Глава 8

The opening of the seventh seal, showing that angelic forces bring to God, like incense, the prayers of saints Rev.8:1. And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for what seemed like half an hour. Rev.8:2. And I saw seven angels who stood before God; and seven trumpets were given to them. St. John often uses the number of seven Angels because it corresponds to this age, the sabbath, and the rest of the saints. Therefore, the resolution of this seventh seal indicates a transition from earthly life, which is helped by seven Angels, striking people in need of admonition and instruction. “Silence” means decorum, reverence and ignorance of the Angels about the time of the second coming. “Half an hour” is a short time when, after punishments and the end of the world, the Kingdom of Christ will come. Rev.8:3. And another Angel came and stood before the altar, holding a golden censer; Although what the saints saw - the altar, the censer, etc., is depicted here in a material form and painted in different colors, all this is invisible and spiritual. An angel, standing in front of the altar and holding a censer with frankincense, lifts up to God, like incense, the prayers of the saints, in which they ask that for the disasters at the end of the world, the torment of the wicked and lawless in the next century will be alleviated and that the Lord will reward those who have labored with His coming. This is discussed further. and a great deal of incense was given to him, so that with the prayers of all the saints he would place it on the golden altar, which was in front of the throne. The “golden altar,” on which every holy ministerial power finds its affirmation and where the sacrifices of martyrs are offered, is Christ Himself, whose prototype was the altar shown to Moses on the mountain with the tabernacle (Ex. 25:9; Heb. 8:5). “Incense,” as it is said, means the prayers of the saints, fragrant before God. “Before the throne,” that is, before the highest powers of heaven, since fiery Divine love, pure and infinite wisdom and reason were poured into them. This is indicated by the meaning of the names of the highest powers approaching God. Rev.8:4. And the smoke of incense ascended with the prayers of the saints from the hand of an Angel before God. Rev.8:5. And the Angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the ground: And “smoke went out” - the prayers of the saints, offered by the Angel, were accepted and, filling the censer with the fire of punishment, they turned them to the ground, as Ezekiel once saw, which was conveyed by one of the Cherubim to the Angels sent to beat up the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem, taken from such a fire. The image of such an Angel is every priest, as a mediator between people and God: he offers prayers from some, brings pardons to others, and turns those who have sinned to the true path with admonition or severe punishments. and there were voices, and thunder, and lightning, and an earthquake. Rev.8:6. And the seven Angels, having seven trumpets, prepared to blow. “And there was loud noise and thunder.” All this points to the horrors that will occur before the death, just as on Mount Sinai they were symbols of the presence of God, frightening everyone, and leading the prudent to conversion. Angels also serve for this purpose, healing, as compassionate doctors - imitators of Christ, the sinful ailments of the sick, or rather, easing the future punishment of the lazy by cauterizations and sections in the form of disasters, if only they endure them with gratitude. And may the Lover of Mankind not betray us, sealed with the honorable and precious name of Christ, desiring the glorification of the saints and praying for liberation through present torment from future torment, by punishing us to the death of sin (Ps. 117:18), but may He weaken the evil days of eternal torment, when the abyss covers the leader of sin and his dark and underworld place of Gehenna, so that we, who are placed with the saints, in the dwelling of joy, were forever with Christ Himself, the Savior and God, to whom belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. About the seven Angels and the fact that when the first of them sounded, hail, fire and blood fell on the earth Rev.8:7. The first angel sounded, and there was hail and fire, mixed with blood, and fell to the earth; and the third part of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. According to some, this indicates the torment of sinners in Gehenna, often depicted under the image of sensual suffering. But we think that in the next century not only a third of the entire multitude of people will suffer, but much more (for it is said: “bring the broad way into destruction” (Matthew 7:13), and here these words indicate the plagues that will be at death. “Hail” means that these punishments will be sent from heaven according to righteous judgment. “Fire with blood” is the destruction of cities, which always occurs at the hands of combatants, fires and civil strife, during which, apparently, at least a third of all creatures living on earth will be killed: in wars, not only people, but also earthly products (trees and grass - Ed.) perish! 31). About the second Angel and about the destruction of those living in the sea Rev.8:8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and as if a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. Rev.8:9. and the third part of the living creatures that lived in the sea died, and the third part of the ships perished. According to some, this indicates that the sea, after the resurrection, will burn with cleansing fire along with everyone living in it. If the indication of the third part here is also incongruous, because, as was mentioned, there will be more tormented than saved, then this inconsistency can be eliminated by referring these words to real life, which is figuratively called the sea. In this case, the death of the third part of all living will be confirmed, for according to the unsearchable judgments of God, some soon receive punishment, while others, through His long-suffering, are brought to repentance and conversion. By “mountain,” I think, we must understand the devil, who, inflamed with rage against us and eyed for Gehenna, during his release, will scatter across the sea and destroy a third of the islands, ships and their inhabitants, as he once did with Job, for according to the judgment of God’s justice he is our enemy and an avenger, since whoever obeys and submits to someone will serve him (2 Pet. 2:19). Finally, there is nothing strange and inconsistent with reason if spiritual death befalls those who at sea blaspheme the Holy Trinity with their deeds of life and words. Article twenty-four About the third Angel and the bitterness of river waters Rev.8:10. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a lamp, and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. Rev.8:11. The name of this star is “wormwood”; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many of the people died from the waters, because they became bitter. The bitterness signified by wormwood, as some say, signifies the sorrow that strikes sinners tormented in Gehenna; due to its vastness, it is plausibly and correctly called waters. But we think that this also points to the tribulations of the last days. The star either means that all this comes from heaven, or points to the devil, as the prophet Isaiah says about him: “How did the morning star fall from heaven?” (Isa. 14:12). Since the devil, having made people drunk with bitter corruption through pleasure, by God’s permission also brings sorrow, although not to everyone, but through God’s long-suffering, to a third, so that lack of faith in reward after death does not lead the impatient to spiritual death. For those who remain alive before death, all the bitter things will come true, the visible onset of which the Lord revealed for our understanding. And if we do not want to be condemned by Him, then we must condemn ourselves, for, in the words of the divine apostle, “even if we reasoned for ourselves, we would not be condemned” (1 Cor. 11:31). And, like the condemned, we must be punished by the Lord and accept with gratitude the sorrows brought upon us, just as we see that sensible patients patiently endure cauterizations and operations, hoping for recovery. Therefore, we too, being mentally healthy and not giving food from our midst to hell fire, may we not be condemned with the world, but may we reign forever with Christ; to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, greatness and splendor, with the Beginningless Father and the All-Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the endless ages of ages. Amen. About the fourth Angel and the eclipse of the luminaries Rev.8:12. The fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars were struck, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the third part of the day was not light, as were the nights. We think that this is similar to what was said about the moon and the sun in Joel (Joel 2:10) and what should be assumed, according to the Sovereign’s definition of death. We repeat that the third part of the luminaries and stars indicates the third part of the duration of day and night. From here we see that the disasters that God will then bring will not be unremitting. For He, allowing only a third of the time to be darkened, for the rest, most of the time, continues to mysteriously call to repentance. And is it possible to endure the full, undissolved cup of God’s wrath? Rev.8:13. And I saw and heard one Angel flying in the middle of heaven and saying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, woe to those who live on earth from the rest of the trumpet voices of the three Angels who will blow! The words “woe, woe, woe to those who live on earth” indicate the compassion and love for mankind of the divine Angels, who, imitating God, regret the punished sinners, and most of all those who are not corrected by punishment. These, in particular, include “grief,” because while living on earth, they are filled with thoughts of earthly things and, instead of the peace poured out on us (the composition of fragrant substances - Ed.), they breathe dust. For those who live in heaven, disasters and suffering serve only as a reason to receive unfading crowns as a reward. You might be interested in: