Revelation 5:14

The prologue is brought to a splendid close by “amen” from the four ζῷα, who have the last as they had the first word (Revelation 4:8), followed by silent adoration from the πρεσβύτεροι. As in the liturgical practice of early Christian assemblies, so in the celestial court, the solemn chant of praise to God is succeeded by the “amen” (“ad similitudinem tonitrui … amen reboat,” Jerome); [911], Areth., etc. Alf., bring this out by reading here τὸ Ἀμήν. By prefacing the struggle on earth (Revelation 5:6 f.) with a vision of the brilliant authority and awe of heaven (Revelation 5:4-5), the prophet suggests that all the movements of men on earth, as well as the physical catastrophes which overtake them, are first fore-shadowed in heaven (the underlying principle of astrology, cf. Jeremias, 84 f.) and consequently have a providential meaning. In 4., 5. the writer takes his readers behind the scenes; the whole succeeding tide of events is shown to flow from the will of God as creator of the universe, whose executive authority is delegated to Jesus the redeemer of his people. This tide breaks in two cycles of seven waves, the seventh (Revelation 8:1) of the first series (Revelation 6:1 to Revelation 7:17) issuing in a fresh cycle (Revelation 8:2 to Revelation 11:19) instead of forming itself (as we should expect) the climax of these preliminary catastrophes in nature and humanity, disasters which were interpreted (R. J. 237 239) as the premonitory outbursts of an angry deity ready to visit the earth with final punishment. Observe that throughout the Apocalypse wind and fire are among God's scourges handled by angels in order to punish the earth and the waters, according to the conception preserved in Apol. Arist. 2: “Moreover, the wind is obedient to God, and fire to the angels; the waters also to the daemons, and earth to the sons of men” (Ante-Nicene Library, ix. 257 f.). The visitation is divinely complete, sevenfold like Ezekiel's oracles against the nations (ver 25 32). Revelation 6-9 has, for its staple, little more than a poetic elaboration of Mark 13:8 (Mark 13:24-25), international complications due to the scuffling and strife of peoples, and physical disasters as a fit setting for them.

[911] An eighth century version of Codex Vaticanus

The vision of the seven seals opened (Revelation 6:1 to Revelation 8:2): Revelation 6:1-2, a Parthian invasion.