The Desert is the Place of the ChurchThe Church is in fixed persecution.
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The seal and globalization
We’re studying the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation: Eradicating the VeilThis revelation was given by God to the Apostle John as a result of we wanted to comprehend it.
“>Revelation of the Apostle John the Theologian. Let’s summarize the earlier one. In chapter twelve, the Apostle and Evangelist John speaks concerning the persecution of the Church that has taken place and which awaits us within the age of the antichrist. Then he describes the struggle in Heaven of the 
On Names and Angels. The Day of Archangel Michael“There isn’t any one like God”—in that is expressed all the nice Archangel’s data of his God. He doesn’t describe Him, nor does he clarify—he stands and witnesses.”>Archangel Michael and the angels in opposition to the dragon and his angels and devil’s fall to earth. After which it speaks concerning the woes that got here to earth with the autumn of devil, concerning the persecutions that the dragon organizes in opposition to the Church.
Archangel Michael Defeats the Dragon, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
In Revelation, the Church is depicted as a girl who bore a male Baby. She was given the wings of an important eagle to fly into the desert and stay there for 3 and a half years. The dragon continues the struggle in opposition to the lady (the Church) and those that adopted Christ.
In chapter 13, verse one says the next: And I stood upon the sand of the ocean, and noticed a beast rise up out of the ocean, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the title of blasphemy (Rev. 13:1). These mysterious visions proceed: a beast with seven heads and ten horns. On the ten horns a diadem, and on the heads—blasphemous names. It’s a disgusting sight: a mysterious, demonic, satanic beast, hostile to God and which has no reference to the Holy Spirit of God. It comes from the sea. Some Holy Fathers say the ocean symbolizes worldly vainness, worldly actuality. This beast received’t be precisely as described, however one thing will occur that’s described this manner in Revelation. We’ll see in a while the place that is spoken about in additional element.
And the beast which I noticed was like unto a leopard, and his toes have been because the toes of a bear, and his mouth because the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his energy, and his seat, and nice authority (Rev. 13:2). Right here the Apostle John describes precisely what he noticed. Devil gave this beast his throne. He receives the throne, energy, and authority from devil. In fact, the throne, energy, and authority of devil are insignificant. Devil has no energy, he has no throne to sit down on, he has no authority over something. Nevertheless, devil can obtain energy once we give him the best.
It’s best to know that the satan has no authority over man—he has no authority at throughout us. However once we ourselves begin listening to his instructions (the passions and sins), then via our passions and sins devil begins to rule over us. Daily, what the Apostle Peter says occurs to us and people round us: For of whom a person is overcome, of the identical is he introduced in bondage (2 Pet. 2:19). The place somebody is defeated, that’s the place he’s enslaved. You will have a ardour that has established itself in you and also you’ve grow to be a slave to this ardour. Your freedom is misplaced and this ardour begins to rule over you. It takes quite a lot of arduous work to overcome this ardour; it calls for a bloody battle. Typically, a person has to struggle a horrible battle to be delivered from captivity to the satan.
The satan is a horrible dictator. He doesn’t have even the slightest pity for man; he seeks to destroy us utterly. He doesn’t sorrow over us, he doesn’t love us. He needs our full destruction, and sadly, finds a motive and enjoys authority once we give him that proper. Subsequently, we are able to’t justify ourselves by saying: “However he has energy over me—he discovered my weak spot.” The satan has no energy over us. God didn’t create us to undergo the satan. Our passions and sins subordinate us to him, take energy over us, and pressure us to do no matter they need. The Holy Fathers say that the facility of the satan has no essence.1 The satan isn’t a second energy on the earth; solely God has energy. The satan is totally devoid of energy and energy. In fact, he exists as a actuality, however he doesn’t rule. When man offers him the best, then he receives energy. Simply as gentle and darkness don’t exist, so there is no such thing as a twin management in the world. When there’s no gentle, there’s darkness. However darkness isn’t one other essence, however solely the absence of sunshine. Equally, the absence of Divine grace makes room for the satan to exist and train energy.
The ability of the beast
We’re speaking about particular issues proper now—concerning the beast with seven heads and ten horns that got here out of the ocean. The dragon, whom we examine earlier, offers this beast his energy, authority, and throne. Now let’s see what sort of beast that is. And I noticed one among his heads because it have been wounded to loss of life; and his lethal wound was healed: and all of the world puzzled after the beast (Rev. 13:3). It seemed like one among his heads was mortally wounded, however it wasn’t so. It was a hoax, not actuality. The interpretations of the Holy Fathers say that it was a deception, to confuse folks. This one of many seven heads wasn’t mortally wounded; the seemingly deadly wound was healed. The entire world was shocked by the beast. Everybody had seen that the beast’s head was mortally wounded, which wasn’t true; the wound was healed, and the world was amazed and adopted the beast. The entire world, the entire universe thought of this a miracle. The beast confirmed folks a miracle: His wounded head was healed.
The Dragon Offers Energy to the Beast, Apocalypse Tapestry, 14th c.
However within the eyes of St. John the Theologian, it wasn’t so: The pinnacle was “because it have been” mortally wounded. It was apparent that this was a hoax, designed to captivate the world. This beast shall be ready to guide the world with its lies and false healings and miracles. This is without doubt one of the options of the antichrist—a lie that may make the world marvel and surprise. The beast will deceive the world with false miracles; the complete world shall be delighted and can observe him. Individuals will observe him.
And so they worshipped the beast, saying, Who’s like unto the beast? who is ready to make struggle with him? (Rev. 13:4). Individuals worshiped the beast, the dragon’s chosen one, devil’s chosen one. They began saying: “Who’s like this beast? Who can struggle him?” In fact, they don’t name it a beast. In the event that they did, it might eat them. It is going to be a pleasant animal, like a lamb. However this lamb will eat the soul of males. Who can defeat this animal? He shall be very robust, he’ll appear excellent, he may have the facility of miracles and can draw the world after himself. The world will say: “Who’s like this animal? Is there actually anybody so good? Who will be in contrast with him?” He’ll appear robust and fantastic.
And there was given unto him a mouth talking nice issues and blasphemies; and energy was given unto him to proceed forty and two months (Rev. 13:5). How else can he converse if not pridefully and blasphemously, if this is the chosen one among devil? The mouth of the one who speaks lofty and blasphemous phrases is borrowed from the satan. This beast is given authority to wage struggle for forty-two months, that’s, three and a half years. We’ll see this quantity continuously.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy in opposition to God, to blaspheme His title, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven (Rev. 13:6). The evil beast opened his mouth to blaspheme God and the Church. Blasphemy isn’t simply an insult, but in addition a distortion and slander. The beast slanders and insults God and the Church of God. He’s given authority to wage struggle.
And it was given unto him to make struggle with the saints, and to beat them: and energy was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations (Rev. 13:7). These are all symbols and riddles. That is how St. John the Theologian noticed it; that is how the Holy Spirit revealed it to him.
The beast is given authority to wage struggle in opposition to the saints and to beat them. Will this beast, in the long run, conquer the Church, the saints, God’s chosen ones? Not utterly, however to a big diploma. It’s going to appear just like the Church and the saints have been defeated. God will permit this based on our sins, as a result of we’ll be chilly, because the Gospel says elsewhere: When the Son of Man cometh, shall He discover religion on the earth? (Lk. 18:8). Due to our unbelief, due to the coldness of our hearts, the beast will obtain authority within the final days and can start to wage struggle in opposition to the folks of the Church and can defeat them. He’ll even be given energy over the entire world—over all peoples, tongues, and tribes. Globalization, as they name it. He’ll rule all over the place, gaining common recognition and respect.
Worship of the Beast, French Apocalypse, late thirteenth c.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names aren’t written from the inspiration of the world within the e book of lifetime of the Lamb Who has been slain (Rev. 13:8). All however just a few will worship him. These whose names have been written within the Guide of Life received’t worship him. Who’re they? The chosen ones of God, the holy individuals who stay trustworthy to God, who don’t observe the beast, regardless of the miracles, regardless of his rule over the world, although he will shine and dazzle along with his nice energy. Everybody will say: “Who can examine with this omnipotent being?” However there shall be folks—easy, humble, purehearted, who received’t worship him.
The title written within the Guide of Life
Talking of the Guide of Life, I’ll let you know a narrative from the Holy Mountain that occurred within the Twenties and Thirties at New Skete, the place there have been caves. We didn’t reside within the caves, however in huts, however there have been caves on the territory of our kallyvia the place there lived an elder—Geronda Averkios—a easy, semi-literate man, who spent his complete life in a cave, the place puddles of water gathered within the winter. This poor elder, an ascetic and cave-dweller, had the obedience of gathering snails, incomes his bread this manner. Snails have been in vogue then. When it rained, the elder collected snails after which gave them to the fathers. In return, they gave him oil and slightly bread to maintain himself. They had this barter system then.
New Skete, Mt. Athos
Fr. Averkios lived in poverty and ease. Being semi-literate, he might learn by syllables. Within the skete’s principal church, the place the fathers collect for the All-Evening Vigil for Sundays, he would sit on the very finish, on the litia,2 as we name this a part of the church on Mt. Athos. He would go to the final stasidia and pray within the darkness, bent over within the nook. As soon as, at an All-Evening Vigil, when all of the fathers have been gathered in the primary church, they noticed him depart his place. It was very unusual, as a result of it wasn’t time but to venerate the icons, and he by no means left earlier than that. Nevertheless, he walked via the complete church and entered the altar via the Royal Doorways, though he wasn’t a priest, and solely monks are allowed to stroll via the Royal Doorways. He stood earlier than the holy altar, bowed and kissed one thing, saying: “Monk Averkios, Your Grace. I see, I see—Monk Averkios.” Then he kissed one thing and returned to his spot. The fathers began asking him:
“What, have you ever gone loopy? You have been simply sitting in your spot, then you definately rise up and go into the altar?”
They thought one thing had occurred to him.
“I didn’t go on my own. There was a bishop in the altar and he summoned me, so I approached him. He requested me my title. I advised him my title is Monk Averkios, and he wrote my title in some e book and requested me to learn it. I stated I noticed written there the title ‘Monk Averkios.’ And the bishop stated he’d written my title within the Guide of Life.”
The easy elder didn’t perceive what was stated to him. He kissed his hand and went again. A couple of days later, he reposed and went to Heaven.
The names of such individuals are recorded within the Lamb’s Guide of Life—harmless, purehearted, unblemished people who find themselves recorded there due to their repentance and love for Christ. They are going to be trustworthy followers of the Lamb Christ and never worship the beast. However that may imply torments. It’s not simple in any respect; it’s a very tough factor to withstand, to sacrifice the whole lot for the whole lot.
To be continued…
