Слово 5

Chapter 13. Opening of the first seal, signifying the Apostolic Doctrine Rev.6:1. “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying like a loud voice: Come and see.” And here we see a good order in the heavenly, descending from the first ranks to the second, because from one person from the four-formed ones, i.e. From the lion he heard the first voice commanding the Angel who was mysteriously depicting the vision: come. The first animal - a lion, it seems to me, means the royal wisdom of the Apostles against demons; It is said about them (Psalm 47:5): Behold the kings of the earth have gathered together, and again (Psalm 44:17): You have set up princes throughout the whole earth. Rev.6:2. “And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he sat on it, having a bow: and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and let him conquer.” Some attributed the removal of this seal and all the others to the economy of the incarnation of God the Word: 1st - to the birth, 2nd - to baptism, 3rd - to the Divine signs that occurred after baptism, 4th - to the condemnation of Pilate, 5th - to the cross, 6th - to the burial, 7th - to the destruction of hell; and we will follow Methodius, who literally said that there is no need to think here about the born Christ himself, for long before the Apocalypse the mystery of the incarnation of God the Word was fulfilled. John speaks about the present and the future. Here he sets out how the conquest of the fiery dragon was accomplished, therefore by the opening of the 1st seal we mean a number of Apostles who, as if drawing a bow against the demons - the Gospel sermon, brought to Christ those wounded by saving arrows and received a crown for the fact that with the truth they defeated the leader of error and, in the hope of a second victory, even before violent death they confessed the name of the Master. That is why it is written: come out conquering and let him conquer, for the first victory is the conversion of the pagans, the second is a voluntary departure from the body, associated with torment. Chapter 14. Opening of the second seal, meaning the war of the infidels against the believers Rev.6:3. “And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come and see.” The second animal speaks, I think a calf, denoting the sacred sacrifices of the holy martyrs, while the first animal depicts, as it is said, the Apostolic power. Rev.6:4. “And another red horse went out, and power was given to him that sat on him to take peace from the earth, and let him kill one another: and a great sword was given to him.” We think that this sword means the second teaching of the Apostles, fulfilled by the martyrs and teachers. By expanding his preaching, he destroyed the world of the world, when nature was divided into itself, according to what Christ said: He did not come to bring peace (to the earth), but the sword. By them the martyrdoms were raised to the highest altar. The red horse is a sign of either the outpouring of blood, or the kindled jealousy of those who suffered for Christ. What was written was given to the one who sat on him to quickly take the world, showing the wise will of God, testing the faithful servants with temptations. Chapter 15. The opening of the third seal, showing the falling away from Christ of those who did not firmly believe in Him Rev.6:5. “And when I had opened the third seal, I heard the third living thing saying, Come and see.” The third animal, I think, is man, showing the fall of people, and for this reason punishment, for the sake of the inclination to sin, according to the power of will. Rev. 6:5–6. “And I saw, and behold a raven horse, and he sat on it, having a measure in his hand. And I heard a voice among the four living creatures saying, “A measure of wheat for a dinar, and three measures of barley for a dinar: do not harm both the oil and the wine.” The black (black) horse, I think, means crying for those who have fallen away from the faith of Christ, and because of the severity of the punishments. The standard is the discernment of those who have fallen from the faith, either because of instability of understanding, or because of vanity, or because of weakness of body. A measure of wheat per dinar. Perhaps there will be sensual hunger then, as will be said later. A measure of wheat, worth a denarius, in a figurative sense indicates those who labored legally and carefully preserved the Divine image given to them. Three measures of barley signify those who, due to a lack of courage, brutally submitted to their tormentors, but subsequently repented and washed the desecrated image with tears. And what is commanded not to harm the wine and oil means that the healing of Christ should not be delayed due to confusion, in order to heal with it those who have fallen into thieves and the wounded, and not allow death to snatch away those who through long-suffering are able to win the victory. So that in our spiritual passions we too may have a humane physician, God, who strives for our lost brethren to bring the wine of consolation, mixed with the oil of compassion, so as not to overthrow the lame, but rather to heal, according to the Divine Apostle, so that, having become co-workers with God, we may eternally enjoy His blessings, according to the grace and love of mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ. With Him, to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory and power, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.