Apocalipse 22
Apringius of Beja
Apocalipse 22:1
The living water is the Lord Jesus Christ. Of this water he spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God and who it was who says to you, 'give me to drink,' you would rather ask from him, and he would give to you the living water." [He was speaking of] the knowledge of his deity and the fullness of a holy faith. For concerning him it is said, "For with you is the fountain of life." For they are buried [with him] through baptism, as the apostle says: "For we have been buried with him by baptism into death." Therefore, the living water which is like crystal and is perfectly clear is the washing of the holy font and the resulting brightness of most blessed faith. It is said to flow from the throne of God and the Lamb because the cleansing is from him, life is from him, and all righteousness and holiness of baptism flows from and proceeds from him. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:1
Apocalipse 22:2
Concerning wisdom it is said, "She proclaims outside; she raises her voice in the streets, and she cries out on the top of the walls." And should anyone refuse to come to the marriage of the king, she commands her servants and says, "Go to the streets and byways and invite whomever you meet to the wedding, that my house might be filled." This water of salvation and the cleansing of grace is described as flowing in the streets.… The two banks of the river are the two Testaments in which the fullness of our salvation is written down. There is the tree of life. There is told [the story] of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the tree of life: "Through him we live, move, and have our being." The leaves are his words; they are of use for the health of all nations. The twelve months are the apostles of the Lord, because the Lord himself is the "favorable year of forgiveness." These are the twelve months, each bringing to the many the fruit of unending preaching out of an abundance of knowledge. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:2
Apocalipse 22:3
There will be [in that city] nothing accursed, that is, no temptation will approach, no profane sin shall be recorded through the rashness of the envious one. Rather, in its midst will be the rule of the divine power and of the Lamb. All will serve him with the exaltation of that city's happiness. They shall rejoice in the vision of his face and in the sweetness of his presence, and they shall bear his name engraved in the sign of his cross on their foreheads. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:3-4
Apocalipse 22:5
Neither the night of sin nor the darkness of unrighteousness will ever appear again. Nor in that bliss will they [the saints] live by the words of any teacher; nor established in such a fullness will they require the light of another's understanding. The Lord himself will give them great understanding and wisdom, for all knowledge that is desired is revealed in the brightness of his countenance. And they shall reign in all wisdom and truth. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:5
Apocalipse 22:6
What is so faithful and true as the promise of Christ and the future hope of the saints? He who spoke through his servants, the prophets, did so that he might be recognized as the Lord of the living and be called "the Spirit of the Lord." For the Spirit is life, and all flesh is made alive by the Spirit. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:6-7
Apocalipse 22:7
By the messenger of truth the Lord himself reveals directly "to his servants what must soon take place." And unless anyone be in doubt about the expectation of the end, he indicates that what is to happen will happen quickly and that he is blessed who keeps the words of the prophets. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:6-7
Apocalipse 22:8
John, the most blessed of the apostles, says that when he heard [these words] he was overcome with fright by the power of the words and the magnitude of the vision and fell to the ground because of this. And he says that he was prostrate that he might adore the angel of truth "who showed these things to me." — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:8
Apocalipse 22:9
Since there is no pride in the servant nor any vanity in the saints, [the angel] immediately exhorts him [not to worship him].… The angel proclaims that nothing is equal to the Creator, and he declares that nothing can be offered to another that is owed to the Lord God only. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:9
Apocalipse 22:10
He says that the time of retribution and of the end is near. With heavenly words he indicates the dire reason why those things that were commanded and spoken ought not be left in silence. Rather, they were written for the admonition of all. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:10
Apocalipse 22:11
The angel does not desire that sinners perish. He rather warns those who do iniquity so that hearing the sound of a celestial threat, they might wish to abstain from evil works. Moreover, that the righteous might be made even better, he says, "Let the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." [He says this] that they might realize the imminent coming of the Lord and that they might more easily keep themselves from sin and from that time forward always devote themselves to holiness and righteousness. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:11
Apocalipse 22:14
He calls those blessed who either wash their nuptial garment in the blood of the Lord's passion through the washing of regeneration which they receive or who through the sorrow of their heart and with tears accomplish the washing away of sins committed at the present time. He indicates that without doubt these will have the right to possess the tree of life. This is that right, that they see the face of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is true life, and rejoice, and that they desire to be admitted to his presence through the gates, that is, through the doctrine of the apostles and the prophets, which they worked to fulfill. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:14
Apocalipse 22:15
Those who are outside the congregation of the saints will be manifestly thrown out of the ark of blessedness. He moreover declares by whose authority these things have been shown or said to saint John when he continues, "I, Jesus …" — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:15
Apocalipse 22:16
This is that star of truth by which the magi themselves were led to his salutary presence. For our exposition can bring forward nothing more clearly than do the very words of this book. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:16
Apocalipse 22:17
The Holy Spirit and the church call all to come to salvation.… And whoever keeps the words of this prophecy and hears him whom the Lord himself has commanded [to speak], he is worthy to be taught. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:17
Apocalipse 22:17
Salvation is given without any price and without any barter. Rather, he who desires to be saved, he will enter and will either receive free of charge the regeneration of baptism, or he will receive the remedy of repentance without cost or charge. The prophet spoke in a similar manner: "All who thirst, come to the waters; and you who have no money, hasten, come, buy and eat." — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:17
Apocalipse 22:18-19
It is not that he denies that the words that he had spoken were not to be explained. Rather, around that very time in which the saint had his vision, the error of various teachers and heretics began to emerge and to take their rise. Therefore, in order that no one promoting error might through the usual deceit of their error intend either to add or to subtract from his words and in that way seek to confirm their views by the witness of this most holy man, he determined to conclude his book with this warning. And that no one might think that what he said was merely a human opinion, he now mentions [the Lord Jesus Christ] who is the author of these things. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:18-19
Apocalipse 22:20
"He who testifies to these things says," that is, the very same Lord Jesus Christ who commanded me to write these things, "Surely, I am coming soon." He makes known the certainty and the quickness of his coming. And already certain of his own blessedness, this saint fervently declares, "Come, Lord Jesus!" May the almighty Jesus Christ grant to us that as we earnestly await his coming we might, with his protection, keep ourselves from every grave sin, and that when our desire is fulfilled, he find nothing in us worthy of punishment. But should there be anything to pardon, may he nevertheless have mercy upon the accused and not condemn the sinner. May he with whom the blessed One lives and reigns forever grant this. Amen. — TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:20