Commentary on the Apocalypse

Table of the Chapters of the Interpretation of the Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostale

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pp. 45-50

Interpretation of Andrew, Archbishop of Caesarea, Cappadocia, on the Apocalypse if John the Theologian

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pp. 51-54

To my lord brother and co-celebrant: Having been asked many times by many people—who out of love have a greater opinion of my abilities—to elucidate the Apocalypse of John the Theologian1 and to adapt the prophecies to the time after this vision, I was putting off ...

Section One

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pp. 55-65

An apocalypse is the manifestation of hidden mysteries when the intellect is illuminated either through divine dreams or according to waking visions from divine enlightenment. To be given to Christ, it says, making this statement about ...

Section Two

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pp. 62-72

2.8. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “Thus says the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life. The first as god, and the Last as having become man in the latter times, and having opened eternal life to us through his three-day death. ...

Section Three

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pp. 73-80

The seven stars, we said previously,¹ are the divine angels, and the seven spirits are either the angels themselves or the acts of the Life-giving Spirit, both of which are in the hand of Christ. On the one hand, if the stars represent ...

Section Four

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pp. 81-89

The removal of the door of the secret mysteries of the spirit means the declaration, and the trumpet the great voice of the one revealing, and the come up here the complete removal of the mind of the one hearing ...

Section Five

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pp. 90-93

And here the good order of those in heaven is shown, from the first orders coming down to the second. Thus, from one of the fourfold-appearing living beings, that is, the lion, he heard originating from the first voice the command ...

Section Six

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pp. 94-101

The fourth living being, that is, the eagle, its high flight and keen eyesight coming down upon its prey from above, can signify the wounds from the divinely led wrath of God for the revenge of the pious and the punishment of the ...

Section Seven

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pp. 102-114

If some¹ have interpreted these things as having happened to the Judeans under the Romans of old,² considering the four divine angels to be showing that to escape the wrath of those being put to trial either on the earth or on the ...

Section Eight

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pp. 115-118

Some think these things imply in an obscure way the variety of punishment of sinners in Gehenna, figuratively described through physical pains.1 We, however, think it does not mean that, especially because not one-third is to be punished ...

Section Nine

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pp. 119-126

Wn and the moon,¹ which things were already drawn out according to the decision of the Master concerning the end.² We say that by the one third of the luminaries and ...

Section Ten

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pp. 127-133

The cloud and the rainbow and the sun-like light are seemingly to be understood as this holy angel. For through these are shown the heavenly and variety of virtues and the brightness of the angelic substance ...

Section Eleven

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pp. 134-141

Having been dead for as many days as the years of their prophecy, it says, they will be raised and taken up into heaven in the Master’s chariot, the cloud,¹ causing fear and trembling to those who ...

Section Twelve

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pp. 142-150

And these things can fit both the first fall of the devil from the angelic order because of arrogance and envy, and his degradation by means of the cross of the Lord, when, as the Lord said, “The ruler of this world is judged,”¹ and ...

Section Thirteen

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pp. 151-156

This beast some say¹ is the Antichrist, but to others his two horns seemed to hint at the Antichrist and the false prophet.² Since it is admitted that the false prophet also is to come in his own person, we think it is not absurd to ...

Section Fourteen

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pp. 157-160

The mid-heaven shows the angel, who appeared to be both high and heavenly, having been sent from above to the people below to lead up into heaven through this intermediate place by his own intercession in imitation of God, so as ...

Section Fifteen

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pp. 161-167

Cloud we understand either a cloud perceptible to the senses that took Christ up from the eyes of the apostles¹ or some angelic power by the purity [155] and loftiness, as the Psalmist says, “and he mounted upon the cherubim ...

Section Sixteen

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pp. 168-171

Here, the bowl, just as the cup, is to be understood as a chastising activity which, it says, by its pouring out by the angel is to become evil sores, implying the throbbing distressful penalty of a discharge in a heart, which occurs in the hearts ...

Section Seventeen

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pp. 172-177

Perhaps people will also be physically burnt by the flames of the sun at that particular time. “With bit and bridle,” God, who loves humanity, compels “the jaws of those who do not approach him”¹ in order that they might know ...

Section Eighteen

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pp. 178-189

The angelic voice from heaven says, “It is done,” that is, the divine command is accomplished. The flashes of lightning, voices, and thunders mean the amazing nature of these occurrences and the future coming of Christ, just as in ancient ...

Section Nineteen

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pp. 190-199

Here is shown the brightness and radiance of the holy powers, a brilliancy surpassing the stars and luminaries by great measure. [193] ...

Section Twenty

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pp. 200-207

Heaven opening signifies the appearance of the visible judge to come, just as here, when the curtains of the judges on the earth are drawn back, the judgment and sentence come down upon those who are guilty. And the white horse is the future ...

Section Twenty-One

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pp. 208-215

Already thrones for teaching have been given to the holy apostles through whom the nations have been enlightened. They will be given, according to the divine promise, also in the future for judging those who rejected the gospel preaching, as David ...

Section Twenty-Two

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pp. 216-222

By the white throne is meant the resting-place of God, which he will make in the saints shining by their virtues, being enthroned among them. The flight of heaven and earth is their passing away and renewal into better, in which a place of mutability ...

Section Twenty-Three

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pp. 223-237

Through these it is shown that not only the angels apply distressing wounds, but they are like doctors, on one occasion cutting and on another pouring on assuaging medicines. For the one , then bringing the wound upon ...

Section Twenty-Four

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pp. 238-245

And this is characteristic of the apostolic soul: just as he had done in the Gospel by saying, “and the one who saw has testified, and his testimony is true,”¹ in this way here also he himself guaranteed the things seen, confessing ...

Epilogue

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p. 246-246

One must know that the author of the present book furnished it to those esteemed individuals who asked to study it, then later, giving the book to the hesitant, he did not diligently guard some of the rough drafts but cast them ...

General Index

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pp. 249-261

Index of Holy Scripture

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pp. 262-270