The War in HeavenYou may ask: “Then why was Revelation written if we can’t interpret it?” It’s written to show the warfare taking place in the spiritual realm, to show the serious war that the antichrist, the devil, wages against Christ.
Part 23
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time (Rev. 12:12). He speaks to those who conquered by the Blood of the Lamb. Let us remember how important it is to be united with Christ, communing of His Body and Blood. Let us be witnesses and confessors through our words and deeds. Let us not fear death. The devil has fallen, and Heaven rejoices with those who dwell in it. Since the Ascension of the Lord to Heaven, Since His Crucifixion and the completion of the whole economy that brought man to Heaven, Heaven is open. And people enjoy this blessing of the Kingdom of God. And vice versa. While Heaven and those who live there rejoice, grief comes to earth and the sea. Woe to those who live on earth and in the sea, for the devil has come down there with great fury, knowing that his time is short. It appears that this is talking about how after the Crucifixion and the salvation of the world according to the Divine economy, when the devil was cast down to earth, those living on earth will experience various temptations, trials, and sorrows, which will be orchestrated by the devil, who is enraged because his days are numbered. Why is he furious? Because he hates God; the devil doesn’t desire God. And seeing that little time remains, his fury creates such a state of affairs. The devil becomes very irritated when someone tells him he has little time left.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man Child (Rev. 12:13). As we’ve said, this woman is the Church. As soon as the Lord completed the work of the economy of the salvation of man, as soon as Christ ascended into Heaven and the events of Pentecost took place, persecution immediately began. The first three years were unspeakable, terrible torments, followed by persecution of various kinds—heresies, schisms, scandals, incidents within the Church. The Church is in constant persecution, although it’s perhaps not the persecution of the first centuries (there were similar persecutions in other countries quite recently).
The Dragon Ready to Devour the Child, Giusto de’ Menabuoi, 14th C.
We’re constantly learning about new martyrs in countries where people are persecuted for their love of Christ. As clerics, monks, bishops, these people were put to death for their faith. Thousands of monks and clerics were killed in the countries of Eastern Europe during the political regimes that used to exist. For example, over the course of seventy years, 20–25,000 martyrs appeared in Russia just according to official documents, including St. Luke of Crimea, who is well known to us.
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Rev. 12:14). Time intervals of three and a half—we meet this number again, which we will see again. It’s said that the woman—the Church—had two wings. The Holy Fathers explain that these wings are the Old and New Testaments. The Church flies thanks to these wings.
And where is it flying to? To the desert, to its place. The desert is the place of the Church. We can reflect on this. When the mass persecution of Christians ceased after the first centuries, where did the Church establish itself to truly express the Gospel, to raise up saints, and strengthen the world? In monasticism, in the desert. The endless number of ascetics and holy monks who populated the desert, from then until today, preserve the experience and Tradition of the Church.
What does monasticism give us?
Many people ask: “What does monasticism give us?” Various things are suggested: monks write and preserve books, manuscripts, do embroidery, they host guests… But that’s not the essence of it. Monasticism offers something different.
The preservation and authenticity of Gospel preaching are maintained through monasticism. In the monastery, the experience of the early Christians, who shared everything and lived in community, is upheld. Monastic communities faithfully imprint the Gospel word and the saints’ experiences. However, salvation is not exclusive to the monastic order; it is found within the Church. The Church saves both monks and laity, with monasticism existing within the Church.
The Church faces challenges, symbolized by the serpent spewing water to flood and destroy it. Despite these trials, the Church endures and continues its path. The devil’s anger leads to war against those who keep God’s commandments and testify to Jesus Christ. To be true children of the Church, one must keep the commandments and share the testimony of Christ with others.
Keeping the commandments unites individuals with Christ, while sharing Christ’s testimony is essential for all Christians. St. John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of sharing the faith with others. It is crucial for Christians to openly discuss and spread the message of God, rather than keeping their faith hidden. They remain silent, afraid to express their belief in Christ, their love for Christ, or their connection with Christ through fasting, for fear of ridicule or criticism. This fear of speaking up and offering support to those in need is a sign of spiritual unhealthiness. A spiritually healthy person would not be able to stay silent in the face of another’s suffering or need for the word of God, as the lack of knowledge of the word of God leads to eternal suffering. It is our duty to speak up and offer guidance to those in need, to prevent them from straying from the path of righteousness. We must be attentive to observing God’s law both for our own sake and for the sake of our brothers and sisters, so that we may be a testament to Christ in this world and fulfill our obligations to the souls of others. Just as we are called to feed our brother when he is hungry, we must offer him the spiritual bread of the word of God, even if it means they may hunger again.
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