The Lamb's care for the Church As the first six seals reveal the tiredness and pains of the Church, up to the coming of the Lord for judgment, the Lord encourages her by revealing two things. 1. His care for the Church in her struggle (1- 8). 2. His care for the Church in her rest (9-17). 1. HIS CARE FOR THE CHURCH IN HER STRUGGLE The first part of the chapter does not deal with a certain period of time, but it reveals God's protection and care for His Church as a whole, and for her members, everyone by his name, during the struggle on earth. He does not cease keeping His believers unshaken (Heb. 12:27), for they "are kept by the power of God, through faith, for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:5). And for their sake, the Son says: "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). This is the language of the book of Revelation, and the dialect of the word of God, "because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Rev. 3:10). This is what the Apostle saw: "After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree" [1]. He saw four angels keeping the earth from east to west, and from north to south. This is how God cares for mankind, by keeping all souls from the wind that blows, to put out the light of their lamps. Perhaps, God, has sent His angels to calm down nature revolting against man, for as St. John Chrysostom says1, that man became more ignorant than the unreasonable animals (Ps. 49:20), and less intelligent than birds (Jer. 8:7). More rigid than stones, resembling the snake (Ps. 58:5), so he was called son of Satan (John. 8:44). "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” [2-3]. In the Old Testament, God took care of His children, and sent someone to seal them at the time of tribulation, to keep them for Himself (Ez. 9:4). And in the Church of the New Testament, He presents to us a spiritual, heavenly and eternal seal. As we are sealed on our foreheads with the holy Chrism, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, to keep and sanctify us, to be able to say, “He who has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit" (2 Cor. 1:21-22). The angel who came from the east, may point out to the Lord Jesus, who shines on us all, and gives us through the holy Chrism, this effective sign which keeps us as heirs of 1 The author: The Divine Love, p. 738-740. 6 God. For this reason, the apostle commands us, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30). We spoke before about this seal1, by which we become in the ownership of the Holy Spirit, and enemies of Satan. St. Augustine says, [The name ‘Messiah’ means ‘anointed;’ so every Christian who accepts the anointment (Chrism), becomes not only partner in the kingdom, but also fighter of Satan.] St. Ambrose says, [Remember that you accepted the seal of the Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord"(Isa. 11:2). God the Father has sealed you. The Lord Jesus empowered you, and gave you the Spirit as a guarantee (2 Cor. 5:5), according to the teachings, you received from the apostle.] This seal is not only a sign of distinction, but it carries love and devotion, till we say to the Lord, "Set me as a seal upon Your heart, as a seal upon Your arm" (Song 8:6). He keeps the earth, the sea, and the trees, i.e. no harm will affect those whose souls rested (the earth), nor those who are still confused (the sea), nor the fruitful (the trees). Concerning those who are sealed, he said: "And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed, of the tribe of Judah a twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben etc." [4-5]. The readers may have some questions here: First: What does he mean by saying, “children of Israel?” The early Fathers2 clarified, that "the real Israel" is not the Jewish people as they are called, up to this day, but it is an adjective qualifying the Church alone. When the Jews were believers, and working in the vineyard, the Lord was calling them "Israel," but they removed themselves by themselves from the vineyard saying, "His blood be on us and on our children." For this reason, we say that after the Jews had their house destroyed, and carried the curse, it is of no significance to call themselves “Israel,” even if they were so, according to the flesh, as the children of the old people. However, the Church of the New Testament is an extension of the Church of the Old Testament, and has all the promises and the blessings. Indeed, St. Irenaeus saw that this is a sign, that some Jews will accept Jesus at the end of days. Yet as Pope Shenouda3 clarified, that by accepting faith, they should not remain in their fanaticism and agglomerations. They should put aside their old thinking, that they are a block of chosen and distinct people (as they pretend today). Then they will no more have an independent and distinct being. Their bitter fanaticism will end, and the materialistic zionism will vanish, as it is full of poison based on pride. Rather they should contrite and weep for refusing faith, and forget their intentions to have an independent state for worldly purposes. This way, the right spiritual Christian’s mind refuses the idea of the existence of "Israel," as a state, pretending to be the chosen people. We come back and confirm, that in this chapter the word "Israel," points not to a 1 The author: The Divine Love, p. 863-872. 2 Such as Origen, Tertullian and Justin the Martyr. 3 Cf. Pope Shenouda III.“Israel in Christianity’s view.” 7 state, but to the spiritual Israel. In other words, to the Church, regardless of nationality or language, and this is what the apostolic Church and other churches1 called for. Second: What does he mean by tribes ? There is no doubt, that he does not actually mean the tribes of Israel, but there is a spiritual indication, especially that we know that the Jewish people are refused as people. Even the Jews who are converted to Christianity, often marry from other races. They are confused and mixed descendants and tribes, and they no more keep ties among the members of each tribe, separately, as they did before. This was the case until Jesus came, incarnated from the tribe of Judah, and proved that He was the coming Messiah. Then there was no need for the tribes to exist. The spiritual indication is as follows: 1- The number of those who are sealed is 144, meaning that the people of the New Testament (12 disciples) multiplied by the people of the Old Testament (12 Tribes), then by one thousand, as all through Jesus became celestial or heavenly, for the number 1000 indicates heaven. 2- The number “12000” is a symbolic number, that indicates the children of God who are censured and known by their names (John 10), especially that number “12” in the Holy Bible, points to God's ownership of the thing or person. For this reason, He chose 12 tribes in the Old Testament, and 12 apostles in the New Testament. 3- He started with the tribe of Judah, although he was not the oldest, but because the Lord Jesus came from this tribe. And he who has relationship with, and abides in the person of the Lord, comes first in the kingdom. 4- He did not mention the tribe of Dan, because he sold himself to idols (Judges 18:1-31). God has warned any person, clan or tribe of worshipping them, or else the Lord will erase their names from under heaven (Deut. 29:18-25). Thus, those who erect in their hearts any kind of statue to worship, will be banned from the book of life. 5- He mentioned the tribe of Joseph instead of Ephraim, because the tribe of Ephraim was known for his resistance to the honest Judah (Ps. 80:2, Isa. 7:17 , Jer. 7:15), and he was the first worshipper of idols (1 Kings 12:25-30). 6- The tribes came in a special order, not according to their age or according to Ezekiel's prophecies (48:1-27, 31-34), but they came carrying a spiritual indication, which unveils the characteristics with which those who are bearing the Holy Spirit, need to be sealed with. A. Judah or “confession.” Life is useless without faith and confessing that the Lord is God. B. Reuben or “the son of vision.” His faith and his confession should be seen in his work and struggle. C. Gad or “to be strong.” He who works needs to be strong, persevering to the end. D. Asher or “Happy.” In our perseverance, we should not despair, but be happy and joyful in the Lord. E. Naphtali or “wide.” The happy and joyful heart has room to love infinitely. F. Manasseh or “forget.” He, who loves, forgets himself and all that is worldly. 1 Rev. Ibrahim Said in his book “Commentary on the Revelation” says that many scholars state the same interpretation. (part 2, p. 121-122). 8 G. Simeon or “listener.” He, who forgets himself, hears and understands the heavenly voice. H. Levi or “borrowed.” He who listens to heaven will realize that he is borrowed or a stranger here. I. Issachar or “reward.” The stranger does not ask for his earthly reward, but for the heavenly one. G. Zebulun or “dwelling.” He who asks for heaven, dwells in it, freeing his heart from everything. KJoseph or “increase.” He who frees his heart, living in heaven, grows in every good deed. L. Benjamin or “son of the right.” He who grows, has his share at the right of God. 2 - HIS CARE FOR THE CHURCH IN HER REST That is His concern about the Church on earth, then in heaven; what does God do for His bride? The Church from Adam to the end of ages, will gather around Him. All will gather beyond all limitations of time and nationality. All will be one in the Lord. They are the same one hundred and forty-four thousand, mentioned before, in a glorious heavenly view1. But here they are not counted, because on earth we should be confident that God cares for each one. About the heavenly view, St. Augustine says, that the number was not mentioned, in order to fill the souls with hope that heaven will be populous. And not to tremble and feel despair, because of the great number of the wicked on earth. "After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb’”[9-10]. The white robe is the robe of holiness, that men of the Old Testament get, for their hope in the blood of the Lamb of God who cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7). As for the New Testament, Bishop Victorianus says, [They were purified by baptism in the blood of the Lamb, thus their robes became white, and they kept the grace they had accepted.] Its whiteness is the reflection of the shining of the divine glory on them, as in His transfiguration, "His clothes became as white as the light" (Matt. 17:2). And we become like the heavenly angels, as St. Mary saw, "two angels in white sitting " (John 20:12). This color, as St. Clement of Alexandria2 says, is the color of the natural truth. [If they need to ask for another color, the natural color of the truth will be enough for them], for they are dressed with the truth which is their glory! The white dress carries the mark of purity and cleanliness, and that of victory as well (Rev. 3:5). For this reason, the Church embellishes her children with a white garment, right after their baptism. As for the palms, it carries the mark of conquest and victory, for only the victorious enters heaven, while the slack ones will not find a place there. It also indicates 1 Even Non-Apostolic Churches adopted this view. 2 The Instructor. 9 the joyful life, as they used to carry them in the feast of Tabernacles, which they kept in memory of the entrance into the Holy Land. Palms were also used when the people's hearts were filled with joy, on the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem. Their happiness is expressed in their continuous praise, shouting in a holy burning zeal, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Our salvation is from God; we have no merit in it, but all merit goes to the love of the Father, and to the grace of the Son, and to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Angels are not insensitive towards our salvation, but they share with us our happiness, as he says: "And all the angels stood around the throne, and the presbyters, and the four Living Creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne, and worshipped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, thanksgiving, and honor, and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” [11-12]. We are confused in the middle of this heavenly love. Do the heavenly hosts share with us our happiness for salvation? Do they sing with us this hymn, offering with us a thanksgiving sacrifice, or are we the ones who share their work and participate with them in their heavenly songs of praise?! All are in communion of love and work, for "the praise of God." Being with God, liberates the tongue to utter the praise, and opens the heart to give thanksgiving, and transforms every creature into a harp, which sings songs of praise, and infinite thanksgiving. St. Augustine says: [As His majesty is infinite, His praise is also infinite. If you want to praise God permanently, you should be jealous of the behavior of the angels and their praise.] We say that every worship, whatever big or small, loses its life, its being and its existence, if it is deprived of praise. The work of the Church is only continual praise1. In the Church of the Old Testament, the Psalmist says, "Seven times a day I praise You" (Ps. 119: 164). Daniel was kneeling three times a day, praying and thanking God (Daniel 6: 10). In the Church of the New Testament, we only see daily praise in all ways of worship, and in all occasions. That is because of her faith that the Gospel is the "Good News," and her work is a heavenly angelic work. For this reason, she teaches her children to praise. St. Basil says, [Praising God is a special concern of the angels.] For this reason, Gregory the Nizanzus thinks that by praising we become equal to angels in honor. Pope Athanasius the Apostolic says2, [The settled soul forgets her pains, and by singing the holy words, she looks happily at Jesus alone.] We go back to what the Apostle saw and heard: "Then one of the presbyters answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know’” [13-14]. This question raised by one of the presbyters was not to be answered, but to stimulate searching and questioning about them, to understand their state. As the apostle John knows the rank of those incorporeal presbyters, he answered him, ‘Sir,’ and asked him to tell him about them in a very gentle manner, "Sir, you know." "So he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 1 Cf. Interpretation of Rev. 4:11. 2 St. Athanasius to Marcel on Psalms. 10 Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them, and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’" [14- 17]. They are coming from the great tribulation, and are washed with the blood of Jesus. They are the victorious Church, who endured to the end and were saved (Matt. 10:22). The reason for their acceptance, as Ibn-el-Assal says, is the shedding of the blood of the Lamb for them, and for others. Thus, they were given great honor, and became like pure and sinless sacrifices accepted by the Father, as their robes became white and shining by the blood of the Lamb. It was said of each one of them, those who were bound to the Lion coming out of the tribe of Judah, "He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes" (Gen. 49:11). This is what the militants get. It is enough to be in front of the divine throne, serving His altar day and night. What is the altar of God, but the Lord Himself, as the Apostle says about heavens, "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev. 21:22). What is their service, but the continuous praise, saying with the psalmist, "Before the gods I will sing praises to You” (Ps. 138). How glorious! The one sitting on the throne comes over them, or as it is in Greek: He will put them in His shade, keep them and hide them in Him! As they are in Him, "they shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat, nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them. Even by the springs of water He will guide them" (Isa. 49:10). They see "the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne," and then they will need nothing, because He is the Groom who brings joy and happiness, who gives Himself as bread, drink, rest and peace. We can truly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (Ps. 23:1,2). How wonderful is the loving Lamb, who took care of us since He created us, and before the Law of Moses. His care and guidance has extended since the Law, and in the grace age. And He remains caring and coddling us in Paradise and in eternity. How powerful is His love, and how wonderful is His care and His concern. They go beyond time. They are eternal.
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