ACC ~ Revelation 16 v10 - 11

WHEN THE LORD COMES IN GLORY. OECUMENIUS: The bowl of the fifth angel was poured out, it says, “on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was in darkness.” The apostle wrote concerning the antichrist: “whom the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth,” and Isaiah said, “Let the ungodly be taken away, that he see not the glory of the Lord.” By glory Isaiah is referring to the coming of the Lord in glory. Therefore when it says here that the bowl was poured out “on the throne of the beast,” it shows that the impious tyranny of the antichrist will receive its end and that he will be mercifully taken away, while by the unexpected retribution of the accursed, darkness will seize all those who allowed themselves to become his subjects. For they will endure a darkness of their reason, becoming befuddled by what is happening. “And they gnawed their tongues in anguish,” it says. This often happens in the most serious of afflictions when people are wont to cut off their tongues or some other part of the body with their teeth, thinking that this will bring the tribulation to naught. And it is necessary that these themselves repent, if for no other reason than because of the destruction of the antichrist whom they chose to be their king and god. But they continue to blaspheme the true God because of the destruction of the wicked one. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.8-11.

SINNERS REJOICE RATHER THAN REPENT. PRIMASIUS: The throne of the beast, or his kingdom, as it were, his judicial authority, is said to be darkened, because [its followers] are darkened by the joy of earthly happiness. And although they heartily rejoice in their present good rather than in the possessing of the highest blessedness, they “suppress the truth by wickedness,” and so gnaw at their own tongues. The psalm adds its voice to this understanding when it says, “whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of iniquity,” and “they spoke iniquity from on high.” Just like smoke, they rise by the arrogance of their temporary prosperity, from which they ought to turn in repentance, and although they are in the dark, they rejoice. As Job said, “They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to hell.”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.10-11.

BEREFT OF THE “SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Pouring the bowl on the throne of the beast signifies the pouring out of a great wrath upon the kingdom of the antichrist. This kingdom is shown to be in darkness, that is, it is bereft of the light of the “sun of righteousness.” The gnawing of tongues reveals the intensity of the pain that those who have been deceived by him will have when they are struck by these plagues sent from God. These things will occur so that they might recognize that he whom they have worshiped as God is a fraud and so might want to be free from their deception. However, they will not turn from this to repentance. Rather, they will turn to further blasphemy. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.10-11.

SINNERS CURSE GOD BY REVELING IN THEIR SINS. BEDE: The throne of the beast, or his kingdom, as it were, his judicial authority is darkened by plagues of this kind, that is, by the false joy of earthly happiness. It became dark by being deprived of light, as the psalmist says, “You did cast them down even while they were being lifted up.” He did not say, “after they had been lifted up” [they gnawed their tongues.] Just as a right-eous person will eat the fruit of his labors, so also an ungodly person, given punishments worthy of his blasphemy, is sated, as it were, with his own tongue. Therefore, those who blaspheme are simply hurting themselves, thinking that the wrath of God by which they are impaled is in fact gladness. [And they cursed God.] He does not refer to their hardness [of heart] but to the righteous indignation of God, who gave [to them] such a plague that in it they cannot remember. For when afflicted by a bodily torment, who does not feel the hand of God, as did Antiochus?It says, “they cursed,” not that they did this openly, but in that they reveled in their sins. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 16.10-11.

THE SIXTH BOWL REVELATION 16:12-16

OVERVIEW: At the end of time, divine providence will cause the Euphrates River to diminish in size (ANDREW OF CAESAREA), perhaps by drying up some of its tributaries (OECUMENIUS). In this way the path is made easy for the kings of the east, who most likely will come from Scythia or from the eastern part of Persia (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). They will gather together for war against each other (OECUMENIUS) and to inflict bodily and spiritual death upon the rest of humankind (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). Christ, too, will come as a king from the east for the judgment of those who like a dry river have nothing living remaining in it (PRIMASIUS).

From the mouths of the devil, the beast and the false prophet come foul spirits like frogs. They are likened to frogs because of their filthy nature (ANDREW OF CAESAREA) and because they love foul mud and live in sewers and because they rejoice in the life of those who likewise live in slime and filth (OECUMENIUS, PRIMASIUS, CAESARIUS OF ARLES). Even as frogs emit an annoying croaking, so teachers of error make a great noise by their damnable rantings (PRIMASIUS). Hypocrites, too, are like frogs, for they leave the waters of penance and baptism to wallow in the mud of their sins and vices (CAESARIUS OF ARLES). From such persons saints and teachers of truth are as distant as they are from frogs (PRIMASIUS). Yet, as the magicians of Pharaoh earlier did marvels, these foul spirits will also perform wonders and signs. During the time of the present life they make nations captive to their superstitions and so enroll them in the army of Satan (TYCONIUS). At the time of the consummation they will gather the kings together for war against God, but they will be utterly defeated (OECUMENIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA).

It is necessary, therefore, that in our present life we do not stain the garment of our baptism with sins (TYCONIUS), for our good works become for us a garment of a holy body and a virtuous life. Apart from this garment we will stand naked at the last judgment (OECUMENIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA). Since the covering of good works can clothe the dishonor of an earlier life (BEDE), we should ask the Lord to wash the robes of our souls so that we might enter the bridal chamber to meet the pure and blameless Bridegroom. The kings will gather at a place called “cutting,” for the devil delights in human blood (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). The place is also called “general uprising in former things,” for the devil will resume his previous activity of plotting against the Lord (BEDE).

Rev