ACC ~ Revelation 16 v15

NOT STAINING THE VESTMENT OF BAPTISM WITH SIN. TYCONIUS: The apostle also says, “He will come like a thief in the night.” … [The apostle] says, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” I think that here he urges that these vestments be preserved so that they will not be torn asunder by repeated baptism or besprinkled and stained by the spots of sins. In either case the ugliness of their treachery is uncovered which might have been avoided had their intention been preserved with a greater vigilance. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.15.

KEEPING THE BODY PURE AND HOLY. OECUMENIUS: “Lo, I am coming like a thief,” says the Lord. He says “like a thief” because of the suddenness and unexpectedness of his second coming. “Blessed is he who is awake and keeps his garments that he may not go naked.” He continues the image of the thief. Therefore, he said that it is necessary to preserve one’s garments that they not be lost. By the term garments he refers either to that virtuous and decent life through which we become worthy of God’s protection, or he refers to the body, that it be pure and holy. For he who does not keep [his garments] will be ashamed in front of the divine throne of the angels and of people, harried by the judgment at that time and left “naked” of divine succor. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.12-16.

GOOD WORKS ARE THE GARMENTS OF THE SAINTS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: “To be awake and to keep one’s garments” means to remain vigilant and always concerned with good works. For [good works] are the garments of the saints, and were one to be without these, one would necessarily be made ashamed as one naked and full of shamefulness. … We are taught in this passage that it is a terrible thing to be naked of the garments of virtue, and … we have learned from the Gospel parable that he who is without this is thrown out of the bridal chamber. And … we have learned from the apostolic saying that speaks of incorruptibility, “that putting this on, we shall not be found naked,” that is clearly of good works. [Therefore] let us earnestly beseech the Lord that he wash the robes of our souls, so that, as the word of the psalm says, “they may be made whiter than snow,” lest we hear, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” and “having our hands and feet bound, be cast into outer darkness.” Rather, as the wise Solomon says, let us “always have our garments white”and wear [robes] bright and white from a virtuous life, decorated with sympathy. And so [let us] enter into the bridal chamber with the pure and blameless Bridegroom of holy souls, Christ our God, with whom glory, might and honor is due to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.15-16.

THE GOOD WORKS OF THE FAITHFUL. BEDE: “Blessed are those whose sins are covered,” who before the eyes of the saints cover the dishonor of a reprehensible life at the judgment with the covering of subsequent good works. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 16.15.

Rev