ACC ~ Revelation 22 v6 - 7

OVERVIEW:

The words and the vision given to John are trustworthy and true, because they came from Christ, “the God of the prophets,” who is himself the Truth. He gave the revelation in a manner corresponding to the economy of his condescension (ANDREW OF CAESAREA) so that we might learn what John saw (OECUMENIUS). Since the promise of Christ is true (APRINGIUS), the Revelation is commended to the church since also those who will come later will have to learn from it (PRIMASIUS). Christ makes known that his coming will not tarry. Therefore, what is foreseen in this book will happen quickly and suddenly (APRINGIUS). Keeping in mind that the present time is short in comparison with the everlasting ages that are coming (OECUMENIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA), we should be eager to maintain our resolve to live a God-pleasing and pure life (OECUMENIUS, PRIMASIUS). Since the death of each person comes swiftly, let us pray that we not be fettered by the cares of this world, but rather that we might be preserved by God’s mercy from a life of lost opportunities and from a death for which we are unprepared (ANDREW OF CAESAREA).

22:6 | Trustworthy and True

NOTHING IS SO CERTAIN AS THE PROMISE OF CHRIST. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: What is so faithful and true as the promise of Christ and the future hope of the saints? He who spoke through his servants, the prophets, did so that he might be recognized as the Lord of the living and be called “the Spirit of the Lord.” For the Spirit is life, and all flesh is made alive by the Spirit. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6-7.

THROUGH THE REVELATION WE HAVE LEARNED WHAT JOHN SAW. OECUMENIUS: By “spirits of the prophets” he means the prophetic gifts, as we learn from the all-wise Paul, who said, “and the spirits of the prophets are subject to prophets,” and from the holy prophet Isaiah: “We have conceived, O Lord, because of fear of you, and we have been in birth pangs and have brought forth the breath of your salvation that you have wrought upon the earth.” “To show his servants what must soon take place,” it says. By means of John and his writings, all have learned what he saw. And appropriately he says “soon,” for as we have noted earlier, in comparison with the everlasting ages that are coming, all time is short, even if someone might think it a very long while. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6-9.

THE REVELATION IS COMMENDED. PRIMASIUS: He is not expressing any doubts about the trustworthiness of John. Rather, he is commending this vision to the whole church as true, for he knew that in the future there would also be those who are to learn from it. [By speaking of his angel], he teaches that he has always looked after the welfare of all. He is the Spirit of the prophets who is also the Holy Spirit and indeed is the Lord. For this reason the prophet said, “I will hear what the Lord God speaks to me,” and “The beginning of the speaking of God to Hosea.” Because of the essence of the one, divine Trinity, he also fittingly mentions here the Holy Spirit, since above he had mentioned the Father and the Son. For when we read that “God is spirit,” it refers to the entire Trinity. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6.

CHRIST KNOWS THE TIME OF THE CONSUMMATION. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: These words are “trustworthy and true” because they come from the Truth. … Since Christ is “the God of the prophets, who sent his angel” by means of the blessed John who saw this vision, “to show his servants what is to take place,” it is clear that he gave the Revelation for the sake of the flesh according to the condescension of the economy of the Son, as it said at the beginning. For he who is the God of the prophets and who sent his angels as ministering spirits for the revelation of coming things would not be ignorant of the hour or the day of the consummation, so that he who has all “the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge” would learn [these things] only now from the Father. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6.

22:7 | “I Am Coming Soon”

THE QUICKNESS OF THE END. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: By the messenger of truth the Lord himself reveals directly “to his servants what must soon take place.” And unless anyone be in doubt about the expectation of the end, he indicates that what is to happen will happen quickly and that he is blessed who keeps the words of the prophets. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6-7.

THOSE WHO LIVE A GOD-PLEASING LIFE. OECUMENIUS: Those who keep these words are [blessed, because they are] eager by a God-pleasing life not to fall into the punishments mentioned in it. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.6-9.

RESOLVE TO LIVE A MORE PURE LIFE. PRIMASIUS: “To keep” means to believe in a reverent manner and to maintain one’s resolve and intention to live a more pure life. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.7.

PRAY GOD TO PRESERVE US FROM AN UNPREPARED DEATH. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: It is often customary for the prophets to speak divine words as though it were from their own person. The words “I am coming soon” indicate either the shortness of the present time in comparison with the future age or the sudden swiftness of the death of each person. For the departure from here is the end of every person. Therefore, since “we do not know at what hour the thief will come,” we are commanded “to watch and to gird ourselves and to keep our lamps burning,” letting our godly behavior shine even for our neighbor. Therefore, let us not cease to beseech God with a contrite heart to “save us from all our pursuers,” lest our souls, having been defeated by them, be snatched away unprepared “with no one to rescue or to save.” [Let us also pray God] lest any soul, bound by the chains of earthly affairs and not able to free itself from them, should vainly turn again to them and then, when constrained to leave them by the authority of the angels and the command of God, will lament in vain for the lost opportunities of a life now passed. Rather, singing without ceasing the song of David, “I prepared myself and was not fearful to keep your commandments,” let us receive as a reward for keeping [his commandments] the praise of God, who will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” Together with him glory, honor and power are fittingly given to the Father and also to the Holy Spirit now and always and forever and ever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.7.

“WORSHIP GOD”

OVERVIEW: John testifies that he is an eyewitness and earwitness of the revelation (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). Overcome by fright and awe at the greatness of what he had seen and heard, John fell at the feet of the revealing angel (APRINGIUS). But the heavenly piety of the angel would not allow any worship of himself (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). For no creature properly worships another creature (ATHANASIUS). Rather, since nothing is equal to the Creator, all creatures are to offer worship to God alone (APRINGIUS, ATHANASIUS). True worship appertains also to the Son, for he is not above the angels in glory only. He is the Father’s proper Son according to essence, and therefore as God worthy of worship (ATHANASIUS). Although worshiped by the angels above, Christ has not yet chosen to avenge himself on earth. Taking his example, we ought not with shameless haste insist on our own revenge. Rather, we ought with patience await his coming (CYPRIAN).

22:8 | I Fell Down to Worship

JOHN WAS OVERCOME. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: John, the most blessed of the apostles, says that when he heard [these words] he was overcome with fright by the power of the words and the magnitude of the vision and fell to the ground because of this. And he says that he was prostrate that he might adore the angel of truth “who showed these things to me.” TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.8.

JOHN WAS AN EYEWITNESS AND EARWITNESS OF THE VISION. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: [To witness by eye and ear] is characteristic of one who is an apostle. Just as he said in the Gospel, “He who has seen bears witness, and his testimony is true,” so also in this passage [John] confesses that he is an eyewitness and earwitness of what has been foretold and so makes himself to be a guarantee of what has been seen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.8-9.

22:9 | “Worship God!”

NOW IS THE TIME FOR PATIENCE AND OBEDIENCE. CYPRIAN: This is the Judge and the Avenger, beloved brothers, that we are to await who, when he revenges himself, is destined to revenge us, the people of his church, and the number of all the just from the beginning of the world. Let him who hastens and hurries too much to his own revenge consider that he alone who avenges has not yet avenged himself. … In the Apocalypse, when John wishes to adore him, the angel resists him and says, “You must not do this because I am a fellow servant of you and of your brothers. Adore Jesus the Lord.” How wonderful then is Jesus our Lord, and what great patience this is that he who is adored in heaven is not yet avenged on earth! Let us think of his patience, beloved brothers, in our persecutions and sufferings. Let us show the full obedience that is inspired by our expectation of his coming, and let us not hasten with the impious and shameless haste of a servant to defend ourselves before the Lord. Let us rather persevere and let us labor, and [let us] be watchful with all our heart and steadfast even to total resignation; let us guard the precepts of the Lord, so that when the day of wrath and vengeance comes, we may not be punished with the impious and sinners but may be honored with the just and those who fear God. THE GOOD OF PATIENCE 24.

WORSHIP IS OWED TO GOD ALONE. ATHANASIUS: The Father shows [the Son] to be his own proper and only Son, saying, “You are my Son,” and “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Accordingly the angels ministered to him, as being one beyond themselves; and they worship him, not as being greater in glory but as being some one beyond all the creatures, and beyond themselves, and alone the Father’s proper Son according to essence. For if he was worshiped as excelling them in glory, each of the things subservient ought to worship what excels itself. But this is not the case; for creature does not worship creature, but servant [worships the] Lord, and creature God. Thus Peter the apostle hinders Cornelius, who would worship him, saying, “I myself also am a man.” And an angel, when John would worship him in the Apocalypse, hinders him, saying, “See that you do not do it; … worship God.” Therefore, to God alone appertains worship, and this the very angels know, that though they excel other beings in glory, yet they are all creatures and not to be worshiped but worship the Lord. DISCOURSES AGAINST THE ARIANS 2.23.

NOTHING IS EQUAL TO THE CREATOR. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: Since there is no pride in the servant nor any vanity in the saints, [the angel] immediately exhorts him [not to worship him]. … The angel proclaims that nothing is equal to the Creator, and he declares that nothing can be offered to another that is owed to the Lord God only. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.9.

THE PIETY OF THE ANGEL IS REVEALED. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: He shows the piety of the angel who has described and interpreted the vision, indicating that [the angel] would not allow himself to be worshiped by a fellow servant. Rather, with a good conscience we are to give homage to [our] common Lord. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22.8-9.