ACC ~ Revelation 22 v11

THE WICKED ARE ONLY INFLAMED BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: The blessed Blandina … rejoiced in her death as though she had been invited to a bridal banquet instead of being a victim of the beasts. After the scourges, the animals and the hot griddle, she was at last tossed into a net and exposed to a bull. After being tossed a good deal by the animal, she no longer perceived what was happening because of the hope and possession of all she believed in and because of her intimacy with Christ. Thus she too was offered in sacrifice. . . .But not even this was enough to satisfy their madness and their viciousness toward the Christians. For these wild and barbarous people once stirred up by the wild beast were difficult to satisfy, and their wickedness found another special form in what they did to the bodies of the dead. The [pagans] were not humiliated by their defeat, because they lacked human comprehension; rather, it enflamed their bestial anger, so that both the governor and the populace showed toward us the same undeserved hatred, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: “Let the wicked be wicked and the righteous perform righteousness.” ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 5.1.55-58.

THE EVIL OF THOSE WHO WILLFULLY SIN AFTER CHRIST’S DEATH. AUGUSTINE: “Let the wickedness of sinners be consummated.”In this context, “consummated” means “brought to completion,” in tune with what is said in the Apocalypse, “Let the righteous become more righteous yet, and the filthy still wallow in their filth.” The wickedness of those who crucified the Son of God seems to be complete, but greater still is the wickedness of those who do not wish to live uprightly and hate the commandments of truth for which the Son of God was crucified. The psalmist said, therefore, “Let the wickedness of sinners be consummated,” that is, let it come to the pinnacle of wickedness, so that the righteous judgment can come immediately. EXPLANATION OF PSALM 7.9.

THE ANGEL THREATENS THE EVIL AND ENCOURAGES THE RIGHTEOUS. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: The angel does not desire that sinners perish. He rather warns those who do iniquity so that hearing the sound of a celestial threat, they might wish to abstain from evil works. Moreover, that the righteous might be made even better, he says, “Let the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” [He says this] that they might realize the imminent coming of the Lord and that they might more easily keep themselves from sin and from that time forward always devote themselves to holiness and righteousness. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.11.

OPPORTUNITY TO USE FREE WILL. OECUMENIUS: He is not urging or commanding anyone to do that which is wicked or to defile themselves. Rather, he is saying that the short time remaining gives humankind yet an opportunity. Therefore, let each person do that which is pleasing to them, and let them use their free will as they choose, whether for that which is evil or for that which is good. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.10-14.

THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD ARE HIDDEN AND JUST. PRIMASIUS: He shows that the judgments of God by which evil people are allowed to become even more evil are hidden yet just. Yet here we ought not think that evil persons harm only others; they harm especially themselves. And therefore it continues, “Let him who is filthy be filthy still.” For to whom will that person be good who is harmful to himself? COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.11.

A LESSER SIN CAN BECOME CAUSE OF A GREATER SIN. BEDE: [Herod knew that John the Baptist was a just man and kept him safe]. But his love for the woman prevailed, and she forced him to lay his hands on a man whom he knew to be holy and just. Since he was unwilling to restrain his lust, he incurred the guilt of homicide. What was a lesser sin for him became the cause of a greater sin. By God’s strict judgment it happened to him that, as a result of his craving for the adulteress whom he knew he ought to reject, he caused the shedding of the blood of the prophet, who he knew was pleasing to God. Now this is [an illustration of] the divine dispensation of judgment, of which it is said, “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy.” But what follows, “Let the holy still be holy,” is appropriate to the person of blessed John. Already holy, he became more holy still when, through his office of spreading the good news, he reached the palm of martyrdom. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.23.

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