ACC ~ Revelation 21 v8

DEATH AWAITS THOSE WEAK TO EVERY GOOD WORK. OECUMENIUS: But “for the vile and the unfaithful” and such as those, there will be an inheritance “in the lake of fire.” He calls those “vile” who are weak to every good work, for the endurance of hardship is a matter of one’s willpower. “And all liars,” it says. He did not say “for all liars” but “for all deceivers,” that is, those who behave contrary to nature and falsify the natural beauty of virtue into the base and counterfeit appearance of evil. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.6-8.

GOD EXHORTS US THROUGH KINDNESS AND ANGER. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The God who thirsts after our salvation urges us in every way, both through kindness and through anger, toward the inheritance of his blessings. He brings now before our eyes the brightness of the heavenly Jerusalem and the dark, painful wrathfulness of the fiery Gehenna, so that whether through a desire for eternal bliss or through fear of unending torment, we might, as there is opportunity, acquire that which is good together with the rest of those in need. He indicates that those who were cowards and deserters in the battle against the devil will be condemned to the second death. May we propitiate him who desires mercy and does not will the death of sinners but their conversion, and so [let us] obtain his gifts by good deeds. To these [gifts] he exhorts us, not only through the enticement of words but also through the enticement of works and sufferings. For it suffices him to encourage toward the good and to discourage from evil, and afterward either to punish or to honor those worthy of glory or punishment. He did not disdain to suffer for us lest by his own power or by his appearance he might harm or disregard anything that pertains to our healing and restoration. Therefore, let us not receive the grace of God in vain, but let us render his beneficence effective by conversion and by the demonstration of good works, so that we might attain to the promised blessings in Christ himself, our God, with whom be glory to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21.8.

GOD ENCOURAGES WATCHFULNESS. BEDE: He always mixes harsh sayings in with the easy and appealing words, so that watchfulness is encouraged. Psalm 144 does the same when it mentions the grace of God’s abundant mercies and suddenly mentions also his impending judgment: “The Lord watches over all who love him but will destroy all sinners.”He mentions the cowardly along with the unbelievers, since those who doubt the rewards for those who conquer will certainly be afraid to undergo trial. … He shows that there are many classes of liars. However, the greatest and most detestable liar is the one who sins in religion. The author spoke of such persons above: “They say that they are Jews but they are not, for they are lying; they are the synagogue of Satan.” EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 21.8.