Friday, May 15, 2020

Caesarius of Arles (470-542) and his (Non-Marian) Interpretation of Revelation 11:19 and 12:1



“And the temple of God was opened in heaven,” that is to say, the mysteries of the incarnation of Christ were discovered in the Church. “And the ark of his testament was seen in his temple,” these are the miracles of preaching of the dazzling splendor and of the struggles of the Church. (Exposition on Revelation, as cited by Early Church Fathers Study Bible New Testament [Litteral Truth Publishing], 576


And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet.” It is the Church which he sees here, having under her feet a part of herself, that is, hypocrites and bad Christians.” (Exposition on Revelation, as cited in Ibid., 577)


This is significant as, contra many modern Catholic apologists, Caesarius did not believe that the “tabernacle” in Rev 11:19 and the "woman" in 12:1 were references to Mary. On this, see the chapter on the Assumption in my book (available for free in PDF),