with a “love and assurance of spiritual safekeeping” that although she will sin and thereby experience a separation from God, this separation is never the end because “all will be well.”

This union between each of us and the Trinity, this at-one-ment, this final reconciliation is what salvation constitutes. Everything – the Incarnation, the Cross, the Resurrection – works towards this ultimate union between the divine and human when “all will be made well.”

The compassionate love of God in Christ that bridges the separation between the Divine and the Human, works through us and bridges the separation between all of us. Loving God and loving your neighbor all arise out of the compassion that Jesus has for us if we will but see it.   

In Revelation Eleven, Mary becomes the representative of all of humanity. Therefore, just as Christ glorifies Mary, so will he glorify all of us as well.

Christ suffered, not only for us but with us. In the Incarnation, he who knew no sin, nonetheless suffered with us in our sins so that we may be at one with him and overcome our sufferings. And in the overcoming of our sufferings, God in Trinity takes great pleasure and eternal delight.