And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.
και εξηλθον οι επτα αγγελοι οι εχοντες τας επτα πληγας εκ του ναου OMIT εκ του ναου οι ησαν ενδεδυμενοι λινον καθαρον λαμπρον και περιεζωσμενοι περι τα στηθη ζωνας χρυσας
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
From this temple came the angels. As a sign of their purity, their nearness to the cornerstone, Christ, and the brightness of their virtues, they are clothed in linen garments, or in pure stone, as some manuscripts say.
They are girded about the breasts with golden girdles as a sign of their power, purity, honor, and authority in ministry.
It is customary for divine Scripture to call the tabernacle, built in the wilderness by Bezalel, the maker of the things created at that time, the tabernacle of testimony. It was the tabernacle of the testimonies and commandments of God.
For the ark of the covenant was there, as were the mercy seat, the table, the altars for incense and offerings, the lampstand, and everything God commanded holy Moses to prepare.
He said: "You shall make all things for Me according to the pattern I showed you on the mountain" (Ex 25:9). After the pattern of the ancient tabernacle, he also called the temple above the heavens, which abides forever, the tabernacle of testimony.
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.
Now the hidden mysteries foretold concerning Christ and the Church are disclosed. In the seven angels and the seven plagues the subject is the Church. Against her the hostile part has risen up with ceaseless plots.
For this reason he says that the plagues went out, that is, they went out for the defense of the saints. In them the Lord Christ first accepted suffering. Therefore He said to Paul: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4).
Or, as James observed, the time of judgment begins with the house of God. Indeed, a man may suffer for two reasons. Either divine justice punishes sins, as in the case of Pharaoh, or it tests virtues by a great trial, as in the case of Job.
For this very reason we read what was said of him: “The Lord has tested me as 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 angels and punishments prefigures universal destruction. Thus God often says in Leviticus: “I will strike you with seven plagues” (Lev 26:24).
“Clothed in pure and bright linen.” Mortification is commonly shown under the image of linen clothing. Therefore, if the blameless judgments of God are depicted through the symbolism of whiteness, the image of pure linen clothing is entirely fitting.
It also shows the slain as white as snow, when with unveiled face, as in a mirror, they behold the glory of the judgments of God (cf. 2 Cor 3:18).
“Girded with golden girdles.” We learn from the testimony of Scripture that gold signifies wisdom, for it says: “Receive wisdom as gold.”
This is fittingly arranged concerning the breast. According to the law, the priest often had to wear the logium there, that is, the breastplate.
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 also draws others to their continual glorification.
This vision corresponds to the song. For in order that all nations might worship God, the temple of the mysteries of God, once enclosed within the walls of one city, now began to be opened spiritually to the whole world.
“And out of the temple came the seven angels, having the seven plagues.” This is what Mark spoke of: “They went forth and preached everywhere” (Mk 16:20).
They are clothed in pure white stone, according to the Apostle’s words: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). He is the highest, chosen cornerstone.
But if you understand the singular placed here as a plural, it may be interpreted as the adornments of varied virtues.
In another translation it reads here: “pure bright linen.” This is understood as the mortification of the flesh in our teachers. So it is written: “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 again, to gird the breast with a golden girdle means to bind every movement of changing thoughts with the bond of the one love of God.
The bright clothing on the angels is an image of their purity. The golden girdles signify the power given to them by God.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 24 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS