ACC ~ Revelation 6 v14a

THE CHURCH BECOMES CAUTIOUS. TYCONIUS: Rightly does he suggest that the heaven, that is, the church, withdrew like a scroll rolled out rather than as a scroll rolled up. For whatever is rolled up cannot ever be known by anyone, while that which is rolled out is uncovered ever more. And so when these things have been made manifest, [the church] withdraws and prudently avoids persecution, so that concealed from those outside she might not be seen. But through the unity of the Spirit she is wholly known to herself—that is, to her own to whom it is given to believe. And [the church] is cautious towards those who are not known and toward the stranger, and she hides herself through a spirit of discretion, lest becoming known she be betrayed. Therefore, John wrote, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6.14.

EVEN THE ANGELS COULD NOT BEAR THE ABUSE SUFFERED BY CHRIST. OECUMENIUS: By the word heaven he speaks of the heavenly powers of the angels who were themselves also thoroughly terrified, not being able to tolerate the abuse directed against their Master, and who were flitting to and fro as a scroll that was unrolled and shaking. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6.12-17.

THE HEAVENLY POWERS GRIEVE FOR THOSE WHO FALL FROM FAITH. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: That heaven is rolled out as a scroll symbolizes either that the second coming of Christ is unknown … or that even the heavenly powers grieve for those who have fallen from faith as though they experience a certain rolling out through sympathy and grief. However, this image symbolizes also that the substance of heaven does not disappear, but as though by a kind of unrolling changes into something better. As Irenaeus says, “For neither is the substance nor the essence of the creation annihilated—for faithful and true is he who has established it—but ‘the fashion of this world passes away,’ within which the transgression occurred, as the elders say.” … We think that the apostle is using the image of an old custom. For the Hebrews used scrolls rather than codices, which are common among us. To unroll a scroll did not cause anything to disappear but affected the appearance of that written within. So also the opening of the heavenly body shows the revelation of the blessing that lies in wait for the saints. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6.14.

Rev