A Byzantine Interpretation of the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar

Image of the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar, with an inscribed stone smashing the feet of the statue that says "Logos", which refers to the coming of Christ.

 

The Book of Daniel is an eschatological text (some believe it to be a 2nd century Hellenistic text) that contains the well-known dream of King Nebuchadnezzar with the statue of which each part is made of a different metal and symbolizes/prophesies five kingdoms or periods of rule.

The value of the metal gradually decreases from the first to the fifth Kingdom. The head of Gold (Babylon), body of Silver (Persians), thighs of Bronze (Hellenic civilization), which presumably means the legs of iron is Roman Civilization.

Regarding the fifth Kingdom, which are the feet of the statue and are made of a fragile mixture of iron and clay, opinions differ.

"There Shall Be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth" Depicted in a 14th Century Fresco

14th century fresco in the Narthex of the Church of Panagia Forviotissa (more popularly known as Panagia Asinou) in Cyprus

"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:49-50).

"For whereas He Himself is the sower, and that of His own field, and out of His own kingdom He gathers, it is quite clear that the present world also is His. But mark His unspeakable love to man, and His leaning to bounty, and His disinclination to punishment; in that, when He sows, He sows in His own person, but when He punishes, it is by others, that is, by the angels... For lest, on being told, 'They cast the bad away,' you should suppose that ruin to be without danger; by His interpretation He signified the punishment, saying, 'They will cast them into the furnace.' And He declared the gnashing of teeth, and the anguish, that it is unspeakable" (St. John Chrysostom)

 

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus About Life After Death

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

We regard Christ's parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus as the most suitable aid for guiding the reader into the subject "life after death". Therefore in what follows we shall analyse this parable in the simplest possible way.

We could make use of many patristic texts that interpret the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, but we shall not do so, because, as we have said, the aim of all that follows is to introduce the reader to the teaching of the Church on life after death.

What Elder Ambrose Lazaris Taught About Judgment Day

Elder Ambrose Lazaris used to say about the end of the world that it will last as long as the Six Psalms of Matins lasts, a few minutes.

At the time when we will be judged, in heaven the Angels will chant the Six Psalms [that is why we do not sit during the reading of the Six Psalms].

All people living at that time will experience death instantly and immediately after will be resurrected.

We will all be with our bodies in an intangible way, in another form, as the Evangelist Mark says, we will not take up space, but one will see and recognize the other and all will be at the age of thirty three years old.

God Is Fire (A Homily of St. John Maximovitch)

By St. John Maximovitch

"God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). When an object touches fire, it changes: it either burns out or hardens.

So a person, touching God, either perishes or is saved.

Fire is always fire! But from touching it, both ashes and steel are obtained, depending on what it touches.