ACC ~ Revelation 19 v14

CLOTHED WITH THE REALITIES OF THE DIVINE WISDOM. ORIGEN: All the hosts of heaven follow this Word of God. They follow the Word who leads them and imitate him in all things, especially in having mounted white horses like him, for all things are open to those who understand. And just as “pain and grief and groaning fled”at the end of things, so, I think, obscurity and dismay fled when all the mysteries of God’s wisdom burst forth with precision and clarity. And consider the white horses of those who follow the Word, clothed in “pure white linen.” [What does this mean] unless the linen garments, since linen comes from the earth, are types of the languages on earth in which the sounds have been clothed, which indicate the realities in a pure manner? COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.62-63.

BODIES MADE NEW IN THE RESURRECTION. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: We interpret the armies of heaven to be the bride herself, who above was said to be prepared for the marriage of the Lamb. When it says that they were “on white horses,” it is speaking either of the purity of faith, or it is alluding to the members of our bodies made new through the resurrection. [The fine linen] is the righteous works of the saints. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.14.

THE HOLY ANGELS ARE PURE BY NATURE. OECUMENIUS: [Christ] is the commander-in-chief of the heavenly powers. The Lord in fact called himself that when bearing the name of Jesus, son of Nun, he said, “I, as commander of the army of the Lord have now come.”The horses that belong to the holy angels are also white, for the angels too rejoice over the pure deeds of humankind, since they are pure by nature and free from every stain. This is symbolized by their raiment of fine linen, which is pure and white. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.11-16.

THE CHURCH FOLLOWS THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST. PRIMASIUS: In heaven the churches, as though “with unveiled face beholding the glory of God,” all being pure in heart and made whiter than snow by grace, are said to follow Christ. … They always go forward on white horses, that is, with pure bodies and minds, following the footsteps of Christ, who is going before and to whom it is said in the Song of Songs, “We run after you for the aroma of your ointments.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.14.

THE ANGELS ARE BRIGHT BY THEIR VIRTUE. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: [The heavenly armies] signify the heavenly orders that are resplendent with the excellence of their nature, with the sublimity of their thoughts and with the brightness of their virtues and their intimate union with God. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 19.14.

THE CHURCH IS CALLED AN ARMY. BEDE: With pure white bodies the church imitates [Christ], for because of the battle of her struggles, it receives by right the name of army. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 19.14.

Rev