ACC ~ Revelation 9 v4

THOSE WHO SOIL THEIR BAPTISM. OECUMENIUS: “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but onlythose of humankind who do not have the seal of God upon their foreheads,” since by a transformation the earth had become new. Somewhere it says concerning this, “You will send forth your Spirit, and they will be created, and you will renew the face of the earth.” It was not yet good for anything that adorns the earth to be stricken, neither a tree nor any plant, only those persons who “do not have the seal of God upon their foreheads.” For those persons who were perfectly holy and pure had received that place mentioned above, being always with Christ and gazing upon the throne of God. However, those who have been baptized and bear the sign of Christ upon their foreheads, yet are less holy and have seriously soiled themselves and their baptism by sinful behavior, such persons are, so to speak, halfway between virtue and evil and remain upon the earth, although they experience no further punishment. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1-4.

IMMATURE, GROWING AND MATURE CHRISTIANS. PRIMASIUS: By “grass” he refers to those small ones who are content with the milk of the Christian faith. By “green vegetation” he refers to those who have begun to live according to the virtues and who are moving not toward dryness but toward a fruitful fertility. By “trees” he refers to those persons in the church who already give spiritual thanks by the production of fruit. Of the first kind, the small ones, we read, “Who spread out the earth upon the waters,” that is, baptism. Of the second type, we read, “It shall rejoice in its drops when it comes forth.”And concerning the third kind we read, “I am like a fruitful olive tree in the house of the Lord.” The number of the elect is perfected from all of these kinds of persons, which the bite of the locusts cannot harm, except for those who do not have the sign of God upon their foreheads. For the apostle says, “For not all have faith.” By such persons, it says, the sun will be darkened, however not extinguished, for although with the increase of iniquity the love of many will grow cold, “God’s firm foundation stands,” as it is written, “having this seal, ‘The Lord knows who are his,’ and ‘Let every one who calls upon the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’”COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1-4.

Rev