TRV
Oecumenius
Medieval · AD 800–1500 · 987 passages across 19 books
Commentary
Revelation 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Behold, I come like a thief, says the Lord. He says "like a thief" because of the sudden and unexpected nature of his second coming.
Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked. He persevered in the way of the thief; therefore he said that the garments must be kept so that they are not lost, garments meaning the virtuous and modest life by which we are deemed worthy of God's protection, that is, the body so that it may be holy and clean. For he who has not guarded it will be shamed before the angels and the humans of the divine throne, being pursued in the judgment at that time and left naked, deprived of divine assistance.
Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked. He persevered in the way of the thief; therefore he said that the garments must be kept so that they are not lost, garments meaning the virtuous and modest life by which we are deemed worthy of God's protection, that is, the body so that it may be holy and clean. For he who has not guarded it will be shamed before the angels and the humans of the divine throne, being pursued in the judgment at that time and left naked, deprived of divine assistance.
Revelation 16:16
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
And the demons, he says, gathered the kings of the whole inhabited earth into the place called in Hebrew Meggido. This is interpreted as "Cutting off" or "to be cut off." Therefore he called the place of war Meggido from the cutting off and slaughter destined to be gathered there.
Revelation 16:17
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Into the air indeed he poured out his bowl; and the voice said It is done. What has been done? The decree, that is, of God and His plan.
Revelation 16:18
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
When this was spoken, there were flashes of lightning and voices: the flashes from the heights, the voices on the earth from the awe of the flashes.
And thunders and an earthquake. Either he calls an earthquake the shaking of the earth, since this too is contained among the signs of the end (Luke 21:11), or he calls an earthquake the transformation of things seen, according to what is said to the Haggai: "once more I will shake not only the heaven but also the earth and the sea and the dry land, and I will shake all the nations." (Hag. 2:6-7) Therefore it is also emphasized, as he says, that there had never been such an earthquake like it before.
And thunders and an earthquake. Either he calls an earthquake the shaking of the earth, since this too is contained among the signs of the end (Luke 21:11), or he calls an earthquake the transformation of things seen, according to what is said to the Haggai: "once more I will shake not only the heaven but also the earth and the sea and the dry land, and I will shake all the nations." (Hag. 2:6-7) Therefore it is also emphasized, as he says, that there had never been such an earthquake like it before.
Revelation 16:19
And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
And he says the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Concerning Jerusalem he says the great city, and it is clear from what he contrasts with it the cities of the nations; for in the divine Scripture, it is customary to call Israel, apart from the other peoples, a nation. And he calls it great, as infamous. And all the cities fell; for when the land was being transformed and made new, how could the cities standing in it remain untouched, defiled by the dwelling of sinners? And Babylon, he says, the Great, was remembered before God to be given the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. In what it said previously, And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen;" (Rev. 14:8) but in the present passage he wants us to understand that he does not mean that Babylon, but signifies another. And I think he means Rome and those who will then occupy it, as the discourse to follow will teach. Therefore he says that great Babylon was remembered before God. That is, the memory of her former sins, when they persecuted and killed the sa…
And he says the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Concerning Jerusalem he says the great city, and it is clear from what he contrasts with it the cities of the nations; for in the divine Scripture, it is customary to call Israel, apart from the other peoples, a nation. And he calls it great, as infamous.
And all the cities fell; for when the land was being transformed and made new, how could the cities standing in it remain untouched, defiled by the dwelling of sinners?
And Babylon, he says, the Great, was remembered before God to be given the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. In what it said previously, And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen;" (Rev. 14:8) but in the present passage he wants us to understand that he does not mean that Babylon, but signifies another. And I think he means Rome and those who will then occupy it, as the discourse to follow will teach.
Therefore he says that great Babylon was remembered before God. That is, the memory of her former sins, when they persecuted and killed the saints, came before God; and the cup of the wine of the wrath of God is already interpreted; therefore there is no need to speak at length.
And all the cities fell; for when the land was being transformed and made new, how could the cities standing in it remain untouched, defiled by the dwelling of sinners?
And Babylon, he says, the Great, was remembered before God to be given the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. In what it said previously, And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen;" (Rev. 14:8) but in the present passage he wants us to understand that he does not mean that Babylon, but signifies another. And I think he means Rome and those who will then occupy it, as the discourse to follow will teach.
Therefore he says that great Babylon was remembered before God. That is, the memory of her former sins, when they persecuted and killed the saints, came before God; and the cup of the wine of the wrath of God is already interpreted; therefore there is no need to speak at length.
Revelation 16:20
And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
And he says that every island fled and no mountains were found.
Islands are said to be the churches from the nations, as the prophet says: "The Lord has reigned; let the earth rejoice; let many islands be glad." (Ps. 97:1) Islands are also said, as those that have emerged and overcome the bitter and salty idolatry. But one might also understand islands as the impure hordes of demons, signifying something different, as being entangled in this salt and fickle life.
About the mountains, he says that they are demons, and the great singer, singing, shows that "the mountains melted like wax before the face of the Lord because he is coming." (Ps. 96:5) The account therefore hands down to us that the ranks of the demons at that time will be destroyed and vanish. But where could the wretched ones flee from the presence of God, "in whose hand are the ends of the earth," (Ps. 4:4) who measured the heaven by a span and the earth with a handful? (Isa. 40:12) except that those who suffer will attempt a useless flight and escape.
Islands are said to be the churches from the nations, as the prophet says: "The Lord has reigned; let the earth rejoice; let many islands be glad." (Ps. 97:1) Islands are also said, as those that have emerged and overcome the bitter and salty idolatry. But one might also understand islands as the impure hordes of demons, signifying something different, as being entangled in this salt and fickle life.
About the mountains, he says that they are demons, and the great singer, singing, shows that "the mountains melted like wax before the face of the Lord because he is coming." (Ps. 96:5) The account therefore hands down to us that the ranks of the demons at that time will be destroyed and vanish. But where could the wretched ones flee from the presence of God, "in whose hand are the ends of the earth," (Ps. 4:4) who measured the heaven by a span and the earth with a handful? (Isa. 40:12) except that those who suffer will attempt a useless flight and escape.
Revelation 16:21
And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Because of these events and the great hail, it was necessary that the people then turn to pleas and prayers. For thereby the calamities upon them would cease, whereas they instead blasphemed God, by whose favor the evils also increased against them.
Revelation 17:1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Having fulfilled the matters concerning the end of the present age, the vision turns to another thing, wishing to show the evangelist the matters concerning Rome. And he says, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters" speaking of "judgment", meaning her conduct and her society, in which she has been judged to be and how she pursues it.
And he calls her a "prostitute", as one prostituting herself and apostatizing from God; for this too is called prostitution in divine Scripture according to what was said by the prophet to the God of all: "You have destroyed everyone that commits fornication against you.." (Ps. 72:27)
And he says there are "many waters", over which she rules and which are governed, as he himself says.
And he calls her a "prostitute", as one prostituting herself and apostatizing from God; for this too is called prostitution in divine Scripture according to what was said by the prophet to the God of all: "You have destroyed everyone that commits fornication against you.." (Ps. 72:27)
And he says there are "many waters", over which she rules and which are governed, as he himself says.
Revelation 17:2
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
With them he says "the kings of the earth committed fornication." And these are the ones who reigned over them; for these are the kings of the earth who have shared in her fornication and idolatry.
"And", he says, "the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"; and indeed the rest, over whom she was mistress, have also apostatized from God, some controlled by her, others led by her.
"And", he says, "the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"; and indeed the rest, over whom she was mistress, have also apostatized from God, some controlled by her, others led by her.
Revelation 17:3
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
"And", he says, "he carried me away in the Spirit into a desert." The desert foreshadows her coming desolation.
"And I saw", he says, "a woman sitting on a scarlet beast." The "beast", he says, is the Devil upon whom it rested, and by whom it was commanded; "scarlet" because it had been stained with the blood of the saints.
And the "beast" was "full of blasphemous names"; for the Devil, who is attributed to it, sins against God in the worship due to God.
He says it had "seven heads and ten horns." He himself interprets these, calling the "heads" and the "horns" kings, both those who reigned in it and those who were to reign.
"And I saw", he says, "a woman sitting on a scarlet beast." The "beast", he says, is the Devil upon whom it rested, and by whom it was commanded; "scarlet" because it had been stained with the blood of the saints.
And the "beast" was "full of blasphemous names"; for the Devil, who is attributed to it, sins against God in the worship due to God.
He says it had "seven heads and ten horns." He himself interprets these, calling the "heads" and the "horns" kings, both those who reigned in it and those who were to reign.
Revelation 17:4
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And "the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, purple" for the kingdom, and "scarlet" for the shedding of the many holy bloods.
"Adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls." As a queen fittingly the text says "adorned" about her, with royal adornment.
"Holding a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations", golden indeed because honorable for her rulership, yet full nevertheless of idolatry and pollutions, by which she was nourished and to which she poured sacrifices to her own demons.
And he says, "the impurities of the earth's fornication"; for she attributes to it the causes of the idolatry of the other nations as well, as to the chief author of evils and of idolatrous madness.
"Adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls." As a queen fittingly the text says "adorned" about her, with royal adornment.
"Holding a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations", golden indeed because honorable for her rulership, yet full nevertheless of idolatry and pollutions, by which she was nourished and to which she poured sacrifices to her own demons.
And he says, "the impurities of the earth's fornication"; for she attributes to it the causes of the idolatry of the other nations as well, as to the chief author of evils and of idolatrous madness.
Revelation 17:5
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And it is said to have been "written" also upon "her forehead", as one says in some inscription, who she was; and that it is "Babylon", the "mother of prostitutes", "Babylon" because of the turmoil and confusion in her and the persecutions of the saints; for confusion, as has been said, is signified by the name of Babylon; and "mother" of the fornication and apostasy from God. For how could she not be mother and teacher of the one who persecuted the evangelical word and those who proclaimed it, persuading the nations to adhere to the ancestral deception?
Revelation 17:6
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
For the prostitute not only was full with the "blood" of the saints, but she was also "drunk." The kings who reigned over her had such different natures.
Revelation 17:7
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
"I will tell you what the mystery of the woman and the beast is": that is, in a mystical way these things which are written to you as in a figure are revealed through the Revelation.
Revelation 17:8
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
"The beast which you saw, was and is not, and is about to rise up out of the abyss," he says. For the Devil had indeed been, before the existence of the sensible world, made by God for good works, like the other glorious angels; but it is not shown in what respect the evangelist indicates concerning the things about the end of the age, in which he will go into the fire prepared for him and his angels. For to be in these things is not properly to be. Then when his activity is about to be revealed in the last days he says: "and is about to rise up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition." For through the rise of the Antichrist there will be an increase to the Devil, deceiving men and persuading them to worship him as previously said in many places. Or, think not that it was and is not so; the apostle writing to the Philippians says, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi," (Philip. 1:1) being called saints because "they are in" Christ and in a family unit relationship and remembrance of God. If then "they are" holy, the accursed Devil "is not" now, even if he was…
"The beast which you saw, was and is not, and is about to rise up out of the abyss," he says. For the Devil had indeed been, before the existence of the sensible world, made by God for good works, like the other glorious angels; but it is not shown in what respect the evangelist indicates concerning the things about the end of the age, in which he will go into the fire prepared for him and his angels. For to be in these things is not properly to be. Then when his activity is about to be revealed in the last days he says: "and is about to rise up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition."
For through the rise of the Antichrist there will be an increase to the Devil, deceiving men and persuading them to worship him as previously said in many places. Or, think not that it was and is not so; the apostle writing to the Philippians says, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi," (Philip. 1:1) being called saints because "they are in" Christ and in a family unit relationship and remembrance of God.
If then "they are" holy, the accursed Devil "is not" now, even if he was before or was cast down by the Almighty God from his proper order. Likewise the impious, even if they appear to exist so far as subsistence and essence, are not so far as to have the election and remembrance of God; and that this is so, the book of Genesis does not record the genealogies from Cain, (see Gen. 5:1-6:1) as it says that by reason of impiety they were not, but it declares their perdition in which they are about to perish. That is, the just punishment of Gehenna against him; for the Lord says concerning those condemned in it, speaking to Matthew: "But fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matt. 10:28)
And he says that "those who dwell on the earth will marvel." Not all, but those "whose names" are not "in the book of life." And why will they marvel? Because the "beast was and is not" and will appear and be destroyed; for those who had trusted in him will be most astonished at the change that will come upon him. For wishing to be ruler of the world and so showing himself, he will not only be deposed from his rule, but will also receive a worthy end for his wickedness.
For through the rise of the Antichrist there will be an increase to the Devil, deceiving men and persuading them to worship him as previously said in many places. Or, think not that it was and is not so; the apostle writing to the Philippians says, "to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi," (Philip. 1:1) being called saints because "they are in" Christ and in a family unit relationship and remembrance of God.
If then "they are" holy, the accursed Devil "is not" now, even if he was before or was cast down by the Almighty God from his proper order. Likewise the impious, even if they appear to exist so far as subsistence and essence, are not so far as to have the election and remembrance of God; and that this is so, the book of Genesis does not record the genealogies from Cain, (see Gen. 5:1-6:1) as it says that by reason of impiety they were not, but it declares their perdition in which they are about to perish. That is, the just punishment of Gehenna against him; for the Lord says concerning those condemned in it, speaking to Matthew: "But fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matt. 10:28)
And he says that "those who dwell on the earth will marvel." Not all, but those "whose names" are not "in the book of life." And why will they marvel? Because the "beast was and is not" and will appear and be destroyed; for those who had trusted in him will be most astonished at the change that will come upon him. For wishing to be ruler of the world and so showing himself, he will not only be deposed from his rule, but will also receive a worthy end for his wickedness.
Revelation 17:9
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Therefore, he says, "here is the mind that has wisdom." Therefore, so says the mind that has been made wise: let the riddle be known how it "was and is not", and is about to ascend from the abyss. For even for that which departs from being into non-being, the thing that is about to ascend again from the abyss seems to be contradictory, unless someone should apprehend it in some other way, as has already been said.
"The seven heads" he says "are seven mountains, on which the woman sits." From this most clearly it is shown that what has been said refers to Rome; for it is related that she herself sits on seven mountains, and there is no other city.
"The seven heads" he says "are seven mountains, on which the woman sits." From this most clearly it is shown that what has been said refers to Rome; for it is related that she herself sits on seven mountains, and there is no other city.
Revelation 17:10
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
"And" he says "there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, another has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain a little while." Appropriately he regards the kings as the heads; for the kings are the headship of Roman dominion. What then? He said that of all those who reigned in Rome, only seven were heads of the beast; since these seven are most of all the beast, that is, the Devil, they divided his head against the Christians, having stirred up persecutions against the Church; of whom the first is Nero, the second Domitian, then Trajan, Severus, after him Decius, Valerian, Diocletian; for these among those who reigned in Rome especially persecuted the Church, as Eusebius says in his Chronicles, of whom he says five of the seven fell by death: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Severus, Decius; and the one remaining is Valerian. The other says "he has not yet come yet", and that whenever he comes it is necessary that "he remain a little while." But another names Diocletian, after whom the reign over Rome ceased and transferred into the renowned city of the pious Constantine, Consta…
"And" he says "there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, another has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain a little while." Appropriately he regards the kings as the heads; for the kings are the headship of Roman dominion. What then? He said that of all those who reigned in Rome, only seven were heads of the beast; since these seven are most of all the beast, that is, the Devil, they divided his head against the Christians, having stirred up persecutions against the Church; of whom the first is Nero, the second Domitian, then Trajan, Severus, after him Decius, Valerian, Diocletian; for these among those who reigned in Rome especially persecuted the Church, as Eusebius says in his Chronicles, of whom he says five of the seven fell by death: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Severus, Decius; and the one remaining is Valerian.
The other says "he has not yet come yet", and that whenever he comes it is necessary that "he remain a little while." But another names Diocletian, after whom the reign over Rome ceased and transferred into the renowned city of the pious Constantine, Constantine himself having assumed the imperial power. And everything was reported very precisely to the evangelist, especially the matters concerning Diocletian, among which it is said also "and whenever he comes it is necessary that he remain a little while," saying "to remain" in reference to the persecution against the Christians; for although he reigned twenty years, having begun the last two with the persecution, he resigned the empire.
The other says "he has not yet come yet", and that whenever he comes it is necessary that "he remain a little while." But another names Diocletian, after whom the reign over Rome ceased and transferred into the renowned city of the pious Constantine, Constantine himself having assumed the imperial power. And everything was reported very precisely to the evangelist, especially the matters concerning Diocletian, among which it is said also "and whenever he comes it is necessary that he remain a little while," saying "to remain" in reference to the persecution against the Christians; for although he reigned twenty years, having begun the last two with the persecution, he resigned the empire.
Revelation 17:11
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And he says that "the beast which was, and is not." And it "is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes to destruction." And he appointed the Devil first and last and a fellow counselor of the seven. For how would this one not also be a ruler who made even the seven utterly wicked?
Revelation 17:12
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
"And the ten horns which you saw", he says, "are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom." Concerning these "ten kings" or "horns" the most wise prophet Daniel explained from the dominion of the Romans, saying: "they will arise in the last times, in the midst of which the Antichrist will be raised." (see Dan 7:7-12) Therefore he says they have not yet received a kingdom but will "receive authority as kings." He calls them "as kings" because of the brief and shadowy nature of their kingdom.
Then he adds that they "receive one hour" together "with the beast." He calls here the beast the Antichrist. For in the preceding passages he also called him accordingly, saying, "And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb." (Rev. 13:11)
The expression that they would reign "for one hour", or the brief duration of their kingdom, is an allegory, or an indication of one year's time and change.
Then he adds that they "receive one hour" together "with the beast." He calls here the beast the Antichrist. For in the preceding passages he also called him accordingly, saying, "And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb." (Rev. 13:11)
The expression that they would reign "for one hour", or the brief duration of their kingdom, is an allegory, or an indication of one year's time and change.
Revelation 17:13
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
He says that "they have one mind, and give their power and authority to the beast." For though the ten kings will be opposed to one another in their opinions, yet in this they will have "one mind": in giving "their power and authority to the beast", that is, to the Antichrist. For they will be defeated by him, and he alone of all will rule over the rest. But even if they are defeated contrary to their will, since the ten suffer the same fate of defeat and removal, he said they "have one mind"; therefore, he was saying that as by agreement and unanimity the ten will be defeated by the Antichrist.