ACC ~ Revelation 12 v15 - 16

THE EARTH GAVE AID TO MARY. OECUMENIUS: The holy Scripture figuratively speaks of temptation as a “river.” Jonah said, “You have cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the rivers encircled me,” and the Lord spoke similarly: “The rain fell, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, but they did not blow that house down, because it was built upon the rock.” And so here the trial of the Lord’s passion is called a “river,” and it says that through this [the dragon] intended to drown the Virgin. And truly, since they [the rivers] did bring her to this [the cross] and to very great grief, the dragon was able to fulfill his intention. For why did Simeon say to her, “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed”?“But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured out of its mouth” upon the woman. That the earth swallowed the river signifies that it received the trial into itself, that is, it received the Lord, who had been crucified. But the help that the earth rendered was not simply in this. Rather, its help was in this, that it gave the Lord back again. For on the third day he came to life again, having trampled on death, since it was not strong enough to hold him who was the Author of life, as the blessed Peter says. And that the whole narrative might be told, one must know the ending to the words “the earth came to the help of the woman.” Consequently, as though responding to a question after the manner of this aid, it says, “it swallowed the river,” that is, it received in itself the Lord, who had been betrayed, and gave him back again, and in this way [the earth] rendered its assistance. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.13-17.

CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE SWALLOWED DEATH. PRIMASIUS: It is possible to interpret the “earth” here to refer to the church, as in the psalm, “He who set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be shaken.” That is, he [set the earth] on the saints whose prayers and teachings and the working of salvation [which they have received] dispels the uncovered intrigues of the enemy. However, it would be better to interpret the “earth” to be the human nature in Christ, for it is itself the “truth” that “has sprung up from the earth,”and that always appears before the face of God and so, as the apostle says, “intercedes for us.” When it swallowed death, which it took to itself, this earth is said to have opened its mouth when it gulped down the author of death by the abundance of its own life. And no less was he swallowed when Christ taught sitting upon the mountain and opening his mouth gave greater precepts to his disciples, “abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.16.

THE DEVIL SENDS DEMONS AFTER THE MONKS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: When the church fled to inaccessible places where the deceiver makes his approach, out of his mouth, that is, clearly by his command, came water like a river after her. That is, he sent out against her a host of godless people and evil demons and all kinds of temptations that he might enslave her. But the earth, it says, came to [the church’s] aid. This may refer to the very great distances of travel in the desert and the aridity and dryness of those places, and in this way the river of temptations were swallowed up.Or [the demons and their temptations were overcome] by the humility of the saints who say with utter sincerity, “I am earth and dust” and so bring to naught all the snares of the devil, even as the angel said to the holy Anthony. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.15-16.

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