Oecumenius — Commentary on Scripture | TrulyRandomVerse

On Revelation

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Revelation 4:5
The flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder emanating from the throne once again signify the awe-inspiring presence of God. For divine beauty does not lie in some long-winded pleasure or delight, but in a wondrous and awe-inspiring reverence. And knowing this, the prophet said: "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling before Him." (Ps. 2:11)

And he speaks of the throne that burn seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits of God; indeed, the seven are the seven archangels among the angels. Clement states in the sixth Stromata, perhaps guided from this source to say these things, that the seven spirits are like torches of fire. For it has been said somewhere about angels: "He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." (Ps. 103:4; Heb. 1:7) This is an allegory drawn from the divine Scripture, concerning what this passage is now speaking about.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 4:6

Also before the throne there is a sea of glass, like crystal. The vision of the sea represents the multitude. But what about glass and crystal? The pure ones. And it is shown to be free from every stain by the holy fathers concerning God, who are as numerous as the sea (Isa. 10:22; Rom. 9:27). For Daniel says that "thousands upon thousands stood before Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand served Him." (Dan. 7:10) And being such in number, all are pure, resembling glass and crystal. One cannot say that those sacred creatures were exactly like the ones that the prophet Ezekiel was deemed worthy to behold in his vision (Ez. 10:13). Each of them had four faces and eight wings, and they were accompanied by certain wheels called "Gelgel", which were also many-eyed, much like these creatures. Here, however, each had a single face, though different from one another, and six wings. And those were the Cherubim, for that is how they are called in Ezekiel. These others, as I believe, are the Seraphim, shown in Isaiah the prophet (Isa. 6:2), although Isaiah neither mentioned any faces for t…

Also before the throne there is a sea of glass, like crystal. The vision of the sea represents the multitude.

But what about glass and crystal? The pure ones. And it is shown to be free from every stain by the holy fathers concerning God, who are as numerous as the sea (Isa. 10:22; Rom. 9:27). For Daniel says that "thousands upon thousands stood before Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand served Him." (Dan. 7:10) And being such in number, all are pure, resembling glass and crystal.

One cannot say that those sacred creatures were exactly like the ones that the prophet Ezekiel was deemed worthy to behold in his vision (Ez. 10:13). Each of them had four faces and eight wings, and they were accompanied by certain wheels called "Gelgel", which were also many-eyed, much like these creatures. Here, however, each had a single face, though different from one another, and six wings. And those were the Cherubim, for that is how they are called in Ezekiel. These others, as I believe, are the Seraphim, shown in Isaiah the prophet (Isa. 6:2), although Isaiah neither mentioned any faces for them nor described them in detail, only that they covered their faces with their wings; not that they had many eyes, but that they had six wings.

But what was meaning of these great things shown to the evangelist? Was there some deception among certain Jews? That God, who governs the holy orders in heaven and dwells within them alone, has withdrawn from and neglected those on earth because of the transgression committed in Adam. Therefore, they said to Isaiah, "Why have we fasted, and you did not notice? We humbled our souls, and you did not pay attention." (Isa. 58:3) But such a deception came upon them from a certain written passage that says, "Lord, in heaven, your mercy and your truth reach to the clouds." (Ps. 35:6) As it shows that divine providence proceeds by disregarding the sins committed below on earth, the vision therefore reveals to the evangelist that God's providence extends through all things, both overseeing those in Heaven and those who have come to dwell on earth.

And this is symbolized by the four holy living creatures surrounding the divine throne. For every perceptible and earthly body is composed of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 4:7
Each of the animals is associated with one of these elements:

the lion with fire, due to the animal's warmth and spirited nature;

the calf with the earth, because the calf's work is connected to the soil;

the man with the air, as humans are celestial and transcendent beings due to the artfulness [λεπτότητα] of the mind;

and the eagle with water, since birds originate from water.

Around the throne of God are seen those deemed worthy of care and providence, signified through living beings, that is, those on earth.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 4:8

Them being full of eyes characteristics demonstrates God's all-encompassing watchfulness over them. And they had no rest day or night; this does not mean that they live a life of pain and misery, unable to find relief from work and pressing necessity, but rather that they never cease praising God, delighting continually in their melody to Him. The term "holy" being repeated seven times is a frequent and unceasing form of allusion. For the number seven is often handed down by divine Scripture; for example, "the barren woman bore seven children, and the many became weak through their offspring," (1 Sam.2:5) and "the seven eyes of the Lord watch over the entire earth," (Zech. 4:10) and "the righteous man is delivered seven times from distress." (Prov. 24:16) He says, "who was, and is, and is to come." Through these, the Holy and venerable Trinity is revealed, as was stated earlier. There is nothing wrong with saying now, "for writing the same things is not burdensome to me," (Phil. 3:1) and the divine apostle has clearly demonstrated this to those who encounter it as certain. The Fa…

Them being full of eyes characteristics demonstrates God's all-encompassing watchfulness over them.

And they had no rest day or night; this does not mean that they live a life of pain and misery, unable to find relief from work and pressing necessity, but rather that they never cease praising God, delighting continually in their melody to Him.

The term "holy" being repeated seven times is a frequent and unceasing form of allusion. For the number seven is often handed down by divine Scripture; for example, "the barren woman bore seven children, and the many became weak through their offspring," (1 Sam.2:5) and "the seven eyes of the Lord watch over the entire earth," (Zech. 4:10) and "the righteous man is delivered seven times from distress." (Prov. 24:16)

He says, "who was, and is, and is to come." Through these, the Holy and venerable Trinity is revealed, as was stated earlier. There is nothing wrong with saying now, "for writing the same things is not burdensome to me," (Phil. 3:1) and the divine apostle has clearly demonstrated this to those who encounter it as certain.

The Father, who is, is named by Moses. For he says to him, "I AM THE ONE WHO IS [ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν]." (Ex. 3:14) And concerning the Son, it is said to the evangelist, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn. 1:1) And he says that the Holy Spirit is the one who is to come, for He always visits the souls worthy of receiving Him.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 4:9-10
Along with the holy living creatures, the elders give glory to God; the act of casting their crowns before God signifies that the crown is a symbol of victory and kingship. Casting them before the throne of God, the true and genuine kingdom and the victory over all given to God who reigns over all.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 4:11
They say: "To You, Master, all glory is owed; for You brought all things from non-existence into being, and by Your will subjected what did not exist before."

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:1

The divine Scripture of God explains in detail to us about a certain scroll [βίβλον] in which all people happen to be written, perhaps metaphorically calling the record of our memory before God a "scroll", except that the prophet calls it a small scroll [βιβλίον] saying, "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and upon your small scroll all will be written." (Ps. 138:16) Moses, the wisest of all, seeking to atone for Israel's sins, wept and cried out to God, saying: "If you forgive their sin, forgive them; but if not, then erase me from the scroll you have written." (Ex. 32:32) This divine evangelist sees this scroll written inside and outside. And inside would be those from Israel, written as worshippers of God [θεοσεβεῖς] according to the instruction of the law; outside, and in a worse fate, those from the nations [ἐθνῶν] as idolaters before believing in Christ. The little scroll was in the right hand of God; the paths of the saints, as I suppose, are those who succeeded in the ancient times. The little scroll was both sealed and secured with seven seals. The seventh, being a…

The divine Scripture of God explains in detail to us about a certain scroll [βίβλον] in which all people happen to be written, perhaps metaphorically calling the record of our memory before God a "scroll", except that the prophet calls it a small scroll [βιβλίον] saying, "Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and upon your small scroll all will be written." (Ps. 138:16) Moses, the wisest of all, seeking to atone for Israel's sins, wept and cried out to God, saying: "If you forgive their sin, forgive them; but if not, then erase me from the scroll you have written." (Ex. 32:32)

This divine evangelist sees this scroll written inside and outside. And inside would be those from Israel, written as worshippers of God [θεοσεβεῖς] according to the instruction of the law; outside, and in a worse fate, those from the nations [ἐθνῶν] as idolaters before believing in Christ.

The little scroll was in the right hand of God; the paths of the saints, as I suppose, are those who succeeded in the ancient times. The little scroll was both sealed and secured with seven seals. The seventh, being a perfect number, signifies that the little scroll was sealed and marked very securely. What, then, does it mean that the little scroll is sealed? It means that no one was found worthy to look at it except for a few. For how could what is sealed be revealed, given the transgression in Adam? Rather, the majority, immersed in sin, have prepared the little scroll to be sealed. For there were those (the majority, immersed in sin) who were innumerable, just like the few who were pleasing to God, who were allowed to speak freely; this freedom and the boldness before God inscribed within them all alike was sealed, since "everyone turned away and became corrupt", according to the prophet (Ps. 13:3): for even though a few succeeded and were counted among the righteous in the past, they were merely human and did not become worthy to reclaim for all people the boldness lost through sin. Knowing this, the prophet cried out to God: "In the morning, when You hear the voice of my prayer, in the morning I will stand before You and You will look upon me." (Ps. 5:4) "In the morning", calling to mind the appearance of Christ, "the Sun of Righteousness," (Mal. 4:2) having dispersed the darkness of ignorance. In this, humanity will gain boldness; and not otherwise. So that those who pray may be heard, and may be deemed worthy of this vision, with Christ having removed the sin that separates us from God. Before his visitation to humanity, "every mouth was closed, and the entire world was held accountable to God" according to what is written (Rom. 3:19). Therefore, the deep things recorded in the scroll, as has been said, indicate that the scroll was sealed and closed.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:2
He says, I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" No one, he says, is worthy, O most divine angel, to speak to it, except the God who became man, who took away sin, "having wiped out the handwriting that was against us," (Col. 2:14) and by his own obedience healed our disobedience (Rom. 5:19).

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:3
He said, But no one in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the little scroll. For neither an angel accomplished these things for us, as Isaiah says; "neither an elder nor an angel, but he himself saved them because he loved them," (Isa. 63:9) neither a living man, nor any of the dead. "A brother is not redeemed, a man shall not redeem himself," as it is written somewhere (Ps. 48:8). And what do I mean by saying to open the little scroll, when no one among men was able to look at it? For how could anyone filled with the mist of sin gaze upon the divine throne before which the little scroll was placed?

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:4
And the unworthiness of all became the cause of my lamentations.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! Behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the seven seals of the little scroll." He said, He who has overcome our conqueror (the Devil), this one who opened the little scroll and the seals.

Who is the lion of the tribe of Judah, but certainly Christ, concerning whom the patriarch Jacob said: "He crouched like a lion and like a young lion; who will rouse him?" (Gen. 49:9) And that the Lord arose according to the flesh from Judah, the divine apostle testified, saying it is evident that our Lord Jesus Christ arose from Judah (Heb. 7:14); and one might marvel why he did not say "a rod from the root of Jesse," nor "a flower from the root," as Isaiah said (Isa. 11:1), but rather "the Root of David." He says this, showing that according to the human aspect, the rod was from the root of Jesse and David sprouting forth; but according to the divine aspect, the root itself is not only David, but of all visible and invisible creation, being the cause of all things, as has been stated before.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:6

He says, And I saw, in the midst of the throne and around the throne, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The Lord is called the Lamb because of His innocence and His role as the provider. Just as the lamb is a provider during the annual wool-shearing, so too the Lord "opens His hand and fills every living creature with good will." (Ps. 144:16) Thus, prophecy itself also calls him in this way, through Isaiah saying that "he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearer, silent," (Isa. 53:7) and through Jeremiah, saying, "I, he says, knew not that I was leading a harmless lamb to be sacrificed." (Jer. 11:19) The lamb was not actually slain, but appeared as though it had been slain. For Christ overcame death by enduring it, and looted Hades of the souls held captive by it; thus, the death of Christ is not truly a permanent death, but a death brief in duration due to the resurrection. Since the Lord, after the resurrection, also bore the symbols of dea…

He says, And I saw, in the midst of the throne and around the throne, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The Lord is called the Lamb because of His innocence and His role as the provider. Just as the lamb is a provider during the annual wool-shearing, so too the Lord "opens His hand and fills every living creature with good will." (Ps. 144:16) Thus, prophecy itself also calls him in this way, through Isaiah saying that "he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearer, silent," (Isa. 53:7) and through Jeremiah, saying, "I, he says, knew not that I was leading a harmless lamb to be sacrificed." (Jer. 11:19)

The lamb was not actually slain, but appeared as though it had been slain. For Christ overcame death by enduring it, and looted Hades of the souls held captive by it; thus, the death of Christ is not truly a permanent death, but a death brief in duration due to the resurrection. Since the Lord, after the resurrection, also bore the symbols of death, the marks of the nails (Jn. 20:25), the body made life-giving by His blood, as Isaiah says, speaking from the presence of the holy angels, "Why are your garments red, and your clothes like those of one treading in a winepress, full of the crushed grape?" (Isa. 63:2-3) Therefore, it appeared as though it had been slain in the vision of the apparition.

The seven horns testify to his great power, since the number seven, being perfect, signifies completeness, as has been said before; and the horns are a symbol of strength according to the prophet who says: "I will crush all the horns of the wicked, but the horn of the righteous shall be exalted," (Ps. 74:11) and the prophet Habakkuk "holds the horn in his hand." (Hab. 3:4)

The seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, are interpreted for us by Isaiah, who says that "a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and godliness, and a spirit filled with the fear of God shall rest upon him." (Isa. 11:2-3)

The spirits, that is, the spiritual gifts, were indeed sent to every person from God, yet no one accepted them as having labored briefly in their journey toward all, to find rest in Christ. And what happened was superior in both word and understanding. For the spirits that he himself sent down from above as God, he himself received them below as a man, since it was both this and that. To him belongs the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:7
And He came and took, that is the little scroll, from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. Therefore, when all those in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, wondered to open the little scroll or to look into it as it had been seen before, only Christ, the Son of God, who for us and through us became and remains what He was, took the little scroll.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:8
Having received the little scroll from the Lord, all worshiped it, fully aware of the salvation it is destined to bring to humanity, and the punishment it holds for the impure demons. The elders holding harps signify the harmonious and melodious nature of their confession to God, according to the written word: "Sing to our God, sing." (Ps. 46:7)

The incense symbolizes the offering from all the nations. For Malachi says, in the person of God, to the disobedient Israel: "I do not accept a sacrifice from your hands, because from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name has been glorified among the nations, and in every place incense is offered in my name, and a pure sacrifice." (Mal. 1:10-11) Proclaiming beforehand through these the faith and gift-bearing of the nations.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song. For the song sung to God incarnate is new, having never before been brought forth prior to the incarnation. What was the song? Worthy are You, it says, "to bring this salvation to mankind, you who were slain for us and by your blood have redeemed many from under the heavens."

And he certainly spoke very securely from every tribe and language and people and nation. For he did not acquire all, for many died in unbelief, but from all those worthy of salvation. The prophet also said: "Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall judge all the nations; indeed, you will not condemn all the nations." (Ps. 81:8)

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:10
And He made them kings and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Therefore, you are able also to understand the Scripture, for you are faithful servants of Christ, both kings and leaders of the churches; you are able to govern the passions rather than be governed by them; and as priests, you bring your own bodies "as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God," according to what is written. (Rom. 12:1)

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:11
And not only do the elders say this, but also the angels and incorporeal powers sang a victory hymn to Christ. Moreover, the number now mentioned by them was also foretold by Daniel (Dan. 7:10).

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:12
The song of the angels attributes seven different honors to Christ, indicating through the seven that Christ ought to be crowned with countless praises.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 5:13
The present text expresses the doxology universally accorded by all creation, both heavenly and earthly, to God the Father, and to the Word who became man [ἐνανθρωπήσαντι] and was made flesh [σαρκωθέντα], that is, also glorified together with the Holy Spirit.

Commentary on Revelation
Revelation 6:1-2

The closing and sealing of the little scroll, which contains the names of the people written in it, signifies that it is unalterable, and that their mouths are shut from any justification before God, according to what has been previously stated (Rev. 5:1). Therefore, the gradual removal of the seals signifies the gradual repetition of the boldness and intimacy toward God, which the only begotten One, having become incarnate, has made possible for us by correcting our shortcomings through His own deeds. It must be understood that the breaking of each seal signifies one of the acts performed by the Lord for our salvation, and also those carried out by Him against the spiritual enemies of our souls. For the Lord's providence toward us involves the overthrow of those powers. Let no one be amazed at those things that will happen, that the Only Begotten existed before becoming incarnate; for the works and deeds before His coming to us are shown to the divine evangelist through vision. Yet, He appears as a Lamb in the revelation, as if slain. For it is customary that what is seen by the p…

The closing and sealing of the little scroll, which contains the names of the people written in it, signifies that it is unalterable, and that their mouths are shut from any justification before God, according to what has been previously stated (Rev. 5:1). Therefore, the gradual removal of the seals signifies the gradual repetition of the boldness and intimacy toward God, which the only begotten One, having become incarnate, has made possible for us by correcting our shortcomings through His own deeds. It must be understood that the breaking of each seal signifies one of the acts performed by the Lord for our salvation, and also those carried out by Him against the spiritual enemies of our souls. For the Lord's providence toward us involves the overthrow of those powers.

Let no one be amazed at those things that will happen, that the Only Begotten existed before becoming incarnate; for the works and deeds before His coming to us are shown to the divine evangelist through vision. Yet, He appears as a Lamb in the revelation, as if slain.

For it is customary that what is seen by the prophets serves as a pre-announcement of things to come. Therefore, a man long ago contended with Jacob (Gen. 32:24), a type of Christ; thus, Isaiah saw the prophetess conceiving in her womb and bearing a son, whose name is also called, "Despoil Quickly, Plunder Rapidly." (Isa. 8:3) Thus Daniel saw the Son of Man, still without flesh, God, the Word coming to the Ancient of Days. (Dan. 7:13)

Therefore, the first blessing, which pertains to our race through our Savior Christ, is the one that opened the first seal of the little scroll and established the beginning of leading us back to where we came from, out of the transgression in Adam, and to recover for us the lost relationship with God and to transfer our previously forbidden access into boldness. This is the bodily birth established by the Lord, which sanctified our birth so that we are no longer conceived in lawlessness and carried in sins by our mothers, but we have a holy birth of Christ through our own birth, by which the human birth is blessed. And a witness to such a noble ambition toward humanity is the divine apostle, who writes: "since your children are unclean, but now they are holy." (1 Cor. 7:14)

When the first seal was opened, he said he saw a white horse coming forth from those spiritual holy beings, holding a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering so that he might conquer. A white horse serves as a symbol of the Gospel, representing the good will to be bestowed upon humanity. The crown, on the other hand, signifies power and victory. It came forth bearing the crown with Christ, as the one who began to conquer the Devil who had enslaved our race. It is said that He came forth so that the one who conquers may be victorious. Christ was the one who conquers, so that he may conquer completely, and the symbol of victory he bore was the crown. This is the first seal.

Commentary on Revelation