Commentary On Apocalypse

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Commentary On = Apocalypse=20

By St. Victorinus=20

An ecclesiastical writer who flourished about 270, and = who=20 suffered martyrdom probably in 303, under Diocletian.=20

He was bishop of the City of Pettau (Petabium, Poetovio), = on the=20 Drave, in Styria (Austria); hence his surname of = Petravionensis or=20 sometimes Pictaviensis, e.g. in the Roman Martyrology, where = he is=20 registered under 2 November, which long caused it to be = thought that=20 he belonged to the Diocese of Poitiers (France). Until the=20 seventeenth century he was likewise confounded with the = Latin=20 rhetorician, Victorinus After. According to St. Jerome, who = gives=20 him an honourable place in his catalogue of ecclesiastical = writers,=20 Victorinus composed commentaries on various books of Holy = Scripture,=20 such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Isaias, Ezechiel, = Habacuc,=20 Ecclesiastes, the Canticle of Canticles, St. Matthew, and = the=20 Apocalypse, besides treatises against the heresies of his = time.=20

FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER

1. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to = Him, and=20 showed unto His servants things which must shortly come to = pass, and=20 signified it. Blessed are they who read and hear the words = of this=20 prophecy, and keep the things which are written." The = beginning=20 of the book promises blessing to him that reads and hears = and keeps,=20 that he who takes pains about the reading may thence learn = to do=20 works, and may keep the precepts.=20

4. "Grace unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and = which=20 was, and which is to come." He is, because He endures=20 continually; He was, because with the Father He made all = things, and=20 has at this time taken a beginning from the Virgin; He is to = come,=20 because assuredly He will come to judgment.=20

"And from the seven spirits which are before His = throne."=20 We read of a sevenfold spirit in Isaiah - namely, the spirit = of=20 wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and = might, of=20 knowledge and of piety, and the spirit of the fear of the = Lord.=20

5. "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful = witness, the=20 first-begotten of the dead." In taking upon Him manhood, = He gave=20 a testimony in the world, wherein also having suffered, He = freed us=20 by His blood from sin; and having vanquished hell, He was = the first=20 who rose from the dead and "death shall have no more = dominion over=20 Him," but by His own reign the kingdom of the world is = destroyed.=20

6. "And He made us a kingdom and priests unto God and = His=20 Father." That is to say, a Church of all believers; as = also the=20 Apostle Peter says: "A holy nation, a royal priesthood."=20

7. "Behold, He shall come with clouds, and every eye = shall see=20 Him." For He who at first came hidden in the manhood = that He had=20 undertaken, shall after a little while come to judgment = manifest in=20 majesty and glory. And what saith He?=20

12. "And I turned, and saw seven golden candlesticks; = and in=20 the midst of the seven golden candlesticks one like unto the = Son of=20 man." He says that He was like Him after His victory = over death,=20 when He had ascended into the heavens, after the union in = His body=20 of the power which He received from the Father with the = spirit of=20 His glory.=20

13. "As it were the Son of man walking in the midst of = the=20 golden candlesticks." He says, in the midst of the = churches, as=20 it is said in Solomon, "I will walk in the midst of the = paths of the=20 just," whose antiquity is immortality, and the fountain of = majesty.=20

"Clothed with a garment down to the ankles." In = the long,=20 that is, the priestly garment, these words very plainly = deliver the=20 flesh which was not corrupted in dea th, and has the = priesthood=20 through suffering.=20

"And He was girt about the paps with a golden = girdle." His=20 paps are the two testaments, and the golden g irdle is the = choir of=20 saints, as gold tried in the fire. Otherwise the golden = girdle bound=20 around His breast indicates the enlightened conscience, and = the pure=20 and spiritual apprehension that is given to the churches.=20

14. "And His head and His hairs were white as it were = white=20 wool, and as it were snow." On the head the whiteness is = shown;=20 "but the head of Christ is God." in the white hairs is the = multitude=20 of abbots like to wool, in respect of simple sheep; to snow, = in=20 respect of the innumerable crowd of candidates taught from = heaven.=20

"His eyes were as a flame of fire." God's = preceipts are=20 those which minister light to believers, but to unbelievers = burning.=20

16. "And in His face was brightness as the sun." = That=20 which He called brightness was the appearance of that in = which He=20 spoke to men face to face. But the glory of the sun is less = than the=20 glory of the Lord. Doubtless on account of its rising and = setting,=20 and rising again, that He was born and suffered and rose = again,=20 therefore the Scripture gave this similitude, likening His = face to=20 the glory of the sun.=20

15. "His feet were like unto yellow brass, as if = burned in a=20 furnace." He calls the apostles His feet, who, being = wrought by=20 suffering, preached His word in the whole world; for He = rightly=20 named those by whose means the preaching went forth, feet. = Whence=20 also the prophet anticipated this, and said: "We will = worship in the=20 place where His feet have stood." Because where they first = of all=20 stood and confirmed the Church, that is, in Judea, all the = saints=20 shall assemble together, and will worship their Lord.=20

16. "And out of His mouth was issuing a sharp = two-edged=20 sword." By the twice-sharpened sword going forth out of = His=20 mouth is shown, that it is He Himself who has both now = declared the=20 word of the Gospel, and previously by Moses declared the = knowledge=20 of the law to the whole world. But because from the same = word, as=20 well of the New as of the Old Testament, He will assert = Himself upon=20 the whole human race, therefore He is spoken of as = two-edged. For=20 the sword arms the soldier, the sword slays the enemy, the = sword=20 punishes the deserter. And that He might show to the = apostles that=20 He was announcing judgment, He says: "I came not to send = peace, but=20 a sword." And after He had completed His parables, He says = to them:=20 "Have ye understood all these things? And they said, We = have. And He=20 added, Therefore is every scribe instructed in the kingdom = of God=20 like unto a man that is a father of a family, bringing forth = from=20 his treasure things new and old," - the new, the evangelical = words=20 of the apostles; the old, the precepts of the law and the = prophets:=20 and He testified that these proceeded out of His mouth. = Moreover, He=20 also says to Peter: "Go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, = and take=20 up the fish that shall first come up; and having opened its = mouth,=20 thou shalt find a stater (that is, two denarii), and thou = shalt give=20 it for me and for thee." And similarly David says by the = Spirit:=20 "God spake once, twice I have heard the same." Because God = once=20 decreed from the beginning what shall be even to the end. = Finally,=20 as He Himself is the Judge appointed by the Father. on = account of=20 His assumption of humanity, wishing to show that men shall = be judged=20 by the word that He had declared, He says: "Think ye that I = will=20 judge you at the last day? Nay, but the word," says He, = "which I=20 have spoken unto you, that shall judge you in the last day." = And=20 Paul, speaking of Antichrist to the Thessalonians, says: = "Whom the=20 Lord Jesus will slay by the breath of His mouth." And Isaiah = says:=20 "By the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked ." This, = therefore, is the two-edged sword issuing out of His mouth.=20

15. "And His voice as it were the voice of many = waters."=20 The many waters are und erstood to be many peoples, or the = gift of=20 baptism that He sent forth by the apostles, saying: "Go ye, = teach=20 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and = of the=20 Son, and of the Holy Ghost."=20

16. "And He had in His right hand seven stars." He = said=20 that in His right hand He had seven stars, because the Holy = Spirit=20 of sevenfold agency was given into His power by the Father. = As Peter=20 exclaimed to the Jews: "Being at the right hand of God = exalted, He=20 hath shed forth this Spirit received from the Father, which = ye both=20 see and hear." Moreover, John the Baptist had also = anticipated this,=20 by saying to his disciples: "For God giveth not the Spirit = by=20 measure unto Him. The Father," says he, "loveth the Son, and = hath=20 given all things into His hands." Those seven stars are the = seven=20 churches, which he names in his addresses by name, old calls = them to=20 whom he wrote epistles. Not that they are themselves the = only, or=20 even the principal churches; but what he says to one, he = says to=20 all. For they are in no respect difent, that on that ground = any one=20 should prefer them to the larger number of similar small = ones.=20

In the whole world Paul taught that all the churches are = arranged=20 by sevens, that they are called seven, and that the Catholic = Church=20 is one. And first of all, indeed, that he himself also might = maintain the type of seven churches, he did not exceed that = number.=20 But he wrote to the Romans, to the Corinthians, to the = Galatians, to=20 the Ephesians, to the Thessalonians, to the Philippians, to = the=20 Colossians; afterwards he wrote to individual persons, so as = not to=20 exceed the number of seven churches. And abridging in a = short space=20 his announcement, he thus says to Timothy: "That thou mayest = know=20 how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the Church of the = living=20 God." We read also that this typical number is announced by = the Holy=20 Spirit by the month of Isaiah: "Of seven women which took = hold of=20 one man." The one man is Christ, not born of seed; but the = seven=20 women are seven churches, receiving His bread, and clothed = with his=20 apparel, who ask that their reproach should be taken away, = only that=20 His name should be called upon them. The bread is the Holy = Spirit,=20 which nourishes to eternal life, promised to them, that is, = by=20 faith. And His garments wherewith they desire to be clothed = are the=20 glory of immortality, of which Paul the apostle says: "For = this=20 corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must = put on=20 mortality." Moreover, they ask that their reproach may be = taken away=20 - that is, that they may be cleansed from their sins: for = the=20 reproach is the original sin which is taken away in baptism, = and=20 they begin to be called Christian men, which is, "Let thy = name be=20 called upon us." Therefore in these seven churches, of one = Catholic=20 Church are believers, because it is one in seven by the = quality of=20 faith and election. Whether writing to them who labour in = the world,=20 and live of the frugality of their labours, and are patient, = and=20 when they see certain men in the Church wasters, and = pernicious,=20 they hear them, lest there should become dissension, he yet=20 admonishes them by love, that in what respects their faith = is=20 deficient they should repent; or to those who dwell in cruel = places=20 among persecutors, that they should continue faithful; or to = those=20 who, under the pretext of mercy, do unlawful sins in the = Church, and=20 make them manifest to be done by others; or to those that = are at=20 ease in the Church; or to those who are negligent, and = Christians=20 only in name; or to those who are meekly instructed, that = they may=20 bravely persevere in faith; or to those who study the = Scriptures,=20 and labour to know the mysteries of th eir announcement, and = are=20 unwilling to do God's work that is mercy and love: to all he = urges=20 penitence, to all he declares judgment.=20

FRO M THE SECOND CHAPTER

2. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy = patience."=20 In the first epistle He speaks thus: I know that thou = sufferest and=20 workest, I see that thou art patient; think not that I am = staying=20 long from thee.=20

"And that thou canst not bear them that are evil, and = who say=20 that they are Jews and are not, and thou has found them = liars, and=20 thou hast patience for My name's sake." All these things = tend to=20 praise, and that no small praise; and it behoves such men, = and such=20 a class, and such elected persons, by all means to be = admonished,=20 that they may not be defrauded of such privileges granted to = them of=20 God. These few things He said that He had against them.=20

4, 5. "And thou hast left thy first love: remember = whence thou=20 hast fallen." He who falls, falls from a height: = therefore He=20 said whence: because, even to the very last, works of love = must be=20 practised; and this is the principal commandment. Finally, = unless=20 this is done, He threatened to remove their candlestick out = of its=20 place, that is, to disperse the congregation.=20

6. "This thou hast also, that thou hatest the deeds of = the=20 Nicolaitanes." But because thou thyself hatedst those = who hold=20 the doctrines of the Nicolaitanes, thou expectest praise. = Moreover,=20 to hate the works of the Nicolaitanes, which He Himself also = hated,=20 this tends to praise. But the works of the Nicolaitanes were = in that=20 time false and troublesome men, who, as ministers under the = name of=20 Nicolaus, had made for themselves a heresy, to the effect = that what=20 had been offered to idols might be exorcised and eaten, and = that=20 whoever should have committed fornication might receive = peace on the=20 eighth day. Therefore He extols those to whom He is writing; = and to=20 these men, being such and so great, He promised the tree of = life,=20 which is in the paradise of His God.=20

The following epistle unfolds the mode of life and habit = of=20 another order which follows. He proceeds to say:-=20

9. "I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou = art=20 rich." For He knows that with such men there are riches = hidden=20 with Him, and that they deny the blasphemy of the Jews, who = say that=20 they are Jews and are not; but they are the synagogue of = Satan,=20 since they are gathered together by Antichrist; and to them = He=20 says:-=20

10. "Be thou faithful unto death." That they = should=20 continue to be faithful even unto death.=20

11. "He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the = second=20 death." That is, he shalt not be chastised in hell.=20

The third order of the saints shows that they are men who = are=20 strong in faith, and who are not afraid of persecution; but = because=20 even among them there are some who are inclined to unlawful=20 associations, He says:-=20

14-16. "Thou hast there some who hold the doctrine of = Balaam,=20 who taught in the case of Balak that he should put a = stumbling-block=20 before the children of Israel, to eat and to commit = fornication. So=20 also hast thou them who hold the doctrine of the = Nicolaitanes; but I=20 will fight with them with the sword of my mouth." That = is, I=20 will say what I shall command, and I will tell you what you = shall=20 do. For Balaam, with his doctrine, taught Balak to cast a=20 stumbling-block before the eyes of the children of Israel, = to eat=20 what was sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication - a = thing=20 which is known to have happened of old. For he gave this = advice to=20 the king of the Moabites, and they caused stumbling to the = people.=20 Thus, says He, ye have among you those who hold such = doctrine; and=20 under the pretext of mercy, you would corrupt others.=20

17. "To him that overcometh I wil l give the hidden = manna, and=20 I will give him a white stone." The hidden manna is = immortality;=20 the white gem is adoption to be the son of God; the new name = wri=20 tten on the stone is "Christian."=20

The fourth class intimates the nobility of the faithful, = who=20 labour daily, and do greater works. But even among them also = He=20 shows that there are men of an easy disposition to grant = unlawful=20 peace, and to listen to new forms of prophesying; and He = reproves=20 and warns the others to whom this is not pleasing, who know = the=20 wickedness opposed to them: for which evils He purposes to = bring=20 upon the head of the faithful both sorrows and dangers; and=20 therefore He says:-=20

24. "I will not put upon you any other burden." = That is, I=20 have not given you laws, observances, and duties, which is = another=20 burden.=20

25, 26. "But that which ye have, hold fast until I = come; and=20 he that overcometh, to him will I give power over all = peoples."=20 That is, him I will appoint as judge among the rest of the = saints.=20

28. "And I will give him the morning star." To = wit, the=20 first resurrection. He promised the morning star, which = drives away=20 the night, and announces the light, that is, the beginning = of day.=20

FROM THE THIRD CHAPTER

The fifth class, company, or association of saints, sets = forth=20 men who are careless, and who are carrying on in the world = other=20 transactions than those which they ought - Christians only = in name.=20 And therefore He exhorts them that by any means they should = be=20 turned away from negligence, and be saved; and to this = effect He=20 says:-=20

2. "Be watchful, and strengthen the other things which = were=20 ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before=20 God." For it is not enough for a tree to live and to = have no=20 fruit, even as it is not enough to be called a Christian and = to=20 confess Christ, but not to have Himself in our work, that = is, not to=20 do His precepts.=20

The sixth class is the mode of life of the best election. = The=20 habit of saints is set forth; of those, to wit, who are = lowly in the=20 world, and unskilled in the Scriptures, and who hold the = faith=20 immoveably, and are not at all broken down by any chance, or = withdrawn from the faith by any fear. Therefore He says to = them:-=20

8. "I have set before thee an open door, because thou = hast=20 kept the word of my patience." In such little strength.=20

10. "And I will keep thee from the hour of = temptation."=20 That they may know His glory to be of this kind, that they = are not=20 indeed permitted to be given over to temptation.=20

12. "He that overcometh shall be made a pillar in the = temple=20 of God." For even as a pillar is an ornament of the = building, so=20 he who perseveres shall obtain a nobility in the Church.=20

Moreover, the seventh association of the Church declares = that=20 they are rich men placed in positions of dignity, but = believing that=20 they are rich, among whom indeed the Scriptures are = discussed in=20 their bedchamber, while the faithful are outside; and they = are=20 understood by none, although they boast themselves, and say = that=20 they know all things - endowed with the confidence of = learning, but=20 ceasing from its labour. And thus He says:-=20

15. "That they are neither cold nor hot." That is, = neither=20 unbelieving nor believing, for they are all things to all = men. And=20 because he who is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, gives = nausea,=20 He says:-=20

16. "I will vomit thee out of My mouth." Although = nausea=20 is hateful, still it hurts no one; so also is it with men of = this=20 kind when they have been cast forth. But because there is = time of=20 repentance, He says:-=20

18. "I persuade thee to buy of Me gold tried in the = fire."=20 That is, that in whatever manner you can, you should suffer = for the=20 Lord's name tribula tions and passions.=20

"And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve." That what = you=20 gladly know by the Scripture, you should strive also to do = the work=20 of t he same. And because, if in these ways men return out = of great=20 destruction to great repentance, they are not only useful to = themselves, but they are able also to be of advantage to = many, He=20 promised them no small reward - to sit, namely, on the = throne of=20 judgment.=20

FROM THE FOURTH CHAPTER

"After this, I beheld, and, lo, a door was opened in=20 heaven." The new testament is announced as an open door = in=20 heaven.=20

"And the first voice which I heard was, as it were, of = a=20 trumpet talking with me, saying, Come up hither." Since = the door=20 is shown to be opened, it is manifest that previously it had = been=20 closed to men. And it was sufficiently and fully laid open = when=20 Christ ascended with His body to the Father into heaven. = Moreover,=20 the first voice which he had heard when he says that it = spoke with=20 him, without contradiction condemns those who say that one = spoke in=20 the prophets, another in the Gospel; since it is rather He = Himself=20 who comes, that is the same who spoke in the prophets. For = John was=20 of the circumcision, and all that people which had heard the = announcement of the Old Testament was edified with his word. =

"That very same voice," said he, "that I had heard, = that said=20 unto me, Come up hither." That is the Spirit, whom a = little=20 before he confesses that he had seen walking as the Son of = man in=20 the midst of the golden candlesticks. And he now gathers = from Him=20 what had been foretold in similitudes by the law, and = associates=20 with this scripture all the former prophets, and opens up = the=20 Scriptures. And because our Lord invited in His own name all = believers into heaven, He forthwith poured out the Holy = Spirit, who=20 should bring them to heaven. He says:-=20

2. "Immediately I was in the Spirit." And since = the mind=20 of the faithful is opened by the Holy Spirit, and that is = manifested=20 to them which was also foretold to the fathers, he = distinctly says:-=20

"And, behold, a throne was set in heaven." The = throne set:=20 what is it but the throne of judgment and of the King?=20

3. "And He that sate upon the throne was, to look = upon, like a=20 jasper and a sardine stone." Upon the throne he says = that he saw=20 the likeness of a jasper and a sardine stone. The jasper is = of the=20 colour of water, the sardine of fire. These two are thence=20 manifested to be placed as judgments upon God's tribunal = until the=20 consummation of the world, of which judgments one is already = completed in the deluge of water, and the other shall be = completed=20 by fire.=20

"And there was a rainbow about the throne." = Moreover, the=20 rainbow round about the throne has the same colours. The = rainbow is=20 called a bow from what the Lord spake to Noah and to his = sons, that=20 they should not fear any further deluge in the generation of = God,=20 but fire. For thus He says: I will place my bow in the = clouds, that=20 ye may now no longer fear water, but fire.=20

6. "And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea = of=20 glass like to crystal." That is the gift of baptism = which He=20 sheds forth through His Son in time of repentance, before He = executes judgment. It is therefore before the throne, that = is, the=20 judgment. And when he says a sea of glass like to crystal, = he shows=20 that it is pure water, smooth, not agitated by the wind, not = flowing=20 down as on a slope, but given to be immoveable as the house = of God.=20

"And round about the throne were four living = creatures."=20 The four living creatures are the four Gospels.=20

7-10. "The first living creature was like to a lion, = and the=20 second was like to a calf, and the third had a face like to = a man,=20 and the fourth was like to a flying eagle; and they had six = wings,=20 and round about and within they were full of eyes; and they = had no=20 rest, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord Omnipotent. An d the = four and=20 twenty elders, failing down before the throne, adored = God." The=20 four and twenty elders are the twenty-four books of the = prophets and=20 of the law, which give testimonies of the judgment. = Moreover, also,=20 they are the twenty-four fathers - twelve apostles and = twelve=20 patriarchs.=20

And in that the living creatures are different in = appearance,=20 this is the reason:=20

the living creature like to a lion designates Mark, in = whom is=20 heard the voice of the lion roaring in the desert.=20
And in the figure of a man, Matthew strives to declare = to us=20 the genealogy of Mary, from whom Christ took flesh. = Therefore, in=20 enumerating from Abraham to David, and thence to Joseph, = he spoke=20 of Him as if of a man: therefore his announcement sets = forth the=20 image of a man.=20
Luke, in narrating the priesthood of Zacharias as he = offers a=20 sacrifice for the people, and the angel that appears to = him with=20 respect of the priesthood, and the victim in the same = description=20 bore the likeness of a calf.=20
John the evangelist, like to an eagle hastening on = uplifted=20 wings to greater heights, argues about the Word of God. =

Mark, therefore, as an evangelist thus beginning, "The = beginning=20 of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written in Isaiah = the=20 prophet; The voice of one crying in the wilderness," - has = the=20 effigy of a lion. And Matthew, "The hook of the generation = of Jesus=20 Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" - this is the = form of=20 a man. But Luke said, "There was a priest, by name = Zachariah, of the=20 course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron" = - this=20 is the likeness of a calf. But John, when he begins, "In the = beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the = Word was=20 God," sets forth the likeness of a flying eagle.=20

Moreover, not only do the evangelists express their four=20 similitudes in their respective openings of the Gospels, but = also=20 the Word itself of God the Father Omnipotent, which is His = Son our=20 Lord Jesus Christ, bears the same likeness in the time of = His=20 advent. When He preaches to us, He is, as it were, a lion = and a=20 lion's whelp. And when for man's salvation He was made man = to=20 overcome death, and to set all men free, and that He offered = Himself=20 a victim to the Father on our behalf, He was called a calf. = And that=20 He overcame death and ascended into the heavens, extending = His wings=20 and protecting His people, He was named a flying eagle. = Therefore=20 these announcements, although they are four, yet are one, = because it=20 proceeded from one mouth. Even as the river in paradise, = although it=20 is one, was divided into four heads. Moreover, that for the=20 announcement of the New Testament those bring creatures had = eyes=20 within and without, shows the spiritual providence which = both looks=20 into the secrets of the heart, and beholds the things which = are=20 coming after that are within and without.=20

8. "Six wings." These are the testimonies of the = books of=20 the Old Testament. Thus, twenty and four make as many as = there are=20 elders sitting upon the thrones. But as an animal cannot fly = unless=20 it have wings, so, too, the announcement of the New = Testament gains=20 no faith unless it have the fore-announced testimonies of = the Old=20 Testament, by which it is lifted from the earth, and flies. = For in=20 every case, what has been told before, and is afterwards = found to=20 have happened, that begets an undoubting faith. Again, also, = if=20 wings be not attached to the living creatures, they have = nothing=20 whence they may draw their life. For unless what the = prophets=20 foretold had been consummated in Christ, their preaching was = vain.=20 For the Catholic Church holds those things which were both = be fore=20 predicted and afterwards accomplished. And it flies, because = the=20 living animal is reasonably lifted up from the earth. But to = heretics who do not a vail themselves of the prophetic = testimony, to=20 them also there are present living creatures; but they do = not fly,=20 because they are of the earth. And to the Jews who do not = receive=20 the announcement of the New Testament there are present = wings; but=20 they do not fly, that is, they bring a vain prophesying to = men, not=20 adjusting facts to their words. And the books of the Old = Testament=20 that are received are twenty-four, which you will find in = the=20 epitomes of Theodore. But, moreover (as we have said), four = and=20 twenty elders, patriarchs and apostles, are to judge His = people. For=20 to the apostles, when they asked, saying, "We have forsaken = all that=20 we had, and followed Thee: what shall we have?" our Lord = replied,=20 "When the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, = ye also=20 shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of = Israel."=20 But of the fathers also who should judge, says the patriarch = Jacob,=20 "Dan also himself shall judge his people among his brethren, = even as=20 one of the tribes in lsrael."=20

5. "And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and = voices, and=20 thunders, and seven torches of fire burning." And the=20 lightnings, and voices, and thunders proceeding from the = throne of=20 God, and the seven torches of fire burning, signify = announcements,=20 and promises of adoption, and threatenings. For lightnings = signify=20 the Lord's advent, and the voices the announcements of the = New=20 Testament, and the thunders, that the words are from heaven. = The=20 burning torches of fire signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, = that it=20 is given by the wood of the passion. And when these things = were=20 doing, he says that all the elders fell down and adored the = Lord;=20 while the living creatures - that is, of course, the actions = recorded in the Gospels and the teaching of the Lord - gave = Him=20 glory and honour. In that they had fulfilled the word that = had been=20 previously foretold by them, they worthily and with reason = exult,=20 feeling that they have ministered the mysteries and the word = of the=20 Lord. Finally, also, because He had come who should remove = death,=20 and who alone was worthy to take the crown of immortality, = all for=20 the glory of His most excellent doing had crowns.=20

10. "And they cast their crowns under His feet." = That is,=20 on account of the eminent glory of Christ's victory, they = cast all=20 their victories under His feet. This is what in the Gospel = the Holy=20 Spirit consummated by showing, For when about finally to = suffer, our=20 Lord had come to Jerusalem, and the people had gone forth to = meet=20 Him, some strewed the road with palm branches cut down, = others threw=20 down their garments, doubtless these were setting forth two = peoples=20 - the one of the patriarchs, the other of the prophets; that = is to=20 say, of the great men who had any kind of palms of their = victories=20 against sin, and cast them under the feet of Christ, the = victor of=20 all. And the palm and the crown signify the same things, and = these=20 are not given save to the victor.=20

FROM THE FIFTH CHAPTER

1. "And I saw in the right hand of Him that sate upon = the=20 throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven = seals." This book signifies the Old Testament, which has = been=20 given into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who received = from the=20 Father judgment.=20

2, 3. "And I saw an angel full of strength proclaiming = with a=20 loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the = seals=20 thereof? And no one was found worthy, neither in the earth = nor under=20 the earth, to open the book." Now to open the book is to = overcome death for man.=20

4. "There was none found worthy to do this." = Neither among=20 the angels of heaven, nor among men in earth, nor among the = souls of=20 the saints in rest, save Christ the Son of God alone, whom = he says=20 that he saw as a Lamb standing as it were slain, having = seven horns.=20 What had not been then announced, and what the law had = contemplated=20 for Him by its various oblations and sacrifices, it behoved = Himself=20 to fulfil. And because He Himself was the testator, who had = overcome=20 death, it was just that Himself should be appointed the = Lord's heir,=20 that He should possess the substance of the dying man, that = is, the=20 human members.=20

5. "Lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of = David,=20 hath prevailed." We read in Genesis that this lion of = the tribe=20 of Judah hath conquered, when the patriarch Jacob says, = "Judah, thy=20 brethren shall praise thee; thou hast lain down and slept, = and hast=20 risen up again as a lion, and as a lion's whelp." For He is = called a=20 lion for the overcoming of death; but for the suffering for = men He=20 was led as a lamb to the slaughter. But because He overcame = death,=20 and anticipated the duty of the executioner, He was called = as it=20 were slain. He therefore opens and seals again the = testament, which=20 He Himself had sealed. The legislator Moses intimating this, = that it=20 behoved Him to be sealed and concealed, even to the advent = of His=20 passion, veiled his face, and so spoke to the people; = showing that=20 the words of his announcement were veiled even to the advent = of His=20 time. For he himself, when he had read to the people, having = taken=20 the wool purpled with the blood of the calf, with water = sprinkled=20 the whole people, saying, "This is the blood of His = testament who=20 hath purified you." It should therefore be observed that the = Man is=20 accurately announced, and that all things combine into one. = For it=20 is not sufficient that that law is spoken of, but it is = named as a=20 testament. For no law is called a testament, nor is any = thing else=20 called a testament, save what persons make who are about to = die. And=20 whatever is within the testament is sealed, even to the day = of the=20 testator's death. Therefore it is with reason that it is = only sealed=20 by the Lamb slain, who, as it were a lion, has broken death = in=20 pieces, and has fulfilled what had been foretold; and has = delivered=20 man, that is, the flesh, from death, and has received as a=20 possession the substance of the dying person, that is, of = the human=20 members; that as by one body all men had fallen under the = obligation=20 of its death, also by one body all believers should be born = again=20 unto life, and rise again. Reasonably, therefore, His face = is opened=20 and unveiled to Moses; and therefore He is called = Apocalypse,=20 Revelation. For now His book is unsealed - now the offered = victims=20 are perceived - now the fabrication of the priestly chrism; = moreover=20 the testimonies are openly understood.=20

8, 9. "Twenty-four elders and four living creatures, = having=20 harps and phials, and singing a new song." The = proclamation of=20 the Old Testament associated with the New, points out the = Christian=20 people singing a new song, that is, bearing their confession = publicly. It is a new thing that the Son of God should = become man.=20 It is a new thing to ascend into the heavens with a body. It = is a=20 new thing to give remission of sins to men. It is a new = thing for=20 men to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is a new thing to = receive=20 the priesthood of sacred observance, and to look for a = kingdom of=20 unbounded promise. The harp, and the chord stretched on its = wooden=20 frame, signifies the flesh of Christ linked with the wood of = the=20 passion. The phial signifies the Confession, and the race of = the new=20 Priesthood. But it is the praise of many angels, yea, of = all, the=20 salvation of all, and the testimony of the universal = creation,=20 bringing to our Lord thanksgiving for the deliverance of men = from=20 the destruction of death. The unsealing of the seals, as we = have=20 said, is the o pening of the Old Testament, and the = foretelling of=20 the preachers of things to come in the last times, which, = although=20 the prophetic Scripture speaks by single seals, yet by all = the seals=20 opened at once, prophecy takes its rank.=20

FROM THE SIXTH CHAPTER

1, 2. "And when the Lamb had opened one of the seven = seals, I=20 saw, and heard one of the four living creatures saying, Come = and=20 see. And, lo, a white horse, and He who sate upon him had a=20 bow." The first seal being opened, he says that he saw a = white=20 horse, and a crowned horseman having a bow. For this was at = first=20 done by Himself. For after the Lord ascended into heaven and = opened=20 all things, He sent the Holy Spirit, whose words the = preachers sent=20 forth as arrows reaching to the human heart, that they might = overcome unbelief. And the crown on the head is promised to = the=20 preachers by the Holy Spirit. The other three horses very = plainly=20 signify the wars, famines, and pestilences announced by our = Lord in=20 the Gospel. And thus he says that one of the four living = creatures=20 said (because all four are one), "Come and see."=20

"Come" is said to him that is invited to faith; "see" is = said to=20 him who saw not. Therefore the white horse is the word of = preaching=20 with the Holy Spirit sent into the world. For the Lord says, = "This=20 Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world for a = testimony=20 to all nations, and then shall come the end."=20

3, 4. "And when He had opened the second seal, I heard = the=20 second living creature saying, Come and see. And there went = out=20 another horse that was red, and to him that sate upon him = was given=20 a great sword." The red horse, and he that sate upon = him, having=20 a sword, signify the coming wars, as we read in the Gospel: = "For=20 nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against = kingdom; and=20 there shall be great earthquakes in divers places." This is = the=20 ruddy horse.=20

5. "And when He had opened the third seal. I heard the = third=20 living creature saying, Come and see. And, lo, a black = horse; and he=20 who sate upon it had a balance in his hand." The black = horse=20 signifies famine, for the Lord says, "There shall be famines = in=20 divers places;" but the word is specially extended to the = times of=20 Antichrist, when there shall be a great famine, and when all = shall=20 be injured. Moreover, the balance in the hand is the = examining=20 scales, wherein He might show forth the merits of every = individual.=20 He then says:-=20

6. "Hurt not the wine and the oil." That is, = strike not=20 the spiritual man with thy inflictions. This is the black = horse.=20

7, 8. "And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard = the=20 fourth living creature saying, Come and see. And, lo, a pale = horse;=20 and he who sate upon him was named Death." For the pale = horse=20 and he who sate upon him bore the name of Death. These same = things=20 also the Lord had promised among the rest of the coming = destructions=20 - great pestilences and deaths; since, moreover, he says:-=20

"And hell followed him." That is, it was waiting = for the=20 devouring of many unrighteous souls. This is the pale horse. =

9. "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under = the=20 altar the souls of them that were slain." He relates = that he saw=20 under the altar of God, that is, under the earth, the souls = of them=20 that were slain. For both heaven and earth are called God's = altar,=20 as saith the law, commanding in the symbolical form of the = truth two=20 altars to be made - a golden one within, and a brazen one = without.=20 But we perceive that the golden altar is thus called heaven, = by the=20 testimony that our Lord bears to it; for He says, "When thou = bringest thy gift to the altar" (assuredly our gifts are the = prayers=20 which we offer), "and there rememberest that thy brother = hath ought=20 against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar." = Assuredly=20 prayers ascend to heaven. Therefore heaven is understood to = be the=20 golden altar which was within; for the priests also were = accusto med=20 to enter once in the year - as they who had the anointing - = to the=20 golden altar, the Holy Spirit signifying that Christ should = do this=20 once for all. As the golden altar is acknowledged to be = heaven, so=20 also by the brazen altar is understood the earth, under = which is the=20 Hades - a region withdrawn from punishments and fires, and a = place=20 of repose for the saints, wherein indeed the righteous are = seen and=20 heard by the wicked, but they cannot be carried across to = them. He=20 who sees all things would have us to know that these saints, = therefore - that is, the souls of the slain - are asking for = vengeance for their blood, that is, of their body, from = those that=20 dwell upon the earth; but because in the last time, = moreover, the=20 reward of the saints will be perpetual, and the condemnation = of the=20 wicked shall come, it was told them to wait. And for a = solace to=20 their body, there were given unto each of them white robes. = They=20 received, says he, white robes, that is, the gift of the = Holy=20 Spirit.=20

12. "And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal, = there was a=20 great earthquake." In the sixth seal, then, was a great=20 earthquake: this is that very last persecution.=20

"And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair." = The sun=20 becomes as sackcloth; that is, the brightness of doctrine = will be=20 obscured by unbelievers.=20

"And the entire moon became as blood." By the moon = of=20 blood is set forth the Church of the saints as pouring out = her blood=20 for Christ.=20

13. "And the stars fell to the earth." The falling = of the=20 stars are the faithful who are troubled for Christ's sake.=20

"Even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs." = The=20 fig-tree, when shaken, loses its untimely figs - when men = are=20 separated from the Church by persecution.=20

14. "And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is = rolled=20 up." For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the = Church=20 shall be taken away.=20

"And every mountain and the islands were moved from = their=20 places." Mountains and islands removed from their places = intimate that in the last persecution all men departed from = their=20 places; that is, that the good will be removed, seeking to = avoid the=20 persecution.=20

FROM THE SEVENTH CHAPTER

2. "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, = having=20 the seal of the living God." He speaks of Elias the = prophet, who=20 is the precursor of the times of Antichrist, for the = restoration and=20 establishment of the churches from the great and intolerable = persecution. We read that these things are predicted in the = opening=20 of the Old and New Testament; for He says by Malachi: "Lo, I = will=20 send to you Elias the Tishbite, to turn the hearts of the = fathers to=20 the children, according to the time of calling, to recall = the Jews=20 to the faith of the people that succeed them." And to that = end He=20 shows, as we have said, that the number of those that shall = believe,=20 of the Jews and of the nations, is a great multitude which = no man=20 was able to number. Moreover, we read in the Gospel that the = prayers=20 of the Church are sent from heaven by an angel, and that = they are=20 received against wrath, and that the kingdom of Antichrist = is cast=20 out and extinguished by holy angels; for He says: "Pray that = ye=20 enter not into temptation: for there shall be a great = affliction,=20 such as has not been from the beginning of the world; and = except the=20 Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved." = Therefore=20 He shall send these seven great archangels to smite the = kingdom of=20 Antichrist; for He Himself also thus said: "Then the Son of = man=20 shall send His messengers; and they shall gather together = His elect=20 from the four corners of the wind, from the one end of = heaven even=20 to the other end thereof." For, moreover, He previously says = by the=20 prophet: "The n shall there be peace for our land, when = there shall=20 arise in it seven shepherds and eight attacks of men; and = they shall=20 encircle Assur," that is, Antichrist, "in the trench of = Nimrod,"=20 that is, in the nation of the devil, by the spirit of the = Church.=20 Similarly when the keepers of the house shall be moved. = Moreover,=20 the Lord Himself, in the parable to the apostles, when the = labourers=20 had come to Him and said, "Lord, did not we sow good seed in = Thy=20 field? whence, then, hath it tares? answered them, An enemy = hath=20 done this. And they said to Him, Lord, wilt Thou, then, that = we go=20 and root them up? And He said, Nay, but let both grow = together until=20 the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to = the=20 reapers, that they gather the tares and make bundles of = them, and=20 burn them with fire everlasting, but that they gather the = wheat into=20 my barns." The Apocalypse here shows, therefore, that these = reapers,=20 and shepherds, and labourers, are the angels. And the = trumpet is the=20 word of power. And although the same thing recurs in the = phials,=20 still it is not said as if it occurred twice, but because = what is=20 decreed by the Lord to happen shall be once for all; for = this cause=20 it is said twice. What, therefore, He said too little in the = trumpets, is here found in the phials. We must not regard = the order=20 of what is said, because frequently the Holy Spirit, when He = has=20 traversed even to the end of the last times, returns again = to the=20 same times, and fills up what He had before failed to say. = Nor must=20 we look for order in the Apocalypse; but we must follow the = meaning=20 of those things which are prophesied. Therefore in the = trumpets and=20 phials is signified either the desolation of the plagues = that are=20 sent upon the earth, or the madness of Antichrist himself, = or the=20 cutting off of the peoples, or the diversity of the plagues, = or the=20 hope in the kingdom of the saints, or the ruin of states, or = the=20 great overthrow of Babylon, that is, the Roman state.=20

9. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, = which no=20 man was able to number, of every nation, tribe, and people, = and=20 tongue, clothed with white robes." What the great = multitude out=20 of every tribe implies, is to show the number of the elect = out of=20 all believers, who, being cleansed by baptism in the blood = of the=20 Lamb, have made their robes white, keeping the grace which = they have=20 received.=20

FROM THE EIGHTH CHAPTER

1. "And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was = silence=20 in heaven for about half an hour." Whereby is signified = the=20 beginning of everlasting rest; but it is described as = partial,=20 because the silence being interrupted, he repeats it in = order. For=20 if the silence had continued, here would be an end of his = narrative.=20

13. "And I saw an angel flying through the midst of=20 heaven." By the angel flying through the midst of heaven = is=20 signified the Holy Spirit beating witness in two of the = prophets=20 that a great wrath of plagues was imminent. If by any means, = even in=20 the last times, any one should be willing to be converted, = any one=20 might even still be saved.=20

FROM THE NINTH CHAPTER

13, 14. "And I heard a voice from the four horns of = the golden=20 altar which is in the presence of God, saying to the sixth = angel=20 which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels." That is, = the four=20 corners of the earth which hold the four winds.=20

"Which are bound in the great river Euphrates." By = the=20 corners of the earth, or the four winds across the river = Euphrates,=20 are meant four nations, because to every nation is sent an = angel; as=20 said the law, "He determined them by the number of the = angels of=20 God," until the number of the saints should be filled up. = They do=20 not overpass their bounds, because at the last they shall = come with=20 Antichri st.=20

FROM THE TENTH CHAPTER

1, 2. "I saw another mighty angel coming down from = heaven,=20 clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and = his face=20 was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: and = he had=20 in his hand an open book: and he set his right foot upon the = sea,=20 and his left foot upon the earth." He signifies that = that mighty=20 angel who, he says, descended from heaven, clothed with a = cloud, is=20 our Lord, as we have above narrated.=20

"His face was as it were the sun." That is, with = respect=20 to the resurrection.=20

"Upon his head was a rainbow." He points to the = judgment=20 which is executed by Him, of shall be.=20

"An open book." A revelation of works in the = future=20 judgment, or the Apocalypse which John received.=20

"His feet," as we have said above, are the = apostles. For=20 that both things in sea and land are trodden under foot by = Him,=20 signifies that all things are placed under His feet. = Moreover, he=20 calls Him an angel, that is, a messenger, to wit, of the = Father; for=20 He is called the Messenger of great counsel. He says also = that He=20 cried with a loud voice. The great voice is to tell the = words of the=20 Omnipotent God of heaven to men, and to bear witness that = after=20 penitence is closed there will be no hope subsequently.=20

3. "Seven thunders uttered their voices." The = seven=20 thunders uttering their voices signify, the Holy Spirit of = sevenfold=20 power, who through the prophets announced all things to = come, and by=20 His voice John gave his testimony in the world; but because = he says=20 that he was about to write the things which the thunders had = uttered, that is, whatever things had been obscure in the=20 announcements of the Old Testament; he is forbidden to write = them,=20 but he was charged to leave them sealed, because he is an = apostle,=20 nor was it fitting that the grace of the subsequent stage = should be=20 given in the first. "The time," says he, "is at hand." For = the=20 apostles, by powers, by signs, by portents, and by mighty = works,=20 have overcome unbelief. After them there is now given to the = same=20 completed Churches the comfort of having the prophetic = Scriptures=20 subsequently interpreted, for I said that after the apostles = there=20 would be interpreting prophets.=20

For the apostle says: "And he placed in the Church = indeed, first,=20 apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers," and the = rest. And=20 in another place he says: "Let the prophets speak two or = three, and=20 let the others judge." And he says: "Every woman that = prayeth or=20 prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head" = And when=20 he says, "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the = others=20 judge," he is not speaking in respect of the Catholic = prophecy of=20 things unheard and unknown, but of things both announced and = known.=20 But let them judge whether or not the interpretation is = consistent=20 with the testimonies of the prophetic utterance. It is = plain,=20 therefore, that to John, armed as he was with superior = virtue, this=20 was not necessary, although the body of Christ, which is the = Church,=20 adorned with His members, ought to respond to its position.=20

10. "I took the book from the hand of the angel, and = ate it=20 up." To take the book and eat it up, is, when exhibition = of a=20 thing is made to one, to commit it to memory.=20

"And it was in my mouth as sweet as honey." To be = sweet in=20 the mouth is the reward of the preaching of the speaker, and = is most=20 pleasant to the hearers; but it is most bitter both to those = that=20 announce it, and to those that persevere in its commandments = through=20 suffering.=20

11. "And He says unto me, Thou must again prophesy to = the=20 peoples, and to the tongues, and to the nations, and to many = kings." He says this, because when John said these = things he was=20 in the islan d of Patmos, condemned to the labour of the = mines by=20 Caesar Domitian. There, therefore, he saw the Apocalypse; = and when=20 grown old, he thought that he should at length receive his = quittance=20 by suffering, Domitian being killed, all his judgments were=20 discharged. And John being dismissed from the mines, thus=20 subsequently delivered the same Apocalypse which he had = received=20 from God. This, therefore, is what He says: Thou must again = prophesy=20 to all nations, because thou seest the crowds of Antichrist = rise up;=20 and against them other crowds shall stand, and they shall = fall by=20 the sword on the one side and on the other.=20

FROM THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER

1. "And there was shown unto me a reed like unto a = rod: and=20 the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of = God, and=20 the altar, and them that worship therein." A reed was = shown like=20 to a rod. This itself is the Apocalypse which he = subsequently=20 exhibited to the churches; for the Gospel of the complete = faith he=20 subsequently wrote for the sake of our salvation. For when=20 Valentinus, and Cerinthus, and Ebion, and others of the = school of=20 Satan, were scattered abroad throughout the world, there = assembled=20 together to him from the neighbouring provinces all the = bishops, and=20 compelled him himself also to draw up his testimony. = Moreover, we=20 say that the measure of God's temple is the command of God = to=20 confess the Father Almighty, and that His Son Christ was = begotten by=20 the Father before the beginning of the world, and was made = man in=20 very soul and flesh, both of them having overcome misery and = death;=20 and that, when received with His body into heaven by the = Father, He=20 shed forth the Holy Spirit, the gift and pledge of = immortality, that=20 He was announced by the prophets, He was described by the = law, He=20 was God's hand, and the Word of the Father from God, Lord = over all,=20 and founder of the world: this is the reed and the measure = of faith;=20 and no one worships the holy altar save he who confesses = this faith.=20

2. "The court which is within the temple leave = out." The=20 space which is called the court is the empty altar within = the walls:=20 these being such as were not necessary, he commanded to be = ejected=20 from the Church.=20

"It is given to be trodden down by the Gentiles." = That is,=20 to the men of this world, that it may be trodden under foot = by the=20 nations, or with the nations. Then he repeats about the = destruction=20 and slaughter of the last time, and says:-=20

3. "They shall tread the holy city down for forty and = two=20 months; and I will give to my two witnesses, and they shall = predict=20 a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in=20 sackcloth." That is, three years and six months: these = make=20 forty-two months. Therefore their preaching is three years = and six=20 months, and the kingdom of Antichrist as much again.=20

5. "If any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of = their=20 mouth, and devoureth their enemies." That fire = proceedeth out of=20 the mouth of those prophets against the adversaries, = bespeaks the=20 power of the world. For all afflictions, however many there = are,=20 shall be sent by their messengers in their word. Many think = that=20 there is Elisha, or Moses, with Elijah; but both of these = died;=20 while the death of Elijah is not heard of, with whom all our = ancients have believed that it was Jeremiah. For even the = very word=20 spoken to him testifies to him, saying, "Before I formed = thee in the=20 belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the = womb I=20 sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the = nations."=20 But he was not a prophet unto the nations; and thus the = truthful=20 word of God makes it necessary, which it has promise d to = set forth,=20 that he should be a prophet to the nations.=20

4. "These are the two candlesticks standing before the = Lord of=20 the e arth." These two candlesticks and two olive trees = He has=20 to this end spoken of, and admonished you that if, when you = have=20 read of them elsewhere, you have not understood, you may = understand=20 here. For in Zechariah, one of the twelve prophets, it is = thus=20 written: "These are the two olive trees and two candlesticks = which=20 stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth;" that is, = they are=20 in paradise.=20

Also, in another sense, standing in the presence of the = lord of=20 the earth, that is, in the presence of Antichrist. Therefore = they=20 must be slain by Antichrist.=20

7. "And the beast which ascendeth from the abyss." = After=20 many plagues completed in the world, in the end he says that = a beast=20 ascended from the abyss. Bat that he shall ascend from the = abyss is=20 proved by many testimonies; for he says in the thirty-first = chapter=20 of Ezekiel: "Behold, Assur was a cypress in Mount Lebanon." = Assur,=20 deeply rooted, was a lofty and branching cypress - that is, = a=20 numerous people - in Mount Lebanon, in the kingdom of = kingdoms, that=20 is, of the Romans. Moreover, that he says he was beautiful = in=20 offshoots, he says he was strong in armies. The water, he = says,=20 shall nourish him, that is, the many thousands of men which = were=20 subjected to him; and the abyss increased him, that is, = belched him=20 forth. For even Isaiah speaks almost in the same words; = moreover,=20 that he was in the kingdom of the Romans, and that he was = among the=20 Caesars. The Apostle Paul also bears witness, for he says to = the=20 Thessalonians: "Let him who now restraineth restrain, until = he be=20 taken out of the way; and then shall appear that Wicked One, = even he=20 whose coining is after the working of Satan, with signs and = lying=20 wonders." And that they might know that he should come who = then was=20 the prince, he added: "He already endeavours after the = secret of=20 mischief" - that is, the mischief which he is about to do he = strives=20 to do secretly; but he is not raised up by his own power, = nor by=20 that of his father, but by command of God, of which thing = Paul says=20 in the same passage: "For this cause, because they have not = received=20 the love of God, He will send upon them a spirit of error, = that they=20 all may be persuaded of a lie, who have not been persuaded = of the=20 truth." And Isaiah saith: "While they waited for the light, = darkness=20 arose upon them." Therefore the Apocalypse sets forth that = these=20 prophets are killed by the same, and on the fourth day rise = again,=20 that none might be found equal to God.=20

8. "And their dead bodies shall lie in the streets of = the=20 great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and = Egypt." But He=20 calls Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt, since it had become the = heaping up=20 of the persecuting people. Therefore it behoves us = diligently, and=20 with the utmost care, to follow the prophetic announcement, = and to=20 understand what the Spirit from the Father both announces = and=20 anticipates, and how, when He has gone forward to the last = times, He=20 again repeats the former ones. And now, what He will do once = for=20 all, He sometimes sets forth as if it were done; and unless = you=20 understand this, as sometimes done, and sometimes as about = to be=20 done, you will fall into a great confusion. Therefore the=20 interpretation of the following sayings has shown therein, = that not=20 the order of the reading, but the order of the discourse, = must be=20 understood.=20

19. "And the temple of God was opened which is in = heaven."=20 The temple opened is a manifestation of our Lord. For the = temple of=20 God is the Son, as He Himself says: "Destroy this temple, = and in=20 three days I will raise it up." And when the Jews said, = "Forty and=20 six years was this temple in building," the evangelist says, = "He=20 spake of the temple of His body."=20

"And there was seen in His temple the ark of the = Lord's=20 testament." The preaching of the Gospel and the = forgiveness o f=20 sins, and all the gifts whatever that came with Him, he = says,=20 appeared therein.=20

FROM THE TWELFTH CHAPTER

1. "And there was seen a great sign in heaven. A woman = clothed=20 with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a = crown=20 of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried out = travailing, and=20 bearing torments that she might bring forth." The woman = clothed=20 with the sun, and having the moon under her feet, and = wearing a=20 crown of twelve stars upon her head, and travailing in her = pains, is=20 the ancient Church of fathers, and prophets, and saints, and = apostles, which had the groans and torments of its longing = until it=20 saw that Christ, the fruit of its people according to the = flesh long=20 promised to it, had taken flesh out of the selfsame people.=20 Moreover, being clothed with the sun intimates the hope of=20 resurrection and the glory of the promise. And the moon = intimates=20 the fall of the bodies of the saints under the obligation of = death,=20 which never can fail. For even as life is diminished, so = also it is=20 increased. Nor is the hope of those that sleep extinguished=20 absolutely, as some think, but they have in their darkness a = light=20 such as the moon. And the crown of twelve stars signifies = the choir=20 of fathers, according to the fleshly birth, of whom Christ = was to=20 take flesh.=20

3. "And there appeared another sign in heaven; and = behold a=20 red dragon, having seven heads." Now, that he says that = this=20 dragon was of a red colour - that is, of a purple colour - = the=20 result of his work gave him such a colour. For from the = beginning=20 (as the Lord says) he was a murderer; and he has oppressed = the whole=20 of the human race, not so much by the obligation of death, = as,=20 moreover, by the various forms of destruction and fatal = mischiefs.=20 His seven heads were the seven kings of the Romans, of whom = also is=20 Antichrist, as we have said above.=20

"And ten horns." He says that the ten kings in the = latest=20 times are the same as these, as we shall more fully set = forth there.=20

4. "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of = heaven,=20 and cast them upon the earth." Now, that he says that = the=20 dragon's tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, = this may=20 be taken in two ways. For many think that he may be able to = seduce=20 the third part of the men who believe. But it should more = truly be=20 understood, that of the angels that were subject to him, = since he=20 was still a prince when he descended from his estate, he = seduced the=20 third part; therefore what we said above, the Apocalypse = says.=20

"And the dragon stood before the woman who was = beginning to=20 bring forth, that, when she had brought forth, he might = devour her=20 child." The red dragon standing and desiring to devour = her child=20 when she had brought him forth, is the devil - to wit, the = traitor=20 angel, who thought that the perishing of all men would be = alike by=20 death; but He, who was not born of seed, owed nothing to = death:=20 wherefore he could not devour Him - that is, detain Him in = death -=20 for on the third day He rose again. Finally, also, and = before He=20 suffered, he approached to tempt Him as man; but when he = found that=20 He was not what he thought Him to be, he departed from Him, = even=20 till the time. Whence it is here said:-=20

5. "And she brought forth a son, who begins to rule = all=20 nations with a rod of iron." The rod of iron is the = sword of=20 persecution.=20

"I saw that all men withdrew from his abodes." = That is,=20 the good will be removed, flying from persecution.=20

"And her son was caught up to God, and to His = throne." We=20 read also in the Acts of the Apostles that He was caught up = to God's=20 throne, just as speak ing with the disciples He was caught = up to=20 heaven.=20

6. "But the woman fled into the wilderness, and there = were=20 given to her t wo great eagle's wings." The aid of the = great=20 eagle's wings - to wit, the gift of prophets - was given to = that=20 Catholic Church, whence in the last times a hundred and = forty-four=20 thousands of men should believe on the preaching of Elias; = but,=20 moreover, he here says that the rest of the people should be = found=20 alive on the coming of the Lord. And the Lord says in the = Gospel:=20 "Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains;" = that is,=20 as many as should be gathered together in Judea, let them go = to that=20 place which they have ready, and let them be supported there = for=20 three years and six months from the presence of the devil.=20

14. "Two great wings" are the two prophets - = Elias, and=20 the prophet who shall be with him.=20

15. "And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the = woman=20 water as a flood, that he might carry her away with the = flood."=20 He signifies by the water which the serpent cast out of his = mouth,=20 the people who at his command would persecute her.=20

16. "And the earth helped the woman, and opened her = mouth, and=20 swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his = mouth."=20 That the earth opened her month and swallowed up the waters, = sets=20 forth the vengeance for the present troubles. Although, = therefore,=20 it may signify this woman bringing forth, it shows her = afterwards=20 flying when her offspring is brought forth, because both = things did=20 not happen at one time; for we know that Christ was born, = but that=20 the time should arrive that she should flee from the face of = the=20 serpent: (we do not know) that this has happened as yet. = Then he=20 says:-=20

7-9. "There was a battle in heaven: Michael and his = angels=20 fought with the dragon; and the dragon warred, and his = angels, and=20 they prevailed not; nor was their place found any more in = heaven.=20 And that great dragon was cast forth, that old serpent: he = was cast=20 forth into the earth." This is the beginning of = Antichrist yet=20 previously Elias must prophesy, and there must be times of = peace.=20 And afterwards, when the three years and six months are = completed in=20 the preaching of Elias, he also must be cast down from = heaven, where=20 up till that time he had had the power of ascending; and all = the=20 apostate angels, as well as Antichrist, must be roused up = from hell.=20 Paul the apostle says: "Except there come a falling away = first, and=20 the man of sin shall appear, the son of perdition; and the = adversary=20 who exalted himself above all which is called God, or which = is=20 worshipped."=20

FROM THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER

1. "And I saw a beast rising up from the sea, like = unto a=20 leopard." This signifies the kingdom of that time of = Antichrist,=20 and the people mingled with the variety of nations.=20

2. "His feet were as the feet of a bear." A strong = and=20 most unclean beast, the feet are to be understood as his = leaders.=20

"And his mouth as the mouth of a lion." That is, = his mouth=20 armed for blood is his bidding, and a tongue which will = proceed to=20 nothing else than to the shedding of blood.=20

18. "His number is the name of a man, and his number = is six=20 hundred threescore and six." As they have it reckoned = from the=20 Greek characters, they thus find it among many to be = teitan,=20 for teitan has this number, which the Gentiles call = Sol and=20 Phoebus; and it is reckoned in Greek thus: t three = hundred,=20 e five, i ten, t three hundred, = a one,=20 t fifty - which taken together become six hundred and = sixty-six. For as far as belongs to the Greek letters, they = fill up=20 this number and name.=20

If you wish to turn this name into Latin, it is = understood by the=20 antiphrase DICLUX, which letters = are=20 reckoned in this manner: since D figures five hundred, I = one, C a=20 hundred, L fifty, V five, X ten - which by the reckoning up = of the=20 letters makes similarly six hundred and sixty-six, that is, = what in=20 Greek gives teitan, to wit, what in Latin is called = DICLUX; by which name, expressed by = anti-phrases, we=20 understand Antichrist, who, although he be cut off from the = supernal=20 light, and deprived thereof, yet transforms himself into an = angel of=20 light, daring to call himself light.=20

Moreover, we find in a certain Greek codex = antemos, which=20 letters being reckoned up, you will find to give the number = as=20 above: a one, n fifty, t three hundred, = e five, m forty, o seventy, s = two=20 hundred - which together makes six hundred and sixty-six, = according=20 to the Greeks.=20

Moreover, there is another name in Gothic of him, which = will be=20 evident of itself, that is, genshrikos, which in the = same way=20 you will reckon in Greek letters: g three, e = five,=20 n fifty, s two hundred, h eight, = r a=20 hundred, i ten, k twenty, o seventy, = s=20 also two hundred, which, as has been said above, make six = hundred=20 and sixty-six.=20

11. "And I saw another beast coming up out of the = earth."=20 He is speaking of the great and false prophet who is to do = signs,=20 and portents, and falsehoods before him in the presence of = men.=20

"And he had two horns like a lamb - that is, the = appearance=20 within of a man - and he spoke like a dragon." But the = devil=20 speaks full of malice; for he shall do these things in the = presence=20 of men, so that even the dead appear to rise again.=20

13. "And he shall make fire come down from heaven in = the sight=20 of men." Yes (as I also have said), in the sight of men. = Magicians do these things, by the aid of the apostate = angels, even=20 to this day. He shall cause also that a golden image of = Antichrist=20 shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the = apostate=20 angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles. = Moreover,=20 he himself shall contrive that his servants and children = should=20 receive as a mark on their foreheads, or on their right = hands, the=20 number of his name, lest any one should buy or sell them. = Daniel had=20 previously predicted his contempt and provocation of God. = "And he=20 shall place," says he, "his temple within Samaria, upon the=20 illustrious and holy mountain that is at Jerusalem, an image = such as=20 Nebuchadnezzar had made." Thence here he places, and by and = by here=20 he renews, that of which the Lord, admonishing His churches=20 concerning the last times and their dangers, says: "But when = ye=20 shall see the contempt which is spoken of by Daniel the = prophet=20 standing in the holy place, let him who readeth understand." = It is=20 called a contempt when God is provoked, because idols are = worshipped=20 instead of God, or when the dogma of heretics is introduced = in the=20 churches. But it is a turning away because stedfast men, = seduced by=20 false signs and portents, are turned away from their = salvation.=20

FROM THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER

6. "And I saw an angel flying through the midst of=20 heaven." The angel flying through the midst of heaven, = whom he=20 says that he saw, we have already treated of above, as being = the=20 same Elias who anticipates the kingdom of Anti-christ in his = prophecy.=20

8. "And another angel following him." The other = angel=20 following, he speaks of as the same prophet who is the = associate of=20 his prophesying. But that he says:-=20

15. "Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather in the = grapes of=20 the vine," he signifies it of the nations that should = perish on=20 the advent of the Lord. And indeed in many forms he shows th = is same=20 thing, as if to the dry harvest, and the seed for the coming = of the=20 Lord, and the consummation of the world, and the kingdom o f = Christ,=20 and the future appearance of the kingdom of the blessed.=20

19, 20. "And the angel thrust in the sickle, and = reaped the=20 vine of the earth, and cast it into the wine-press of the = wrath of=20 God. And the wine-press of His fury was trodden down without = the=20 city." In that he says that it was cast into the = wine-press of=20 the wrath of God, and trodden down without the city, the = treading of=20 the wine-press is the retribution on the sinner.=20

"And blood went out from the wine-press, even unto the = horse-bridles." The vengeance of shed blood as was = before=20 predicted, "In blood thou hast sinned, and blood shall = follow thee."=20

"For a thousand and six hundred furlongs." That = is,=20 through all the four parts of the world: for there is a = quadrate put=20 together by fours, as in four faces and four appearances, = and wheels=20 by fours; for forty times four is one thousand six hundred.=20 Repeating the same persecution, the Apocalypse says:-=20

FROM THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER

1. "And I saw another great and wonderful sign, seven = angels=20 having the seven last plagues; for in them is completed the=20 indignation of God." For the wrath of God always strikes = the=20 obstinate people with seven plagues, that is, perfectly, as = it is=20 said in Leviticus; and these shall be in the last time, when = the=20 Church shall have gone out of the midst.=20

2. "Standing upon the sea of glass, having harps." = That=20 is, that they stood stedfastly in the faith upon their = baptism, and=20 having their confession in their mouth, that they shall = exult in the=20 kingdom before God. But let us return to what is set before = us.=20

FROM THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER

1-6. "There came one of the seven angels, which have = the seven=20 bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come, I will show thee the = judgment of that great whore who sitteth upon many waters. = And I saw=20 the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the = blood of=20 the martyrs." The decrees of that senate are always = accomplished=20 against all, contrary to the preaching of the true faith; = and now=20 already mercy being cast aside, itself here gave the decree = among=20 all nations.=20

3. "And I saw the woman herself sitting upon the=20 scarlet-coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy." But = to sit=20 upon the scarlet beast, the author of murders, is the image = of the=20 devil. Where also is treated of his captivity, concerning = which we=20 have fully considered. I remember, indeed, that this is = called=20 Babylon also in the Apocalypse, on account of confusion; and = in=20 Isaiah also; and Ezekiel called it Sodom. In fine, if you = compare=20 what is said against Sodom, and what Isaiah says against = Babylon,=20 and what the Apocalypse says, you will find that they are = all one.=20

9. "The seven heads are the seven hills, on which the = woman=20 sitteth." That is, the city of Rome.=20

10. "And there are seven kings: five have fallen, and = one is,=20 and the other is not yet come; and when he is come, he will = be for a=20 short time." The time must be understood in which the = written=20 Apocalypse was published, since then reigned Caesar = Domitian; but=20 before him had been Titus his brother, and Vespasian, Otho,=20 Vitellius, and Galba. These are the five who have fallen. = One=20 remains, under whom the Apocalypse was written - Domitian, = to wit.=20 "The other has not yet come," speaks of Nerva; "and when he = is come,=20 he will be for a short time," for he did not complete the = period of=20 two years.=20

11. "And the beast which thou sawest is of the = seven."=20 Since before those kings Nero reigned.=20

"And he is the eighth." He says only when this = beast shall=20 come, reckon it the ei ghth place, since in that is the = completion.=20 He added: "And shall go into perdition." For that ten kings = received=20 royal power when h e shall move from the east, he says. He = shall be=20 sent from the city of Rome with his armies. And Daniel sets = forth=20 the ten horns and the ten diadems. And that these are = eradicated=20 from the former ones - that is, that three of the principal = leaders=20 are killed by Antichrist: that the other seven give him = honour and=20 wisdom and power, of whom he says:-=20

16. "These shall hate the whore, to wit, the city, and = shall=20 burn her flesh with fire." Now that one of the heads = was, as it=20 were, slain to death, and that the stroke of his death was = directed,=20 he speaks of Nero. For it is plain that when the cavalry = sent by the=20 senate was pursuing him, he himself cut his throat. Him = therefore,=20 when raised up, God will send as a worthy king, but worthy = in such a=20 way as the Jews merited. And since he is to have another = name, He=20 shall also appoint another name, that so the Jews may = receive him as=20 if he were the Christ. Says Daniel: "He shall not know the = lust of=20 women, although before he was most impure, and he shall know = no God=20 of his fathers: for he will not be able to seduce the people = of the=20 circumcision, unless he is a judge of the law." Finally, = also, he=20 will recall the saints, not to the worship of idols, but to=20 undertake circumcision, and, if he is able, to seduce any; = for he=20 shall so conduct himself as to be called Christ by them. But = that he=20 rises again from hell, we have said above in the word of = Isaiah:=20 "Water shall nourish him, and hell hath increased him;" who, = however, must come with name unchanged, and doings = unchanged, as=20 says the Spirit.=20

FROM THE NINETEENTH CHAPTER

11. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white = horse; and he=20 that sate upon him was called Faithful and True." The = horse, and=20 He that sits upon him, sets forth our Lord coming to His = kingdom=20 with the heavenly army. Because from the sea of the north, = which is=20 the Arabian Sea, even to the sea of Phoenice, and even to = the ends=20 of the earth, they will command these greater parts in the = coming of=20 the Lord Jesus, and all the souls of the nations will be = assembled=20 to judgment.=20

FROM THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER

1-3. "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having = the key=20 of the abyss, and a chain in his hand. And he held the = dragon, that=20 old serpent, which is called the Devil and Satan, and bound = him for=20 a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut him = up, and=20 set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no = more,=20 till the thousand years should be finished: after this he = must be=20 loosed a little season." Those years wherein Satan is = bound are=20 in the first advent of Christ, even to the end of the age; = and they=20 are called a thousand, according to that mode of speaking, = wherein a=20 part is signified by the whole, just as is that passage, = "the word=20 which He commanded for a thousand generations," although = they are=20 not a thousand.=20

Moreover that he says, "and he cast him into the abyss," = he says=20 this, because the devil, excluded from the hearts of = believers,=20 began to take possession of the wicked, in whose hearts, = blinded day=20 by day, he is shut up as if in a profound abyss. And he shut = him up,=20 says he, and put a seal upon him, that he should not deceive = the=20 nations until the thousand years should be finished.=20

"He shut the door upon him," it is said, that is, he = forbade and=20 restrained his seducing those who belong to Christ. = Moreover, he put=20 a seal upon him, because it is hidden who belong to the side = of the=20 devil, and who to that of Christ. For we know not of those = who seem=20 to stand whether they shall not fall, and of those who are = down it=20 is uncertain whether they may rise.=20

M oreover, that he says that he is bound and shut up, = that he may=20 not seduce the nations, the nations signify the Church, = seeing that=20 of them it itself is formed, and which being seduced, he = previously=20 held until, he says, the thousand years should be completed, = that=20 is, what is left of the sixth day, to wit, of the sixth age, = which=20 subsists for a thousand years; after this he must be loosed = for a=20 little season. The little season signifies three years and = six=20 months, in which with all his power the devil will avenge = himself=20 trader Antichrist against the Church. Finally, he says, = after that=20 the devil shall be loosed, and will seduce the nations in = the whole=20 world, and will entice war against the Church, the number of = whose=20 foes shall be as the sand of the sea.=20

4, 5. "And I saw thrones, and them that sate upon = them, and=20 judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them = that were=20 slain on account of the testimony of Jesus, and for the word = of God,=20 and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, nor = have=20 received his writing on their forehead or in their hand; and = they=20 reigned with Christ for a thousand years: the rest of them = lived not=20 again until the thousand years were finished. This is the = first=20 resurrection." There are two resurrections. But the = first=20 resurrection is now of the souls that are by the faith, = which does=20 not permit men to pass over to the second death. Of this=20 resurrection the apostle says: "If ye have risen with = Christ, seek=20 those things which are above."=20

6. "Blessed and holy is he who has part in this = resurrection:=20 on them the second death shall have no power, but they shall = be=20 priests of God and Christ, and they shall reign with Him a = thousand=20 years." I do not think the reign of a thousand years is = eternal;=20 or if it is thus to be thought of, they cease to reign when = the=20 thousand years are finished. But I will put forward what my = capacity=20 enables me to judge. The tenfold number signifies the = decalogue, and=20 the hundredfold sets forth the crown of virginity: for he = who shall=20 have kept the undertaking of virginity completely, and shall = have=20 faithfully fulfilled the precepts of the decalogue, and = shall have=20 destroyed the untrained nature or impure thoughts within the = retirement of the heart, that they may not rule over him, = this is=20 the true priest of Christ, and accomplishing the millenary = number=20 thoroughly, is thought to reign with Christ; and truly in = his case=20 the devil is bound. But he who is entangled in the vices and = the=20 dogmas of heretics, in his case the devil is loosed. But = that it=20 says that when the thousand years are finished he is loosed, = so the=20 number of the perfect saints being completed, in whom there = is the=20 glory of virginity in body and mind, by the approaching = advent of=20 the kingdom of the hateful one, many, seduced by that love = of=20 earthly things, shall be overthrown, and together with him = shall=20 enter the lake of fire.=20

8-10. "And they went up upon the breadth of the earth, = and=20 compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved = city; and=20 fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. = And the=20 devil who seduced them was cast into the take of fire and = brimstone,=20 where both the beast and the false prophet shall be = tormented day=20 and night for ever and ever." This belongs to the last = judgment.=20 And after a little time the earth was made holy, as being at = least=20 that wherein lately had reposed the bodies of the virgins, = when they=20 shall enter upon an eternal kingdom with an immortal King, = as they=20 who are not only virgins in body, but, moreover, with equal=20 inviolability have protected themselves, both in tongue and = thought,=20 from wickedness; and these, it shows, shall dwell in = rejoicing for=20 ever with the Lamb.=20

FROM THE TWENTY-FIRST AND TWENTY-SECOND = CHAPTERS

16. "And the city is placed in a square." The city = which=20 he says is squared, he says also is resplendent with gold = and=20 precious stones, and has a sacred street, and a river = through the=20 midst of it, and the tree of life on either side, bearing = twelve=20 manner of fruits throughout the twelve months; and that the = light of=20 the sun is not there, because the Lamb is the light of it; = and that=20 its gates were of single pearls; and that there were three = gates on=20 each of the four sides, and that they could not be shut. I = say, in=20 respect of the square city, he shows forth the united = multitude of=20 the saints, in whom the faith could by no means waver. As = Noah is=20 commanded to make the ark of squared beams, that it might = resist the=20 force of the deluge, by the precious stones he sets forth = the holy=20 men who cannot waver in persecution, who could not be moved = either=20 by the tempest of persecutors, or be dissolved from the true = faith=20 by the force of the rain, because they are associated of = pure gold,=20 of whom the city of the great King is adorned. Moreover, the = streets=20 set forth their hearts purified from all uncleanness, = transparent=20 with glowing light, that the Lord may justly walk up and = down in=20 them. The river of life sets forth that the grace of = spiritual=20 doctrine flowed through the minds of the faithful, and that = manifold=20 flourishing forms of odours germinated therein. The tree of = life on=20 either bank sets forth the Advent of Christ, according to = the flesh,=20 who satisfied the peoples wasted with famine, that received = life=20 from One by the wood of the Cross, with the announcement of = God's=20 word. And in that he says that the sun is not necessary in = the city,=20 he shows, evidently, that the Creator as the immaculate = light shines=20 in the midst of it, whose brightness no mind has been able = to=20 conceive, nor tongue to tell.=20

In that he says there are three gates placed on each of = the four=20 sides, of single pearls, I think that these are the four = virtues, to=20 wit, prudence, fortitude, justice, temperance, which are = associated=20 with one another. And, being involved together, they make = the number=20 twelve. But the twelve gates we believe to be the number of = the=20 apostles, who, shining in the four virtues as precious = stones,=20 manifesting the light of their doctrine among the saints, = cause it=20 to enter the celestial city, that by intercourse with them = the choir=20 of angels may be gladdened. And that the gates cannot be = shut, it is=20 evidently shown that the doctrine of the apostles can be = separated=20 from rectitude by no tempest of contradiction. Even though = the=20 floods of the nations and the vain superstitions of heretics = should=20 revolt against their true faith, they are overcome, and = shall be=20 dissolved as the foam, because Christ is the Rock by which, = and on=20 which, the Church is founded. And thus it is overcome by no = traces=20 of maddened men. Therefore they are not to be heard who = assure=20 themselves that there is to be an earthly reign of a = thousand years;=20 who think, that is to say, with the heretic Cerinthus. For = the=20 kingdom of Christ is now eternal in the saints, although the = glory=20 of the saints shall be manifested after the resurrection.=20

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