On Monday of the Second Week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the book of Revelation (1:1-20) entitled "John's vision of the Son of Man". Our treasure, which follows, is from an ancient Easter homily by Pseudo-Chrysostom.
Pseudo-Chrysostom refers to a collection of writings falsely attributed to Saint John Chrysostom (347-407 CE). These works are not actually written by John Chrysostom himself, but were attributed to him either by mistake or intentionally. The term "Pseudo-Chrysostom" is used to designate the authors of these spurious works.
Saint John Chrysostom was an important, fourth century, Early Church Father who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, and for his denunciation of abuse of authority of both ecclesiastical and political leaders. He was among the most prolific authors in the early Christian church. The word 'Chrysostom' means 'golden-mounted'. This name was given to him after he died because all his sermons were eloquent and lovely to hear.
The Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse of John, is the final book of the New Testament and is written in a highly symbolic, visionary style. Traditionally attributed to St. John while in exile on the island of Patmos, it presents a series of dramatic visions involving heavenly worship, letters to seven churches, cosmic conflict, persecution, judgment, and ultimate renewal. Its imagery—beasts, seals, trumpets, bowls, angels, and a radiant heavenly city—draws deeply on Old Testament prophetic language, especially from Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Exodus. Rather than being a coded timetable of future events, Revelation is best understood as an apocalyptic work meant to encourage suffering believers, assuring them that history is not chaotic but guided by God's providence and sovereignty.
The primary message of Revelation is one of hope and perseverance: Jesus Christ, the slain yet risen Lamb, reigns as Lord of history and will definitively triumph over evil. The book calls Christians to faithful witness, moral vigilance, and courage amid trials, reminding them that earthly powers are temporary and that true allegiance belongs to God alone. Its climax is not destruction but renewal—the defeat of sin and death, the final judgment, and the vision of the new heaven and new earth where God dwells with His people and wipes away every tear. At its heart, Revelation proclaims that no suffering endured for Christ is in vain and that faithful endurance leads to eternal glory.
