ACC ~ Revelation 8 v1

THE CHURCH IS CALLED “HEAVEN.” TYCONIUS: “In heaven” means in the church. The silence for half an hour shows the beginning of the eternal rest. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.1.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST BRINGS UNSPEAKABLE BLESSINGS. OECUMENIUS: The loosing of the seventh seal effects the most perfect and complete glory for us. No longer is there as before the loosing of sin and our turning to God or God’s turning to us. Rather there is now the most unspeakable blessings: to be called “sons of God,” to be inheritors of God, to be co-heirs with Christ, to be brothers and friends and children of Christ, also to rule with him and to be glorified with him, and those blessings that “eye has not seen nor has ear heard nor has come into the heart of man.” And what is the loosing of the seventh seal? It is the second coming of Christ and the giving of blessings as rewards. For although some are handed over to the punishment of sinners, nonetheless it is the aim of Christ and the intention of the incarnation that everyone become an heir of his kingdom. Therefore, when the seventh seal was loosed, “there was,” it says, “silence for about half an hour,” since the king of creation was coming and every angelic and supernatural power, astounded at the exceeding greatness of the glory of him who was coming, for that reason became silent. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.1-2.

THE SECOND COMING UNKNOWN EVEN TO THE ANGELS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Often the number of seven is taken by this saint to correspond to this age and the sabbath rest of the saints. Therefore, also here at the loosing of the seventh seal, the dissolution of the earthly city is signified, the seven angels administering the torments against those people who are deserving of chastisement or punishment. The “silence” reveals the good order of the piety of the angels as well as the fact that the second coming of Christ is unknown even to angels. The “half hour” shows the shortness of time, for when the plagues come and the events of the consummation upon the earth are occurring, the kingdom of Christ will appear. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.1-2.

THE CHURCH WILL HAVE A BRIEF REST AFTER ANTICHRIST. BEDE: It is believed that after the destruction of the antichrist, there will be a short rest in the church. Daniel prophesied of this, “Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” The blessed Jerome commented upon this passage [of Daniel]. “Blessed, he says, is he who when the antichrist is killed waits for the forty-five days beyond the thousand two hundred and ninety days, that is, three and a half years. For during them our Lord and Savior will come in his majesty. It is a matter of divine knowledge why there is silence for forty-five days after the death of the antichrist, unless we make the conjecture that the delay of the kingdom of the saints is a test of patience.” We should note that the greatest afflictions of the church are envisaged in the sixth period, while a rest is seen in the seventh. For the Lord was crucified on the sixth day, and he rested on the seventh, awaiting the time of the resurrection. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.1.

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