Revelation 15:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From there, he says, the seven angels came out. From where else was it necessary to see God's heavenly ministers come out, if not from the heavenly temple?

According to John, they had seven plagues, which they were about to bring upon the earth. For at the consummation of the world there will be many signs, which Christ also mentioned in the Gospels when teaching about the last times.

The fact that the angels were clothed in pure and bright stone is a sign of their honor, purity, splendor, and their nature decisively turned toward the good, since they are clothed in Christ.

For in divine Scripture the Lord is called a stone. Thus, for example, in Isaiah: "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a precious, chosen stone" (Isa 28:16).

Another prophet said: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner" (Ps 117:22). The wise Paul persuades us to put on this stone: "Put on our Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its desires" (Rom 13:14).

For the one who has put Him on remains outside every soul-destroying desire.

For this reason we read what is said of him: "The Lord tested me like gold that has passed through fire. I have kept His ways, and have not departed from the commandments of His mouth" (Job 23:10-12).

I think that the number of the angels and punishments prefigures universal destruction, as God often says in Leviticus: "I will strike you with seven plagues" (Lev 26:24).

"Clothed in pure and bright linen." Mortification is usually shown under the image of linen clothing. Therefore, if the blameless judgments of God are depicted through the symbolism of the color white, then the image of pure linen clothing is perfectly fitting.

It shows that those slain are also white as snow, when with unveiled face they behold as in a mirror the glory of the judgments of God (see 2 Cor 3:18).

"Girded with golden girdles." We are taught that gold signifies wisdom by the testimony of Scripture, which says: "Receive wisdom as gold." Compare Prov 16:16: "How much better to get wisdom than gold!"

The arrangement around the breast is reasonable, since according to the Law the priest often had to wear the logium, that is, the breastplate, upon the breast.

Thus the mind, being itself well instructed in divine things, is moved not to despise but to glorify the judgments of God. By the brightness of gold, it draws others also to their continual glorification.

As here: "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor 9:27).

"Girded about the breasts with golden girdles." One who strives to preach mighty things must not only mortify the body, but also gird the breast with the golden girdle of wisdom.

Or this: to gird the breast with a golden girdle means to bind every movement of changeable thoughts with the bond of the one love of God.