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Chapter 46. About the fact that after the pouring out of the first vial, purulent ulcers appeared on those who retreated Rev. 16:1–2. “And I heard a great voice from the church saying by the seventh angel: Go and pour out the seventh vial of the wrath of God on the earth. And the first angel went and poured out his vial on the earth: and the pus was angry and cruel on men who had the mark of the beast and bowed down to his icon.” The vial here, like the cup, is taken for a punishing action, which, when poured out by an Angel, became evil pus, depicting sorrow, tormenting like the suppuration in the heart that has to be in the hearts of apostates, when they, being punished by plagues sent from God, will not receive any healing from the Antichrist, recognized by them as God. It is possible that their bodies will also receive sensual wounds to expose their souls, wounded by the devil’s arrows of deception from the flattering Antichrist and the apostate. Rev.16:3. “And the second angel poured out his vial into the sea: and there came out the blood of a dead man; and every soul that lives and dies in the sea.” It is not difficult for the Divine power, to expose the weakness of the false Christ and the frivolity of the deceived, through the Holy Prophets Enoch and Elijah, to turn the sea into the blood of a dead man, i.e. killed, and bring about destruction in him, as God once did in Egypt to expose Pharaoh’s stubbornness and to demonstrate His power. This may happen again, so that those who are firm in the faith will be encouraged, and those who are not confirmed will be afraid, seeing that the creature has risen up against them for honoring the apostate. This may also mean defeats in wars at his coming, because when Gog and Magog move against each other in the four parts of the universe, the kings who did not submit to him will be destroyed with their entire army, and in places of murder, the sea will be stained with sea battles, and the rivers will be stained with the blood of those killed there. Chapter 48. About the fact that from the third plague the rivers turn into blood Rev. 16:4–6. “And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and springs of water: and there was blood. And I heard the angel of the water saying: righteous art thou, Lord, who is likewise, and most holy, for thou hast judged this: for thou hast poured out the blood of the saints and prophets, and thou hast given the blood to drink: for they are worthy.” And from this it is clear that Angels are placed over the elements, as was said above, of which one, placed over the waters, glorifies, it is said, God for the worthy punishment imposed on the criminals; therefore he gave blood to drink to those who had defiled their hands with the blood of saints. It is clear from this either that many at that time, for firmly remaining in the faith, will be awarded the prophetic gift and will be killed by the devil’s armor-bearers, or that those who reject the preaching of the Divine Prophets and approve of their murder by the hard-hearted Jews, according to the disposition of their souls, will be accomplices in their murder. Just as the Lord Jesus said that when they build the tombs of the Prophets, they deign to kill them (Luke 11:47–48). Rev.16:7. “And I heard another from the altar saying: O Lord God Almighty, judge Thy truth and rule.” The altar sometimes means Christ, since in Him and through Him reasonable fruits and living sacrifices are offered to the Father, which we were taught to offer by the Apostle; sometimes angelic powers, as those who offer our prayers and spiritual fruitfulness, and we know about them that they are sent into service for those who want to inherit salvation. From this served altar came, it is said, a voice calling every mind and word righteous, surpassing the judgments of God. Therefore, from the words of the Gospel we are taught that the powers of the mind rejoice and triumph over the salvation of those who turn to repentance, while they mourn their deviation from the right path, and thank God for punishing those who transgress the Divine commandments, so that they may at least partially receive forgiveness of their debts. By our efforts, we will bring them joy and gladness, thinking that the Divine Angel accompanying each of us, with some ineffable word, guides us in what we should do, as if secretly talking with our mind with our mind, and rejoices over those who listen to his advice, and grieves God-likely about those who transgress it, as we know about this from soul-helping stories. For when one man, blackened by many sins, entered the church, an angel lamenting walked in the distance; when he came to contrition and the Giver of mercy, promised from the soul to change for the better and renounce his former life, then, when leaving the church, the Angel walked ahead joyful and having fun, and the crafty devil walked behind with shame, although he rejoiced before the Godly conversion of this man. May God grant us to live to shame the demons and to the joy of the Angels, so that, triumphing with them, with one voice of joy and confession we may thank Christ our God for the victory over the evil demon. To him with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.