Слово 8

Chapter 22 Rev.8:7. “And when the first angel sounded the trumpet, there came hail and fire, mingled with blood, and it fell on the earth: and the third part of the tree was burned, and all the green grass was burned.” It seemed to some that this indicated the punishment of sinners in Gehenna, depicted in a variety of ways through sensory sorrows; but we think that not only the third part will be punished in the next century from the entire human race, but more (for the path is wide, it is said, leading to destruction), therefore this signifies the plagues that are about to happen before the end, and namely: hail, i.e. that from heaven, according to righteous judgment, these plagues will come, and fire with blood is the burning and murder that occurs daily at the hands of barbarians, from which, as we see, no less than a third of the creatures of the earth and everything sensual perishes; for war devours not only people, but also all the products of the earth. And blessed Joel, having said that before the coming of the great day there will be blood and fire and smoking smoke (Joel 2:30–31), confirms our opinion about what has been stated. Rev.8:8–9. “And the second angel sounded, and like a great mountain with fire it was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures that were in the sea, having souls, died, and the third part of the ships perished.” One might, according to the opinion of some, think that this means that after the resurrection the sea and those in it will be burned with cleansing fire, unless the mention of the third part seems incongruous, for, as it is said, there will be more punished than saved. However, there will be nothing incongruous that the name of the sea in a figurative sense means real life, and the third part of the living will undergo these plagues, and, according to the abyss of God’s judgments, some will be punished immediately, while others will be shown long-suffering, leading to conversion and repentance. And under the great mountain, we think, of course, is the devil, (as it seemed to some of the teachers), since he is burned by the fire of rage against us and is reserved for Gehenna, and during the release he will harm the third part of the islands, ships and animals in the sea, as he once did with Job. For he is an enemy and an avenger according to the righteous judgment of God, for by whom one is conquered, he is enslaved. If we also accept that those who, in the sea of ​​life, blaspheme the Trinity in deeds and words, are inflicted with spiritual death, and this does not represent anything strange and inconsistent with the goal. Rev. 8:10–11. “And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a light, and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. And the name of the star is called Apsinthos: and the third part of the waters became like ashes: and many of the people died from the waters, like bitterness." Some say that the bitterness indicated by wormwood indicates the sorrow that threatens sinners punished in Gehenna, and because of their multitude they are appropriately called waters; we think that this also means sorrow at the indicated time. And the star means either that they will be sent from heaven, or it signifies his devil, about whom Isaiah said: as the morning star falls from heaven and rises in the morning (Is. 14:12). For he, intoxicating people with pleasures, brings upon them stormy and bitter corruption, and through it, by God’s permission, also punishing plagues here, but not on all, but on a third part, according to the forbearance of God, and therefore, so that unbelief in reward in the future life does not become the cause of spiritual death for the impatient. For what will be bitter in the end for those who remain alive, of which the forerunner or forerunner is visible even now, the Lord also warned us about this in advance. Therefore, if we do not want to be judged, we must judge ourselves, according to the Divine Apostle: even if we reasoned with ourselves, we would not be condemned (1 Cor. 11:31). And those who are judged by God must come to their senses and gratefully accept the guidance of sorrows, as we see that the well-minded among the sick, in the desire for health, patiently endure sections and cauterizations from doctors, so that we, being healthy mentally and not having any substance to feed the fire in Gehenna, would not be condemned in peace, but would reign with Christ forever. To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, greatness and splendor, together with the beginningless Father and the All-Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the endless ages of ages. Amen.