The interpretation timeline

Rev 8:5

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

7 Patristic witnesses · 2 Medieval witnesses

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Patristic before A.D. 750
Ticonius · d. A.D. 390 A.D. 390
“The Lord received his body, that is, the church, and filled her with fire from the altar to accomplish the Father's will. This is to say that he filled [the church] with the power of loosing and of binding, which consists in sacrifices and the propitiation of God. Therefore, it is also said, "Who makes the winds his messengers and burning fire his ministers." For in them the church received all power in heaven and on earth, while she perfected the sacrifice of God, first of all the Lord offering up himself and the saints presenting their own bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. And he cast it upon the earth, for through the preaching of the church knowledge of the future judgment comes to the world, as Zechariah says, "I will place the officers of Judah as a flaming fire." … "And there were thunders and voices and lightning and earthquakes." All of these things are spiritual and have to do with the church. The voices are of those who reproach and who threaten, the "broods of vipers" and following. Or, [the voices say], "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The thunder is the proclamation of the Christian faith; the lightning represents the virtues of those have have been made whole; the earthquakes are persecutions that are foretold to come and that are suffered at various times.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8:5) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
152 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Caesarius of Arles · c. A.D. 470–542 A.D. 542
“Jesus received his body, that is, the church, and he filled her with the fire of the Holy Spirit in order that the will of the Father might be fulfilled. "And there were voices and thunder and lightning and earthquakes." All of these things are the spiritual proclamations and virtues of the church.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 8:5, HOMILY 6) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Andreas of Caesarea · c. A.D. 563–637 A.D. 637
“The prayers of the saints offered through an administering angel cause the censer filled with the avenging fire to be poured out upon the earth. This is just as it was revealed long ago to Ezekiel by one of the cherubim, that he should receive from such a fire and give it to the angels that they might send the fire for the punishment of the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem. And every high priest is representative of such an angel, for as a mediator between God and people, he carries up their petitions and brings down God's redemption, and he turns some sinners to repentance either by word or by harsher chastisements.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8:4-5) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Bede · A.D. 673–735 A.D. 735
“And the angel took the censer, etc. Rightly he introduces the censer filled with fire. For God does not give the Spirit by measure (John 3). This we properly know was fulfilled in the humanity of Christ, in whom all the fullness of the Divinity dwells bodily (Colossians 2).”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (Commentary on Revelation) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Bede · A.D. 673–735 A.D. 735
“And there were thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake. With the thunder of divine threat, and the voice of exhortation, and the lightning of miracles, He moved the earth, some following, others preceding, these saying: "He is good," but others: "No, but he deceives the people" (John 7).”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (Commentary on Revelation) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Medieval c. 750 – 1100
Alcuin of York · c. A.D. 735–804 A.D. 804
“And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it on the earth. The angel took the censer when the Lord joined human nature to himself within the Virgin's womb; or we may take it as referring to the body, when he first chose his disciples in Judea. Since the angel, the censer, and the altar are one body, we should understand the censer being said to have been filled with the fire of the altar as if he were saying, "Both the Head and the body have been kindled with no other fire but their own, that is the Holy Spirit." Then he cast it on the earth, that is, he brought it into this pagan people; whence it is fittingly said after that, And there were thunders and voices, that is terrors caused by preachings, and lightnings, that is miraculous signs, and an earthquake, that is persecutions.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (COMMENTARY ON REVELATION) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Alcuin of York · c. A.D. 735–804 A.D. 804
“QUESTION: What is meant by what is said in the second book after a few words, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings, and a great earthquake? ANSWER: He moved the earth with the thunder of heavenly threats, the voice of exhortation, the lightning of miracles, and the examples of the saints.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗
Undated date unknown
Oecumenius · c. A.D. 550
“Then the divine angel took the censer, filled it with the fire of God, and threw it to the earth; and there were voices, sounds of thunder, lightning flashes, and an earthquake. Perhaps one of the angels cast this divine fire upon Mount Sinai, and there were sounds of thunder, voices, trumpets, flashes of lightning, and the mountain was covered with smoke as God descended upon it. Just as then the thunder and the signs preceded, so now these things have preceded the glorious coming of the Lord.”
Historical Christian Faith commentaries database, on Rev 8:5 (Commentary on Revelation) PD · Historical Christian Faith commentaries database ↗

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