ACC ~ Revelation 4 v1b

THE OLD TESTAMENT IS OPENED BY THE DOOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: “There was,” he says, “an open door in heaven.” John sees the preaching of the New Testament, and it is said to him, “Come up here.” When it is shown that the door was opened, it is clear that previously it had been closed to humankind. However, it was sufficiently and perfectly opened when Christ ascended in the body to the Father in heaven. When he says that the voice that he had heard was the voice that spoke with him, without any doubtthis proves to the stubborn [unbelievers] that he who comes is the very same as he who spoke through the prophets. For John was from the circumcision, and that entire people had heard the preaching of the Old Testament and had been edified by that voice. For “that voice,” he says, “which I heard, it said to me, ‘Come up here.’” This is Jesus Christ whom a little before he said that he had seen as a son of man among the golden lampstands. And now he recalls that which had been foretold in the law by means of similitudes, and through this Scripture he joins together all the previous prophets and opens the Scriptures. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4.1.

THE FAITHFUL ARE INVITED TO ASCEND TO HEAVEN. PRIMASIUS: This is, therefore, the voice of prophecy of which it is said, “Lift up your voice like a trumpet.” One has gone up and ascended who, having despised the world, is either compelled to come to the church or obtains admission to her. He ascends from the valley of tears to the height of that dignity of which we read, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways.”However, the faithful are also invited to ascend to heaven when they are commanded to seek and to taste what is in heaven and not what is upon the earth. For when a neophyte in the church is taught that Christ suffered, was raised and has ascended to the Father, and then beyond these things is taught and instructed spiritually to contemplate him in the Father according to the form of God, he is rightly said to ascend, since he will see the secrets of the mysteries in which he has believed. Therefore, the Lord said, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father,” wishing this touching to be understood as belief. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4.1.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE SPIRIT. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The opening of the door signifies the revelation of the hidden mysteries of the Spirit. The trumpet represents the sonorous voice of the Revealer. “Come up here” indicates that the mind of the hearer is to turn away completely from the things of the earth and be turned toward heaven. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 4.1.

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