ACC ~ Revelation 12 v4a

THE DRAGON CAUSES HERETICS TO FALL. METHODIUS: The great red dragon—cunning and diverse, seven-headed and horned—that draws down the third part of the stars and stands ready to devour the child of the woman who is travailing, is the devil, who lies in wait to destroy the Christ-accepted mind of the baptized as well as the image and clear features of the Word that has been brought forth in them. But he misses and loses his prey, the regenerate being caught up on high to the throne of God—that is, the mind of those who are renewed is lifted up to the divine seat and the basis of truth against which there is no stumbling, being taught to look upon and regard the things which are there, so that it may not be deceived by the dragon weighing them down. For he is not allowed to destroy those whose thoughts and looks are upwards. And the stars, which the dragon touched with the end of his tail and drew them down to earth, are the bodies of heresies. For we must say that the stars, which are dark, obscure, and falling, are the assemblies of the heterodox; since they, too, wish to be acquainted with the heavenly ones, to have believed in Christ, to have the seat of their soul in heaven, and to come near to the stars as children of light. But they are dragged down, being shaken out by the folds of the dragon, because they did not remain within the triangular forms of godliness, falling away from it with respect to orthodox practice. Thus, too, they are called the third part of the stars, as having gone astray with regard to one of the three persons of the Trinity. As when they say, like Sabellius, that the almighty person of the Father himself suffered; or as when they say, like Artemas, that the person of the Son was born and manifested only in appearance; or when they contend, like the Ebionites, that the prophets spoke of the person of the Spirit by their own power. Of Marcion and Valentinus, and those about Elkesai and others, it is better not even to make mention. SYMPOSIUM 8.10.

THE DEVIL SEDUCED MANY ANGELS TO FALL. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: That “the tail of the dragon swept down a third of the stars” may be understood in a twofold way. Many understand this to mean that he was able to seduce a third of the believers. However, this may be more truthfully understood to mean that he [seduced] a third of the angels who were subordinated to him while he was yet prince and [fell] when he toppled from his position. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.7.

FALSE PROPHETS DESTROY SIMPLE PERSONS. TYCONIUS: The “tail” is the iniquitous prophets who throw down to earth the stars of heaven, namely, those simple persons who join themselves to them. When he speaks of “a third part of the stars,” he is speaking of the Jews and their leaders who rejected Christ and with impious voices cried out that they did not want Christ to be over them but rather Caesar, and therefore they killed him. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.4.

THE ARROGANCE OF SATAN. OECUMENIUS: “And his tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth.” Along with himself, [the devil] cast down a very great number of angels. For he had persuaded them to apostatize from God and so made those who were heavenly to become earthly and those who were bright as stars to become dark. “By his tail” is as though to say “by his rear parts and his hindermost transgressions,” for at first devising rebellion and apostasy, he thoroughly reviewed this in the arrogance of his mind and so came also to the corruption of the others. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.3-6.

FALSE PROPHETS CAUSE MANY TO FALL. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: The tail symbolizes the evil prophets, that is, heretics who threw down to earth those stars of heaven who joined them through a repeated baptism. They are under the feet of the woman. Many believed that these are persons whom the devil made his companions since they were of the same mind as he. Many believe that these are angels who were thrown down with him when he fell. EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.4, HOMILY 9.

THE DEVIL CAUSES MANY TO FALL. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: It is our opinion that this passage refers either to the former fall of [the devil] from heaven which through a final movement of envy—for elevation was first—brought down with him the apostate angels, or to that movement of his tail which, after the crushing of his head, drags down those who have moved from their heavenly minds. They are figuratively called “stars” because of the brightness of their baptism. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12.4.

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