Can I get a witness?!
You may be be catholic, and I most certainly skirt the edge of it. ( I prefer the company of catholics,  I grew up in a predominantly catholic area,  I pray in catholic churches. Well, I pray everywhere, constantly. In a catholic church, you feel you’ve PRAYED, however).
But you and me be doin’ some pontificatin’, Brother Mark.
Too many folks want to see it crash and burn, but they seem unwilling to do that internally.
As I understand it, the Revelation of St. John The Baptist ( and I DO prefer me some Baptist music) was an INTERNAL experience that occurred when he achieved illumination.
Many enlightened folks report very similar experiences.
Heard tell of a man who surrendered so wholly to God , “down to the individual cells of his body”  that his spiritual attainment  was described by a man of very vast consciousness as “inconceivable”, even by him.
The rest is the show. And people hold tight to what’s rattling around they’re heads and/or it holds tight to them. It’s simple, but it ain’t easy. Just like playing the blues.
My friend told me, “When you get enlightened, the world doesn’t go away.”
Bummer.

Peace be with you.
Love.

– John