ACC ~ Revelation 8 v12 - 13

OVERVIEW:

At the blowing of the fourth trumpet, the church was struck and was darkened (TYCONIUS, BEDE). For although the church is bright like the stars, she is darkened by false brothers who fall away (BEDE). Similarly, those who are of the devil are darkened when they are given over to their sins (TYCONIUS). Yet even at the consummation of the age, God’s goodness will restrain his judgment so that he might call all to repentance before he brings about a complete destruction (OECUMENIUS). During the present time the church lives in the heavens out of contempt for earthly things (PRIMASIUS), and through her preachers the word of God, which speaks of the evil of heretics, of the antichrist and of the coming plagues of the last times, is freely proclaimed (TYCONIUS, BEDE). By means of such preaching the Holy Spirit forewarns of the imminent wrath so that some might still be saved (VICTORINUS). The angels in heaven themselves imitate God and look with sorrow and mercy upon those who suffer upon the earth, especially those who are unaware that their suffering is intended for their conversion (OECUMENIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA).

8:12 | Light Was Darkened

THE HIDDEN SINS OF SINNERS WILL BE REVEALED. TYCONIUS: The sun, moon and stars represent the church, a third part of which is struck. This third is a designation, not a quantity. For there are two peoples within the church, that part of God, which is compared with the light, and that part of the devil, which is surrounded by the darkness of shadows, as the Scripture says, “I have compared your mother to the night.” And this part was struck so that it might become apparent who is of God and who of the devil. It has been given over to its own sins and desires, so that their faults that have remained hidden and unknown to all might be revealed. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.12.

OUT OF HIS GOODNESS GOD CALLS ALL TO REPENTANCE. OECUMENIUS: We have been taught by Joel the prophet that “the sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.” … And in his second letter, Peter said, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief, on which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire.” And the Lord himself also says in Matthew, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven.” And now we are taught in this Revelation that these things will occur at the consummation of the present age. And why is it said that only a third of what is on the earth and in the sea and rivers and also [a third] of the heavenly bodies endure these calamities? This is certainly a proof of the goodness of God toward humankind that he calls to repentance the people [who live at] that time by the partial dissolution of the elements, rather than effecting their total destruction. Upon those who do not repent he finally brings a complete destruction. And the prophet says something similar, “He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death.” For, since the wrath of God is partial and advances and progresses as though on a road, God is opening a door for repentance and is calling people to a change of heart through fear of that which is coming to pass. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.12-13.

DARKENED BY FALSE BROTHERS. BEDE: The fourth trumpet shows the defection of false brothers by the darkening of the stars. … The glory of the church, which shines like a star, is often darkened by false brothers, who, either in times of prosperity or in times of adversity in the world, cause it to shine less brightly by their defection. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.2, 12.

8:13 | “Woe, Woe, Woe to Those on Earth”

THE IMMINENCE OF DIVINE WRATH. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: [This passage] signifies the Holy Spirit who through two prophets proclaims that the great wrath of plagues is imminent. This occurs so that, although it is the end of time, someone might in some manner still be saved. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.13.

THE WORD OF GOD IS FREELY PREACHED. TYCONIUS: The eagle that he saw flying in mid-heaven is the Word of God, which has free course in the middle of the church and announces openly and publicly the plagues of the last time. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.13.

AN ANGEL LOOKS IN SORROW. OECUMENIUS: We recognize in the eagle flying in mid-heaven a certain divine angel who looks in sorrow upon the sufferings of those on earth and is sympathetic with humankind in their plight. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.12-13.

THE CHURCH DWELLS IN THE HEAVENS. PRIMASIUS: He speaks of an eagle that moves through the heavens in swift flight out of contempt for the earth. He speaks of the church flying in mid-heaven, for she is going to possess the whole world, and she says, “Our abode is in the heavens.” And he rightly says that she was “in the middle,” for “all who are around him offer gifts,” and God works his way in the midst and “works salvation in the midst of the earth,” and “the Lord is round about his people.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.13.

THE ANGELS IMITATE GOD’S MERCY. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: This passage shows the sympathy and goodness of the holy angels, who, like God, are merciful toward the transgressors who are being chastised, and especially toward those who do not recognize that their suffering is for the purpose of their conversion. For these especially the “woe” is fitting, since they live upon the earth, think earthly thoughts and exhale dust rather than the perfume that has been poured out for us. For those whose citizenship is in heaven, the sufferings become the cause of unfading crowns and rewards. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.13.

THE TEACHERS IN THE CHURCH ANNOUNCE EVILS. BEDE: The voice of this eagle each day flies through the mouth of the eminent teachers in the church when they announce the evil of the heretics and the rage of the antichrist and the day of judgment, which with all severity will come to those who love the earth, saying, “In the last days there will come perilous times, and there will be men who are lovers of self,” and later in the same writing, “Men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith,” and elsewhere, “Then that evil one will be revealed, who opposes and exalts himself over everything which is called ‘god’ or is the object of worship.” And again: “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; Wwhen people say, ‘Peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them.” EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.13.