ACC ~ Revelation 15 v2

EVEN THE RIGHTEOUS NEED PURIFICATION. OECUMENIUS: Somewhere the most wise Paul says, “Should anyone build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, fire will test the quality of the work of each, for it will be revealed by fire.” Will then not only sinners, who bring loads of kindling wood through their sins, but also the righteous, who offer gold and precious materials, be tested by fire? He says as much when he here says that those who have in every way defeated the beast stand on the sea of glass mixed with fire. For [the sea] is glass because of the brightness and purity of the righteous in it. However, it is mixed with fire because of the cleansing and purification from all filth, for there is need of purification even for the righteous. “For we all make mistakes,” as it is written, and “Who is clean from filth, even if his life upon the earth is but one day?”As has been frequently noted, the “harps” are a figure for the euphonious hymn to God sung by the saints. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15.1-4.

THE SAINTS IMMOVEABLE IN THE FAITH OF THEIR BAPTISM. PRIMASIUS: [He saw] the water of baptism made holy by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Or, in view of the character of fire, this water has been made red through martyrdom. For this reason we read, “The kiln tests the clay vessels, and the trial of tribulation the righteous.” “And I saw those standing upon [the sea] who had conquered the beast and his image.” The term standing upon indicates that they are immoveable in the faith. The psalm describes them in virtually the same way. For after it says, “who made by understanding the heavens,” indicating no doubt those who are spiritual and fully enjoy the clear understanding of the heavenly truth, it adds, “who founded the earth upon the waters,”namely, those who are immoveable upon their baptism. And although they seem to be nourished by milk, nonetheless they are not carried about “by every wind of doctrine.” And so here they are said to conquer the beast and his image. [The harps] refer to their hearts, which are devoted to the praise [of God] and which are in full harmony through the harmonious truth of the two Testaments. Or this image speaks of the flesh of the passion, which is extended upon the wood, where not only the sound of the voice but also the effect of a good work is signified. For this reason he includes also mention of that great man, Moses, to whom God bears witness, saying, “My servant, Moses, who is faithful in all my house.”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15.2.

THE SAINTS RADIATE BRIGHTNESS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: We think that the “sea of glass” signifies the multitude of those who are being saved, the purity of the coming reward and the brightness that the saints will radiate by the sparkling of their virtue. The fire that is mixed with it may be understood from what was written by the apostle, “Fire will test the work of each, whatever it is.” Although this fire does not harm the pure and the undefiled, it is divided without mixture into two energies, according to the word of the psalmist: it burns the sinners, and, as the great Basil understood, it illumines the righteous.It is possible that the “fire” indicates both the divine knowledge and the grace of the life-giving Spirit. For God appeared to Moses in fire, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The “harps” suggest the dying of members and the harmonious life in the symphony of virtues, plucked with the plectrum of the divine Spirit. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15.2.

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