Tyrannius Rufinus

In his own words on Revelation

• Revelation 4:8

  "Almighty" is applied to him on account of the dominion he has over the universe. But the Father governs the universe through the Son, as the apostle himself states: "For through him were all things created, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers." Again, writing to the Hebrews, he states, "Because through him he made the world and appointed him heir of all things." By "appointed" we are to take him as meaning "generated." But if the Father made the world through him, and if through him all things were created and he is the heir of all things, it must be through him that he wields his sway over the universe. Just as light is generated from light and truth from truth, so Almighty is generated from Almighty. So we read in John's Apocalypse about the seraphim: "And they rested not day and night, saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of armies, who was, and who is, and is to come, the Almighty.' " He then who is to come is called Almighty. Who else is to come save Christ, the Son of God?

  COMMENTARY ON THE APOSTLES' CREED 5

• Revelation 5:5

  behold the lion. the death of Christ marked the defeat and the triumph over the demons. In fact, our Lion had captured all the prey that the hostile lion had conquered after destroying and crushing the man. Then, by coming back from the underworld and ascending on high, he made slavery his captive. Therefore in his sleep the Lion won and defeated every evil and destroyed the one who had the power of death. (Blessing of the Patriarchs 1.6)