Слово 7

Chapter 19. About the one hundred and forty-four thousand saved from the plague of the four angels Rev.7:1. “And therefore I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind should breathe on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on every tree.” Although this is also accepted by some as what happened to the Jews from the Romans, i.e. By the four Divine Angels they mean that neither on earth nor on the sea can those exposed to disasters be escaped from the wrath, but this will primarily happen at the coming of the Antichrist, not in the private land of Judea, but in the whole, at the four corners of which, they say, angels will stand, as performers of the ministry entrusted to them by God, unknown to us. Retaining the wind clearly shows the destruction of the order of the creature and the inevitability of disasters, for from the winds both what grows on the earth is nourished and swims on the sea. Rev.7:2. “And I saw another angel rising from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to destroy the earth and the sea, saying.” What was once revealed to Ezekiel about a man clothed in a garment and sealing the faces of those who groan (Ezekiel 9:4), so that the righteous would not be destroyed along with the unrighteous (because the hidden virtue of the saints is unknown to the angels), is also revealed to the blessed one here, since the highest holy powers command the holy angels, who punish them not to do anything with those who have sinned, before not They recognize the servants of truth, distinguished by the seal. This partly happened before, when those who believed in Christ escaped the devastation of Jerusalem by the Romans, among many thousands, according to James, who spoke of their multitude to Blessed Paul, but this will mainly happen, as they said, during the coming of the Antichrist, when the seal of the Life-giving Cross will separate the infidels from the faithful, who, without shame and with boldness before the wicked, bear the sign of Christ. That's why the Angel said: Rev.7:3. “Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” The creation, as it was for us, participates in disasters when we are punished, and when the saints are glorified, it rejoices with them. From this we learn that the virtuous also need to be strengthened with the help of Angels, before finding temptations, according to the power of the seal of the spirit given to us, which, however, only exerts its power to the extent that we ourselves demonstrate the actions; and if others remain without help from their own, the reason for this is their desire not to receive help. Rev. 7:4–8. “And I heard the number of them that were sealed, one hundred and fourty-four thousand that were sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel. From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed." (The meaning of the names of the twelve patriarchs). Judas is translated as confession, which means those who are saved by confessing Christ, who came from Judas. "From the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand were sealed." Reuben - translated son of vision, which means those who acquired spiritual vision through purity of heart. "From the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand were sealed." Gad is a temptation, which means those who, for enduring temptations, will be crowned, like Job. "From the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand were sealed." Asher is bliss, which means those who inherited the bliss of the Master with a worthy life and were awarded the position of the Master at the right hand of Christ and turned out to be the sons of light and day. "From the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand sealed." Naphtali is prayer, which means those who cling to God with unceasing prayer. "From the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand were sealed." Manasseh – oblivion, i.e. those who, out of Divine love, forget that their father’s houses are behind them. "From the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand sealed." Simeon – obedience, i.e. justified for obedience to Divine commandments. "From the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand were sealed." Levi - pleasant, which means those accepted by Christ for a holy life. Levi is placed eighth, because after the eighth day of resurrection the true priesthood will be revealed. "From the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand were sealed." Issachar is a reward, i.e. receiving a reward from God as living virtuously. "From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand were sealed." Zebulun is a dwelling place of power or fragrance, which signifies those strengthened by the indwelling of Christ against the passions, and made a fragrance, as Paul said (2 Cor. 2:15). "Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand were sealed." Joseph – application, i.e. who with the kingdom of heaven, as part of the increase, receive what is necessary for life, as the Lord said (Matthew 6:33). "From the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed." Benjamin is the son of sickness, or the son of the day, or the son of the right hand, i.e. This number will be filled by those who are saved because of heart troubles, or by those who believe from among the Jews and escape the captivity of Rome, or, what is more likely, by those who are saved from among the Jews through faith at the end, as the Apostle said, that when the fulfillment of the tongues comes, then all Israel will be saved, however, everything can be accepted. However, the accuracy in the equality of those saved from each tribe shows, as it seems to me, the multiplicity of the Apostolic sowing. For twelve times twelve, multiplied by the full number of a thousand, gives the thousands indicated above, for they were disciples of the grain, which, through the love of mankind, fell to the earth and produced the manifold fruit of universal salvation. It should be noted that the tribe of Dan, since the Antichrist was to be born from it, is not included among the others, but instead Levi is mentioned, which, as a priestly tribe, is not included in the number of tribes. From the interpretation of the names, one can assign a special thought to each tribe, as suggested above, and Joseph is placed instead of Ephraim his son. Accordingly, the number indicated is for the reason, as said; (the ancient twelve leaders of the Jewish tribes) and instead of their current leaders over the entire universe, the Divine Apostles, as it is written, for whose sake the Jews, who are scattered to the ends of the earth, are saved. Chapter 20. About countless people wearing bright clothes made of tongues Rev. 7:9–10. “From these things we saw, and behold, the people were many, but no one could wipe them out, from every tongue and tribe and people and nations, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and finches in their hands. And he cried with a great voice, saying, “Salvation is to our God and to the Lamb who sits on the throne.” These are those about whom David said: I will count them, and they will multiply more than the sand (Ps. 139:18), - some formerly suffered as martyrs for Christ, others - in recent times, courageously fought from every tribe and language; They, through the outpouring of their blood for Christ, have whitened and have whitened the garments of their own deeds, and having in their hands, as signs of victory, date branches of useful and righteous and pure hearts, they rejoice around the Divine throne of God’s original rest, like grateful servants everywhere ascribing victory over demons. Rev. 7:11–12. “And all the angels stood around the throne and the elder and the four living creatures: and falling on their faces before the throne, I worshiped God, saying: Amen: blessing and glory and wisdom and praise and honor and strength and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen". Here is the one Church of Angels and men, and those who previously appeared terrible for equal angels, as we know about Daniel, will then be co-servants of men, visible either, in the opinion of some saints, in bodies peculiar to them due to the limitation of the body, or, in the opinion of others, since they do not have the threefold dimension of length and breadth and depth, which is characteristic of bodies, appearing not in their own nature, but taking on the image and form of the will God's Standing around the cherubim and elders, by this standing they show the greatness of the honor with which those who are designated by the number of elders are glorified. From all of them, thanks are sent to Him for His Divine economy for all creation for our sake. Rev.7:13. “And one elder answered, saying to me: Who are these clothed in white garments, and where did they come from, and said to him: Lord, thou weighest.” By questioning, the one who appears excites the Blessed One to investigate what he has seen. He, having prudently admitted his ignorance, manages to appear. Rev. 7:14–15. “And I said: these are the ones who came out of great tribulation and spent their garments, and made their garments white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in His church: and he who sits on the throne will dwell in them.” Blessed are those who have received eternal peace for temporary labors; and for the fact that they suffered together with Christ, those who reign with Him and those who constantly serve Him. For the words: day and night here mean continuity. For there will be no night there, but one day, instead of the sensory sun, illuminated by the mental sun of truth. It may be that by night we mean secret and deep knowledge, and by day we mean clear and intelligible knowledge. His Church is a creation renewed by the Spirit, especially those who have kept the pledge of the Spirit intact and inextinguishable; God promised to dwell and walk in them. 7:16 · “No one will hunger, but will thirst.” Truly so; for they will have the bread of heaven and the water of life. “The sun cannot fall on them, all heat is below.” And from temptations, which are indicated by the sun and heat, they will no longer suffer sorrow, because the time of struggle has passed. Rev.7:17. “Like the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne, I will feed and guide them toward the springs of animal waters, and God will take away all tears from their eyes.” Will shepherd them means that those then flocked by Christ will no longer be afraid of the attacks of wolves (since the wolves will be sent into the unquenchable fire), but will be immaterially flocked by the pure and bright sources of Divine understanding, which is signified by water, which, moreover, shows the unenviable outpouring of the Divine Spirit. And the Lord said about the one who sincerely believed in Him that rivers of living waters would flow out of his belly (John 7:38). Richly watered by it, the saints will remain in endless joy and gladness, having received perfect knowledge after the cessation of knowledge, even in part, and having been freed from change and corruption. Chapter 21. Opening of the Seventh Seal, Showing that Angelic Powers Bring the Prayers of the Saints to God as Incense Rev. 8:1–2. “And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for half an hour; and I saw seven angels who stood before God, and to them there were seven trumpets.” The number of seven Angels is often used by this saint as corresponding to this age and the sabbath and rest of the saints. Why, here too, the opening of the seventh seal signifies the end of earthly life, which is facilitated by seven Angels with the plagues of people who need admonition or punishment. Silence means Angelic well-being and reverence, or the unknown for them of the second coming. Half an hour shows the shortness of time in which, after the plague has been healed and the earthly world ends, the kingdom of Christ will appear. Rev.8:3. “And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer.” Although what is seen by the saints is clothed in substance and colors, whether it be a lamp, or a censer, or something else, but all this is invisible and spiritual. In front of such an altar, an Angel, standing and holding a censer, or an incense burner containing frankincense, brings to God, like incense, the prayers of the saints, in which they ask that by the plagues punishing the wicked and lawless at the world end, their punishment would be reduced in the next century, and that by His coming he would reward those who worked. And this can be seen from what follows. “And much incense was given to him, that he might give to the prayers of the saints all upon the golden altar which is before the throne.” The golden altar is Christ, in whom all sacred and holy power is contained and in whom martyrdom is offered; his image was the altar shown to Moses on the mountain along with the tabernacle. Incense is the prayers of the saints, fragrant before God, as was said, before the throne, i.e. before the highest holy powers, for the sake of the outpouring of Divine love and purity, wisdom and knowledge flaming in them, which is shown by the interpretation of the names approaching Divine love and purity, wisdom and knowledge, which is shown by the interpretation of the names approaching God of the highest powers. Rev.8:4–5. “And incense smoke came out from the prayers of the saints from the hand of the Angel before God, and the Angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire on the altars, and laid it on the ground.” The prayers of the saints, offered by the ministry of the Angel and filling the censer with the fire of punishment, caused it to be poured out on the earth, as it was once revealed to Ezekiel that one of the Cherubim handed over what was taken from this fire to the Angels sent to slay the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem (Ezek. 10: 2-6-7). Each Hierarch has the image of this Angel, as a mediator between God and people, offering petitions to some, bringing pardon to others, converting those who sin either with a word or with severe punishments. Rev.8:5–6. “And there was loudness and thunder and brilliance and a coward. And the seventh angel, who had seven trumpets, was prepared to sound them.” All this signifies the horrors that are about to happen before the end, just as on Mount Sinai they also served as symbols of the Divine presence, frightening everyone, and leading the most prudent to conversion. The angels serve this as doctors, Christ-likely compassionate, with cauterizations and sections, healing the infirm with the terrible disease of sin, or for the lazy, easing future punishment, if only they endure it with gratitude. As for us, who are sealed with the venerable name of Christ, and who ask for our torment here to avoid future troubles, may God, the lover of mankind, punish us, not give us up to the death of sin, as it is written, but may He soften for us the terrible days of eternal torment, when a hole is dug for the inventor of sin - that dark and deepest place of Gehenna, so that, together with the saints, having settled into the dwelling of all who rejoice, we may be with the Savior himself. Christ our God; To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the All-Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.