Глава 21

About the new heaven, the new earth and the Jerusalem on high Rev.21:1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Here, too, it is not about the destruction of creation, but about a change for the better, according to the testimony of the apostle: “the creation itself will be freed from the work of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21). And the divine Psalmist says: “I took off like a garment, and they will be changed” (Ps. 101:27). Renewing the old does not mean destroying, but only eliminating obsolescence and wrinkles. And about people who for some reason have become better or worse, they say: “this one, but not that one,” that is, they have changed. Let us also note that the evangelist, considering a change in the previous state and a change for the better to be a kind of death, uses the word “preidosta”, instead of changed, and about the sea he said: “and there is no sea.” Because the sea will not be needed when people will not need to sail on it, nor transport and deliver the products of the earth to distant countries. And then you don’t need it if it means a stormy and full of excitement life. For the saints will then not have the slightest fear or embarrassment. This is confirmed by Basil the Great in his interpretation of the words of Isaiah: “say to the abyss: you are desolate, and I will dry up your rivers” (Is. 44:27). Rev.21:2. And I, John, saw the holy city Jerusalem, new, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The new vision of the holy city of Jerusalem means the transition to the lightness that the heavenly Jerusalem will receive, descending to people from the disembodied forces on high, because the head of them all is Christ our God. This city, having Christ as its cornerstone, is made up of saints, about whom it is written: “holy stones are rolled out in the land thereof” (Zech. 9:16). It is called “city” as the abode of the Holy Trinity, for according to the promise She dwells and walks in it (2 Cor. 6:16). This city is called “bride”, as clinging to the Master and uniting with Him in a perfect and indissoluble union; “adorned” - as having, according to the word of the Psalmist, “glory and beauty” (Ps. 44:14) in variety of virtues. Rev.21:3. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them; they will be His people, and God Himself with them will be their God. Rev.21:4. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, The “voice from heaven” teaches the saint that this is the true tabernacle. Her image, or, better, the transformation of the image, was shown to Moses, and now her image is the Church. In this tabernacle not made by hands there will be no crying or tears, because the Giver of eternal joy gives unceasing and eternal joy to all the saints. and there will be no more death; There will be no more crying, no crying, no pain, for the former things have passed away. This is in accordance with the Holy Scripture, which says that from there “sickness and sorrow and sighing will flee” (Isaiah 35:10). The words “first mimidasha” mean that the pride of the wicked and the suffering of the saints will have a corresponding end. About what He who sat on the throne said Rev.21:5. And He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And he says to me: write; for these words are true and true. Rev.21:6. And he said to me: it is done! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; These words are true because they are spoken by the Truth itself and are known by deeds, and not in symbols. “The beginning and the end” is Christ, first in Divinity and last in humanity, and embracing with His Providence everything - from the first incorporeal creature to people. To the thirsty I will give freely from the fountain of living water. He promises to give to those who thirst for truth the grace of the Holy Spirit, which He promised to send down to those who believe in Him. “Tuna” either because “the passions of this present time are unworthy of the desire for glory to be revealed among the saints” (Rom. 8:18), or because it cannot be acquired with property, but only for good deeds, according to the love of mankind of the Giver. Rev.21:7. He who overcomes will inherit everything, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. The “winner” in the battle with invisible demons will receive these benefits when he becomes the son of God and will enjoy spiritual pleasures. Rev.21:8. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. God, who desires our salvation, directs and converts everyone through blessings and sorrows to the inheritance of His blessings, providing us with the lightness of the heavenly Jerusalem and the darkness and horrors of the fire of Gehenna, so that we can do good while there is time, either out of desire for eternal glory, or out of fear of endless shame. That is why it is said about those who are rejected, fearful and weak in the fight against the devil that they will be condemned to the “second death.” Having propitiated the Giver of mercy with good deeds, who does not desire the death of the sinner, but his conversion, may we also receive His gifts, deserved not by verbal teachings, but by deeds and suffering. For from Him it was enough only to promise good things and warn against evil, in order to then honor or punish those worthy of glory or punishment. But He also deigned to suffer for us, so that it would not seem that He neglected anything for our correction and healing. And therefore, let us not accept the grace of God in vain, but through conversion and good deeds we will achieve the promised blessings in Christ Our Lord, with whom to the Father, together with the Life-giving Spirit, be glory and power, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Article sixty-seven About the Angel who showed the city of saints and measured its wall with its gates Rev.21:9. And one of the seven angels came to me, who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, and said to me: Go, I will show you a wife, the bride of the Lamb. This indicates that Angels not only inflict ulcers, but sometimes perform sections like doctors, and sometimes they also give pain-relieving medicines and treatments, because just as the Angel previously sent punishment to the worthy, so now he shows the saint the bliss of the Church. Christ correctly calls the “bride” “wife,” for the slain Lamb Christ took her to Himself with His Blood. And just as Adam’s wife was created during his sleep from a rib taken from him, so the Church, through the outpouring of Blood from Christ’s rib during His free death on the Cross, was united with Him, wounded for our sake. Rev.21:10. And he carried me away in spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, which came down from heaven from God. Rev.21:11. He has the glory of God. The saint was led by the “spirit,” and this indicates the aspiration of his thoughts from earthly to heavenly. “Great Mountain” means the high and premium life of the saints, with which the wife of the Lamb, the heavenly Jerusalem, will be adorned and glorified by God. It shone like a most precious stone, like a crystalline jasper stone. The “luminary” of the Church is Christ, Who is called “jasper” as the ever-growing, blooming, Giver of life and pure. In general, He appears under many different images, just as His many benefits to us cannot be expressed in one word. Rev.21:12. It has a large and high wall, has twelve gates and twelve Angels on them; On the gate are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: The great church wall, high and protecting the inhabitants of the holy city, is called Christ; through its twelve gates are the holy apostles, through whom we have the lead and entrance to the Father, in which we are helped by twelve Angels who rule over others and are closer to God in their knowledge and holiness, for if every believer is followed by a Guardian Angel, then with greater confidence we should think that the founders of the Church and the sowers of the teaching of the Gospel are accompanied by the first of the Angels in the Gospel preaching. On the apostolic entrances are written the names of the tribes of Israel, spiritual Israel, just as the names of sensual Israel were written on the breastplate (breastplate, vestment accessory - Ed.) of the ancient bishop. This writing of names signifies apostolic care for the faithful, just as the apostle said that he cares for all the churches and his heart is enlarged to accommodate all whom he has begotten “by the gospel” (2 Cor. 6:1–12; 1 Cor. 4:15). Rev.21:13. from the east there are three gates, from the north there are three gates, from the south there are three gates, and from the west there are three gates. There are “gates” on four sides, and three on each; this means the confession by the four ends of the earth of the Most Holy Trinity, which they received through the Life-giving Cross. The position of the gates like a cross, following the example of the twelve oxen that held the Sea of Solomon, made of copper (2 Chronicles 4:4), means the trinity of the apostles, preachers of the Holy Trinity, and the spread of the four Gospels on the four sides of the world. Through this, the spiritual is formed the sea of holy baptism, arranged by the mental Solomon and cleansing the sins of the world. The “Golden Reed” means the honesty (purity and high dignity - Ed.) of the measuring Angel, who appeared in the form of a man, and the honesty of the city being measured, by the wall of which Christ is signified. that the “wall” here means the Divine fence and covering that will protect the saints. Rev.21:14. The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. The foundations of the wall with the written names of the apostles are the blessed apostles on which the Church of Christ is established. Rev.21:15. He who spoke to me had a golden reed to measure the city and its gates and its walls. Rev.21:16. The city is located in a quadrangle, and its length is the same as its latitude. And he measured the city with a reed for twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth and height are equal. The structure of the city in the form of a quadrangle means its hardness and strength, for the equality of latitude, height and longitude is called a cube and, as they say, means hardness. The “twelve thousand furlongs” by which the city is measured may perhaps mean its size, for, according to David, those living in it will be “more numerous than the sand” (Ps. 139:18), and perhaps they are numbered according to the number of the twelve apostles, through whom that city is inhabited. The desired result is also obtained by dividing this number by the mysterious septenary number, because if you divide twelve thousand stadia by seven, you get one thousand seven hundred and fourteen measures, called miles. A thousand means the perfection of endless life, seven hundred means the perfection of peace, and fourteen means the double subsistence of soul and body, because fourteen contains two times seven. Rev.21:17. And he measured the wall thereof to be one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, which is the measure of an angel. The height of the wall is “one hundred and forty-four cubits.” This number is obtained if the number twelve, meaning the apostolic teaching, is taken twelve times. Rev.21:18. Its wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. The construction of a wall of “jasper” means, as it was often said, the ever-blooming and unfading life of the saints. The city is “pure gold” because of the lordship and honesty of its inhabitants. Rev.21:19. The foundations of the city wall are decorated with all sorts of precious stones: the first foundation is jasper, the second is sapphire, the third is chalcedon, the fourth is emerald, Rev.21:20. fifth sardonyx, sixth carnelian, seventh chrysolite, eighth virill, ninth topaz, tenth chrysoprase, eleventh hyacinth, twelfth amethyst. Twelve foundations - twelve expensive stones; The ancient high priest wore eight stones on his amice (one of the clothes placed on the ramen, that is, on the shoulders - Ed.), and four were new ones, to indicate the agreement of the Old and New Testaments and the advantage of those who shone in the New. And that's true! Because the apostles, signified by precious stones, are adorned with all virtues. "The first foundation of Jaspis." Jasper, like emerald, with a greenish color means the Supreme Peter, who bore the deadness of Christ in his body, showed an unceasingly blooming and unfading love for Him and guided us with his warm faith to a green place. "Second sapphire." Sapphire, similar to the heavenly body, from which, they say, azure comes, means, as I think, blessed Paul, caught up “to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2) and attracting all those who obey him to where he has his residence. "Third Chalcedon". Chalcedon was not worn on the high priest's amice, but the anphrax, not mentioned here. Therefore, we wonder if Saint Anfrax is named by this name. Anfrax is coal and means blessed Andrew, kindled by the Spirit. "The Fourth Emerald" Smaragd has a green color, feeds on oil and receives shine and beauty from it; it means the sermon of the Evangelist John, who softens our spiritual regret and despondency from sins with Divine oil and gives us unflagging faith with his Theology. "The fifth is sardonyx." This stone, having the color of a shiny human nail, signifies Jacob, who was killed for Christ before others, as indicated by the nail, which does not experience pain when circumcised. "Sixth Sardias" Orange-brilliant in color and healing for tumors and wounds from iron, sardium denotes, as I think, the beauty of the virtues of Blessed Philip, enlightened by the fire of the Spirit of God and healing spiritual wounds received from the devil’s wound. "Seventh Chrysolith". Chrysolith, shining like gold, perhaps means Bartholomew, adorned with valuable virtues and shining with Divine preaching. "Osmoe virill." This stone, the color of sea and air, I think, represents Thomas, who made a long journey to save the Indians. "The Ninth Topazia." Topaz, similar to anfrax in black color and exuding, according to stories, a milky juice that heals eye diseases, perhaps signifies the soul of blessed Matthew, overwhelmed with jealousy and adorned with shed blood for Christ; She heals the blind in heart with the Gospel and offers milk to newborns in faith. "Tenth chrysoprase." Surpassing the brilliance of gold, chrysoprase means blessed Thaddeus, who preached the good news to King Abgar of Edessa of the Kingdom of God, signified by gold, and the deadness in it, signified by millet.” “Eleventh Hyacinth.” Hyacinth, azure or heavenly in color, means Simon as a zealot of Christ’s gifts, having received heavenly wisdom. "The Twelfth Amefist." Amethyst, crimson in color, signifies Matthias, who received the Divine fire during the division of tongues and replaced the fallen apostle for his ardent goodwill to Christ, who chose him. We borrowed this from the words about the stones of blessed Epiphanius as applied to the leaders of the tribes of Israel and repeat here as just assumptions and fortune-telling about the truth, known only to the One who revealed it, for the reader’s exercise. But in any case, it is true that the foundations and precious stones are apostles, possessing the properties of stones, each their own, and everything in general - distinctive and best in all stones. Therefore, these arguments should not be considered spontaneously fictitious. By indicating the particular properties of the virtues of each apostle, we do not deny their unity and community, but we only want to reveal the complete identity that connects them all like a chain. Rev.21:21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was made of one pearl. “The Twelve Gates” obviously means the twelve disciples of Christ who showed us the door and the way of life. “Twelve beads” are also like those who received brilliance and enlightenment from the single bead of Christ. The city street is pure gold, like transparent glass. The good of the mountain city cannot be accurately explained by comparison alone. Therefore, the city area appears to be like gold for its great value, and for its purity, like a crystal. In our view, both of these properties cannot be expressed in one word. Perfect knowledge of the upper city surpasses both hearing, and sight, and thought. Rev.21:22. But I did not see a church in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its church, and the Lamb. “And I didn’t see a church in it.” There is no need for a church for a city that has for its protection and protection God, by whom we “live and move and are” (Acts 17:28). For, according to the promise, He is both the church of the saints and an inmate, as one who lives and walks in them (2 Cor. 6:16). “Lamb” means the Lamb of God, slain for us, with Whom the Life-giving Spirit, presented below under the image of the “river,” is essentially united. Rev.21:23. And the city has no need of either the sun or the moon to illuminate it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The city does not need the sun, because there is no need for a sensual sun where the mental Sun of truth shines; It is glory and its light (Isa. 60:19), in the light of which the saved nations will walk. Rev.21:24. The saved nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it. Rev.21:25. Its gates will not be locked during the day; and there will be no night there. We see, therefore, that “the saved nations will walk in its light” and, crowned with victory over passions, will bring into it the honor and glory of good deeds. And “its gates cannot be shut” - this indicates either firmness and safety for the inhabitants, or that the Divine gates of the apostolic teaching will be open for the complete teaching of everyone there. There will be only day and not night, for night will be only for sinners. Rev.21:26. And they will bring into it the glory and honor of the nations. Rev.21:27. And nothing unclean will enter into it, and no one devoted to abomination and lies, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. “The glory and honor of the nations” means that those who have pleased Christ from among the nations will dwell in it, but all that is foul and unclean will not enter there, for “what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). You might be interested in: