ACC ~ Revelation 16 v7

THE ANGELS PRAISE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. OECUMENIUS: Those who stand around the heavenly altar send up a thanksgiving in agreement with that of the angel, for when he says, “I heard the altar saying” something, it signifies thereby those who minister at the altar. May it be that, being delivered from all the sufferings described above, we send up to Christ a hymn of thanksgiving, to whom be glory forever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.2-7.

EACH CHRISTIAN HAS A PERSONAL ANGEL. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Sometimes “the altar” signifies Christ, for in him and through him are brought to the Father our spiritual offerings and living sacrifices, which the apostle has instructed us to render. At other times “the altar” signifies the angelic powers who, we read, “are sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation,” and so they carry upward our intercessions and spiritual sacrifices. From this ministering altar, it says, a voice proceeded, commend-ing as just all the judgments of God that surpass both thought and expression. We have learned from the Gospels that the intellectual powers are glad and rejoice over the salvation of those who turn through repentance but grieve over those who leave the straight way and yet give thanks to God for the punishment of those who transgress the divine commandments. So let us hasten to bestow upon them joy and gladness for our repentance, recognizing that a divine angel attends each one of us and by a certain unutterable word implants in us what must be done, in as much as his mind imperceptibly converses with our mind and he intends to rejoice over that which is heeded, but like God to grieve over that which is disregarded. And so from this converse that profits the soul we should understand that the angel, sad and from afar, follows a person who has been darkened by many sins and enters into the church. But if this person has been made contrite and confesses from the heart to him who delights in mercy that he has rejected his former life and has converted to a better one, when he departs [from the church], the angel leads the way cheerfully and joyfully, while the wicked demon, having been shamed, follows behind at a distance. May it be, then, that our holy manner of life give cause for dejection to the demons but cause for joy to the angels, so that together with them, rejoicing with a shout of gladness and the sound of confession, we might give thanks to Christ, our God, for his victory over the evil powers, with whom glory is due to the Father together with the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.7.

THE FOURTH BOWL REVELATION 16:8-9

OVERVIEW: The devil and his followers are tormented by the constancy of the saints and are aroused to further blasphemy against God. While the saints and the elect are moved by the error of their sins, the wicked and the weak are rather inflamed by temporal desires (PRIMASIUS, BEDE). Although the devil glories in his own followers and what they do, the Holy Spirit defines this glory to be nothing but plagues and sorrows (BEDE). Although God attempts to draw such persons to repentance, many have fallen to such depravity of their minds that they prefer rather to blaspheme. By suffering the heat of temptations they might have come to hate sin. But they rather “sharpen their tongues” against God (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). At the end they and the persecutors of the church will be burned up by the fires of Gehenna (BEDE). Similarly, those who continue to live during the wars at the end could pray to God for release from their woes. Yet they will not repent but will rather curse God (OECUMENIUS). It is the habit of blasphemers to blame God for their iniquities and struggles rather than to blame themselves. Inflamed by envy when they see the church struggling with a tireless constancy, they exhale fires of hatred from their hearts (PRIMASIUS). Therefore, God sends plagues upon their souls. Nonetheless, they continue to persecute the saints (CAESARIUS OF ARLES).

Rev