ACC ~ Revelation 9 v17

FEARSOME AND IRRESISTABLE. OECUMENIUS: The fire is symbolic of wrath and punishment. The hyacinth reveals that these who are sent are of heaven, for the sky is similar to hyacinth. The sulfur indicates that they are pleasing to God, since they are delightful to God—for to delight is to please. And who would please God more than the holy angels? Then the vision changes imagery and exalts the power of the holy angels, comparing them with lions and to fire, smoke and brimstone and snakes. In all of these analogies their fearsomeness and irresistibility is signified. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.13-19.

HERETICS ARE APTLY DESCRIBED. PRIMASIUS: The horses are men, and their riders are evil spirits. Just as we could say in a good sense “You mounted upon your horses,” referring to preachers, “and your victorious cavalry,” so here in an evil sense [these horses] are joined to iniquitous spirits. … And although little similarity can be found between locusts and horses, the same is true concerning lions. Yet each of these is suitable for symbolizing the persons of heretics. … The description of the breastplate signifies the punishments of the impious, for we read that those who worship the beast are promised fire and sulphur, and “the smoke of their torments goes up for ever and ever.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.17.

EVIL DEMONS USE EVIL PEOPLE. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: I think that these “horses” are either men who, like beasts, lust after women, or they are those who are submitted to demons and are ruled by them. For those who sit upon others are those who also govern them. It is common for these to use not only each other as servants but also to use evil people as instruments for plotting against people of similar kind. We interpret “the breastplates of fire and of smoke and of sulfur” to signify the aerial nature of the evil demons and of their destructive work, and that the heads of lions show their murderous and beastly nature. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.17-19.

Rev