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THE
VISION OF THE THRONE
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door.
After describing the works of the Church and its future condition, he
recapitulates from the birth of Christ, with an intention to repeat
the same things in a different manner, for in this book he repeats under
various figures the whole period of the Church's history. "Behold,"
he says, "a door opened in heaven." He fitly sees a door in
heaven, as he is about to ascend, for that it is promised that the heavenly
mysteries are to be opened to him, or, because Christ is the door. He
who believes that He was born, and suffered, mounts up to heaven, that
is, the light of the Church, and so is made spiritual, and beholds the
things which shall be, as he says.
voice.
That is, it was like the former voice which had said,
"What thou seest, write in a book."
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a
throne. The Lord dwells within the Church, which
is fixed in a heavenly abode. Pope Gregory
interprets the throne of God in the vision of Micaiah
of the angelic powers, "over whose minds presiding on high, He
disposeth all things below."
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jasper.
The colour of the jasper signifies
water, of the sard fire, and we know that judgement is represented
by these two. For "as it was," He says, "in the days
of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."
rainbow.
The rainbow, which is caused by the rays of the sun shining upon the
clouds, and which was first produced after the deluge for a sign of
propitiation, denotes that the Church is protected by the intercession
of the saints whom the Lord enlightens, and these are well compared
with an emerald, a stone of a deep green. For as they wait with a
more perfect faith for an inheritance that fadeth not away, so do
they by their prayer more powerfully protect the rest.
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seats.
The same Church which because of its fellowship in faith he had seen
on one throne, he beholds, as sprung by a twofold testament from patriarchs
and Apostles, on twenty-four seats, and it is seated because of its
judicial dignity in Christ. So all the members will sit and judge,
but in one and by one Head. For how will saints be able to sit in
the judgement, while they are standing at the right hand of the Judge?
The twenty-four elders may also be understood of those who, by their
loud preaching of the gospel, complete the perfection of work, which
is represented in the number six; for four times six make twenty-four.
crowns.
That
is, clothed with good works, seeking with an unfailing recollection
of the mind the joys which are above. For frequently, under the name
of the head, the mind is wont to be understood.
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proceed.
This is the same that Mark says,
"But they went forth preaching everywhere, the Lord working with
them, and confirming the word by signs following."
lamps.
He means the one sevenfold Spirit, for "there is one Spirit,"
and to be sevenfold implies perfection and fulness. But when the Holy
Spirit has been mentioned, there fitly follows the water of baptism.
For in it the same Spirit is believed to be received.
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glass.
Because of our faith in the true baptism, this is compared to glass,
in which nothing else appears on the outside than that which it has
within. The grace of baptism is also represented by crystal, which
is formed from water, congealed into a precious stone.
eyes.
All the parts of the throne of God, that is, of the Church, are filled
by the light of the gospel, with the knowledge of the past and of
the future.
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THE
LIVING CREATURES
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living
creature. The living creatures are interpreted
in various ways. But the blessed Augustine,
to follow the order in this book, says, that Matthew is intended in
the lion, in that he describes the ancestral line of regal dignity in
Christ, Who also has conquered as the lion of the tribe of Judah, for
"Judah is a lion's whelp;"
and in his gospel, as a king, he is feared by a king, is worshipped
by the Magi, in which also the king takes account of his servants, the
king makes a marriage-feast for his son, and at the last the king separates
the sheep from the goats; - that Luke is intended in the calf, which
was the great victim under the Law, for that not only does his gospel
at the commencement begin about the temple and the sacrifices, but it
thus concludes,
"and they were continually in the Temple praising and blessing
God." But the face of a man, he says, signifies Mark, who says
nothing of the regal, or of the sacerdotal power of the Lord, and only
relates simply the actions of the man Christ; and the eagle is John,
for with keen sight he beholds the nativity of the Word, as the risen
Sun. The living creatures, again, at one time denote the Evangelists,
at another the whole Church; for its fortitude is represented in the
lion, its sacrificial offering in the calf, its humility in the man,
and its sublimity in the flying eagle.
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wings.
They raise the Church on high by the perfection of their doctrine.
For the number six is called perfect, because it is the first which
is made complete by its several parts, in that one which is the sixth
part of six, and two which are the third, and three which are the
half, make up the number six. Otherwise: the six wings of the four
living creatures, which are twenty-four in number, intimate as many
books of the Old Testament, by which the authority of the Evangelists
is supported, and their truth proved.
eyes.
The holy Church observes itself with vigilance, both before God and
before men. The Psalmist had beheld its eyes within, when he says,"All
the glory of that daughter of kings is within;" and its eyes
without, when he adds immediately, "clothed around with golden
fringes in variety." Otherwise: whether thou shalt attend to
the letter, or seek for an allegory, in the Gospel thou wilt always
find light. Another translation
has: "Full of eyes before and behind;" because the light
of the Gospel both illumines the dark sayings of the Law, and pours
upon it the brightness of a new grace.
rest.
The holy living creatures for all the time of the age proclaim the
sole dominion of the Godhead, the omnipotence and eternity of the
Holy Trinity. For there abides in the heavenly places the continual
praise of the intelligent creation.
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fall.
When the living creatures utter the sound of praise, that is, when the
Evangelists preach the dispensation of Christ, the whole Church, which
is composed of rulers and people, for so much is signified by the number
twelve being doubled, falls at once upon its face, and adores Him "Who
liveth for ever and ever."
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cast.
They assign, that is, to God
whatever power, whatever dignity the have, for that He created all things
out of nothing.
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