ACC ~ Revelation 21 v25

RECOMPENSE FOR SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: In this kingdom [Christ] promised to his servants: “Whoever shall have left father or mother or brother or sister for my name’s sake, he will receive as a reward a hundredfold now, and in the future he will possess eternal life.” In this kingdom those who have been defrauded of their goods for the name of the Lord,also the many who have been killed by every kind of crime and imprisonment—for before the coming of the Lord, the holy prophets were stoned, killed and cut in half—will receive their consolation, that is, their crowns and celestial rewards. In this kingdom the Lord promised that he would compensate for the years in which the grasshopper and locust and corruption destroyed. In this kingdom the whole of creation will be preserved and reestablished and will, by the command of God, bring forth good things within it. Here the saints will receive “gold for bronze and silver for iron and precious stones.” In this place “he will give over to them the wealth of the sea and power of the nations.” In this kingdom “they will be called priests of the Lord and ministers of God,” just as they were called impious.In this kingdom “they will drink wine and be anointed with oil and be given over to joy.” Before his passion, the Lord made mention of this kingdom when he said to the apostles, “I shall not drink again of the fruit of this vine until I shall drink it new with you in the future kingdom.” This is the “hundredfold,” which is ten thousand more or less. And when he says that there will be stones that are different in kind and color, he is speaking of people, but he is also indicating the very precious variety of faith that exists in each person. The gates made of pearl refer to the apostles. And they will not be closed, it says, for through them grace has been given that will never be closed. In this place they will see face to face, and “one has not inquired after another.” And the names of the fathers and of the apostles shall be on the walls and the gates; we have already discussed and interpreted the twenty-four elders. And of those who will have reigned in this kingdom [it is said], “They shall judge the world.”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.5-6.

EVEN IN THE ETERNAL CITY THE APOSTLES WILL BE TEACHERS. OECUMENIUS: This has two possible meanings. It may mean that there will be peace and security so that there will be no need for the city to set a sentry for itself or to ever close its gates and make them secure with bars. Or the words may say that the apostolic teachings—for we have noted that the gates are the apostles—will never fall silent there but rather that even there the apostles will be teachers of new and more divine teachings for the saints. For being “sons of day and of light,” the righteous shall revel in the divine illumination of the praises and the mysteries, since the day and the light of divine illumination are perpetually around them. “For there shall be no night,” it says. For were the divine illumination ever to be interrupted, there would be also night. But since it is impious to say this, for the divine light shines without interruption, how shall there be night for the saints? COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.23-25.

WHAT IS SEEN IS LOVED, WHAT IS LOVED IS PRAISED. PRIMASIUS: The passage refers to the perpetual light of the Lamb. Indeed, the Lamb himself will be the eternal [light] in that city when the time of night has been removed. As Isaiah said, “It shall be for them from month to month and from sabbath to sabbath.”By month he signifies the light because of the full splendor of the moon; by sabbath he is signifying the eternal rest. It is as though it had said, “For them there continues light from light and eternal rest from rest.” That the gates are not closed is indicative of the most complete security. For [in that city] it is not said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation,” but rather “Be still and see that I am the Lord.” There what is seen is truly loved; what is loved is praised without ceasing. There no one becomes feeble from sloth; nor does anyone grow weary from the activity of perpetual praise. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.25.

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