APOCALYPSIS B. JOANNIS

• 709C

John the apostle and evangelist, chosen and beloved by Christ, was held the more abundantly in so great a love of affection that at the supper he reclined upon his breast, and that to him alone, standing by at the cross, he entrusted his own mother, so that to him whom, when he wished to marry, he had called to the embrace of virginity, he might also hand over the Virgin to be kept. And so, when for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ he obtained by lot his exile upon the island of Pathmos, there the Apocalypse, shown beforehand by the same one, is described, so that, as at the beginning of the canon, that is, of the book of Genesis, an incorruptible beginning is noted beforehand, so also an incorruptible end might be rendered through a virgin in the Apocalypse, saying: 709DI am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. This is John, who, knowing that the day of his going forth from the body had come upon him, having called his disciples together at Ephesus, went down into the dug-out place of his burial, and, his prayer completed, gave up his spirit, made as much a stranger to the pain of death as he is known to be alien from the corruption of the flesh. Yet the disposition of this Scripture, or the ordering of the book, is for this reason not expounded by us thing by thing, that to those who do not know there may be laid up a desire of inquiring, and to those who seek the fruit of labour, and to God the teaching of mastery may be preserved.

The Apocalypse of John has as many mysteries as it has words. I have said too little, and all 710Cpraise is beneath the merit of the volume. In the single words manifold understandings lie hidden.

VERS. 1.-- The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. He prepares his hearers, and renders them well-disposed and attentive, as also there: John to the seven Churches which are in Asia. Which he gave. According to his humanity Christ receives it from the Father and from the Word hypostatically joined to himself, and from the Holy Spirit. Which must come to pass. As if he should say: It is unavoidable but that they come to pass, and it is profitable that they come to pass. It behoves that the servants suffer tribulations shortly. Shortly. He says shortly, that they may prepare themselves, lest it be grievous to suffer. Shortly are the labours to be ended, and the rewards to be given. Brief the labour, hastened the glory.

VERS. 2.-- Who hath given testimony. Who testifies 710Dthat the words of Christ himself are true, held both concerning the Word, that is, the Divinity, and concerning the humanity of Jesus Christ. To the word of God. The Son is called the Word of God, because through him the Father was manifested in the world. In those things which he saw. [Vulg. Apc 1:2 quaecumque vidit, "whatsoever things he saw"] In those things which he saw bodily, as that he suffered and died, and in mind alone, as that he was with the Father before all things.

VERS. 3.-- Blessed. Christ gave these things to me, but blessed because he has received me. Blessed, because this is the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, etc. He that readeth. That is, he relates to others what he has heard: because many can hear from one who reads; or, they shall hear, [Vulg. Apc 1:3 audit, singular, "heareth"] and in this he notes the hearers, because they are many. Those alone are blessed who hear that they may lay up in mind; and they lay up in mind, that they may fulfil in work; and they fulfil in work, that they may 711Apossess eternal life. Keepeth those things. For not the hearers of the law, but the doers are just. He keeps them who does not violate the faith of Christ and of the Church, and fears the things threatened, and seeks the things promised. Truly is that man blessed, because neither is there a long delay of labour, and the rewards are near.

VERS. 4.-- To the seven churches. He writes principally to those churches of Asia over which he had been set as master, and by likeness to the others. God gave to Christ, Christ to John, but John to the churches, or, through the seven, to the universal Church. Because seven signify universality, or because they are enlightened by the sevenfold Spirit. In Asia. Asia is a lifting up, the Church therefore is now in a lifting up of virtues, or once of vices. This Asia is not that great third part of the world, but a certain province where there were seven cities, and seven churches 711Bwith seven bishops. Grace be unto you. He prepares his hearers in the salutation, and renders them well-disposed and attentive, as also in the prologue. Who is and who was. Eternally. But although he was born in time, he who once had been corruptible is now unchangeable through his humanity. Such is he to come, even if he does not appear such to the world. And from the seven spirits, who in the sight. Spirit. It sounds the same as charity. Whence to the Spirit is attributed the remission of sins, and the other gifts which are gifts of the whole Trinity, that we may understand the Trinity to work out of love alone. He is silent of the person of the Father, because concerning God the Creator no one had understood evil things, he sets down the person of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, concerning whom all heresies are born in the churches. Thrones. The thrones of God are his angels and holy men, in 711Cwhom God now sits and judges, lest in time to come he judge.

VERS. 5.-- The faithful witness. He says this because of those who despair of the death of Christ, as those who said: We thought that it was he that should have redeemed Israel (Luc. XXIV). [Vulg. Lc 24:21 nos autem sperabamus, "but we hoped"] The firstborn of the dead. As if he should say: Let it not terrify you, because he rose again, and is impassible. Or he is the first of those who mortify themselves, because he did no sin. The prince of the kings of the earth. The prince of the earthly powers, able to remove them, and, for the profit of his own or of the saints, permitting the ungodly to serve.

VERS. 6.-- And hath made us a kingdom to our God. [Vulg. Apc 1:6 et fecit nos regnum, et sacerdotes Deo et Patri suo, "and hath made us a kingdom, and priests to God and his Father"] That is, powerful to resist vices, and priests, that is, offering our own selves to God for ourselves and for our brethren.

VERS. 7.-- Behold he cometh, etc. And truly you ought 711Dto glorify him, because it is he who is to come to reward. With the clouds, that is, with the saints: because they were clouds in raining down doctrine upon others, and in working miracles; or, as he ascended in a cloud, so in a cloud will he come, by which we understand the clemency of God, whereby to the good there is refreshment and illumination, but to the evil terror and blinding. Which was also signified by the cloud whereby the children of Israel were led out of Egypt.

And shall see him. Another translation has: All the earth shall see such a one. As if he should say: Such shall they see him as the ungodly did not believe he would come. Every eye. The good shall see that they may rejoice, the evil that they may be confounded. They shall bewail. Or they shall dash themselves together over him, powerless to resist his command, after the likeness of a stone 712Aand of earthen vessels. Or they shall bewail themselves, that is, they shall grieve, looking back upon those who are founded upon him, because they shall not grieve so much over the torment itself, as that they shall be driven back from such fellowship.

VERS. 8.-- I am. Truly he will come, because he himself promises that he will come. Or, the salutation being set first, he renders them attentive, as if he should say: Believe not this to have been said by me, but by Christ himself. Alpha, the beginning. Before whom is none, or from whom all things began. Omega, the end. After whom is none, or in whom all things shall be ended.

VERS. 9.-- I John. The salutation being finished, he proceeds to the narration, setting down four things, the person, the place, the cause of the place itself, the time, which avail for the commendation of the revelation itself. I John. As if he should say: I know that you are afflicted, but 712Bby the example of Christ bear it patiently, that you may be partakers of his kingdom. Your brother, etc., in Christ. In the unity of faith, and for that faith I was afflicted, as others also were, whereby I patiently endured to come to the kingdom, having Christ in all things for an example. Pathmos. That is, a strait, namely tribulation, in which heavenly things are the more opened to the faithful. The Church is likened to an island, because as an island is beaten by the storms of the sea, so is the Church afflicted by the persecutions of sea-folk, that is, of worldly men. For the word of God. That is, for the testimony rendered to the divinity and to the humanity.

VERS. 10.-- On the Lord's day. The quality of things is wont to be marked from the time, as Abraham, unto the fervour of faith, saw the angel at midday; Lot, unto the destruction 712Cof Sodom, in the evening; Adam heard the voice of the Lord after midday; Solomon, not about to keep it, received wisdom by night. I heard behind me a voice. He heard behind himself, because, while, led forth from things present, he stretched himself into the things before him of true contemplation, he was admonished to look back upon others also; or: he hears behind himself, because this was foretold by the law and the prophets, for that is what he understands.

VERS. 11.-- What thou seest, write. A common admonition is made to John, which admonished him to send in common to the church of Asia, by which all the other Churches are to be understood. This common admonition is made as far as that place: And to the Angel of Ephesus, etc. Whether John saw this vision all at once and in one gaze, or through diverse times, the angel could confer either upon him. To Ephesus. 712DEphesas is interpreted my will, or a deep fall, or counsel.

VERS. 12.-- And I turned. And because I heard a voice, I turned, etc. Seven candlesticks. That is, the seven churches, burning and enlightened with the wisdom of the divine Word. Golden. As gold proved by fire, drawn out by blows, is made a candlestick, so the Church, purged by tribulations, drawn out by the strokes of temptations into long-suffering, is brought to perfection, and if she have a voice in the mouth, and not in work, she is indeed a candlestick, but not golden.

VERS. 13.-- Like to the Son of man. That is, an angel in the person of Christ, who now is not called the Son of man, but like to him, because he now dies no more. Or 713Alike to the Son of man, because Christ appeared not with sin, but in the likeness of the flesh of sin, in whom are all things needful for the governance of the Church. With a garment down to the feet. That is, with a priestly vestment, that is, with the flesh in which he offered himself, and daily offers, presenting himself to God the Father. Or, the garment down to the feet is the Church, wherewith God is clothed as with a tunic, which is called reaching to the ankles, because the Church is to endure until the end of the world. Girt about at the paps. Daniel saw him girt as to the loins in the Old Testament, because there carnal things are bound fast; here we read him girt at the paps, because in the New Testament even thoughts are judged.

VERS. 14.-- The hairs were white. That is, the saints made thin, and cleaving to the head itself. Or his thoughts. As wool. As white wool is fit to 713Breceive whatsoever colours, so are the saints to bear tribulations. Snow. Snow is the whiteness of immortality, because it is whiter than every creature. Eyes. That is, the gifts of the Holy Spirit: these are Christ's as of one having and giving, as they are the Church's as of one receiving; these enlighten and make to burn. Or the eyes are the spiritual men themselves in the Church, or the divine precepts.

VERS. 15.-- And the feet. That is, the last faithful, who by many shakings will not retain their former nature, like orichalc, which is often set on fire, and receives a better colour. In a burning furnace. In another translation it is had: with the orichalc of Libanus, whereby it is shown that in that region where the Lord was crucified that tribulation shall most of all prevail. And his voice as the voice of many waters. That is, 713Chis preaching obtains the force of water, because it cleanses. Or, because many peoples have now received this voice (who are likened to water because of their flowing), so much the more ought you to stand firm. Or, a voice that is giver of many waters, that is, of graces, whence there straightway follows:

VERS. 16.-- Stars. The stars are the bishops, who ought to shine to others by word and by the example of life, who, even if they have sinned, are called stars according to that whereunto they were appointed: whom he has in his right hand, that is, among the more excellent gifts, which are signified by the right hand. And out of the mouth. That is, by the inspiration of God preaching went forth, which cuts both ways, in the Old Testament indeed carnal works, but in the New concupiscences; whence of this sword, which is the word of God, it is written: For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father, that speaketh 713Din you. As the sun shineth in his strength. That is, at midday without clouds. Or, as Christ himself in the resurrection; or, when he shall be fixed for ever.

VERS. 17.-- I fell. That is, I cast away the care of humanity, after the likeness of the last faithful. As dead. Dead to the world, alive to God, and desiring nothing of earthliness. His right hand. Namely the Holy Spirit strengthening, that is, his help. Fear not. To suffer tribulations and death for me, because I who had no need on my own account, though I am the first and the last, was dead and alive. [Vulg. Apc 1:17–18 primus, et novissimus, et vivus, et fui mortuus, "the first and the last, and alive, and was dead" — the order reversed]

VERS. 18.-- I am living. And therefore be not affrighted, because I manifestly rose again, nor shall I die any more. And I have. And therefore I will not suffer you to be tempted above that which 714Ayou are able to bear, because I have power over the devil and over his members. Of death and of hell. The devil is death, because he is the cause of sin, that is, of death; his ministers are hell, in whom he has a place.

VERS. 19.-- Which must be done hereafter. In the last faithful, by whose example these ought greatly to be enheartened.

VERS. 20.-- The sacrament. Namely a mystery, where one thing is seen and another understood. This first vision is concerning the correction of the Churches. The angel opens the allegory in part, that he may teach that it must be sought everywhere.

VERS. 1.-- And to the angel. That is, he writes to the bishop, at whose hand he requires the sins of those beneath him, and without whose consent 714BJohn himself does not presume to judge those beneath him. Of the church of Ephesus. Ephesus, according to the part of those who persist well, is interpreted will, in whose works God delights, concerning whom he sets it forth, that by the example of these they (who had fallen) may be corrected. Again Ephesus is interpreted counsel, that is, needing counsel, or a deep fall, or my will. Seven. He begins the several admonitions, which severally can be universal also, according to the diverse members of any church whatever. Thou canst not bear. By the force of humanity. Or, thou canst not bear but that thou amend or cast out.

VERS. 2.-- Thou hast tried them who say themselves to be apostles. They are not tried save those who are within in the Church.

VERS. 3.-- Thou hast endured for my name. This thou hast not done for human praise, but for the glorifying of my 714Cname. And thou hast not fainted. He notes that there had been cause of human failing, had not help gone before.

VERS. 4.-- But I have against thee, that thou hast left thy charity. Either the bishop in his own person, wearied with loathing of vices, is reproved in those beneath him, or those beneath him are found to offend through love of earthly things. Heli was a good priest, and yet he was condemned because he would not correct his sons.

VERS. 5.-- I will move the candlestick. I will take away the virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, through which the candlesticks have been established.

VERS. 6.-- But this good thou hast. [Vulg. Apc 2:6 Sed hoc habes, quia odisti facta Nicolaitarum, with no bonum] Although this is against thee, yet despair not, because thou hast good. The deeds of the Nicolaites. That is, the common use of women, and the eating of things offered to idols.

714DVERS. 7.-- He that hath an ear. Why must one hear? Because to him that perseveres Christ is the tree of life, because he is a shade and a strength and one giving fruit, that is, body and blood, both here and most of all in time to come.

VERS. 8.-- Of Smyrna. Smyrna is interpreted a song, or as it were myrrh: a song also, in which things he delights, myrrh is so bitter that it even preserves bodies from rottenness. These things saith the first. He describes Christ such as may avail to the consolation of those upon whom tribulations are heaped. These things saith the first. As if he should say: Faint not you, because I, so great as I am, suffered death for you, from which I rose again. This same do you also look for.

VERS. 10.-- Some of you. Here it is plain that it is understood not of one alone, but of many. That 715Ayou may be tempted. That is, that you may be proved, or be held in contempt by the devil and his members. Ten days. That is, in the time of that war. For God, sending his own to wars, arms them with the Decalogue. Or ten days, that is, all this time in which through seven days there is fighting against the three principal vices, avarice, cupidity, vainglory.

VERS. 11.-- From the second death. The first death of the soul is in sins, the second in punishments: the first death of the body, when it is dissolved; the second, when it shall be condemned in the judgment.

VERS. 12.-- A sword. He requires that these have this sword in the choosing of the good and the reprobating of the evil.

VERS. 13.-- Thou hast not denied my faith. Tribulation 715Bis illumination to the just, correction to the contumacious, blinding to the obstinate.

VERS. 14.-- Balaam. By Balaam are to be understood the heretics who teach earthly princes how they may overthrow the worshippers of the true God. Or Balaam, that is, the demons, who teach the flesh to deceive souls that see God.

VERS. 15.-- The doctrine of the Nicolaites. He therefore repeats concerning the Nicolaites, that he may invite to penance, which he has not done.

VERS. 17.-- Manna. By manna understand the eternal glory of which all shall say. What is this? Because neither hath eye seen, nor ear heard (I Cor. II), etc. [Vulg. 1Cor 2:9 Quod oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, "That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard"] And I will give him. In Daniel it is written: A stone was cut out without hands (Dan. I). In the Proverbs: The expectation of him that waiteth is a most weighty gem (Prov. XVII). [Vulg. Pr 17:8 Gemma gratissima, "a most acceptable gem"] The same body solid, through him lucid, 715Cwhite with virtues and with the hope of immortality.

And in the stone. Or upon baptism add martyrdom, whose force the hypocrite does not understand, who suffers for the praise of men. Written. With five letters, namely the five wounds with which his body was shown upon the cross, because he was a martyr.

VERS. 19.-- I know thy works, etc. The Son has the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that is, he gives to whom he will, or takes away. Therefore let these who have now received those gifts see to it, lest by consent to the evil they lose them. Or understand charity and faith, so that the order be backward; for charity is not before faith. First faith, from faith charity, from charity good works.

VERS. 20.-- To commit fornication. Fornication is said to be fourfold, in the mind, If thou shalt see a woman to lust after 715Dher (Matth. V), etc. [Vulg. Mt 5:28 omnis qui viderit mulierem ad concupiscendum eam, "everyone that shall look on a woman to lust after her"] In the act itself, in the love of earthly things, in the worship of idols.

VERS. 24.-- I will not put. Certain false ones were terrifying them by saying that the Lord was yet to send greater tribulations than they had suffered: against this he says, that he will not send.

VERS. 1.-- And to the angel of the church of Sardis. Sardis is interpreted the beginning of beauty, and by this is signified he who at first has nothing or little of virtue, and afterwards becomes base through vices; or the hypocrites are understood, who are outwardly beautiful, inwardly deformed. I know thy works. And I know that in all thy works thou seekest human praise.

716AVERS. 2.-- Be watchful. Therefore watch, because, although thou be unmoved in mind, or praiseworthy in mind, yet thou art not perfect unless thou rouse the rest, and it is not enough to confess Christ unless thou also do works. For I find not thy works full. While thou art without charity, or for praise, or because thou committest a criminal thing.

VERS. 3.-- Have in mind therefore. That is, remember in what manner thou didst receive the faith of Christ in baptism: where thou didst promise that thou wouldst renounce the devil and all his pomps. Remember also that thou hast heard from the teachers of the Christian faith in what manner it behoves thee to live: and keep what thou hast heard, and do penance, in that thou hast so long been slothful from good works. Thou shalt have heard from the holy Fathers, that, he that offendeth in one is guilty of all; [Vulg. Jac 2:10 Quicumque autem totam legem servaverit, offendat autem in uno, factus est omnium reus, "whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all"] whence, but if I have not charity, I am nothing 716B(Jac. II).

VERS. 4.-- They have not defiled their garments. The garments of immortality and of innocence, which they received in baptism, or, their own good works.

VERS. 5.-- I will not blot out. He blots out the reprobate, according to that: The Lord hardened Pharao's heart (Exod. X). Out of the book of life. The book of life is the foreknowledge of God, in which all things are contained. I will confess his name, saying: Come, ye blessed of my Father (Matth. XXV). Or here, You gave me to eat and to drink.

VERS. 7.-- These things saith he. As if he should say: Labour for the conversion of the brethren as thou hast begun: because in that which I promised, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you (Joan. XIV), [Vulg. Jo 14:13 hoc faciam, "that will I do"; the ending dabit vobis stands at Jo 16:23] I am truthful in my promises, whence you can know that I will gather many to you 716Cas you desire. He shutteth. That we may seek, he openeth, that we may find, that the seeker may receive the fruit of his sweat, and the bestower may have the thanks of his goodness.

VERS. 8.-- Behold I have given before thee. Deservedly have I given, because openly thou couldst not have it of thyself, because thou hast little strength.

A door. By the door, which is so called from withstanding, are understood the hearts of men, hard beforetime. Or thou canst understand the obscure Scriptures. Or Christ, who is the true door unto life, whence the disciples, forbidden to speak and beaten, said: We cannot but speak the things which we have seen (Act. IV). [Vulg. Act 4:20 Non enim possumus quae vidimus et audivimus non loqui, "which we have seen and heard"]

VERS. 9.-- Jews. They lost this name when they said of Christ: We know not this man (Joan. IX). They lie. They strive to prove it by words and by certain 716Dfeignings. Behold I will make them to come. Ready to imitate thy works through the likeness of thy humility. They shall know. Those set outside did not believe that God loved the Church which he suffered to be afflicted, but now he will make an assurance of his love, that is, a certainty, that you sink not down, because I come to reward.

VERS. 10.-- Thou hast kept the word of my patience. The precept concerning patience which I showed in myself, praying for my persecutors. From the hour of temptation, or of the general persecution against Christians that was to be straightway after Nero, or in the last time of Antichrist. To try them that dwell upon the earth. As in what follows, often in the sixth place, so here also in the sixth angel the last persecution is designated, in which certain of the Jews are 717Ato be deceived: certain, being about to fulfil the law spiritually by the warnings of Elias, believe that they will vanquish the enemy.

VERS. 11.-- Behold I come quickly. As if he should say: The temptation indeed will come, but sink not down, because I come to reward.

VERS. 12.-- A pillar in the temple. Firm in himself, and sustaining others by word and by example. He shall go out no more. Since God has a fixed number of his own, if any one falls away, another is brought in by his mercy, as through the pride of the Jews the gentile world entered in. The younger son, that is, the people of the gentiles, had gone out, but by the death of the fatted calf, that is, by the blood of Christ, being reconciled he will go out no more. New. Where there is nothing of oldness, but the full vision of peace. From heaven. From the conformity of the heavenly creatures.

717BVERS. 14.-- The witness, undaunted, of those things which he heard from the Father. Or, to whom faith is to be given in all things. Or, the witness of our works before the Father. And true. He is truth, because through him the promises of the Father are fulfilled.

VERS. 15.-- Thou art neither cold nor hot, because neither art thou wholly ignorant of the faith, nor dost thou openly deny it when received. Would that thou wert cold. He does not wish him cold simply, but such a one of whom greater hope may be had.

VERS. 16.-- I will begin to vomit thee out. About to say a marvellous thing, that the lukewarm were to be excommunicated, because they were believed good by men, he says himself truthful in all things, that in this he may be believed, and, if they be willing to come to themselves again, he promises preservation, because he gave the first 717Cpledge. Out of my mouth. He is vomited out of the mouth who is cast headlong into worse things, or who dies impenitent.

VERS. 17.-- I am rich, in divine knowledge, or in secular.

VERS. 18.-- I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire-tried and proved. Because such works will not lead through unto salvation. That the shame may not appear. It is better to blush here before a few, than in time to come before all. With eyesalve. The eyes, that we may see, are anointed, when, for the knowing of the brightness of the true light, we help the keenness of our understanding with the medicine of good working. The commandment of the Lord enlightening the eyes (Psal. XVIII). [Vulg. Ps 18:9 praeceptum Domini lucidum, illuminans oculos, with lucidum, "bright"] Or anoint with the gift of the Holy Spirit the mind which earthly things had shut in.

VERS. 20.-- Behold I stand at the door and knock. If 717Dany man shall hear, etc. I wait, or I inspire, or I call through preachers.

VERS. 21.-- To sit with me in my throne. To judge in those in whom I sit and judge. These things concerning prelates, and, through prelates, concerning those beneath them.

As I also have overcome, and have sat with my Father in his throne. He says this thus, because the victory and the session of Christ is the cause of the victory and the session of Christians.

VERS. 1.-- After these things I saw. In this second vision he treats of him that sits upon the throne, and of his adornment, and of the lamb that opens the book, that is, the divine dispensation concerning the repair of the human race, and of him that looses 718Athe seven seals, that is, the obscurities, so that, when we have seen that God has bestowed so great an understanding of the Scriptures upon men, we may be thankful to him, nor dread to suffer for him. In heaven. That is, in the Scripture, which is the way unto life, or Christ is the door, whose mysteries, before shut, are now opened to those who by faith and by work are heaven. As of a trumpet speaking with me. Not dissenting from my rationality, in giving these reasons. I will show thee. Those things being said which have now passed, he says also those things which must yet come to pass, as things about to remain in the same state in which they began. Or, after the correction it behoves to see the secret things by which they may be enheartened for the battles. Or, which must be done quickly after these things, [Vulg. Apc 4:1 quae oportet fieri post haec, with no cito] that is, in the last faithful. Or, after these things I was in the spirit. [Vulg. Apc 4:2 Et statim fui in spiritu, "And immediately I was in the spirit"]

718BVERS. 2.-- Immediately I was. I resisted not, but cast away the care of all earthliness. And behold a throne. In which God sits and judges, and judges also those beneath him, of whom certain are so fitted that God may fittingly sit and rest in them. One sitting. Christ was above said to be walking among the candlesticks, now sitting, that is, judging the merits of each one, of whom he here worthily makes mention, whom he has exhorted to the fight.

VERS. 3.-- He that sat. Where there are only good men, there is no need to judge, that is, to discern; where there are good and evil, there is need of discernment. He was like in sight. Before unknown, he appeared to the world through flesh, shattering his enemies, granting strength to his own. Of the jasper and sardine stone. By the colour of the two stones he marks God and man. Of an emerald. By the green colour 718Cof the emerald, which colour is watery, baptism is understood. By the redness of the same, the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in baptism, whereby sins are burned up.

VERS. 4.-- Four and twenty ancients. Twelve prophets, twelve apostles, although there are more of either order. Clothed about with white robes. [Vulg. Apc 4:4 circumamicti vestimentis albis, "with white garments"] The sins of the just are covered, and they themselves are white with virtues. Crowns. That is, victory through wisdom and charity even toward enemies.

VERS. 5.-- From the throne. That is, the Church, that is, the water rains down lightnings, that is, miracles which terrify and enlighten. Seven spirits. The lamps are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which kindle and enlighten, prepared for all those who are the seat of God.

718DVERS. 6.-- In the sight. Because they understand the sacrament and the thing of the sacrament, nor do they receive any save those whom they have seen and known to be fit. A sea of glass. Baptism, lucid with the sincerity of faith, after which by the fire of tribulation the elect are led to the firmness of good works, as crystal hardens out of water. In the midst. He describes that a certain level place appeared, after the likeness of a great judge, who has a broad and spacious open place, where he sits and judges judgments. Of the throne. By the name of the throne is understood Jerusalem, or the sustainers, as a man, as a calf, as a lion, as an eagle. Four. Because of the office of the fourfold preaching. Living creatures. These well represent Christ, who was born, suffered, rising again, ascending. The faithful too are 719Arational and gentle, as a man. Treading down adversities without terror; as a lion; mortifying themselves, as a calf; seeking heavenly things, as an eagle. Full of eyes. Mindful of past sins, and taking heed to themselves for the time to come, or having knowledge of those things which God has done or is to do at the end of the world, or they please God and men.

VERS. 7.-- To a lion. The lion is born dead, on the third day it is quickened by the voice of the Father. So also Christ rose again on the third day, and it behoved him to rise again, because he had died, and it behoved him to die, because he was man, and, being dead, he willed and was able to rise again, because he is an eagle, that is, God.

VERS. 8.-- And the four living creatures, every one of them had six wings, to this end, that they might preach those things concerning Christ in which they had been well instructed. Six wings. The first wing, the natural law; the second, the law of Moses; the third, 719Bthe prophets; the fourth, the Gospel; the fifth, the institutions of the apostles; the sixth, the decrees of whomsoever, as of Augustus [Augusti; read Augustini, "of Augustine"], of Gregory, of Ambrose, by whom the Church seeks the heights: and from whom preachers receive the foundation of all preaching. Or the six wings are the knowledge of the works of God made in six days, the knowledge whereof those raise on high who work well in them. Round about and within. By the letter, the simple; by allegory, those living creatures instruct the more perfect, and they enlighten both in the midst and in the ends of the earth. They are full of eyes. Because they keep themselves clean and form others by example. Or, they are full of eyes within, that is, with a clean conscience: and round about, that is, blameless in the sight of men. Who is to come. The Son will appear bodily, the whole Godhead will manifest itself to the faithful in its own 719Cmanner.

VERS. 9.-- And benediction, of the heavenly reward, or in exaltation, that to him every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Philip. II). [Vulg. Phlp 2:10 ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur, "that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow"]

VERS. 10.-- And they adored. What they had not of themselves, they sought from him by voice and by work. Saying. In the secret of the heart attributing to God the victory over vices and over tribulations.

VERS. 11.-- Thou hast created all things. Therefore all things are to be referred to thee, because all things have their beginning from thee. The invisible things also, or the angels and souls, he says to be spiritual, when out of the ungodly he makes the godly spiritually created. By thy will. And not on a sudden. And that which was made, in him was life (Joan. I). [Vulg. Jo 1:3–4 punctuates factum est nihil, quod factum est. In ipso vita erat, "was made nothing that was made. In him was life"] They were. In the mind, before they were formed in work. They were created. By visibly 719Dexisting. All things therefore were from eternity according to that whereby they were in the divine mind, but they began to be in time through creation.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw in the right hand of him that sat. By the right hand I understand the Son, through whom God the Father made all things, to whom the whole intention of the book is directed. A book. That is, the two Testaments, which are one and the same book. Without. Signifying the Old, which promises things outward. Within, signifying the New, which openly and often promises blessedness.

Sealed. The writings of the prophets were made closed and obscure, but afterwards through Christ they were 720Aopened. With seals. That is, with all obscurities, or closed with the sevenfold Spirit, through whom faith is opened. Seven. He says so, because (as he will determine in what follows) those are the seven seals, namely that the horse is white and red and black, and so forth: which were opened and known at the beginning of the Church, which was the white horse upon which Christ sat, and which he fortified by doctrine and by example, and which the red horse assailed.

VERS. 2.-- An angel. The holy and ancient fathers of the Old Testament understood intellexeruut at one time that the restoration of Jerusalem had been appointed by God: and they longed to see when it should come to pass, but how it should come to pass they knew not, until, that is, he revealed it to certain men before it came to pass. Preaching. Inquiring, and announcing to others, and out of exceeding desire complaining that it was so long deferred. 720BTo open the book. The divine dispensation, and to take away all the obscurities of the Scriptures.

VERS. 4.-- I wept much. This is said in the person of the former and ancient fathers, in that they did not understand, or grieved that the restoration was deferred, whence: Many kings and prophets desired to see (Luc. X), etc.

VERS. 5.-- And one of the elders. Every prophet, by announcing the coming of Christ, consoles the rest. The lion hath prevailed. The lion, when he is put to flight, flees through the mountains, and with the knot that he has in his tail wipes out his tracks, lest he be found: so Christ fled through the mountains, that is, his divinity lay hid from the Jews, having taken flesh he covered his divinity, that it might not be known. The lion sleeps with open eyes, so Christ expired while his divinity lived.

720CVERS. 6.-- And behold in the midst of the throne. The Church, which is possessed by Christ as a throne, is fed as the living creatures, is honoured as the elders in the judgment of power, she herself, built upon Christ, is exalted with a kingdom in the seven horns of strength, is enlightened in the seven eyes, in signs and in powers. As it were slain. Because although he was dead, yet by the power of God he lives. Or among his own he is as it were slain, in whom he is daily mortified. Seven horns, etc. Because he gives a kingdom, which is denoted in the horns. Eyes, because he enlightens. Or the horns are the more eminent saints, founded upon Christ their head, surpassing the flesh.

VERS. 8.-- They fell down before the lamb. They thought lowly things of themselves, in that they imitate him, whence there follows. 720DHaving every one harps. The mortifications of vices and of concupiscences. In a harp there is wood and there are strings: by the wood, the cross of Christ, by the strings, the flesh of the saints, which is stretched upon the wood, while by divers torments, rendering the same sound, they imitate the cross of Christ.

VERS. 9.-- They sang a canticle. With exultation the Church professes the New Testament in her work, while she baptizes into his death. Tribe. It is named from the three orders, in which there are seventy-two tongues in each, of which there are many peoples, and in a people, nations. Three orders of those to be saved, Noe, Daniel, Job. Or three orders of the nations, Greeks, Hebrews, Christians.

VERS. 11.-- I saw. Not only the living creatures and the elders bearing the same witness out of their office, but also I heard,

721AThe voice of angels. That is, of the supernal spirits who fortify and guard the Church, who rejoice over the restored fellowship of the saints, who bear witness to Christ, and who both at his nativity, when they appeared to the shepherds, and at his passion, and at his resurrection and ascension, testified that the judge would come. Or the angels are the lesser subjects in the Church, leading an angelic life, who surround and honour their preachers and their judges, consenting to their testimony and conforming themselves to it. Of many round about the throne and of the living creatures and of the elders, etc. The more they are, the greater the attestation, and the greater the joy. Thousands of thousands. He set down this number, because that is finite with God which to men is infinite.

VERS. 12.-- Wisdom, and strength, etc. 721BThe knowledge of all things, even as the Word united to himself has it.

VERS. 13.-- Benediction. That is, the increase which we have in good works, and honour which follows therefrom, and glory from the virtues which we receive in baptism, and power by which we resist concupiscences, let it be attributed not to us, but to thee.

VERS. 14.-- And the four living creatures. All the elders and the living creatures give their assent to the testimony of the angels. They fell upon their faces, etc. They are not proud because they judge others, but they humble themselves.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw. After the Lamb had fulfilled the things that had been foretold of him, and had established his Church in the faith by the testimony 721Cof the prophets and of the angels, he opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures, and outwardly through preachers he declares that it is fitting to suffer for this faith, and what helps or what crowns he holds out to his own, because, mention having been made of the restoration, if he were to keep silence about the tribulations, they might now fail, if tribulation should rise up unlooked for. That he had opened. That book was sealed, because Christ opened all things either in himself or in his own. For he himself opened their understanding, that they might understand these seals in the Scriptures. In the first seal opened, whence the white horse went forth, is understood the whitening of the Church through baptism. In the second, the red horse, is intimated the open persecution of those who shed blood, whence tribulations rise up against the baptized. In the third, the black, the hidden persecution of heretics. In the fourth, the pale, 721Dthe open and hidden persecution of false charges. Come and see. Pass over from the mystery, and see the truth or the justice fulfilled.

VERS. 2.-- Behold a white horse. The Church whitened in baptism, or the greatest preachers, who bear God everywhere. A bow. Christ has the Scripture, by which he enlightens his own and slays his enemies.

VERS. 3.-- And when he had opened the second seal. The devil, seeing the Church established to fill up the place whence he himself had fallen, strives to overthrow her, first openly. A red horse. Contrary to the former, namely open and bloodthirsty persecutors.

VERS. 4.-- That he should take peace from the earth, and that an informer, etc. [Vulg. ut invicem se interficiant, "that they should kill one another"] That is, it was granted by God that he should take away 722Aall quiet of mind from those who are given over to earthly things. And a great sword was given to him. A great power of killing, because he dared to rage not only against the lesser, but even against the greater, as against Peter.

VERS. 5.-- And behold a black horse. The devil, seeing that he had not prevailed by open persecutions. he sends in heretics, who contend with false reasonings that they may the more easily deceive.

A balance. Because they say that they have a true discernment in the Scriptures.

VERS. 6.-- And I heard as it were. Because here, in the battle of the heretics, where the danger is greater, help is held forth. Two pounds. As if he should say: O faithful ones, do not fear those who before were able to hurt you; and you devils, do not hurt these, because you will not prevail, for two pounds of wheat, 722Betc. Of wheat. By wheat are understood the more perfect, who, ground down by tribulation, are baked by fire, a sweet food for God. The barley are the lesser in the same kind. The wine, those bruised indeed in the press, but not so thoroughly boiled down, sharp only in themselves, and inebriating others unto good working: the oil are those not inebriating others, but first anointing them with prayers. And do not hurt the living thing and the oil. [Vulg. et vinum, et oleum ne laeseris, "and the wine and the oil hurt thou not"] That is, those who are refreshed with wine, that is, with my blood, and anointed with oil, that is, with the Holy Spirit. Wine likewise is bought for one penny.

VERS. 8.-- Behold a pale horse. The devil, seeing that he could prevail neither by open tribulations nor by open heresies, sends before him false brethren: who under the habit of religion obtain the nature of the red horse and of the black, by perverting the faith. His name was death. Because through him 722Cdeath came in, or, to the letter, because he killed some in the flesh, some in the soul. And hell. That is, those insatiable for earthly things imitate him, and are laid up in hell. Over four. That is, over all the wicked abiding everywhere, or over the Jews and gentiles, heretics and false Christians.

VERS. 9.-- And when. The tribulations having been shown which in the present threaten the faithful, lest they fail, he in some measure assures them concerning the crown that is near and consoles those who suffer. I saw under the altar. That is, those humbling themselves to their own head, or, under, in hiding, because no one in this life perceives how they are there.

The altar. Christ, upon whom all the saints offer themselves, and whom they have as a defence. Or the souls themselves are the altar from which a smoke goes up delightful to God, 722Dand because they were smeared with blood, they are now existing beneath, that is, in a lesser dignity than they shall be, because they have not yet received any but one stole. Of them that were slain for the word. Either by open martyrdom, or by certain anguishes

VERS. 10.-- How long. The saints desire a greater joy and the fellowship of the saints, and they consent to the justice of God in the damnation of the impious.

Thou judgest and dost not avenge the blood. [Vulg. non judicas, et non vindicas sanguinem nostrum, "thou dost not judge, and dost not avenge our blood"] By making a distinction between the good and the evil.

VERS. 11.-- Their fellow servants. They are called servants by reason of the Lord himself, out of love they ought to await their brethren.

VERS. 12.-- The sun became black. That is, those in 723Awhom he shines shall be accounted guilty and sinners, keeping their brightness to themselves, or because certain shall fall away into darkness. Or Christ, the true sun, and now bright, shall in the time of Antichrist be dark, that is, flashing with no miracles. As sackcloth. A light placed in a sack does not shine without, the faithful will not pour out the light of preaching in that day of great tribulation.

VERS. 13.-- Its green figs. That is, empty fruits, for God permits none to fall who serves him with true love.

VERS. 14.-- Heaven. That is, the Church shall withdraw from the wicked, in faith and in work. Whence: Go out of Babylon, my people, and touch not the unclean thing. [Vulg. has no such verse; the nearest are Apc 18:4, Exite de illa populus meus, and the closing clause of 2 Cor 6:17]

VERS. 15.-- The kings of the earth. According to the diverse honours of the world, which, being unwilling to lose, they destroy the faith. 723BThe rich. Fulfilling whatever evil they wish. The mighty. In overthrowing others. A servant of sin, free of justice. These, despairing of the saints, seek the helps of demons, that those in whom they trusted may deliver them.

VERS. 16.-- And they say to the mountains. Let them seek the suffrages of the angels, who are the more eminent mountains, and rocks by firmness: that by their prayers they may obtain the mercy of the judge.

VERS. 1.-- After these things, etc. The manifold warfare of the Church having been described, he adds that in the time of this war the devil is ready to hurt, but is bridled by God, lest his own in any measure grow slack or despair. Four angels. For the four parts of the world in which they hurt. Angels. The devil is called an angel, that is, one sent by God for 723Cthe proving of the good, and permitted for the deceiving of the evil, and sent by the prince devil for the subversion of all. Holding. In the time of tribulation nothing is more necessary than preaching, and therefore the devil strives to hold it back in every place. The winds. The wind stirs up the clouds, watering the earth it makes it fruitful, it renders its face cheerful, so does preaching the minds of men. Upon the sea. Upon those dwelling in the islands, or flowing with divers vices.

VERS. 2.-- And I saw another. This angel is that stone cut out without hands, which broke in pieces the statue consisting of four metals, this one looses the four winds. Ascending. From the time when Christ expired he ascended, while he bound the devil, and through preachers enlightened the world with faith, as the sun with light. Or 723Dhe ascended from the rising, that is, from the Father, advancing in wisdom and in age. Or he came down from himself, because he did not take flesh through the intercourse of a man, but he himself created it, who is the rising of the sun, that is, of the Father. A sign. That is, the cross with which he should sign his own, or a power equal to the Father, or immunity from sin, through which he appears God, because every man is a sinner. This sign the ancient fathers bore before them, though not in fact, yet in faith. The sign is borne upon the forehead lest it be hidden in tribulation, for the signing of the breast is the confession of the heart. When an infant is catechized, he is anointed upon the breast, that he may have the faith of the heart: upon the forehead, that he may not blush, but confess: For with the heart we believe unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom. X). Upon the shoulders, that 724Ahe may bear the burden of Christ. Upon the crown of the head, that he may preserve reason, which is the crown and head of the inner man.

VERS. 4.-- A hundred and forty. He sets down a finite number, because God comprehends all his own under a certain number.

Of every tribe. That is, of all who imitate the faith of Jacob.

VERS. 5.-- Twelve. By twelve we have those who are signed with the faith of the Trinity in the four parts of the world, and that we may show these to be perfect, we multiply twelve by four, and they become forty-eight; but that this perfection may be referred to the Trinity, we multiply forty-eight, and so they become a hundred and sixty-four.

VERS. 7.-- Simeon. The hearing of sadness or of grief, 724Bthat is, one grieving for past sins and aspiring to the conversation of virtue. Levi. That is, added, that is, doing even the things not enjoined upon him. Issachar. That is, wages, that is, one tending toward remuneration, as: I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. [Vulg. desiderium habens dissolvi, et esse cum Christo, "having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ"]

VERS. 8.-- Zabulon. That is, the dwelling place of strength, that is, those not refusing labour, but sometimes for the necessity of the brethren coming down from Mary to Martha. Joseph. That is, increase, that is, those enriching the Church with the number of the saints. Benjamin. That is, son of the right hand, that is, those reckoning all things from the propitiation of God, and nothing from themselves.

VERS. 9.-- After these things. When he had seen, according to the figure, those to be marked out under a certain number, and only from the children of Israel, now he openly teaches that by 724Cthat number all the faithful, and by the twelve tribes all the nations, are to be understood. Standing. Namely, ready to obey God the judge, or their prelates also. This in the present.

VERS. 10.-- Salvation to our God who sitteth. Not through ourselves, but through the Lamb do we have salvation, that is, the remission of sins, and good working, and eternal glory.

VERS. 11.-- And all. By the angels spoken of above, the greater prelates can be understood; by these, the lesser prelates, or subjects only, as there are angels and archangels, and yet all are angels, that is, messengers. But even now there are greater and lesser prelates, that is, archbishops and bishops.

VERS. 12.-- Amen. As if he should say: If you attribute it 724Dto God, you do well. Or amen will be read with what follows: Amen, that is, truth in the things premised, and benediction, that is, the exaltation which he has above every creature, or our exaltation in the virtues: and brightness, that is, impassibility, or yours in works.

VERS. 13.-- And one answered. The multitude having been seen in so great dignity, he is moved to consider by what way it was able to ascend thither, that he may teach others to look upon the same.

VERS. 14.-- Their robes, etc. The innocence received in baptism, or their bodies.

VERS. 16.-- They shall not hunger, nor thirst, etc. He who gave knowledge to the angels will give the same knowledge to them also.

VERS. 17.-- He shall lead them to the fountains of the waters of life, etc. And by this 725Ahe shall lead them in time to come to refreshment of every kind. God shall wipe away every tear. Every grief, whether for their own offences, or for adversities, or exile, or other things of this sort.

VERS. 1.-- And when he had opened. In this life, in the third vision, there are seven angels sounding with trumpets unto the destruction of the enemies, after the likeness of those who by sounding with trumpets destroyed the walls of Jericho. As if he should say: When I had understood the salvation of the just, on the other side I understood the damnation of the impious through the office of preaching enjoined upon the good.

VERS. 2.-- Seven angels. All of them, or those imbued with the sevenfold Spirit. And there were given. Because the damnation of the impious does not displease 725BGod.

VERS. 3-- And another angel. The angel stood before the altar ready to sacrifice, after the likeness of a priest, or Christ is the altar who offered himself, and upon whom the Church offers prayers to God. He stood before the altar, that is, before his very self, because he has no mediator through whom he may please. Having. Being about to say that from the preaching of the just the damnation of the impious would come to pass, he sets before it as it were an excuse, lest the blame for the damnation of the impious be imputed to them, because as regards themselves their preaching is good, and enjoined by a good teacher. A censer. That is, the apostles, who are vessels of fire, that is, of the Holy Spirit, and out of whom go forth prayers which are lifted up before God. Of the prayers. He said of the prayers, and not the prayers, because not all prayers 725Cdoes he present to the Father, but he hears those which pertain to salvation. Of the prayers, because they sometimes ask what ought not to be asked, as Paul did. Upon the golden altar. That is, upon him who is above himself according to his humanity, according to which he is the altar of the Trinity.

VERS. 4.-- Smoke. Compunction begotten by the zeal of prayer, kindled inwardly by the fire of the vision of God.

VERS. 6.-- They prepared. That is, they first fulfilled in work the things they were about to speak with the mouth. Or, they prepared, that is, they foresaw what was fitting for each several person.

And the first angel. By the order of the narration, or because this blindness of the Jews befell first, while the apostles were preaching.

725DVERS. 7.-- And there was made hail. That is, the preaching, sweet to others, seemed to them thick and heavy. Upon the earth. The Jews are as it were earth tilled by the law and the prophets.

Of the trees. By the trees are understood the greater Jews; who lived in the law without complaint.

VERS. 8.-- And the second angel, according to the order of the narration, and according to what was fulfilled. For the Jews being blinded, the apostles were turned to the gentiles. Into the sea. The gentiles are the sea, that is, flowing into many vices; and although the devil was in them before, yet he is truly said to be sent, because, when certain withdraw, he strives to hold back the rest.

VERS. 9.-- The third part died. Two parts, that is, 726Aall the good, believed: the third, that is, all the reprobate, were given up to a reprobate sense.

Which had souls, etc. That is, of those gentiles who were reckoned worthier than the rest for certain good works.

VERS. 10.-- And the third angel, by the order of the narration, and because this befell after those two. For after the devil was not able to blind all the Jews and gentiles, he sent heretics in among them, and overthrew certain of them. Fountains. Those are called fountains in which the sum and as it were the origin of the whole faith is comprehended, as is the Gospel. The rivers, which are drawn from thence, are as their expositions, in which there are two senses of the faithful, the historical and the allegorical. The third is that of the heretics, when they confirm their heresies by depraved expositions 726Bof the Scriptures.

VERS. 12.-- And the fourth angel. He is called the fourth by the order of the narration, and by the order of the thing. For when the devil had blinded certain of the Jews and of the gentiles, at length he went forth to assail the sons of the Church themselves, and snatched away certain of them, as well the greater as the lesser. These four damnations he related as past, inasmuch as they are seen daily in the churches. But three he causes to be foretold as to come, that he may teach that in the last times still heavier ones threaten than those that are past, which also may be turned to the consolation of those now present.

VERS. 13.-- Of one eagle. The eagle is all preachers, who behold with a far-reaching mind, and going about the Church, fortify it by foretelling things to come: here 726Call are one, because they tend to the same end.

VERS. 1.-- And the fifth angel. By the order of the narration and by the order of time this angel is said to be the fourth. For this is the damnation of those whom the devil sends in to prepare the ways before the face of Antichrist. And I saw a star. That is, the flame of the heretics, of which he had said little, and he sets forth from what fuel it grew. A star. That is, the devil falling, and labouring that no one may go into his place, that is, into paradise. And there was given. The abyss, that is, the darkened. The pit, that is, the deeper heretics, because they plunge others with depraved opinions. Over these he is said to receive the key, that is, the power, because then he will not be bridled by God as he now is. Or that key are the very princes through whom the heretics 726Dwork.

VERS. 2.-- He opened the pit of the abyss. He caused the heresies which lay hidden in their hearts to be brought forth. The smoke of a furnace. The doctrine of Antichrist is rightly called smoke, since Antichrist himself is the furnace purging the good and reducing the evil to ashes. The sun and the air were darkened. And by this were struck certain who enlighten others, and certain who are enlightened by them.

VERS. 3.-- There came out locusts. The disciples of the heretics baereticorum are compared to locusts, because they neither fly on high; that is, contemplation through knowledge, nor walk firmly by good working: but they leap by pride, and fall back into worse, and are gnawers of the good.

727AAs the scorpions have. The scorpion, mild of face, stings secretly with its tail; or he compares them to the scorpion, because as the scorpion does with its tail, so the heretics deceive by temporal things, which ought to come after, as the tail is the hinder part in an animal. Or he compares them for this reason, that when the scorpion stings it is not felt, and afterwards it spreads its venom, so those deceived by heretics do not feel it, and at last they perish.

VERS. 4.-- It was commanded them that they should not hurt, etc. Because God bridles the guiles of these men, although they themselves do not understand it.

VERS. 5.-- That they should not kill. When by their guiles the heretics are not able, they wish to overthrow in certain matters, against whom it has been ordained by God that, although they kill bodies, yet they should not deceive souls. Five months. Another 727Breading has six months, on account of the six ages by which this life is divided. As the torment of a scorpion. Although a power of tormenting has been given, they do not torment openly, but accuse before the princes of the world.

VERS. 6.-- And death shall fly from them. Because the care of the flock binds them to labour.

VERS. 7.-- The shapes of the locusts, etc. When he had shown in what manner they hurt, both by guiles and by hidden assault, and in both the bridling of God, now he shows what manner of men they are through whom they can work. Like unto horses. Because they are swift to run about, fierce to assail, and they do not foresee whom they run upon, whether upon neighbours or upon enemies. As it were crowns. That is, victories won over those cast down and overthrown, not by true wisdom.

727CVERS. 8.-- And they had hair. That is, wanton and effeminate manners, which cleave to them, and hang from them for the deceiving of others. Or the hairs are lesser men, whom, cleaving to them, they deceive. The teeth of lions. They have a tearing and a stench.

VERS. 9.-- Breastplates. That is, obstinate hearts, which the arrow of truth does not pierce. Or opinions fortified with deceptions, which the truth breaks. As the sound of chariots, etc. Divers chariots are hurried by divers ways and by divers horses to the same battle, so these with divers heresies assail the Church with one mind.

VERS. 10.-- And they had tails. After their reasoning or their uproar avails not, they seek the help of princes, who are called tails, because, that they may bind fast, 727Dthey terrify and they flatter. Or the tails are deceitful opinions, with which they flatter to the face and secretly sting.

VERS. 11.-- And they had over them a king. Having shown what they are in themselves, he shows through whom they are able to do these things. Whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon. As if he should say: Against this beware, you Hebrews, Greeks and Latins, that is, the whole Church. And he set down three tongues, because the Gospel of Christ was written and received in some one of these three tongues.

VERS. 12.-- One woe is past. That is, the first by the order of the narration and by the order of time. For this is the declaring and the damnation of the evil which shall be in the time of Antichrist.

728AVERS. 13.-- From the four horns. By the four horns understand those four things which are preached concerning Christ, which are the nativity, the passion, the resurrection, and the ascension: about which the rest stand. Of the golden altar. The altar is Christ, the horns of the altar are the preachers who lift Christ up, and are ready to die for him, as the blood was placed upon the horns of the altar. Or the altar is the Church, in which are the horns, that is, the defenders of the rest, who all tend to the same end. Or by the four horns we can understand the evangelical teachings which teach that the frauds of Antichrist are to be uncovered. One voice. The heralds of past time forewarn those who shall be in the time of Antichrist.

VERS. 14.-- Loose the four. For the four parts of the world, or because they assail the four things preached concerning Christ. 728BWho are bound in the great river Euphrates. Euphrates is the river encircling Babylon, that is, the worldly princes through whom the devil, while he was in them, worked secretly. But saying loose, he bids these to be excommunicated, that he who was in them as it were bound may work more openly through them, delivered over to him. Or the four angels are all the unclean spirits reigning in the four parts of the world, who were bridled in the passion of Christ.

VERS. 15.-- They were loosed, etc. The devil being loosed, many are cast headlong who labour to blind others, For an hour and a day. By an hour take the half of a year; by a day, one year; by a month, another year; and by a year, a third: for the persecution of Antichrist shall last three years and a half.

728CVERS. 16.-- Twenty thousand times. The saints made perfect by the ten precepts of the law, against whom a double number of the evil is set down, because the evil are more than the good. And I heard, etc. As if he should say: Rightly do I set it down under a certain number, because I heard, that is, I understood, that the evil were more than the good.

VERS. 17.-- And thus I saw. That is, as I had understood that they rode unto the destruction of others, so he understood that they did this through the devil, whom they bore as horses, or the horses can be understood to be devils, upon whom the evil are founded. They had fiery breastplates. That is, they fortified them with opinions upon which eternal punishment follows, where there is fire and stench and smoke. Or they had fiery breastplates, that is, eternal punishment, which 728Dnever releases those whom it receives. As the heads of lions. Above, in the plague of the locusts, he saw the faces of men, here, of lions: because the heretics show something of humanity, but the ministers of Antichrist will compel men by punishments also to confess that which they shall teach by words and by signs. Fire went forth. The cause of eternal punishment. Or fire, that is, cupidity; smoke, that is, pride; brimstone, that is, the stench of evil works. Smoke and brimstone. They are blind and set in darkness, because of the stench of vices and of evil works.

VERS. 18.-- The third part was slain. That is, all the reprobate of the Church, and likewise all the Jews or pagans, who were never baptized, nor separated from the Church.

729AVERS. 19.-- Like unto serpents. Who flatter with the face, and secretly send in venom.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw another strong angel. Because the strong one armed overcame the strong devil. From heaven. That is, by the knowledge of the angels. Clothed with a cloud. That is, humbling himself by the assumption of flesh, or because he made himself knowable. Lying hid in the flesh, which is to us a refreshment against vices. And a rainbow upon his head. He who has a true knowledge concerning God reckons him to be God. As a pillar of fire. [Vulg. Apc 10:1 columnae ignis, plural, "as pillars of fire"] Those in whom the image of God truly shines, as in contemplatives, or preaching.

VERS. 2.-- And he had in his hand a little book open. That is, all the Scriptures fulfilled by his own working, 729Bpartly by preaching, partly by fulfilling the things which had been spoken of himself: at last by opening the sense to his own. His foot. That is, bearers firm in the faith and sustaining others. But the left upon the earth. That is, upon those who in whatever way were supporting them although they did not believe. That is: he set the greater and firmer preachers over the greater sinners, the lesser over the lesser.

VERS. 3.-- As when a lion roareth. The voice of the lion shows his strength and brings in terror. When the lion has made a furrow with his tail about the wood and roars, none of the wild beasts dares go out: so Christ, enclosing his own within the faith, roars lest any go out.

VERS. 4.-- I was about to write. Here he bears the person of those who in the time of Antichrist will wish to preach from 729Cthe imitation of those who went before. Seal up the things which the seven thunders have spoken: divine inspiration, or angelic admonition.

VERS. 5.-- He lifted up his hand to heaven. When there shall be so great a desolation in the Church that even preaching shall be taken away; lest the faithful despair, they hear for their own consolation that preaching is withdrawn not to the detriment of their salvation.

VERS. 6.-- He swore, etc. And by this he firmly established that he was God: For if Christ is risen, we also shall rise again (I Cor. XV). And the things which are in it. When thou sayest: He created the things that are in it, he destroyed the heresy of certain men, who maintain that certain things were not created by God, but by a demon, as the toad.

Time shall be no longer. That is, no change, but eternal stability, the immortality of souls. Considering this, 729Dthose last men will suffer gladly.

VERS. 7.-- The mystery shall be finished. In the time of Antichrist so great shall the persecution be that preaching shall be forbidden to those who shall be in his time, although they wish to preach, even if from their predecessors they are to have the office of preaching; but others preached the same, because they were appointed to this by Christ. But Christ appointed them because then it was the time of preaching, and he himself had come for this, but now see the destruction of the time of Antichrist, contrary to the destruction which Christ wrought, and by this weigh that preaching is deservedly withdrawn. The mystery of God. That is, the reward of the saints, which is a secret, which neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard (I Cor. II). [Vulg. 1 Cor 2:9 Quod oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, "That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard"]

730AVERS. 8.-- As he hath declared. The first intention of the prophets was concerning the coming of the Lord, and concerning the consummation of the world.

VERS. 9.-- And I heard. As if he should say: The destruction which shall be in the time of Antichrist having been shown, and preaching thereupon also withdrawn, and for this cause consolation applied to the faithful, he is admonished to preach in the meantime the things which he saw, as though it were said openly to him: Behold, I have revealed all things to thee, now go and preach, and shun them not because they are harsh: neither be thou terrified for any tribulation, because thou shalt not suffer so great things as they shall suffer who will persevere in the time of Antichrist. This is here set down for the consolation of the present Church, where a greater tribulation is announced. Go. He is admonished to understand what he well knew, that by the admonition others who are to preach 730Bmay be instructed. Standing upon the sea. He says this because to fulfil it is heavy for humanity, which is soft and frail.

VERS. 10.-- And I went. He says this because God, if he sees anyone ready, offers of his own accord what is necessary.

To the angel. That is, to the Scripture fulfilled by God, made known by the faithful.

VERS. 11.-- And he said to me: Thou must, etc. When I received the book, though I understood bitter things, he admonished that not even for death should I let it go.

VERS. 1.-- Measure. That is, so preach according to the capacity of each one, that thou mayest establish the Church 730Cand in it an altar, etc.

VERS. 2.-- The court. That is, false Christians, who feign themselves to be the Church, but deny it by their deeds. The holy city. That is, the Church gathered together to live justly, and imbued with virtues, they shall persecute forty-two months, that is, three years and a half, in which Antichrist shall reign; as if he should say: Know ye that all the persecutions which are in the present, and which have been in the past, proceed from Antichrist, as do those which shall be in his own time.

VERS. 3.-- And I will give to my two witnesses. As if he should say: When the tribulation is less, you ought not to cease, because in the time when it shall be heavier, I will make them preach.

To two witnesses. It treats of Elias and Enoch, by whom other preachers are understood. A thousand days. 730DNote that these days do not make up three years and a half, just as Christ also did not complete the half year of his preaching beyond the three years.

VERS. 6.-- Over the waters. That is, over doctrines, which are to the faithful watering waters. Into blood, etc. Into sin, either when, once heard, it is neglected, or when it is even scorned to be heard.

VERS. 8.-- Egypt. That is, dark, without the knowledge of God.

VERS. 10.-- And they shall send gifts. That is, presents, literally: or congratulations and conversations, speaking to one another about them.

VERS. 11.-- And after days. Their tribulation having been shown, by whose example the angel was inviting John 731Ato preach, even if it should be needful to suffer with them: yet he shows also their crowns, that in like manner he may make this John, or any other whosoever, certain of his own crown according to his own measure. Upon their feet. That is, upon themselves, who before were in need of something on which to lean, but shall then be firm.

VERS. 12.-- A great voice. Which may refresh them, and terrify their enemies.

VERS. 13.-- A great earthquake. That is, earthly men were moved, that they may be punished in hell; or unto the destruction of the Church, the teachers being slain. And the tenth part. That is, man, who seems to be appointed for this, that the tenth order may be restored. They were slain in the earthquake. Utterly destroyed in hell, or afterwards they recovered not their senses. Glory to God. That is, praises to God for the salvation of the just 731Band the damnation of the wicked.

VERS. 15.-- And the seventh angel, etc. The six former trumpets, compared to the ages of the present world, announced the various encounters of the Church's wars; but the seventh, herald of the eternal sabbath, shows only the victory and the empire of the true King. It is made. He who before was vile and abject now reigns, crowning the good and condemning the wicked. And he shall reign. That is, his kingdom shall abide for ever, not as certain heretics think that the saints, after a set time, will return into the life of the world.

VERS. 16.-- And the four and twenty ancients. Not only do the lesser thus glorify God, but the greater also. They fell upon their faces. He falls upon his face who in this life acknowledges his fault and bewails it by repenting. Backward 731Che falls who in this life suddenly falls down, and knows not to what punishments he is being led.

VERS. 18.-- Who have corrupted the earth. That is, themselves by evil working, and others by evil example.

VERS. 19.-- And it was opened. In this fourth vision thou hast matter well adorned and having good helps, namely concerning the battle of the Church, which is assailed by the devil both openly and secretly, and in all these things John shows that she overcomes, whereby he most of all arms the faithful lest they fail in any tribulation. Upon the third vision, therefore, which is concerning the office of preaching enjoined, hangs the knowledge of the battle of the Church. The temple of God was opened, that is, the Holy Spirit was given, through whom the mysteries of the Church, which were figured by the second 731Dtabernacle, were revealed to the faithful. The ark. Christ is the ark in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hidden, who fulfilled the Old Testament and instituted the New. And great hail. That is, to certain men the preaching seemed intolerable.

VERS. 1.-- And a sign. And out of these I saw this proceed, namely the grace of faith, that is, one signifying something great. Here he makes mention of the revelation of the mysteries which were in the second vision, and of the office of preaching enjoined, which we had in the third, so that upon these two, that is, the second and the third, 732Ahe may show this fourth, which is concerning the battle of the Church and of the devil, to depend. The moon under her feet. Although the Church is sustained by worldly things, yet she does not desire them. And upon her head a crown, etc. That is, the twelve apostles, whom the world believed, or in whom the Church overcame the world.

VERS. 2.-- She is tormented that she may bring forth. [Vulg. Apc 12:2 cruciabatur, imperfect, "she was tormented"] By preaching she suffers adversities. Or she is tormented by her own self, that is, she macerates her own flesh, that her preaching may be fit.

VERS. 3.-- A great dragon. He speaks not of a great effect, but of the power and the pride of the dragon.

And ten horns, etc. That is, kingdoms and riches by which princes assail the decalogue of the law.

VERS. 4.-- And the tail. That is, deceits, by which they hide vices, as by the tail shameful things are hidden. Of the stars. That is, of those who enlighten the Church by doctrine, not 732Bby life. He stood before the woman. Who was suffering pain, whereby he believed she would soon give way. Through the passion the devil believed the Church subjugated. He might devour. The dragon was ready to devour; but he could not, because he was born who forbade it.

VERS. 5.-- And she brought forth. By carnal generation Christ came forth of Abraham and David; or the Church brought forth a son, that is, the faith of Christ in the hearts of her hearers.

VERS. 6.-- A thousand days. That is, the whole time in which the Church subsists by the preaching of Christ, made in three years and a half.

VERS. 7.-- Michael and his angels fought. Sustaining the Church by praying, by bringing help.

VERS. 8.-- They prevailed not. To remove the helps of the angels, 732Cbecause they will not be able to lead the Church into sin.

VERS. 10.-- And I heard a voice. When he had shown the devil in this hidden contest conquered by the Church by the help of the Son and of the angels, he subjoins the exultations of those angels themselves, or of the holy souls, over the victory of the brethren, that they may labour to conquer who hear the angels or the holy souls exulting over their own victory. He accused them. It is the office of the devil to accuse, that is, to render men accusable through sin. Day and night. In prosperity by delighting, in adversity by saddening.

VERS. 12.-- The devil is come down. From heaven: or from the lesser saints, in whom temptation has now no place. Knowing that he hath but a short time. Because he sees many withdrawn from him, and put in his own place. 732DAnd after he saw. When the devil saw that he could not prevail by hidden fraud, he sets about to storm her with open tribulation. And there were given to the woman, etc. Who against open tribulation also has help from the same Son from whom she had it against the hidden assault.

VERS. 14.-- Of an eagle. Those are called eagles who by the manner of their life seek heaven, and therefore have their gaze fixed upon God. For a time, and times, etc. If the state of that Church is taken which shall be in the time of Antichrist, for a time and times and half a time, etc., will be said in one way, for the preaching of Elias and Enoch; if the time of the Church in general is taken, for a time, and times, and half a time, etc., is said otherwise, for the preaching 733Aof Christ made in three years and a half, because the Church is fed daily by the preaching of Christ.

VERS. 16.-- And the earth helped the woman. That is, Christ gave to his Church strength to suffer. And it opened, that is, it made ready and made itself fit to receive whatever they might bring upon it, after the likeness of one opening his mouth. This Christ did in his passion, in which he set himself before his own as an example of suffering. It swallowed up, that is, he destroyed all punishments in himself, being made immortal and impassible, which same thing he does in his own.

VERS. 17.-- The dragon was angry against the woman. Because although he cannot utterly overcome her, yet he does not cease to envy her, and to seek a place of invading.

VERS. 18.-- And he stood. Yet he did not conquer all those lesser ones, but only upon the sand, that is, he made his stay among the 733Bunfruitful, in whom the marks of his footstep appear.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw, etc. This beast spiritually is Antichrist, or generally the whole gathering of the wicked. Seven heads and ten horns. To this end, that he might be well able to conquer these, he appointed such a household for himself. Names of blasphemy. The beast was full of various heresies, or hiding its vices with various pretences.

VERS. 3.-- As it were slain. Antichrist will feign himself dead, and lying hid for three days will afterward appear, saying that he has been raised up. And the wound of his death was healed. By magic art he will ascend into the air, the demons bearing him, and so the wound of his death will be healed, because 733Cbefore he was believed dead, afterward he will be reckoned living.

VERS. 6.-- And he opened his mouth. He broke out into such boldness that what before was in secret, then he now dares to blaspheme publicly. And the tabernacle. That is, his whole institution, through which he appears praiseworthy.

VERS. 8.-- He was slain from the beginning of the world, in his own, as in Abel. Or because before all things it was disposed that at the end of times he should be slain. Or he was slain mystically in the lamb which Abel offered, or he was prefigured in Abel himself, slain by his brother.

VERS. 10.-- He that leadeth into captivity. Who takes men captive, now from the faith, at last from salvation, namely Antichrist, or the devil himself. He that shall kill by the sword. Antichrist and his own will kill by the material sword and by the sword of persuasion, 733Dand they shall perish by the sword of eternal judgment. Here is, etc. That is, the saints will hold patience and faith, because, he being destroyed, they know that they are to be rewarded. Looking to the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the good, they become patient and hold the faith.

VERS. 11.-- And I saw. The tribulation having been described which shall be through Antichrist and his partners, he subjoins another which shall come to pass through his apostles, whom he himself will scatter through the whole world. Horns. Because they will feign that they have innocence, and a pure life, and true doctrine, and the miracles which Christ had and gave to his own; or, they will usurp the two Testaments to themselves. And he spoke as a dragon. That is, the false apostles will so speak as the devil had spoken in Antichrist.

734AVERS. 12.-- And the power, etc. Because in all things they set Antichrist, their head, before themselves.

The earth. That is, earthly men, and those persevering in the love of earth; or: the earth according to the body, them that dwell therein according to the soul. To adore. Because these also, by a feigned resurrection, make the foundation of their preaching, as the apostles of Christ also did.

VERS. 13.-- Fire, that is, he will make the malignant spirit descend upon his own, that they may speak with divers tongues. As the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles in the appearance of fire, so also these will give the malignant spirit in the appearance of fire. In the sight. That all may be able to see, whereas the apostles received the Holy Spirit in a closed chamber.

VERS. 15.-- That the image should speak. This man by magic art will make a statue speak and foretell things to come.

734BVERS. 16.-- To have a character, etc. On the hand and on the forehead they will set signs, that all may confess by word and by work that he is their God.

VERS. 17.-- The number. That is, those who look for from him a reward so much the less, or a middling one, or the greatest.

VERS. 18.-- He that hath. Since the present book was published in Greek, the number is to be sought according to the Greeks, among whom all the letters signify a number. His name is Antemos, which befits him who is called contrary to Christ: A, one; N, fifty; T, CCCC; E, five; M, forty; O, seventy; S, CC. Or Arnoyme, that is, I deny, who denies Christ to be God, in which is the same number: A, one; R, CC; N, fifty; O, LXX; Y, CCCC; M, XL; E, five. Or Teian, 734Cthat is, the sun a giant, which belongs to the true Christ, but by usurpation suits Antichrist: T, CCC; E, five; I, X; again T, CCC; A, one; N, L. Or by Latin letters: Diclux, because he himself will say that he is the light: D, five hundred; I, one; C, a hundred; L, fifty; V, five; X, ten; and thus the same sum.

Six is the first perfect number, and signifies those less perfect who are married, and who according to their own measure keep the ten commandments. Sixty signifies the moderately perfect, who, lawful marriages being dismissed, remain in chastity, and again fulfil the ten commandments according to their own measure. A hundred signifies the most perfect, who do not violate the integrity of mind and of body and keep the ten commandments most perfectly. These render fruit, some thirtyfold, 734Dsome sixtyfold, some a hundredfold. [Vulg. Mt 13:8 aliud centesimum, aliud sexagesimum, aliud trigesimum, in the reverse order] And the disciples of Antichrist will then say that no one can be saved unless they have offered to Antichrist some one of those fruits.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw: and behold a Lamb stood. The most grievous persecution having been shown which the Church shall suffer from Antichrist and his apostles, now he shows what manner of helper she has, and what manner of household he himself has, that he may the more console the afflicted elect. A hundred forty, etc. That is, those most perfect in virginity, gathered in the faith of the Trinity out of the four parts of the world.

VERS. 2.-- Of thunder. Because it terrifies those who flee from coming into the fellowship 735Aof these. Of harpers. Because they have set themselves to this, that they might stretch their devout strings upon the wood of the cross. Of them harping. What they had from their office, they fulfilled in work.

VERS. 3.-- And they sung. That is, they shall exult over the integrity of soul and of body: which joy shall never grow old to them, but is always to them as new.

VERS. 4.-- These are they who are not with women. That is, those whom the blood of Christ raised up to this, that they should be virgins. The firstfruits from among men, etc. As from a herd the best horse, or from the fruits the firstfruits.

VERS. 6.-- And I saw. The assault having been described which is made through the two beasts, and the help of the Lamb having been supplied and the dignity of his household shown, an admonition is subjoined, that they may come to this household, and a threat, that 735Bthey may turn aside from the other. Another angel. That is, preachers who are other than Christ, that is, executing his office in his stead. Through the midst of heaven. Through the Catholic Church, which they draw with them by words and by examples. The eternal Gospel. That is, a preaching promising things eternal, and leading those who keep it unto eternity.

VERS. 7.-- Fear the Lord, etc. By working well, and by announcing well concerning him, that through you he may appear glorious. Because is come. As if he should say: Fail ye not, because you shall not suffer for a long time.

VERS. 8.-- And another angel followed him. [Vulg. Apc 14:8 Et alius angelus secutus est dicens, with no eum] He says this because preachers succeed one another. Is fallen. The word is fallen, set down twice, signifies endlessness, in which destruction of every kind is understood. 735CWith the wine of the wrath of her fornication. That is, with vices, and chiefly with idolatry, which is a sweet drink to those who sin, wherewith they themselves defile others and make them drunk, lest they walk by the straight path; whence the wrath of God is owed to them. Pure wine is drunk while God scourges here unto amendment: troubled wine, while eternal damnation is brought in.

VERS. 9.-- And the third angel. He sets down three for the faith of the Trinity, since these three can be considered in the same person.

VERS. 10.-- Which is mingled. As if he should say: He who is not corrected by his vengeance given unto correction shall be punished with eternal punishment. In the cup. The cup is the vengeance of God, where above is the pure wine which here takes vengeance unto correction, beneath is the dregs, that is, damnation at the last. 735DThe impious shall drink of the wine, that is, of the dregs: and because he wishes to show that wine troubled in comparison with the pure wine, he adds that it is mingled.

VERS. 11.-- And the smoke of their torments. That he recounts certain things concerning the damnation of the wicked, he says not for the sake of describing the damnation: but only for the sake of bringing terror upon those whom he deters from their fellowship. Shall ascend for ever. When he says: shall ascend for ever, he notes that the eternal punishment is continued. Neither have they rest. As if: It is no marvel if those who adored Antichrist in his own time shall be punished, because his ministers also who went before shall have the same punishment.

VERS. 12.-- Here is the patience, etc. That is, here the saints ought patiently to suffer, lest they come to eternal punishment.

736AVERS. 13.-- Works. That is, the rewards of works which follow. As if: While they were in the world, greater tribulations pressed upon them unto a greater crown: whence they were reckoned so abject, but now they shall suffer nothing.

VERS. 14.-- And I saw. The reward of the good having been shown, whereby he was inviting to their fellowship, he subjoins the damnation of the impious, that through terror he may lead to the same purpose. Like to the Son of man. Because he was now not truly the Son of man, who is immortal.

VERS. 15.-- An angel. That is, the saints, who until now had been hidden among the faithful, shall appear in brightness about to judge, praying with desire that God may make a separation of the good and the wicked. Went out 736Bof the temple. The saints are said to go out of the temple when they now appear not such as they once were, but such as they shall abide for ever. Because the hour is come, etc. Because it is now opportune, since the number of thine own is complete.

VERS. 18.-- And another angel, etc. When holy John had shown that God, having the power of judging, is implored by the saints, and that thus the judgment is made, he shows that the saints have the same power, and that Christ commands them to judge, and that they obey the command. Another angel, that is, Christ, who had been hidden and vile, appeared bright among the faithful, and coming from the altar, that is, from a more secret place, which the other saints never did, for Christ alone is known by all to be consubstantial with God. Thrust in thy sickle. 736CBy the harvest of the earth and the grapes of the vineyard the damnation of the same wicked ones is understood; but yet by the vineyard we have more determinately those who wrought evil things with greater zeal, just as to a vineyard, that it may bear fruit, greater care is applied than to land.

VERS. 19.-- And cast it into the lake, etc. Whence the Prophet: A lake where there was no water, that is, no refreshment.

VERS. 20.-- And blood came out. Eternal punishment is set down for the sin of blood, but not the wine which is in the cellar of God. Even unto the horses' bridles, that is, even unto the very rulers of the wicked who are to be punished, namely the devils. By furlongs. Understand all those held by the games of the world, that is, by vices, who are either simply perfect in this, which we have by six; or more perfect, 736Dwhich by a hundred; or most perfect, which by a thousand.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw, etc. In these three visions above mentioned, that is, in the revelation of the mysteries, the giving of the trumpets, and in the battle of the woman against the devil, he has pursued the order from the beginning of the redemption unto the day of judgment: but in these three that follow he dwells about the last times, because concerning these foregoing matters it has been said more plainly in the other divine Scriptures, but concerning those others little, and more obscurely. In this fifth vision, therefore, the matter is the seven angels holding vials, in which the plagues are contained, that is, the destructions of the wicked who shall be in the time of Antichrist, 737Awhich destruction most of all exhorts those now present to suffer. In what follows he sets down three visions, whereas four have been mentioned above. But the first being omitted, which was concerning the correction of the churches, he speaks of the other three, yet with consideration. And wonderful. It is a marvel that a man should have so great power that he can damn others. Seven plagues, that is, all of them, the blinding and the destruction of those who shall be in the time of Antichrist. For in them. Truly they shall have plagues, because they shall exercise the wrath of God upon the wicked, and truly the last, because in the world after them God shall bring in no others.

VERS. 2.-- As it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. That is, baptism, where purity of faith is required, and men are cleansed from vices. Having harps, that is, 737Bmortifying the flesh, which God enjoined upon them, or which he himself did first.

VERS. 3.-- The canticle of Moses. That is, the old law, and it is an exultation to those who understand well, that is, spiritually. Ways, that is, the ordinances of God, by which we come to God, or he himself comes to us, are just, because they render to each one according to his desert; and true, because they lead through to where they promise.

VERS. 4.-- Thy judgments, etc. That thou choosest some and reprovest some, that the faithful may know it to be out of justice.

VERS. 5.-- And after these things. When they had shown that those angels have the power of striking, being about to say what plagues they are to bring in, he first sets forth the cause whereby he shows that those who are to suffer the plagues are worthy of them, 737Cnamely because all the mysteries of the Church are revealed to all who are willing to enter, which these men, by their own evil desert, cannot understand. The temple was opened, that is, the mysteries of the Church were revealed, in which God dwells, and they war unto the honour of God.

VERS. 6.-- And there came out. And because they were thus opened, preachers shall go out and shall rebuke those who work evil.

VERS. 7.-- And one. Because what they shall preach they will have from the institution of the former fathers, who all are called one, because they teach one thing. Of wrath, that is, of anger: because they correct, they rebuke, they threaten the wrath of God to those who sin, sometimes also they excommunicate.

VERS. 18.-- With smoke from the majesty, etc. Although then all things shall be so open to the faithful, yet those same things shall be 737Dclosed and dark to the unfaithful. To enter in, that is, to understand that hidden judgment of God, why he chose some and reproves others, until at the end of the world the saints shall know it openly. Or, to enter meanwhile into the Church, until the damnation of the wicked of every kind is completed in the judgment, because afterward it is agreed that they will not enter.

VERS. 2.-- A wound. Disobedience is the cause why that wound is made.

VERS. 3.-- And it became blood. That is, its damnation was brought in for the blood which they shed. Blood, that is, that damnation shall be as of a dead man, that is, irrevocable; for as a dead man does not return to life, so that sentence of damnation shall not be revoked. 738AEvery living soul. All who consent, who seem to live, shall be damned not because they openly persecute, but on account of their consent.

VERS. 4.-- Upon the rivers, etc. Because these likewise shall be damned for the blood which they shed, either corporally or spiritually.

VERS. 5.-- I heard. That is, I understood those preachers who shall work this vengeance, attributing it not to themselves but to the Lord, and affirming that it is justly done. Who art and who wast. He does not set down "who is to come," because he understood him to be coming at hand.

VERS. 6.-- And thou hast given them blood to drink. That is, eternal punishment for the shedding of blood, in the deserving of which they took delight.

VERS. 7.-- And I heard. What the masters say, the disciples 738Bconfirm. Yea, O Lord God almighty, etc. Out of great affection they turn their speech to God. Just. For it is just that he who shed blood should drink the vengeance of blood.

VERS. 9.-- And they were scorched. Or, being afflicted, they will afflict their tormentors with the heat of wrath, while they shall be found inseparable, and so they were scorched with envy and with anger. Neither did they do. Inwardly repenting they grieved, outwardly they dared not confess.

VERS. 10.-- Upon the seat of the beast. He says this because these are only bodies, and not spirits: over whom he will sit, because he will give bodily things and not spiritual, They gnawed, etc. All refreshing themselves by mutual detraction.

VERS. 12.-- The way might be prepared. Because, the world being ended, 738Cthere shall be the resurrection of the faithful, who shall come from the rising of the sun, that is, from Christ, when he shall have begun to shine, that is, to manifest himself.

VERS. 13.-- I saw. The pouring out of the vial upon these, and that they themselves were not corrected, but were cast headlong into a greater blinding. Spirits to go out. [Vulg. Apc 16:13 has no exire, reading only spiritus tres immundos] That is, all the impious who by reason of exceeding malice are to be called unclean spirits; or, the demons themselves, whom they beget in the hearts of others. For as the faithful by their doctrine beget the faith of Christ in the hearts of others, so these by malice beget the devil. Of frogs. Frogs tarry in mud, and are garrulous, and take away rest from others: so also are these.

VERS. 14.-- They go forth, etc. The demons go forth, and the devil will gather them together, because all are one.

738DVERS. 16.-- And he shall gather together. That is, they will make them have confidence in Antichrist, who is a refuge to all who wish to steal from the saints their faith; or unto whom all the wicked of the diverse sects will glory.

VERS. 17.-- And the seventh angel. It having been shown upon whom the angels pour out their vials, he subjoins what befalls the wicked themselves through that pouring out, namely that here they will resist as much as they shall be able, as if from the very infusion they had received increase, but at last they shall be thrust down into hell.

VERS. 18.-- And the city was made. Because of that damnation and because of the sins which they themselves add, that city was damned, and the punishment was divided to each one 739Aaccording to his desert, namely to the Jews and to the Gentiles, and to false Christians. The cities of the Gentiles fell, that is, all the gatherings of the wicked who remain in the first generation shall be damned: the carnal generation, not in the second, spiritual regeneration.

VERS. 19.-- Came in remembrance. That is, God remembered their several sins, of which he before seemed forgetful. To give her the cup. To this end, that God himself might give them a punishment measured for the delights which they had. God repays the wicked according to their deserts, that is, what they deserved, but not as much as they deserved, that in that very retribution, where justice is manifest, there may also be mercy. For all the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth. To the good also he gives according to their deserts, and more than they deserved, that there mercy over justice 739Bmay prevail.

VERS. 20.-- And every island fled away. And he saw that all who were afflicted for God in the world and eminent in virtues, in respect of these punishments, in their own life avoided the fellowships of the impious, and therefore were not found in their punishments.

VERS. 21.-- A talent. There are three kinds of talent: the great, of a hundred and twenty pounds; the middle, of seventy-two, the lesser, of fifty. Here he speaks of the middle, because sinners in the seventy-two tongues shall not escape this vengeance.

And they blasphemed. That is, being placed in hell, although they know that they are punished according to their desert, yet they will grieve that God has so great power that he brings plagues upon them, and that is blasphemy.

• 739C

VERS. 1.-- And there came one, etc. When he had described the plagues which the preachers shall bring in the time of Antichrist, and the eternal damnation which those same ungodly shall suffer, he warns them to attend to the causes of that damnation itself. As if to say: I have shown you what shall come to pass in that time to come, now beware for yourselves, you that are powerful, because the same devil who shall then deceive so openly deceives secretly every day, and will lead you to the same destruction to which he leads them also. Of the angels. The angel here bears the person of one teaching, John holds the person of one learning. I will show thee the damnation, that is, the cause of the damnation of the wicked, who, having forsaken their Creator, commit fornication with the demon by worshipping idols, by loving earthly things, by 739Dserving uncleanness. Of the harlot. That great harlot is Antichrist, and the wicked who shall be in his time; which harlot already sits upon the waters, that is, already reigns over the wicked that are powerful, of all whom he himself is the head. Which sitteth upon many waters, that is, which reigns over many peoples whom she draws to herself by wantonness. Whence the Lord to Job: His strength (Job. XL), that is, the devil's, in the loins, when he deceives men (whose seed-plot is in the loins): in the navel, when he deceives women (whose seed is in the navel). Whence the Prophet (Ezech. XVI), to Jerusalem as to a harlot: In the day of her birth, [Vulg. Ez 16:4 ortus tui, "of thy birth"] that is, in this time of the world, thy navel was not cut, that is, thou hast not bridled wantonness.

740AVERS. 2.-- They were made drunk, etc. As the drunkard fears nothing, so they that cleave to earthly things shall be so far blinded by the love of earth that they neither love God nor fear punishments.

VERS. 3.-- A woman sitting. That is, those soft men who are conformed to Eve (with whom sin began); who have the devil for their foundation, who is bloody both in himself and in his own; or because they shed the blood of the saints, they understand the sayings of God ill. Seven heads. The five senses of the body, and afterwards error, and at last Antichrist, through which seven the devil leads men to sin. Ten horns. That is, the ten kingdoms which shall be in the time of Antichrist, through which the others are understood.

VERS. 4.-- Clothed round about with purple. That is, with royal raiment: 740Bthey will call themselves kings that they may deceive. With gold. Because they will seem to be enlightened with divine wisdom. A golden cup, that is, the divine Scripture, whereby the faithful are given drink unto salvation. With abomination. That is, the things which, according to those expositions, ought to be cast away by men, because they teach uncleanness of the flesh and to commit fornication away from God.

VERS. 5.-- And on the forehead. Although she is so apt for deceiving, yet, O you faithful, do not despair, because she has on the forehead, that is, in the open, a sign which to the unlearned is that mystery whereby she gives an example of committing sins, for which the earthly-minded shall be driven back from the salvation of the faithful.

VERS. 6.-- Drunken. That is, weighed down with vengeance for the shedding of blood: so that for her exceeding pains she knows not where she is. And I wondered. Here John bears the person 740Cof those who, when they see the wicked exalted in the world, wonder when they hear the punishments which are promised to those same wicked, and, since they are so to be punished, why God permits them to be exalted. But they are taught to understand that that exaltation is given for the greater blinding, and that at last eternal damnation is justly brought upon them.

VERS. 7.-- I will tell thee. That is, why these wicked are punished, that is, the devil who made them sin: which is unknown, save to the learned.

VERS. 8.-- Of the beast which carrieth her. The beast, that is, the devil, carries, that is, rules, the woman, that is, all the wicked that are made effeminate. For he who rules others is said, as it were, to carry the burden of ruling. It was. Before the coming of Christ 740Dthe devil had the greatest power, but afterwards, although he has not utterly lost it, yet he has it weakened not a little. It is about to ascend. Because in the time of Antichrist he shall receive power again, for through those who are in the depths of sin he shall ascend into loftiness. And it shall go into destruction. Because, Antichrist being dead, he shall no longer have place for tempting. They shall wonder. When the wicked shall have seen their power so brought to nothing, they shall grieve: not as men repenting, but only as men wondering. Seven heads. Through these seven the devil raises men up into pride, and upon them the unbelieving lean.

VERS. 10.-- Five are fallen. Adam, if he had persevered in obedience, the senses of the body would have been turned to no pleasure, no evil pleasure, that is; but through sin 741Athey have been so corrupted that it is now natural to seek things smooth to the touch, savoury to the taste, fragrant to the nose, fair to the sight. These are the five kings through whom the devil rules in childhood, because he himself was the cause why they were corrupted. These are the five husbands of the Samaritan woman. In youth error succeeds, for after a man has discretion, and if he sins, it is now imputed not to the senses but to error: of which the Lord says: He whom thou now hast is not thy husband (Joan. IV).

VERS. 11.-- It is of the seven. Because he sins in like manner, and shall be punished in like manner: and she herself the eighth, because she surpasses them all, both in wickedness and in punishment.

VERS. 15.-- They are peoples, etc., that is, the wicked now present, gathered out of every diversity of men.

VERS. 16.-- They shall make her desolate. The solace of the devil 741Bis the perdition of the wicked, whom he shall destroy when the number of the ungodly is complete. And naked. The devil has power of working signs for deceiving, this he shall lose when the number of the good is complete, because afterwards temptation shall have no place. The flesh. They are said to eat the flesh of the harlot, because they shall take delight in the punishments that are to be inflicted.

They shall burn her with fire. That is, they shall be tormented for her delights which they followed.

VERS. 17.-- Until the words be fulfilled. Concerning the promise of rewards or of punishments.

VERS. 1.-- And after these things I saw. In this sixth vision he treats of the last punishments which the ungodly shall suffer in hell for their several sins; and first of Babylon 741Che shows it; afterwards of the beast and the false prophets; at last of the devil himself, in whom the end is manifest, in whose damnation shall be the end. This damnation he is about to pursue, and he says that it was foretold by Christ, that the greater credence may be given to it.

VERS. 2.-- She is fallen, she is fallen. Twice, for the twofold damnation of soul and of body, or because she shall be punished eternally. The hold of every unclean spirit. The demons in depraved hearts are unclean by reason of the enticements of the flesh, birds through the elation of mind, or because they run to and fro through this air.

VERS. 3.-- Of the power. That is, of the sins by which riches are acquired, because every rich man is either unjust, or the heir of an unjust man.

VERS. 4.-- And I heard. Declaring that damnation 741Dto come, he subjoins an admonition to those present. Go out, because a short time remains, in which they shall receive their wage according to desert.

VERS. 5.-- Because her sins have reached, etc. Sins reach even to the contempt of God through impenitence.

VERS. 6.-- Render to her. As she has exercised my vengeance upon you who are being purged, so do you avenge my injury upon them. Double unto her double, that is, inflict greater punishments upon soul and body than they inflicted upon you.

VERS. 7.-- As much as she hath glorified herself, etc. This is rightly said, because some receive more, others less. As the cause of this distinction he repeats what he had said above. And 742AI am not a widow. Because I have consolation in temporal things.

VERS. 8.-- Death. The absence of life, that is, of God, because his presence is life.

VERS. 9.-- And they shall weep. But others shall have perpetual joy. The kings of the earth. Even those who governed their own earthliness well; but they have at some time committed fornication with her, they shall grieve that they were never like to them. When they shall see the smoke of her burning, that is, when riches shall have failed, which is a sign of the eternal burning of the judgment; or when they shall have seen the punishment exalted beyond measure.

VERS. 11.-- And the merchants of the earth shall weep. Because they shall grieve that those things perish in which they reckoned their prosperity.

742BVERS. 12.-- Of gold and of silver, etc. By gold, wisdom, by silver the divine sayings. Christ is signified in the precious stone; the apostles in the pearls: in the white fine linen, the justifications of the saints; in the purple, martyrdom; in the silk, virginity; in the red scarlet, charity; in the incorruptible thyine wood, unfailing constancy; in the ivory, the beauty of the virtues; in the brass, fortitude and long-suffering; in the iron, the keenness of loftiness; in the marble, unconquered humility.

VERS. 13.-- Cinnamon. In cinnamon the odour of the virtues which they feign ought to be understood. Of fine flour and of wheat, that is, the flesh of Christ, by which the faithful are truly filled, the reprobate are provoked. Of slaves and of souls. He distinguishes: because certain men are made servants in body only, as Joseph; certain also in soul, as if an Egyptian 742Csold to a Jew should be circumcised after their rite, or worship the idols of the pagans.

VERS. 20.-- Rejoice ye over her. [Vulg. Apc 18:20 Exsulta, a singular imperative] After he has foretold this damnation to come upon the ungodly, he warns the good to rejoice, that they may agree with the divine judgment; or because, when these are damned, their own recompense follows.

VERS. 21.-- And he took up. God lifts up the wicked, that he may punish them more grievously, or that they may fall down. A stone as it were a millstone. According to the letter also all these things were seen. With this violence. After the several punishments have been described, the manner of the damnation is shown to him, as if he should say: What I saw foretold, I saw also now fulfilled, as thou seest in this figure; or: by how much the more they have been exalted, by so much the more grievously shall they fall.

• 742D

VERS. 1.-- After these things I heard. That is, I saw the damnation of the wicked fulfilled, as I had heard from Christ that it was to be fulfilled. Now he subjoins that the saints rejoice over that damnation, as they had been warned to rejoice in that verse: Rejoice ye over her, ye heavens, [Vulg. Apc 18:20 caelum, singular] whereby the punishment of the wicked is understood to be much heavier. Alleluia, etc. Therefore we say alleluia, because it is praise to our God, and because he has done such things for us, we ought to praise him by antonomasia.

VERS. 4.-- And the elders fell down, etc. Not only did the lesser saints praise God for this damnation, but also those greater ones who in the Church were judges and teachers of others. Amen. Especially 743Ais God to be praised for this, that he thus punishes our enemies.

VERS. 5.-- And a voice, etc. When the damnation of the wicked and the exultation of the saints have been told, he subjoins an admonition to those present, as if he should say: You have seen the exultation, now provide you for yourselves unto your own salvation. The little ones. They who cannot penetrate the higher mysteries, nor can fulfil the counsel of God: Sell all, and follow me, are understood by the name of the little ones.

VERS. 6.-- And I heard as it were a voice, etc. When the gladness which the saints had over the perdition of the wicked has been shown, he subjoins another gladness of theirs, which they shall have over their own salvation (of which he is about to speak).

VERS. 7.-- And his wife, etc. And it is fitting 743Bthat the Church be joined to Christ, because the Church herself has made herself fit to be received.

VERS. 10.-- And I fell down, etc. Because I understood him to be greater than I, and was ready to obey, so do you also obey me. See thou do it not. Under the old law he did not forbid himself to be adored; but after the ascension, seeing man exalted above himself, he feared to be adored by a man.

For the testimony, etc. Whatsoever the prophets said bears witness to Christ.

VERS. 11.-- And I saw heaven opened. When the damnation of Babylon has been told, and the exultation which the saints shall have thereat, he subjoins the damnation of Antichrist himself and of his apostles, which is in that place: And the beast was taken. And these, why shall they be damned? because they fought against Christ as much as they could, and 743Cyet Christ will well be able to conquer, who has such great power according to divinity and humanity that none can resist him, and therefore we ought to imitate him. Whence he too interposes an admonition: And I saw one angel. I saw those called to the marriage, I saw also those who can come: for they have a good helper and good admonishers. A white horse, that is, the flesh of Christ bearing the Word of God to the war against the devil.

VERS. 12.-- As a flame of fire. Because it burns up vices, and kindles, and enlightens. All these things are said without respect to any particular thing, that we may only note what manner of one he is and how much he can do.

VERS. 13.-- The Word of God. That is: He spoke, and they were made (Psal. XXXII): through whom the Father made all things, and 743Dthrough whom the Father announced himself to the world.

VERS. 14.-- Clothed in fine linen white and clean. That is, in clean bodies, they who are bridled from unlawful things, and are goaded on to good things by the spur of charity, that is, to justice.

VERS. 15.-- A sword sharp on both sides. That is, the divine sentence, cutting into the depraved thoughts of the mind and the unlawful motions of the body; or the Old and the New Testament. He shall rule them. By advancing the saints from virtue to virtue, by suffering the wicked to slip from vice to vice.

VERS. 16.-- And he hath on his garment. Or in the hearts of the faithful, who are the garment of the Son, it is written: King of kings.

744AVERS. 17.-- And I saw one angel. When the dignity of Christ has been shown, whereby he shall be able to overcome the devil, he adds an admonition concerning the present, as if he should say: To such a one as this you ought to cleave. To all the birds. To all the faithful who are nimble and light in the furtherance of good works. Come ye, etc. By working well, in the same faith, not following divers heresies as the wicked do; or: come ye to me from the divers parts of the world. And be ye gathered together. As if: You ought to be very anxious that you may be able to come to this supper, because unless you shall have fought well, you will succumb to the devil; because he is very ready to hurt you, yet with the help of God you will be able to overcome him.

VERS. 20.-- These two were cast alive. Namely, Antichrist and his apostles shall suffer greater punishments 744Bthan the others, after the likeness of him who is burnt alive.

VERS. 21.-- And the rest were slain. That is, their followers shall be punished with a lesser punishment, or those who shall be the rest, or converted to him, being slain to the world, shall live to God. And all the birds, that is, all the saints, were delighted at the punishment of those men, and at the profit of the brethren.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw an angel. When the damnation of Babylon and of Antichrist and of the false apostles has been told, he subjoins the damnation of the devil himself, and sets before it the cause for which and the time in which he shall be damned: and who shall be able to overcome him, namely he who in his lowly coming was able to bind him as far as he willed, being glorified shall be able 744Cutterly to destroy the same. Of the abyss. The hearts of the ungodly are called a dark abyss; or the devil himself, whom the Lord permits to rage and bridles when he wills.

VERS. 2.-- He laid hold. That is, he showed him to have sinned, in that that devil slew him who was free from sin. He bound him. It is to be known that the devil was bound in Abraham and in the other faithful in like manner as in these that are present; but in the former the hope of the Christ to come bound him, in the latter Christ himself coming bound him.

VERS. 3.-- And he cast him, etc. Because, cast out from the faithful, he began to lord it more cruelly among the wicked: so it is read in the Gospel, that he entered into the swine. He sealed him up, etc. That is, he set a seal, namely the sign of the cross, which so overcomes him that it drives him back from the faithful. And after these things he must, etc., that he may receive back the power 744Dwhich he had before the coming of Christ.

VERS. 4.-- And see thrones. [Vulg. Apc 20:4 Et vidi sedes, "And I saw thrones"] The devil being bound, I saw the faithful loosed, and the lesser ready to obey their prelates, and the prelates judging their subjects. I saw the Church in the time of that binding so loosed unto good working, and at that same time I saw those who die for Christ enter straightway into glory, never to go down to the lower regions, as Abraham and the rest of the prophets went down, although they were just. And the souls of them that were beheaded. And I saw in like manner the souls of those who adored not. And they lived. And I say not, they shall live and reign in the time to come, but also in this present time, that is, from the time they were slain they lived and reigned with Christ.

745AVERS. 5.-- But the rest of the dead lived not, that is, they shall suffer eternal punishments, and that in this present time also, because they die straightway. This is the resurrection. That the devil is thus bound, and that men rise again from sins, and that when they themselves are dead their souls straightway enjoy eternal rest, is the first resurrection and the chief. The first. For a difference from that which shall be in soul and body together, this is called the first.

He that hath part. If all cannot be perfect, neither shall they be in the same brightness. The second death, that is, eternal damnation, which shall be in the body and in the soul of the reprobate, shall not lay hold of the elect, who are never in anything increased [augentur; read anguntur, "are distressed"]. But they shall be priests, that is, offering eternal praises to the Godhead and to the manhood.

745BVERS. 7.-- Out of prison. That is, out of the hearts of the reprobate, in which he is now bound, that he may not rage at his will. Magog. That is, the uncovered, that is, all persecutors covering the devil within themselves, and at last proceeding to open persecution. Or, according to the letter, he shall first seduce these two nations, and through them proceed to the others.

And they compassed the camp of the saints, that is, those same saints fortified in virtues and of one mind in this war.

VERS. 10.-- Day and night. This he says in respect of the glory of the saints, which is day, and of their own punishments, which is night.

VERS. 11.-- And I saw a throne. When the destruction of the devil and of his members has been told, he subjoins the destruction of the world, unto the greater punishment of the ungodly. For it is fitting 745Cthat, the wicked being destroyed, the world be destroyed, according as it had been corrupted by them. Having often spoken of the glorification of the saints and of the punishments of the ungodly, he had made no mention of bodies, whether they ought to be glorified or punished; therefore here he shows them openly.

VERS. 12.-- And the books were opened. Books, that is, the divine precepts, and they who have let them go shall know that they are punished according to desert; or the books are the consciences of each man, which shall be open to all. Another book. That is, Christ, who shall then appear to all as mighty, and shall give life to his own. Or, the book is the foreknowledge of God, because then the wicked shall openly know that they are not predestined to the life which, while they were in the world, they promised themselves. Out of those things which were written. By comparison with the saints the ungodly shall be damned: for the ungodly themselves shall read in the 745Dsaints themselves the things which they were unwilling to do.

VERS. 13.-- And the sea gave up the dead. He wishes to show openly that the bodies of the dead, howsoever they may have been cut asunder, are made alive at that judgment, which certain men do not believe.

VERS. 14.-- This is the second death. As if he should say: Beware you of the first death, because from that first this second follows.

VERS. 1.-- And I saw. In this seventh vision he treats of the renewing of the elements and the glorification of the saints, describing the merits through which the saints are thus glorified. A new heaven and a new earth. The change 746Aof the air and of the earth is not doubtful, but that it comes to pass through fire. But concerning water there is doubt, for it is believed to have purgation in itself.

VERS. 2.-- As a bride adorned. As a bridegroom sends gifts beforehand to his bride before he leads her home, so does Christ send to the Church faith and virtues and good works before he receives her into glory.

VERS. 3.-- A great voice from the throne. When he had said that he had seen the renewing of the elements and the glorification of the saints, this was unknown, and, lest it should seem past believing, he adds the authority of the holy Fathers, who foretold this. Behold the tabernacle. That is, it is plain that the humanity of Christ shall be in that same glory in which it warred, and the men who imitated him and used those things well.

746BAnd they his people. That is, offending in nothing, which cannot be while they are in mortal flesh.

VERS. 4.-- And death. Truly there shall be no tears there, because there shall be no cause of tears.

VERS. 5.-- And he said. As if he should say: Write whatsoever has been shown thee concerning this renewing. This was done for the profit of those now present, for whom I have been bidden to write these things. Write: for these, etc. Bidding him write, and announce to others, he subjoins an exhortation, that all may labour to belong to this renewing.

VERS. 6.-- And he said to me. When the authority of the saints concerning this renewing has been set down, he sets down the authority of God himself. It is done. Lest anyone should ask: What shall come to pass after that renewing, it is said to him that nothing remains to be done.

746CAlpha and Omega. As if he should say: This renewing I shall be able to make, because I created all things, and in me all things shall be consummated. To him that thirsteth. I will give, not to him that thirsteth for an hour, but to him that perseveres.

VERS. 7.-- He shall possess these things. That is, myself, who am the beginning of all blessedness.

VERS. 8.-- To the fearful. That is: to those who for fear of punishments flee from receiving the faith, or forsake it when received, there shall be eternal damnation.

VERS. 9.-- Come and I will show thee. When the glory which the saints are to have has been described, he tells by what merit, or by what help, they are to receive it.

VERS. 10.-- Into a great mountain. Christ is the mountain, because he is the defence of his own, he is great, because he fills the whole world, high, because unconquerable. 746DHe showed me the city. And upon that mountain he showed the foundation of the Church.

VERS. 11.-- The light. The heavenly Jerusalem herself, shining after her own measure, is like to Christ, who was firm in purpose, and shining in virtues. Of jasper. This stone is hard, and green: so the Church shines with faith, and is made firm therein.

VERS. 12.-- The wall. That is, Christ the defender, who is great in Sion, high with the Father. Or understand the defenders of others, who are great in overcoming others. Others, that they be not overcome, that is, the apostles or the prophets, or the angels, messengers of the truth. Twelve gates. That is, the patriarchs, by whose example others are brought in to the faith. Or the gates, the apostles, 747Awho bring others into the Church. The angels, that is, the subject folk who, being perfectly taught, have been put in the place of the angels. The number of the gates, twelve, which are comprehended through the four parts of the world under the number three, belongs to the mystery of the twelve apostles, through whom the faith of the Trinity is spread abroad through the fourfold world. Names written, etc. That is, the memory of the holy Fathers of the old law is in the apostles, because what those foretold as to come, these teach as fulfilled. Or all the nations are set in the faith of the apostles and in the love of them. Whence: You are our epistle, written in our hearts (II Cor. III).

VERS. 13.-- From the east three gates. The east, the Jews: from whom the sun of justice arose, and in them three gates, because in them first was the faith of the Trinity, announced 747Bby the apostles and by the prophets. The north, the cold nations: which believed after the Jews. From the south, that is, from the brightness of faith, which is from the coming of Christ. From the west, that is, from the last age of the world, which through Elias and Enoch shall receive the faith of the Trinity.

VERS. 14.-- The wall. That is, the faith of Christ, wherewith he fortified that city, has twelve patriarchs, by whom it is founded, because those first held this faith, and upon them lean all who come to the faith. And in them twelve. Which faith these hold, those understood as to come, and foretold.

VERS. 15.-- And he that spoke with me. I saw that city so fortified and adorned, and I saw there that not all were equal among themselves: but each one perfect 747Cafter his own measure. A golden reed of measure. That is, the divine Scripture, framed by the wisdom of God, which touches and enlightens the hearts of the faithful. That he might measure the city and the gates thereof. That is, that according to the measure he might give to the lesser also an understanding of those same Scriptures.

It is laid out foursquare. Four sides, faith, hope, charity, working, which are equal, because as much as a man believes, so much he hopes: as much as he hopes, so much he loves: as much as he loves, so much he works. Foursquare, therefore, because sturdy in faith, long-suffering in hope, ample in charity, effectual in work. Or the four sides are the four principal virtues, of which one ought not to exceed another. In a man, then, there is prudence in seeking the good and shunning the evil, which temperance follows, 747Dthat a man may draw himself back from pleasures: after these is fortitude, that he may work what he understands: thereafter justice, that he may so temper his acts that he seem not to himself too just or too wise. By furlongs. A stadium is a place and a course and a measure, and eight make a mile, and it marks those who press toward the prize.

Twelve thousand. These are perfect in the faith of the Trinity out of the four parts of the world.

VERS. 17.-- The measure of a man. According to the letter, holy John shows that the angel appeared to him in the likeness of a man, that he might plainly denote that he who was signified was a true angel, that is, the Son of God, and was a true man.

VERS. 18.-- And it was. He had said that in this city there are 748Awalls and gates and foundations, and these among themselves, some greater, some lesser, here he sets out what manner of thing the wall is, and what manner of thing the city itself and the foundations and the gates. The building of the wall thereof was of jasper stone. That is, if anyone be equipped for this, that he be a defender of others, he has this from the faith which he firmly holds and preaches, which the green jasper signifies, that he may be a defender of others. Gold. Gold denotes wisdom; but glass, the purity of faith, whereby a man promises with his mouth what he believes with his heart.

VERS. 19.-- Jasper. This stone is green, and therefore it signifies the unfading greenness of faith. Or the jasper is the faith of the saints, not withering, but ever persevering in the greenness of work.

Sapphire. It is like to a clear sky, which, when struck by the rays of the sun, sends forth a burning brightness; but it signifies 748Bthe height of the hope of the saints, whose conversation is in heaven, who also, renewed by the true sun, more ardently seek eternal things, and teach others to seek them, saying: Our conversation is in heaven (Phil. III). Chalcedony, (BED.) This stone has the colour of a paling lamp: it shines, etc., as far as they draw sinners and the frail to themselves and join them to themselves.

Emerald. (ID.) The fourth, of exceeding greenness above all herbs and leaves, so much so that even, etc., as far as faith is called the fourth because of the four Gospels.

VERS. 20.-- Sardonyx. (ID.) The fifth, of three colours, black at the bottom, white, etc., as far as because it is carried on by the five senses, it is called the fifth.

Sardius. The sixth, of a bloody colour, of one colour, signifies the glory of martyrdom. The sixth, because Christ was crucified 748Con the sixth day of the week. Or the sardius, having the appearance of red earth, signifies the saints who, although lofty in the understanding of the mind, yet remember their own frailty, considering that they are sons of Adam, who is called red earth, who was made on the sixth day, whence also the sardius is brought in as sixth.

Beryl. (BED.) The eighth is the working of preachers. The beryl shines, etc., as far as returning by the care of earthly administration to the pallor of the active life.

Topaz. This stone is set ninth, because it is rarer and more precious, and has two colours, from gold and from an ethereal brightness, shining most of all when it is touched with the splendour of the sun, surpassing the brightnesses of all gems, singularly drawing those who look upon it to look at it, which, if thou polish it more, thou darkenest it: if thou leave it to nature, 748Dit is clearer: and nothing is dearer to kings among riches. It signifies the contemplative life, which holy kings prefer to all the riches of works and gems of virtues, and toward which most of all they direct their gaze, and so much the more, the more often they are enlightened by divine grace. From inward charity comes the golden colour, from the sweetness of contemplation the ethereal, which from the rubbing of the world always grows dark, for scarcely can a man be touched with sorrows and at the same time behold with a tranquil mind the joys of heaven. Or if thou polish, that is, if thou honour them with the dignities of the world, and adorn them, thou darkenest them: because they have less leisure for contemplation, or become less in merits. And as in the eighth is the active life, so in the ninth is the contemplative, which is that of the angels, of whom there are nine orders. 749ACertain men say that it has the colours of all stones, whence also it has its name, because pan, that is, all. And it is found in an island of Egypt which is called Topazon, it signifies the saints, shining with all the colours of the virtues.

Chrysoprasus. It is born in India, of a green and golden mixture. A certain kind is also purple with golden drops, it signifies those who by charity merit the greenness of the eternal country, and show forth another, the purple, of martyrdom, and because they follow the example of the Lord, they are in India, that is, near the rising of the sun, and look to reign with Christ. They are in the number ten, the decalogue is fulfilled through love, which is not ended. Therefore in the chrysoprasus is signified the work of martyrdom and its reward. Chryson is gold: prasos is called leek.

Hyacinth. This stone is the eleventh, with the air 749Bit changes, in clear weather transparent, in cloudy dark, it signifies most discerning teachers, tempering themselves to all qualities, characters, ages, understandings.

Amethyst. The twelfth stone is purple, of a mingled colour of violet and rose, pouring forth from itself certain little flames. The purple colour signifies the raiment of the heavenly kingdom, the primacy of the angelic fellowship to which the saints shall come. The violet, the lowly modesty of the saints with the odour of good working. The rose, the precious death of the martyrs, who send forth the flames of charity not only among themselves, but even toward their enemies and persecutors. The amethyst therefore signifies the ever-abiding memory of the heavenly kingdom in the hearts of the humble, and that excellent virtue, that they pray even for their enemies, 749Cand care for their salvation, which is the virtue of virtues. The variety of colours, the manifoldness of virtues.

VERS. 21.-- And the twelve gates. As if he should say: I said that there are twelve gates, and since those twelve gates are so, that is, the prophets bringing men in to the faith of the Trinity out of the four parts of the world. Through each, that is, through the instruction of each one; are pearls, that is, those who imitate them, who, from whatsoever part of the world they be called to the faith of the Trinity, are splendid in virtues. The several gates, etc. As if he should say: In order that there might be gates, there had to be pearls. The streets of the city gold. [Vulg. Apc 21:21 platea, singular, "the street"] That is, wisdom, or men full of brightness, clean from criminal stain. Glass thoroughly clear. That is, hiding no filth within themselves. Or because the wicked can, in their works, as in a mirror, 749Drecognize their own wickedness.

VERS. 23.-- It hath no need of the sun. Here the saints need sun and moon for their service, there not: for God shall fully enlighten them. Or, it hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that is, of greater or of lesser preachers.

VERS. 24.-- And they shall walk. So great shall the light be in the time to come that even to the end of the world the nations shall walk, that is, they shall be advanced from good to better. In the light. In the hope of this light, or through the light, or through the brightness, or through the rays of the knowledge of him. The kings of the earth. That is, those greater ones who govern their own earthliness and that of others.

VERS. 25.-- And the gates. In the present time preaching is sometimes withdrawn, lest thieves enter in and trample, 750Awhile it is night, that is, a place of ambushes: but because there the day is perpetual, all fear shall be taken away.

VERS. 26.-- They shall bring. After the likeness of conquerors who carry their spoils into their own cities.

VERS. 27.-- There shall not enter into it. When the honourableness of the city has been told, lest any false brother should presume to reach any of these degrees, he determines who are to enter, and who not.

VERS. 1.-- And he showed. After he has shown the site of the city, its dignity, and the walls and the foundations, he describes the refreshment which God has furnished to the city, both in the present time and most of all in the time to come. In the presence of the Godhead, or in the imitation of the life of the Lamb, who set before us 750Bin himself an example. A river. That is, flowing water, that is, eternal blessedness. In the appearance of water is marked the washing of baptism, whereby that blessedness is attained. From the throne of God. That is, from those in whom God shall chiefly sit, because in them he most of all is, and through their instruction the lesser shall be crowned.

VERS. 2.-- And on either side. About the river, that is, in this life, we have the tree of life, that is, the body and blood of Christ, in which we are refreshed, and beyond the river, that is, in the time to come, we shall have him present. Or by "about the river" let us take the time before baptism, by "beyond" that which was after baptism, so that we may denote the faithful saved through Christ both under the old and under the new law, which Moses signified, who led the sons of Israel as far as the river Jordan, and Jesus the son of Nave, 750Cwho led them from the river Jordan into the land of promise. The tree of life. As if he should say: He himself gives the refreshment, he himself also gives them those who should make ready those to whom he himself renders it.

Fruits. That is, the prophets and apostles bearing fruit unto the faith of the Trinity through the four parts of the world. And the leaves of the tree. As if he should say: And that Christ shall render fruit, this shall be thus, that the apostles, and after them others also, shall scatter the leaves of Christ himself.

VERS. 6.-- And he said to me. As at the beginning he set down a commendation of the vision, so now also at the last he sets one down. The Lord. And thou oughtest well to believe, because he who has in his power the gifts of the Holy Spirit, through whom the prophets spoke all the things which they said. His angel, etc. As the angel to John, so John 750Dcommends it to his own disciples: as if he should say: This announcement was made to me not for my own sake, but that you may believe me.

VERS. 8.-- And after I had heard, and had seen. Here he gives us to understand that for these things we ought to hold him in veneration, and to adore not him only, but God, and through the keeping of the words of the book to obtain the purification of the angels.

VERS. 9.-- And of thy brethren, etc. They are not to be thought strangers to the gift of prophecy who have the grace of interpreting: as Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, Gregory, etc.

VERS. 11.-- He that hurteth, let him hurt still. Because it might be objected that it were an evil thing to prophesy to the wicked, since 751Athey would thereby be the more grievously punished, it was said to him that he should not therefore cease, because it is just.

VERS. 14.-- Blessed are they that wash, etc. Because he had said: Let him that hurts hurt, let him that is filthy be filthy still, lest any wicked man should say: Since I am wicked, why should I repent? he says. Not only are they blessed who spurn the greater persecution, but also those who have defiled their stoles which they received in baptism, if afterwards they shall have washed them, and it repent them that they have sinned.

VERS. 16.-- I Jesus. John commended the book, through the angel, through his own dignity, now also through the authority of Christ himself. As if he should say: Let all that hear know that I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things. The bright star. The clear star, that is, the great charity announcing the day, that 751Bis, the blessedness to come, through my resurrection wrought in the morning

752AVERS. 17.-- And the spirit, that is, the Trinity, which for the excellence of its purity is called spirit: And the spirit and the bride say, etc. Here he adds also the testimony of the Trinity and of the faithful, as if: Therefore you ought to receive it, because the spirit and the bride, etc. And he that thirsteth, let him come. Yet not just anyone, but let him only come who thirsts: that is, who desires to believe. He that will, let him take the water of life freely. And it is no labour, because the will alone suffices.

VERS. 18.-- For I testify, etc. After he has set down the commendation through himself, through the angel, through Christ, through the Trinity, through the faithful; knowing that there were certain men in Asia who, for the fostering of their own errors, would add something or take away, he subjoins an excommunication.

752BVERS. 21.-- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The consummation of the apostle in the word of Christ.