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            THE APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE

Chapter 1

St. John is ordered to write to the seven churches in Asia. The manner

of Christ's appearing to him.

1:1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make

known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and

signified, sending by his angel to his servant John,

The things which must shortly come;. . .and again it is said, ver. 3,

The time is at hand. . .This can not be meant of all the things

prophesied in the Apocalypse, where mention is made also of the day of

judgment, and of the glory of heaven at the end of the world. That some

things were to come to pass shortly, is evident, by what is said to the

Seven Churches, chap. 2 and 3, Or that the persecutions foretold should

begin shortly. Or that these words signified, that all time is short,

and that from the coming of Christ, we are now in the last age or last

hour. See 1 John 2.18.

1:2. Who hath given testimony to the word of God and the testimony of

Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen.

1:3. Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy:

and keepeth those things which are written in it. For the time is at

hand.

1:4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be unto you

and peace, from him that is and that was and that is to come: and from

the seven spirits which are before his throne:

1:5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first

begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath

loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood

1:6. And hath made us a kingdom, and priests to God and his Father. To

him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.

1:7. Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him:

and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall

bewail themselves because of him. Even so. Amen.

1:8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord

God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

I am Alpha and Omega. . .These are the names of the first and last

letters of the Greek alphabet, and signify the same as what follows:

The beginning and the end: the first cause and last end of all beings:

who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. . .These words

signify the true God only, and are here applied to our Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ, who is to come again to judge the living and the dead.

1:9. I, John, your brother and your partner in tribulation and in the

kingdom and patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island which is called

Patmos, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus.

1:10. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great

voice, as of a trumpet,

1:11. Saying: What thou seest, write in a book and send to the seven

churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamus

and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

1:12. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being

turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks:

1:13. And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to

the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about

the paps with a golden girdle.

1:14. And his head and his hairs were white as white wool and as snow.

And his eyes were as a flame of fire:

1:15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And

his voice as the sound of many waters.

1:16. And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came

out a sharp two-edged sword. And his face was as the sun shineth in his

power.

1:17. And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid

his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last,

1:18. And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever

and have the keys of death and of hell.

1:19. Write therefore the things which thou hast seen: and which are:

and which must be done hereafter.

1:20. The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right

hand and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels

of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven

churches.

Chapter 2

Directions what to write to the angels or bishops of Ephesus, Smyrna,

Pergamus and Thyatira.

2:1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith

he who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the

midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

2:2. I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou

canst not bear them that are evil. And thou hast tried them who say

they are apostles and are not: and hast found them liars:

2:3. And thou hast patience and hast endured for my name and hast not

fainted.

2:4. But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first

charity.

2:5. Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance

and do the first works. Or else I come to thee and will move thy

candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.

2:6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaites,

which I also hate.

2:7. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches: To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life

which is in the paradise of my God.

2:8. And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith

the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive:

2:9. I know thy tribulation and thy poverty: but thou art rich. And

thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but are

the synagogue of Satan.

2:10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the

devil will cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried: and you

shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death: and I

will give thee the crown of life.

2:11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches: He that shall overcome shall not be hurt by the second death.

2:12. And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things

saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

2:13. I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is. And thou

holdest fast my name and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days

when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where

Satan dwelleth.

2:14. But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there

them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balac to cast a

stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat and to commit

fornication.

2:15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites.

2:16. In like manner do penance. If not, I will come to thee quickly

and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

2:17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches: To him that overcometh I will give the hidden manna and will

give him a white counter: and in the counter, a new name written, which

no man knoweth but he that receiveth it.

2:18. And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things

saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire and his

feet like to fine brass.

2:19. I know thy works and thy faith and thy charity and thy ministry

and thy patience and thy last works, which are more than the former.

2:20. But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the

woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce

my servants, to commit fornication and to eat of things sacrificed to

idols.

2:21. And I gave her a time that she might do penance: and she will not

repent of her fornication.

2:22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery

with her shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance

from their deeds,

2:23. And I will kill her children with death: and all the churches

shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts. And I will

give to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say

2:24. And to the rest who are at Thyatira: Whosoever have not this

doctrine and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say: I

will not put upon you any other burthen.

2:25. Yet that which you have, hold fast till I come.

2:26. And he that shall overcome and keep my words unto the end, I will

give him power over the nations.

Power over the nations. . .This shews, that the saints, who are with

Christ our Lord in heaven, receive power from him to preside over

nations and provinces, as patrons; and shall come with him at the end

of the world to execute his will against those who have not kept his

commandments.

2:27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and as the vessel of a

potter they shall be broken:

2:28. As I also have received of my Father. And I will give him the

morning star.

2:29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches.

Chapter 3

Directions what to write to Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

3:1. And to the angel of the church of Sardis write: These things saith

he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know thy

works, and that thou hast the name of being alive. And thou art dead.

3:2. Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready

to die. For I find not thy works full before my God.

3:3. Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and

heard: and observe and do penance: If then thou shalt not watch, I will

come to thee as a thief: and thou shalt not know at what hour I will

come to thee.

3:4. But thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their

garments: and they shall walk with me in white, because they are

worthy.

3:5. He that shall overcome shall thus be clothed in white garments:

and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. And I will

confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

3:6. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches.

3:7. And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write: These things

saith the Holy One and the true one, he that hath the key of David, he

that openeth and no man shutteth, shutteth and no man openeth:

3:8. I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened,

which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength and hast

kept my word and hast not denied my name.

3:9. Behold, I will bring of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are

Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and

adore before thy feet. And they shall know that I have loved thee.

3:10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep

thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the whole world

to try them that dwell upon the earth.

3:11. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no

man take thy crown.

3:12. He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of

my God: and he shall go out no more. And I will write upon him the name

of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which

cometh down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.

3:13. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches.

3:14. And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: These things

saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of

the creation of God:

The Amen,. . .that is, the true one, the Truth itself; the Word and Son

of God. The beginning. . .that is, the principle, the source, and the

efficient cause of the whole creation.

3:15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would

thou wert cold or hot.

3:16. But because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will

begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

3:17. Because thou sayest: I am rich and made wealthy and have need of

nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor

and blind and naked.

3:18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold, fire tried, that thou mayest be

made rich and mayest be clothed in white garments: and that the shame

of thy nakedness may not appear. And anoint thy eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.

3:19. Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore and

do penance.

3:20. Behold, I stand at the gate and knock. If any man shall hear my

voice and open to me the door, I will come in to him and will sup with

him: and he with me.

3:21. To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my

throne: as I also have overcome and am set down with my Father in his

throne.

3:22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the

churches.

Chapter 4

The vision of the throne of God, the twenty-four ancients and the four

living creatures.

4:1. After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in

heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet

speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things

which must be done hereafter.

4:2. And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, there was a

throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.

4:3. And he that sat was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine

stone. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like

unto an emerald.

4:4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon

the seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments.

And on their heads were crowns of gold.

4:5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders.

And there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the

seven Spirits of God.

4:6. And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass

like to crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the

throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind.

4:7. And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second

living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the

face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an

eagle flying.

4:8. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings: and

round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day

and night, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who

is and who is to come.

4:9. And when those living creatures gave glory and honour and

benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and

ever:

4:10. The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on

the throne and adored him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their

crowns before the throne, saying:

4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and

power. Because thou hast created all things: and for thy will they were

and have been created.

Chapter 5

The book sealed with seven seals is opened by the Lamb, who thereupon

receives adoration and praise from all.

5:1. And I saw, in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a

book, written within and without, sealed with seven seals.

5:2. And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is

worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?

5:3. And no man was able, neither in heaven nor on earth nor under the

earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.

5:4. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book,

nor to see it.

5:5. And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not: behold the lion of

the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book

and to loose the seven seals thereof.

5:6. And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four

living creatures and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing, as

it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven

Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

5:7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that

sat on the throne.

5:8. And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the

four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of

them harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of

saints.

The prayers of saints. . .Here we see that the saints in heaven offer up

to Christ the prayers of the faithful upon earth.

5:9. And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to

take the book and to open the seals thereof: because thou wast slain

and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe and

tongue and people and nation:

5:10. And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall

reign on the earth.

5:11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about

the throne and the living creatures and the ancients (and the number of

them was thousands of thousands),

5:12. Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to

receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honour and glory

and benediction.

5:13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under

the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I

heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb,

benediction and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.

5:14. And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty

ancients fell down on their faces and adored him that liveth for ever

and ever.

Chapter 6

What followed upon opening six of the seals.

6:1. And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals: and I

heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of

thunder, saying: Come and see.

6:2. And I saw: and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a

bow, and there was a crown given him, and he went forth conquering that

he might conquer.

White horse. . .He that sitteth on the white horse is Christ, going

forth to subdue the world by his gospel. The other horses that follow

represent the judgments and punishment that were to fall on the enemies

of Christ and his church. The red horse signifies war; the black horse,

famine; and the pale horse (which has Death for its rider), plagues or

pestilence.

6:3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living

creature saying: Come and see.

6:4. And there went out another horse that was red. And to him that sat

thereon, it was given that he should take peace from the earth: and

that they should kill one another. And a great sword was given to him.

6:5. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living

creature saying: Come and see. And behold a black horse. And he that

sat on him had a pair of scales in his hand.

6:6. And I heard, as it were a voice in the midst of the four living

creatures, saying: Two pounds of wheat for a penny, and thrice two

pounds of barley for a penny: and see thou hurt not the wine and the

oil.

6:7. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the

fourth living creature saying: Come and see.

6:8. And behold a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was

Death. And hell followed him. And power was given to him over the four

parts of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine and with death and

with the beasts of the earth.

6:9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the

souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony

which they held.

Under the altar. . .Christ, as man, is this altar, under which the souls

of the martyrs live in heaven, as their bodies are here deposited under

our altars.

6:10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord (Holy

and True), dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell

on the earth?

Revenge our blood. . .They ask not this out of hatred to their enemies,

but out of zeal for the glory of God, and a desire that the Lord would

accelerate the general judgment, and the complete beatitude of all his

elect.

6:11. And white robes were given to every one of them one; And it was

said to them that they should rest for a little time till their fellow

servants and their brethren, who are to be slain even as they, should

be filled up.

6:12. And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal: and behold there

was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair:

and the whole moon became as blood.

6:13. And the stars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig tree

casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind.

6:14. And the heaven departed as a book folded up. And every mountain,

and the islands, were moved out of their places.

6:15. And the kings of the earth and the princes and tribunes and the

rich and the strong and every bondman and every freeman hid themselves

in the dens and in the rocks of mountains:

6:16. And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us and

hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the

wrath of the Lamb.

6:17. For the great day of their wrath is come. And who shall be able

to stand?

Chapter 7

The number of them that were marked with the seal of the living God and

clothed in white robes.

7:1. After these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners

of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that they should not

blow upon the earth nor upon the sea nor on any tree.

7:2. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun,

having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to

the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

7:3. Saying: Hurt not the earth nor the sea nor the trees, till we sign

the servants of our God in their foreheads.

7:4. And I heard the number of them that were signed. An hundred

forty-four thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of

Israel.

7:5. Of the tribe of Juda, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of

Ruben, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand

signed:

7:6. Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of

Nephthali, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Manasses, twelve

thousand signed:

7:7. Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of

Levi, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand

signed:

7:8. Of the tribe of Zabulon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of

Joseph, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve

thousand signed.

7:9. After this, I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of

all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the

throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in

their hands.

7:10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God,

who sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb.

7:11. And all the angels stood round about the throne and the ancients

and the four living creatures. And they fell down before the throne

upon their faces and adored God,

7:12. Saying: Amen. Benediction and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,

honour and power and strength, to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

7:13. And one of the ancients answered and said to me: These that are

clothed in white robes, who are they? And whence came they?

7:14. And I said to him: My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me:

These are they who are come out of great tribulation and have washed

their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

7:15. Therefore, they are before the throne of God: and they serve him

day and night in his temple. And he that sitteth on the throne shall

dwell over them.

7:16. They shall no more hunger nor thirst: neither shall the sun fall

on them, nor any heat.

7:17. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall rule

them and shall lead them to the fountains of the waters of life: and

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Chapter 8

The seventh seal is opened. The angels with the seven trumpets.

8:1. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in

heaven, as it were for half an hour.

8:2. And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God: and there

were given to them seven trumpets.

8:3. And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden

censer: and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer

of the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which is before the

throne of God.

8:4. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended

up before God from the hand of the angel.

8:5. And the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the

altar and cast it on the earth: and there were thunders and voices and

lightnings and a great earthquake.

8:6. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared

themselves to sound the trumpet.

8:7. And the first angel sounded the trumpet: and there followed hail

and fire, mingled with blood: and it was cast on the earth. And the

third part of the earth was burnt up: and the third part of the trees

was burnt up: and all green grass was burnt up.

8:8. And the second angel sounded the trumpet: and, as it were, a great

mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea. And the third part

of the sea became blood.

8:9. And the third part of those creatures died which had life in the

sea: and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

8:10. And the third angel sounded the trumpet: and a great star fell

from heaven, burning as it were a torch. And it fell on the third part

of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters:

8:11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And the third part

of the waters became wormwood. And many men died of the waters, because

they were made bitter.

8:12. And the fourth angel sounded the trumpet: and the third part of

the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part

of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day

did not shine for a third part of it: and the night in like manner.

8:13. And I beheld: and heard the voice of one eagle flying through the

midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, Woe, Woe to the

inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the rest of the voices of the

three angels, who are yet to sound the trumpet!

Chapter 9

Locusts come forth from the bottomless pit. The vision of the army of

horsemen.

9:1. And the fifth angel sounded the trumpet: and I saw a star fall

from heaven upon the earth. And there was given to him the key of the

bottomless pit.

A star full. . .This may mean the fall and apostasy of great and learned

men from the true faith. Or a whole nation falling into error and

separating from the church, not having the sign of God in their

foreheads. And there was given to him the key of the bottomless

pit. . .That is, to the angel, not to the fallen star. To this angel was

given the power, which is here signified by a key, of opening hell.

9:2. And he opened the bottomless pit: and the smoke of the pit arose,

as the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened

with the smoke of the pit.

9:3. And from the smoke of the pit there came out locusts upon the

earth. And power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have

power.

There came out locusts. . .These may be devils in Antichrist's time,

having the appearance of locusts, but large and monstrous, as here

described. Or they may be real locusts, but of an extraordinary size

and monstrous shape, such as were never before seen on earth, sent to

torment those who have not the sign (or seal) of God on their

foreheads. Some commentators by these locusts understand heretics, and

especially those heretics, that sprung from Jews, and with them denied

the divinity of Jesus Christ; as Theodotus, Praxeas, Noetus, Paul of

Samosata, Sabellius, Arius, etc. These were great enemies of the

Christian religion; they tormented and infected the souls of men,

stinging them like scorpions, with the poison of their heresies. Others

have explained these locusts, and other animals, mentioned in different

places throughout this sacred and mystical book, in a most absurd,

fanciful, and ridiculous manner; they make Abaddon the Pope, and the

locusts to be friars mendicant, etc. Here it is thought proper, not to

enter into any controversy upon that subject, as the inventors of these

fancies have been already answered, and fully refuted by many

controvertists: besides, those who might be inposed on by such

chimerical writers, are in these days much better informed.

9:4. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of

the earth nor any green thing nor any tree: but only the men who have

not the sign of God on their foreheads.

9:5. And it was given unto them that they should not kill them: but

that they should torment them five months. And their torment was as the

torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man.

9:6. And in those days, men shall seek death and shall not find it. And

they shall desire to die: and death shall fly from them.

9:7. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto

battle. And on their heads were, as it were, crowns like gold: and

their faces were as the faces of men.

9:8. And they had hair as the hair of women: and their teeth were as

lions.

9:9. And they had breastplates as breastplates of iron: and the noise

of their wings was as the noise of chariots and many horses running to

battle.

9:10. And they had tails like to scorpions: and there were stings in

their tails. And their power was to hurt men, five months. And they had

over them

9:11. A king, the angel of the bottomless pit (whose name in Hebrew is

Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon, in Latin Exterminans).

9:12. One woe is past: and behold there come yet two woes more

hereafter.

9:13. And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet: and I heard a voice from

the four horns of the golden altar which is before the eyes of God,

9:14. Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet: Loose the four

angels who are bound in the great river Euphrates.

9:15. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour,

and a day, and a month, and a year: for to kill the third part of men.

9:16. And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times

ten thousand. And I heard the number of them.

9:17. And thus I saw the horses in the vision. And they that sat on

them had breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone. And the

heads of the horses were as the heads of lions: and from their mouths

proceeded fire and smoke and brimstone.

9:18. And by these three plagues was slain the third part of men, by

the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which issued out of

their mouths.

9:19. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their

tails. For, their tails are like to serpents and have heads: and with

them they hurt.

9:20. And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did

not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not

adore devils and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood,

which neither can see nor hear nor walk:

9:21. Neither did they penance from their murders nor from their

sorceries nor from their fornication nor from their thefts.

Chapter 10

The cry of a mighty angel. He gives John a book to eat.

10:1. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed

with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head: and his face, as the sun,

and his feet as pillars of fire.

10:2. And he had in his hand a little book, open. And he set his right

foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.

10:3. And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when

he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

10:4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about

to write. And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Seal up the

things which the seven thunders have spoken. And write them not.

10:5. And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth

lifted up his hand to heaven.

10:6. And he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created

heaven and the things which are therein, and the earth and the things

which are in it, and the sea and the things which are therein: That

time shall be no longer.

10:7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall

begin to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he

hath declared by his servants the prophets.

Declared. . .literally evangelized, to signify the good tidings,

agreeable to the Gospel, of the final victory of Christ, and of that

eternal life, which should be the reward of the temporal sufferings of

the martyrs and faithful servants of God.

10:8. And I heard a voice from heaven, again speaking to me and saying:

Go and take the book that is open, from the hand of the angel who

standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

10:9. And I went to the angel, saying unto him that he should give me

the book. And he said to me: Take the book and eat it up. And it shall

make thy belly bitter: but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.

10:10. And I took the book from the hand of the angel and ate it up:

and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey. And when I had eaten it, my

belly was bitter.

10:11. And he said to me: Thou must prophesy again to many nations and

peoples and tongues and kings.

Chapter 11

He is ordered to measure the temple. The two witnesses.

11:1. And there was given me a reed, like unto a rod. And it was said

to me: Arise, and measure the temple of God and the altar and them that

adore therein.

11:2. But the court which is without the temple, cast out and measure

it not: because it is given unto the Gentiles. And the holy city they

shall tread under foot, two and forty months:

11:3. And I will give unto my two witnesses: and they shall prophesy, a

thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

My two witnesses. . .It is commonly understood of Henoch and Elias.

11:4. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks that stand

before the Lord of the earth.

11:5. And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their

mouths and shall devour their enemies. And if any man will hurt them,

in this manner must he be slain.

11:6. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of

their prophecy: And they have power over waters, to turn them into

blood and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

11:7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that

ascendeth out of the abyss shall make war against them and shall

overcome them and kill them.

11:8. And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city which

is called spiritually, Sodom and Egypt: where their Lord also was

crucified.

11:9. And they of the tribes and peoples and tongues and nations shall

see their bodies for three days and a half: and they shall not suffer

their bodies to be laid in sepulchres.

11:10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and

make merry: and shall send gifts one to another, because these two

prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth.

11:11. And after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God

entered into them. And they stood upon their feet: and great fear fell

upon them that saw them.

11:12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them: Come

up hither. And they went up to heaven in a cloud: and their enemies saw

them.

11:13. And at that hour there was made a great earthquake: and the

tenth part of the city fell. And there were slain in the earthquake,

names of men, seven thousand: and the rest were cast into a fear and

gave glory to the God of heaven.

11:14. The second woe is past: and behold the third woe will come

quickly.

11:15. And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet: and there were great

voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is become our

Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Amen.

11:16. And the four and twenty ancients who sit on their seats in the

sight of God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying:

11:17. We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art and who wast

and who art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power,

and thou hast reigned.

11:18. And the nations were angry: and thy wrath is come. And the time

of the dead, that they should be judged and that thou shouldest render

reward to thy servants the prophets and the saints, and to them that

fear thy name, little and great: and shouldest destroy them who have

corrupted the earth.

11:19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his

testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices

and an earthquake and great hail.

Chapter 12

The vision of the woman clothed with the sun and of the great dragon

her persecutor.

12:1. And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the

sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve

stars.

A woman. . .The church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to

our blessed Lady. The church is clothed with the sun, that is, with

Christ: she hath the moon, that is, the changeable things of the world,

under her feet: and the twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the

twelve apostles: she is in labour and pain, whilst she brings forth her

children, and Christ in them, in the midst of afflictions and

persecutions.

12:2. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in

pain to be delivered.

12:3. And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red

dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven

diadems.

12:4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast

them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready

to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour

her son.

12:5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations

with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.

12:6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place

prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two

hundred sixty days.

12:7. And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels

fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels.

12:8. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in

heaven.

12:9. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is

called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was

cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.

12:10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come

salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his

Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused

them before our God day and night.

12:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word

of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.

12:12. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe

to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you,

having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

12:13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he

persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child.

12:14. And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle,

that she might fly into the desert, unto her place, where she is

nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the

serpent.

12:15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water,

as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the

river.

12:16. And the earth helped the woman: and the earth opened her mouth

and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

12:17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war

with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have

the testimony of Jesus Christ.

12:18. And he stood upon the sand of the sea.

Chapter 13

Of the beast with seven heads and of a second beast.

13:1. And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and

ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names

of blasphemy.

A beast. . .This first beast with seven heads and ten horns, is probably

the whole company of infidels, enemies and persecutors of the people of

God, from the beginning to the end of the world. The seven heads are

seven kings, that is, seven principal kingdoms or empires, which have

exercised, or shall exercise, tyrannical power over the people of God;

of these, five were then fallen, viz.: the Egyptian, Assyrian,

Chaldean, Persian, and Grecian monarchies: one was present, viz., the

empire of Rome: and the seventh and chiefest was to come, viz., the

great Antichrist and his empire. The ten horns may be understood of ten

lesser persecutors.

13:2. And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard: and his feet

were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And

the dragon gave him his own strength and great power.

13:3. And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his

death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the

beast.

One of his heads, etc. . .Some understand this of the mortal wound,

which the idolatry of the Roman empire (signified by the sixth head)

received from Constantine; which was, as it were, healed again by

Julian the Apostate.

13:4. And they adored the dragon which gave power to the beast. And

they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? And who shall

be able to fight with him?

13:5. And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and

blasphemies: and power was given to him to do, two and forty months.

13:6. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to

blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.

His tabernacle, etc. . .That is, his church and his saints.

13:7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to

overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe and people and

tongue and nation.

13:8. And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not

written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the

beginning of the world.

Slain from the beginning, etc. . .In the foreknowledge of God; and

inasmuch as all mercy and grace, from the beginning, was given in view

of his death and passion.

13:9. If any man have an ear, let him hear.

13:10. He that shall lead into captivity shall go into captivity: he

that shall kill by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the

patience and the faith of the saints.

13:11. And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth: and he had

two horns, like a lamb: and he spoke as a dragon.

Another beast. . .This second beast with two horns, may be understood of

the heathenish priests and magicians; the principal promoters both of

idolatry and persecution.

13:12. And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight.

And he caused the earth and them that dwell therein to adore the first

beast, whose wound to death was healed.

13:13. And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down

from heaven unto the earth, in the sight of men.

13:14. And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs which

were given him to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that

dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which

had the wound by the sword and lived.

13:15. And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and

that the image of the beast should speak: and should cause that

whosoever will not adore the image of the beast should be slain.

13:16. And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor,

freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand or on

their foreheads:

13:17. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the

character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

13:18. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the

number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of