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6/6/2015 CATHOLICENCYCLOPEDIA:Apocalypse

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Apocalypse,fromtheverbapokalypto,toreveal,isthenamegiventothelastbookintheBible.ItisalsocalledtheBookofRevelation.

AlthoughaChristianwork,theApocalypsebelongstoaclassofliteraturedealingwitheschatologicalsubjectsandmuchinvogueamongtheJewsofthefirstcenturybefore,andafter,Christ.

Authenticity

TheauthoroftheApocalypsecallshimselfJohn."JohntothesevenchurcheswhichareinAsia"(Apocalypse1:4).Andagain,"I,John,yourbrotherandyourpartnerintribulation...wasintheislandwhichcalledPatmos,forthewordofGod"(1:9).

TheSeerdoesnotfurtherspecifyhispersonality.ButfromtraditionweknowthattheSeeroftheApocalypsewasJohntheApostlethesonofZebedee,theBelovedDiscipleofJesus.AttheendofthesecondcenturytheApocalypsewasacknowledgedbythehistoricalrepresentativesoftheprincipalchurchesasthegenuineworkofJohntheApostle.

InAsia,Melito,BishopofSardis,oneoftheSevenChurchesoftheApocalypse,acknowledgedtheRevelationofJohnandwroteacommentaryonit(Eusebius,ChurchHistoryIV.26).InGaul,IrenaeusfirmlybelievesinitsDivineandApostolicauthority(AgainstHeresies5.30).InAfrica,TertullianfrequentlyquotesRevelationwithoutapparentmisgivingsastoitsauthenticity(AgainstMarcionIII).InItaly,BishopHippolytusassignsittotheApostleSt.John,andtheMuratorianFragment(adocumentaboutthebeginningofthethirdcentury)enumeratesitalongwiththeothercanonicalwritings,adding,itistrue,apocryphalApocalypseofSt.Peter,butwiththeclause,quamquidamexnostrisinecclesialeginolunt.TheVetusItala,moreover,thestandardLatinversioninItalyandAfricaduringthethirdcentury,containedtheApocalypse.InEgypt,ClementandOrigenbelievedwithouthesitationinitsJoannineauthorship.Theywere



bothscholarsandmenofcriticaljudgment.Theiropinionisallthemorevaluableastheyhadnosympathywiththemillennialteachingofthebook.Theycontentedthemselveswithanallegoricalinterpretationofcertainpassagesbutneverventuredtoimpugnitsauthority.

ApproachingmorecloselytheapostolicagewehavethetestimonyofSt.JustinMartyr,aboutthemiddleofthesecondcentury.FromEusebius(ChurchHistoryIV.18.8),aswellasfromhisdialoguewiththeJew,Tryphon(c.81),heldinEphesus,theresidenceoftheapostle,weknowthatheadmittedtheauthenticityoftheApocalypse.AnotherwitnessofaboutthesametimeisPapias,BishopofHierapolis,aplacenotfarfromEphesus.IfhehimselfhadnotbeenahearerofSt.John,hecertainlywaspersonallyacquaintedwithseveralofhisdisciples(Eusebius,ChurchHistoryIII.39).Hisevidencehoweverisbutindirect.Andreas,BishopofCaesarea,intheprologuetohiscommentaryontheApocalypse,informsusthatPapiasadmitteditsinspiredcharacter.FromtheApocalypseundoubtedlyPapiasderivedhisideasofthemillennium,onwhichaccountEusebiusdecrieshisauthority,declaringhimtohavebeenamanoflimitedunderstanding.Theapostolicwritingswhichareextantfurnishnoevidencefortheauthenticityofthebook.

Argumentsagainstitsauthenticity

TheAlogi,aboutA.D.200,asectsocalledbecauseoftheirrejectionofthelogosdoctrine,deniedtheauthenticityoftheApocalypse,assigningittoCerinthus(Epiphanius,LI,ff,33cf.Irenaeus,AgainstHeresiesIII.11.9).Caius,apresbyterinRome,ofaboutthesametime,holdsasimilaropinion.EusebiusquoteshiswordstakenfromhisDisputation:"ButCerinthusbymeansofrevelationswhichhepretendedwerewrittenbyagreatApostlefalselypretendedtowonderfulthings,assertingthataftertheresurrectiontherewouldbeanearthlykingdom"(ChurchHistoryIII.28).ThemostformidableantagonistoftheauthorityoftheApocalypseisDionysius,BishopofAlexandria,discipleofOrigen.HeisnotopposedtothesuppositionthatCerinthusisthewriteroftheApocalypse."For",hesays,"thisisthedoctrineofCerinthus,thattherewillbeanearthlyreignofChrist,andashewasaloverofthebodyhedreamedthathewouldrevelinthegratificationofthesensualappetite".HehimselfdidnotadopttheviewthatCerinthuswasthewriter.HeregardedtheApocalypseastheworkofaninspiredmanbutnotofanApostle(Eusebius,ChurchHistoryVII.25).DuringthefourthandfifthcenturiesthetendencytoexcludetheApocalypsefromthelistofsacredbookscontinuedtoincreaseintheSyroPalestinianchurches.Eusebiusexpressesnodefiniteopinion.Hecontentshimselfwiththestatement:"TheApocalypseisbysomeacceptedamongthecanonicalbooksbutbyothersrejected"(ChurchHistoryIII.25).St.CyrilofJerusalemdoesnotnameitamongthecanonicalbooks(CatechesisIV.3336)nordoesitoccuronthelistoftheSynodofLaodicea,oronthatofGregoryofNazianzus.PerhapsthemosttellingargumentagainsttheapostolicauthorshipofthebookisitsomissionfromthePeshito,theSyrianVulgate.ButalthoughtheauthoritiesgivingevidenceagainsttheauthenticityoftheApocalypsedeservefull



considerationtheycannotannulorimpairtheolderandunanimoustestimonyofthechurches.Theopinionofitsopponents,moreover,wasnotfreefrombias.FromthemannerinwhichDionysiusarguedthequestion,itisevidentthathethoughtthebookdangerousasoccasioningcrudeandsensualnotionsconcerningtheresurrection.IntheWesttheChurchperseveredinitstraditionofapostolicauthorship.St.JeromealoneseemedtohavebeeninfluencedbythedoubtsoftheEast.

TheApocalypsecomparedwiththeFourthGospel

TherelationbetweentheApocalypseandtheFourthGospelhasbeendiscussedbyauthors,bothancientandmodern.Someaffirmandothersdenytheirmutualresemblance.

ThelearnedAlexandrineBishop,Dionysius,drewupinhistimealistofdifferencestowhichmodernauthorshavehadlittletoadd.HebeginsbyobservingthatwhereastheGospelisanonymous,thewriteroftheApocalypseprefixeshisname,John.HenextpointsouthowthecharacteristicterminologyoftheFourthGospel,soessentialtotheJoanninedoctrine,isabsentintheApocalypse.Theterms,"life","light","grace","truth",donotoccurinthelatter.NordidthecrudenessofdictiononthepartoftheApocalypseescapehim.TheGreekoftheGospelhepronouncescorrectastogrammar,andheevengivesitsauthorcreditforacertaineleganceofstyle.ButthelanguageoftheApocalypseappearedtohimbarbarousanddisfiguredbysolecisms.He,thereforeinclinestoascribetheworkstodifferentauthors(ChurchHistoryVII.25).

Theupholdersofacommonauthorshipreplythatthesedifferencesmaybeaccountedforbybearinginmindthepeculiarnatureandaimofeachwork.TheApocalypsecontainsvisionsandrevelations.Inconformitywithotherbooksofthesamekind,e.g.theBookofDaniel,theSeerprefixedhisnametohiswork.TheGospelontheotherhandiswrittenintheformofanhistoricalrecord.IntheBible,worksofthatkinddonotbearthesignatureoftheirauthors.SoalsoasregardstheabsenceofJoannineterminologyintheApocalypse.TheobjectoftheGospelistoprovethatJesusisthelifeandthelightoftheworld,thefullnessoftruthandgrace.ButintheApocalypseJesusistheconquerorofSatanandhiskingdom.ThedefectsofgrammarintheApocalypseareconceded.Someofthemarequiteobvious.Letthereaderbutnoticethehabitoftheauthortoaddanappositioninthenominativetoawordinanobliquecasee.g.3:1214:1220:2.ItfurthercontainssomeHebrewidioms:e.g.theHebrewequivalenttoerchomenos,"theonethatistocome",insteadofesomenos,1:8.ButitshouldbeborneinmindthatwhentheApostlefirstcametoEphesushewas,probablywhollyignorantoftheGreektongue.

ThecomparativepurityandsmoothnessofdictionintheGospelmaybeadequatelyaccountedforbytheplausibleconjecturethatitsliterarycompositionwasnottheworkofSt.Johnbutofoneofhispupils.ThedefendersoftheidentityofauthorshipfurtherappealtothestrikingfactthatinbothworksJesusiscalledtheLambandtheWord.TheideaofthelambmakingatonementforsinbyitsbloodistakenfromIsaiah53.Throughoutthe



ApocalypsetheportraitureofJesusisthatofthelamb.ThroughthesheddingofitsbloodithasopenedthebookwithsevensealsandhastriumphedoverSatan.IntheGospelJesusispointedoutbytheBaptistasthe"LambofGod...himwhotakethawaythesinoftheworld"(John1:29).SomeofthecircumstancesofHisdeathresembletheriteobservedintheeatingofthepaschallamb,thesymbolofredemption.HiscrucifixiontakesplaceontheselfsamedayonwhichthePassoverwaseaten(John18:28).Whilsthangingonthecross,HisexecutionersdidnotbreakthebonesinHisbody,thattheprophecymightbefulfilled:"noboneinitshallbebroken"(John19:36).ThenameLogos,"Word",isquitepeculiartotheApocalypse,GospelandfirstEpistleofSt.John.ThefirstsentenceoftheGospelis,"InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod".ThefirstepistleofSt.Johnbegins,"Thatwhichwasfromthebeginningwhichwehaveheard...ofthewordoflife".SoalsointheApocalypse,"AndhisnameiscalledtheWordofGod"(19:13).

Timeandplace

TheSeerhimselftestifiesthatthevisionsheisabouttonarratewereseenbyhimwhilstinPatmos."IJohn...wasintheislandwhichiscalledPatmosforthewordofGodandforthetestimonyofJesus"(1:9).PatmosisoneofthegroupofsmallislandsclosetothecoastofAsiaMinor,abouttwelvegeographicalmilesfromEphesus.Tradition,asEusebiustellsus,hashandeddownthatJohnwasbanishedtoPatmosinthereignofDomitianforthesakeofhistestimonyofGod'sword(ChurchHistoryIII.18).Heobviouslyreferstothepassage"forthewordofGodandforthetestimonyofJesus"(1:9).Itistruethatthemoreprobablemeaningofthisphraseis,"inordertohearthewordofGod",etc.,andnot"banishedbecauseofthewordofGod",etc.,(cf.1:2).ButitwasquitenaturalthattheSeershouldhaveregardedhisbanishmenttoPatmosasprearrangedbyDivineProvidencethatinthesolitudeoftheislandhemighthearGod'sword.ThetraditionrecordedbyEusebiusfindsconfirmationinthewordsoftheSeerdescribinghimselfas"abrotherandpartakerintribulation"(1:9).IrenaeusplacestheSeer'sexileinPatmosattheendofDomitian'sreign."PaenesubnostrosaeculoadfinemDomitianiimperii"(AgainstHeresiesV.4).TheEmperorDomitianreignedA.D.8196.InallmattersofJoanninetraditionIrenaeusdeservesexceptionalcredit.HislifetimeborderedupontheApostolicageandhismaster,St.Polycarp,hadbeenamongthedisciplesofSt.John.Eusebius,chroniclingthestatementofIrenaeuswithoutanymisgivings,addsastheyearoftheSeer'sexilethefourteenthofDomitian'sreign.St.Jeromealso,withoutreserveorhesitation,followsthesametradition."Quartodecimoanno,secundampostNeronempersecutionemmoventeDomitiano,inPatmosinsulamrelegatus,scripsitApocalypsim"(ExlibrodeScript.Eccl).AgainsttheunitedtestimonyofthesethreewitnessesoftraditionthestatementofEpiphaniusplacingtheSeer'sbanishmentinthereignofClaudius,A.D.4154,appearsexceedinglyimprobable(Haer.,li,12,33).

Contents



ThesevenChurches

Titleanddescriptionofthebook(1:13)

TherevelationmadebyJesustheMessiastoJohn.

Salutation(1:49)

SalutationprefatorytothesevenEpistles,wishingthechurchesthegraceandthepeaceofGodandJesus.

ThevisionofJesusastheSonofMan(1:920)

TheportraitistakenfromDaniel10andHenoch46.Cf.thephrases,"onelikethesonofman"(Apocalypse1:13,Daniel10:16and7:13)"girdedwithgold"(Apocalypse1:13Daniel10:5)"eyeslikeflamesoffire"(Apocalypse1:14Daniel10:6)"avoicelikethatofamultitude"(Apocalypse1:15Daniel10:6)"Ifelldownlikeonesenseless"(Apocalypse1:17Daniel10:9)"andhetouchedme"(Apocalypse1:17,Daniel10:18)"hairwhitelikewool"(Apocalypse1:14Daniel7:9Henoch46:1).

TheepistlestothesevenChurches(2:13:22)

TheChurchesareEphesus,Smyrna,Pergamum,Thyatira,Sardis,Philadelphia,andLaodicea.TheEpistlesareshortexhortationstotheChristianstoremainsteadfastintheirfaith,tobewareoffalseapostlesandtoabstainfromfornicationandfrommeatofferedtoidols.

Thebookwiththesevenseals

ThevisionofGodenthroneduponthecherubim(chapters4and5)

Thethroneissurroundedbytwentyfourelders.IntherighthandofGodisascrollsealedwithsevenseals.InthemidstoftheCherubimandtheelderstheSeerbeholdsalamb,"agnustamquamoccisus",havingonitsthroatthescarofthegashbywhichitwasslain.TheSeerweepsbecausenooneeitherinheavenoronearthcanbreaktheseals.Heiscomfortedonhearingthatthelambwasworthytodosobecauseoftheredemptionithadwroughtbyitsblood.TheportraitofthethroneistakenfromEzechiel1.Compareinbothaccountsthedescriptionofthefourbeasts.Theyresemblealion,anox,aman,andaneagle.Theirbodiesarefullofeyes(cf.Revelation4:8andEzekiel10:12).ThetwentyfourelderswereprobablysuggestedbythetwentyfourcoursesofpriestsministeringintheTemple.ThelambslainforthesinsofmankindisfromIsaias53.



Thesevensealsandthenumberingofthesaints(chapters6and7)

Attheopeningoffourseals,fourhorsesappear.Theircolouriswhite,black,red,andsallow,orgreen(chloros,piebald).Theysignifyconquest,slaughter,dearthanddeath.ThevisionistakenfromZechariah6:18.AttheopeningofthefifthsealtheSeerbeholdsthemartyrsthatwereslainandhearstheirprayersforthefinaltriumph.Attheopeningofthesixthsealthepredestinedtogloryarenumberedandmarked.TheSeerbeholdsthemdividedintotwoclasses.First,144,000Jews,12,000ofeverytribe.Thenanumberlessmultitudechosenfromallnationsandtongues.

Theseventhseal(chapters8and9)

Aftertheintervalofabouthalfanhour,theseventhsealisbrokensevenangelsissueforth,eachoneholdingatrumpet.Thesoundingofthefirstfourtrumpetscausesapartialdestructionoftheelementsofnature.Onethirdoftheearthisburned,asalsoonethirdofthetreesandallthegrass.Onethirdoftheseabecomesblood(cf.Exodus7:17).Onethirdoftheriversisturnedintowaterofwormwood.Onethirdofthesun,moon,andstarsisobscured,causingonethirdofthedaytobedark(cf.Exodus10:21).Atthesoundingofthefifthtrumpetlocustsascendfromtheabyss.Theirworkistotormentmenforfivemonths,Theyarespeciallychargednottotouchthegrass.Theirshapeisthatofhorses(Joel2:4)theirteethlikethoseoflions(Joel1:6),theirhairlikethehairofwomen.Theyhavethetailsofscorpionswherewithtochastiseman.ThecommandoverthemisheldbytheAngeloftheAbyss,namedAbaddon,thedestroyer.AtthesoundofthesixthtrumpetthefourangelschainedattheEuphratesareletloose.Theyleadforthanarmyofhorsemen.Bythefirewhichthehorsesspitoutandbytheirtailswhicharelikeserpents,onethirdofmankindiskilled.Afterthesixthtrumpettherearetwodigressions.(1)Theangelstandingonthelandandthesea.Heswearsthatatthesoundoftheseventhtrumpetthemysterywillbecompleted.HehandstotheSeeralittlebook.Wheneatenbyhimitisfoundsweettotaste,butbitterwhenoncedevoured.TakenfromEzekiel2:8and3:3.(2)ThecontaminationofthecourtoftheTemplebytheheathens.Itlaststhreeandahalfyears.TakenfromDaniel7:259:2712:711.DuringthattimetwowitnessesaresenttopreachinJerusalem.TheyarethetwoolivetreesforetoldbyZechariah4:311.Attheendoftheirmissiontheyareslainbythebeast.Theyareraisedtolifeafterthreeandahalfdays(=years).Theseventhtrumpetisnowsounded,thenationsarejudgedandthekingdomofChristisestablished.

Thedivinedrama

Firstact(chapters1214)

Thelamb,thewoman,andherseedandopposedtothem,thedragon,thebeastfromthesea,andthebeastfromtheland.ThemainideaistakenfromGenesis3:15."Iwillput



enmitiesbetweenthee(theserpent)andthewoman,andthyseedandherseed".Thewomanisarrayedinheavenlysplendouracrownoftwelvestarsonherheadandthesunandthemoonunderherfeet(cf.Genesis37:910).Sheisintravail.Herfirstbornisdestinedtoruleallthenation(Psalm2:8,9).Sheherself,andherotherseed,arepersecutedforthreeandahalfyearsbythegreatdragonwhotriestokillthem.ThegreatdragonisSatan(Genesis3:1).Heiscastoutofheaven.Withhistailhedragsafterhimonethirdofthestars.TakenfromDaniel8:10.Thefallenstarsarethefallenangels.ThebeastfromtheseaisingreatparttakenfromDaniel'sdescriptionofthefourbeasts.Itarisesfromthesea(Daniel7:3)hassevenheadsmarkedalloverwithblasphemies.Ithadalsotenhorns,likethefourthbeastofDaniel(7:7)itresembledaleopard,thethirdbeastofDaniel(7:6),ithadfeetlikeabear,thesecondbeastofDaniel(7:5)andteethlikealion,thefirstbeastofDaniel(7:4).Thegreatdragongivesfullpoweruntothebeast,whereuponalltheworldworshipit(viz.thosewhosenamesarenotcontainedinthebookofthelamb).Thefollowersofthebeasthaveitsmarkontheirheadandhand.Thebeastfromthelandhastwohornslikearam.Itspowerliesinitsartofdeceivingbymeansoftokensandmiracles.Throughouttheremainderofthebookitiscalledthefalseprophet.Itsofficeistoassistthebeastfromthesea,andtoinducementoadoreitsimage.ThefirstactofthedramaconcludeswithapromiseofvictoryoverthebeastbythelambofGod.

Secondact(chapters1516)

Thesevenvials.Theyarethesevenplaguesprecedingthedestructionofthegreatcity,Babylon.TheywereforthegreaterpartsuggestedbytheEgyptianplagues.Thefirstvialispouredoutontheearth.Menandbeastsaresmittenwithulcers(Exodus9:910).Thesecondandthirdvialupontheseasandrivers.Theybecomeblood(Exodus7:1721).Thefourthvialuponthesun.Itburnsmentodeath.Thefifthvialuponthethroneofthebeast.Itcausesgreatdarkness(Exodus10:1129).ThesixthvialupontheEuphrates.ItswatersaredriedupandformapassageforthekingsoftheEast(Exodus14).Theseventhupontheair.StormandearthquakedestroyBabylon.

Thirdact(chapters1718)

Thegreatharlot.Sheisseateduponthescarletbeastwiththesevenheadsandtenhorns.Sheisrobedinscarletanddeckedwithgold.Onherheadiswritten:Mystery,Babylonthegreat.Thekingsoftheearthcommitfornicationwithher.Butthedayofhervisitationhascome.Sheismadeadesolateplace,thehabitationofuncleananimals(Leviticus13:2122).Herfallislamentedbytherulersandmerchantsoftheearth.

Fourthact(chapters1920)

Thevictoryoverthebeastandthegreatdragon.Aknightappearsmountedonawhite



horse.Hisnameis"ThewordofGod".Hedefeatsthebeastandthefalseprophet.Theyarecastaliveinthepooloffire.TheirdefeatisfollowedbythefirstresurrectionandthereignofChristforathousandyears.ThemartyrsrisetolifeandpartakewithChristingloryandhappiness.Duringthesethousandyearsthegreatdragonisheldinchains.Attheircompletionheisoncemoresetatlargetotormenttheearth.HedeceivesthenationsGogandMagog.ThesetwonamesaretakenfromEzekiel28and39,wherehoweverGogisthekingofMagog.Atlasthealsoiscastforalleternityinthepooloffire.Hereuponthegeneraljudgementandtheresurrectiontakeplace.

Fifthact(chapters2122)

ThenewJerusalem(cf.Ezechiel4048).GoddwellsinthemidstofHissaintswhoenjoycompletehappiness.ThenewJerusalemisthespouseofthelamb.ThenamesoftheTwelveTribesandtheTwelveApostlesarewrittenonitsgates.Godandthelambarethesanctuaryinthisnewcity.

Epilogue(verses1821)

Theprophecyofthebookissoontobefulfilled.TheSeerwarnsthereadernottoaddanythingtoitortakeawayfromitunderpainofforfeitinghisshareintheheavenlycity.

Purposeofthebook

Fromthiscursoryperusalofthebook,itisevidentthattheSeerwasinfluencedbythepropheciesofDanielmorethanbyanyotherbook.DanielwaswrittenwiththeobjectofcomfortingtheJewsunderthecruelpersecutionofAntiochusEpiphanes.TheSeerintheApocalypsehadasimilarpurpose.TheChristianswerefiercelypersecutedinthereignofDomitian.Thedangerofapostasywasgreat.Falseprophetswentabout,tryingtoseducethepeopletoconformtotheheathenpracticesandtotakepartintheCaesarworship.TheSeerurgeshisChristianstoremaintruetotheirfaithandtobeartheirtroubleswithfortitude.Heencouragesthemwiththepromiseofanampleandspeedyreward.HeassuresthemthatChrist'striumphantcomingisathand.BothinthebeginningandattheendofhisbooktheSeerismostemphaticintellinghispeoplethatthehourofvictoryisnigh.Hebegins,saying:"Blessedishethat...keepeththosethingswhicharewritteninitforthetimeisathand"(1:3).Hecloseshisvisionswiththepatheticwords:"Hethatgivethtestimonyofthesethingssaith,SurelyIcomequickly:Amen.Come,LordJesus".WiththecomingofChristthewoesoftheChristianswillbeavenged.Theiroppressorswillbegivenuptothejudgmentandtheeverlastingtorments.Themartyrsthathavefallenwillberaisedtolife,thattheymaysharethepleasuresofChrist'skingdom,themillennium.Yetthisisbutapreludetotheeverlastingbeatitudewhichfollowsafterthegeneralresurrection.ItisanarticleoffaiththatChristwillreturnattheendoftimetojudgethelivingandthedead.ButthetimeofHissecondadventisunknown."Butofthat



dayandhournooneknoweth,no,nottheangelsofheaven,buttheFatheralone"(Matthew24:36).Itwouldappear,andissoheldbymanythattheChristiansoftheApostolicageexpectedthatChristwouldreturnduringtheirownlifetimeorgeneration.ThisseemstobethemoreobviousmeaningofseveralpassagesbothintheEpistlesandGospels(cf.John21:2123,1Thessalonians4:1318).TheChristiansofAsiaMinorandtheSeerwiththem,appeartohavesharedthisfallaciousexpectation.Theirmistakenhope,however,didnotaffectthesoundnessoftheirbeliefintheessentialpartofthedogma.Theirviewsofamillennialperiodofcorporalhappinesswereequallyerroneous.TheChurchhaswhollycastasidethedoctrineofamillenniumprevioustotheresurrection.St.AugustinehasperhapsmorethananyoneelsehelpedtofreetheChurchfromallcrudefanciesasregardsitspleasures.HeexplainedthemillenniumallegoricallyandappliedittotheChurchofChristonearth.WiththefoundationoftheChurchthemillenniumbegan.Thefirstresurrectionisthespiritualresurrectionofthesoulfromsin(CityofGodXX).Thusthenumber1,000istobetakenindefinitely.

Structureofthebookanditsliterarycomposition

ThesubjectmatteroftheApocalypserequiredathreefolddivision.

Thefirstpartcomprisesthesevenexhortatoryletters.TheleadingideainthesecondpartisthewisdomofChrist.Itissymbolizedbythebookwithsevenseals.InitarewrittentheeternaldecreesofGodtouchingtheendoftheworld,andthefinalvictoryofgoodoverevil.NooneexceptJesus,thelambslainforthesinsoftheworld,isworthytobreakthesealsandreaditscontents.ThethirdpartdescribesthepowerofChristoverSatanandhiskingdom.Thelambdefeatsthedragonandthebeast.Thisideaisdevelopedinadramaoffiveacts.Infivesuccessivescenesweseebeforeusthestruggle,thefallofBabylontheharlot,thevictory,andfinalbeatitude.

Thethirdpartisnotonlythemostimportant,butalsothemostsuccessfulfromaliterarypointofview.Thedramaofthelambcontainsseveralbeautifulthoughtsoflastingvalue.Thelamb,symbolizinggentlenessandpurity,conquersthebeast,thepersonificationoflustandcruelty.Theharlotsignifiesidolatry.ThefornicationwhichtherulersandthenationsoftheearthcommitwithhersignifiestheworshiptheypaytotheimagesofCaesarandthetokensofhispower.Thesecondpartisinferiorinliterarybeauty.ItcontainsmuchthatistakenfromtheOldTestament,anditisfullofextravagantimagery.TheSeershowsafancifultasteforallthatisweirdandgrotesque.Hedelightsinportrayinglocustswithhairlikethatofwomenandhorseswithtailslikeserpents.Thereareoccasionalpassagesrevealingasenseofliterarybeauty.Godremovesthecurtainofthefirmamentasascriberollsuphisscrolls.Thestarsfallfromtheheavenslikefigsfromthefigtreeshakenbythestorm(6:1214).Onthewhole,howevertheSeershowsmoreloveforOrientalsplendourthantheappreciationoftruebeauty.



Interpretation

ItwouldbealikewearisomeanduselesstoenumerateeventhemoreprominentapplicationsmadeoftheApocalypse.Racialhatredandreligiousrancourhaveatalltimesfoundinitsvisionmuchsuitableandgratifyingmatter.SuchpersonsasMohammed,thePope,Napoleon,etc.,haveinturnbeenidentifiedwiththebeastandtheharlot.Tothe"reformers"particularlytheApocalypsewasaninexhaustiblequarrywheretodigforinvectivesthattheymighthurlthenagainsttheRomanhierarchy.ThesevenhillsofRome,thescarletrobesofthecardinals,andtheunfortunateabusesofthepapalcourtmadetheapplicationeasyandtempting.Owingtothepatientandstrenuousresearchofscholars,theinterpretationoftheApocalypsehasbeentransferredtoafieldfreefromtheodiumtheologicum.ButthenthemeaningoftheSeerisdeterminedbytherulesofcommonexegesis.Apartfromtheresurrection,themillennium,andtheplaguesprecedingthefinalconsummation,theyseeinhisvisionsreferencestotheleadingeventsofhistime.Theirmethodofinterpretationmaybecalledhistoricascomparedwiththetheologicalandpoliticalapplicationofformerages.Thekeytothemysteriesofthebooktheyfindin17:814.ForthussaystheSeer:"Letherethemindthathathunderstandinggiveheed".

Thebeastfromtheseathathadreceivedplenitudeofpowerfromthedragon,orSatan,istheRomanEmpire,orrather,Caesar,itssupremerepresentative.Thetokenofthebeastwithwhichitsservantsaremarkedistheimageoftheemperoronthecoinsoftherealm.Thisseemstobetheobviousmeaningofthepassage,thatallbusinesstransactions,allbuyingandsellingwereimpossibletothemthathadnotthemarkofthebeast(Apocalypse13:17).AgainstthisinterpretationitisobjectedthattheJewsatthetimeofChristhadnoscrupleinhandlingmoneyonwhichtheimageofCaesarwasstamped(Matthew22:1522).ButitshouldbeborneinmindthatthehorroroftheJewsfortheimperialimageswasprincipallyduetothepolicyofCaligula.Heconfiscatedseveraloftheirsynagogues,changingthemintoheathentemplesbyplacinghisstatueinthem.HeevensoughttoerectanimageofhimselfintheTempleofJerusalem(Josephus,Ant.,XVIII,viii,2).

Thesevenheadsofthebeastaresevenemperors.FiveofthemtheSeersaysarefallen.TheyareAugustus,Tiberius,Caligula,Claudius,andNero.TheyearofNero'sdeathisA.D.68.TheSeergoesontosay"Oneis",namelyVespasian,A.D.7079.Heisthesixthemperor.Theseventh,wearetoldbytheSeer,"isnotyetcome.Butwhenhecomeshisreignwillbeshort".Titusismeant,whoreignedbuttwoyears(7981).TheeighthemperorisDomitian(8196).OfhimtheSeerhassomethingverypeculiartosay.Heisidentifiedwiththebeast.Heisdescribedastheonethat"wasandisnotandshallcomeupoutofthebottomlesspit"(17:8).Inverse11itisadded:"Andthebeastwhichwasandisnot:thesamealsoistheeighth,andisoftheseven,andgoethintodestruction".

Allthissoundslikeoracularlanguage.Butthecluetoitssolutionisfurnishedbya



popularbelieflargelyspreadatthetime.ThedeathofNerohadbeenwitnessedbyfew.ChieflyintheEastanotionhadtakenholdofthemindofthepeoplethatNerowasstillalive.Gentiles,Jews,andChristianswereundertheillusionthathewashidinghimself,andaswascommonlythought,hehadgoneovertotheParthians,themosttroublesomefoesoftheempire.Fromtheretheyexpectedhimtoreturnattheheadofamightyarmytoavengehimselfonhisenemies.Theexistenceofthisfancifulbeliefisawellattestedhistoricfact.Tacitusspeaksofit:"AchaiaatqueAsiafalsoexterritvelutNeroadventaret,variosuperejusexiturumoreeoquepluribusvivereeumfingentibuscredentibusque"(Hist.,II,8).SoalsoDioChrysostomus:kainyn(aboutA.D.100)etipantesepithymousizenoidepleistoikaioiontai(Orat.,21,10cf.Suetonius,"Vit.Caes."s.v.NEROandtheSIBYLINEORACLES).ThusthecontemporariesoftheSeerbelievedNerotobealiveandexpectedhisreturn.TheSeereithersharedtheirbelieforutilizeditforhisownpurpose.

Nerohadmadeanameforhimselfbyhiscrueltyandlicentiousness.TheChristiansinparticularhadreasontodreadhim.Underhimthefirstpersecutiontookplace.ThesecondoccurredunderDomitian.Butunlikethepreviousone,itwasnotconfinedtoItaly,butspreadthroughouttheprovinces.ManyChristianswereputtodeath,manywerebanished(Eusebius,ChurchHistoryIII.1719).InthiswaytheSeerwasledtoregardDomitianasasecondNero,"Neroredivivus".Hencehedescribedhimas"theonethatwas,thatisnot,andthatistoreturn".Hencealsohecountshimastheeighthandatthesametimemakeshimoneoftheprecedingseven,viz.thefifth,Nero.TheidentificationofthetwoemperorssuggesteditselfallthemorereadilysinceevenpaganauthorscalledDomitianasecondNero(calvusNero,Juvenal.IV,38).ThepopularbeliefconcerningNero'sdeathandreturnseemstobereferredtoalsointhepassage(13:3):"AndIsawoneofitsheadsasitwereslaintodeath:anditsdeath'swoundwashealed".

ThetenhornsarecommonlyexplainedasthevassalrulersunderthesupremacyofRome.Theyaredescribedaskings(basileis),heretobetakeninawidersense,thattheyarenotrealkings,butreceivedpowertorulewiththebeast.Theirpower,moreover,isbutforonehour,signifyingitsshortdurationandinstability(17:17).TheSeerhasmarkedthebeastwiththenumber666.Hispurposewasthatbythisnumberpeoplemayknowit.Hethathasunderstanding,lethimcountthenumberofthebeast.Foritisthenumberofaman:andhisnumberissixhundredandsixtysix.Ahumannumber,i.e.intelligiblebythecommonrulesofinvestigation.WehavehereaninstanceofJewishgematria.Itsobjectistoconcealanamebysubstitutingforitacipherofequalnumericalvaluetotheletterscomposingit.Foralongtimeinterpreterstriedtodecipherthenumber666bymeansoftheGreekalphabet,e.g.Irenus,AgainstHeresiesV.33.Theireffortshaveyieldednosatisfactoryresult.BettersuccesshasbeenobtainedbyusingtheHebrewalphabet.ManyscholarshavecometotheconclusionthatNeroismeant.Forwhenthename"NeroCaesar"isspelledwithHebrewletters,ityieldsthecipher666.

Thesecondbeast,thatfromtheland,thepseudoprophetwhoseofficewastoassistthe



beastfromthesea,probablysignifiestheworkofseductioncarriedonbyapostateChristians.TheyendeavouredtomaketheirfellowChristiansadopttheheathenpracticesandsubmitthemselvestothecultusoftheCaesar.TheyarenotunlikelytheNicolaitansofthesevenEpistles.FortheyaretherecomparedtoBalaamandJezabelseducingtheIsraelitestoidolatryandfornication.Thewomanintravailisapersonificationofthesynagogueorthechurch.HerfirstbornisChrist,herotherseedisthecommunityofthefaithful.

Inthisinterpretation,ofwhichwehavegivenasummary,therearetwodifficulties:

Intheenumerationoftheemperorsthreearepassedover,viz.Galba,Otho,andVitellius.Butthisomissionmaybeexplainedbytheshortnessoftheirreigns.Eachoneofthethreereignedbutafewmonths.TraditionassignstheApocalypsetothereignofDomitian.Butaccordingtothecomputationgivenabove,theSeerhimselfassignshisworktothereignofVespasian.Forifthiscomputationbecorrect,Vespasianistheemperorwhomhedesignatesas"theonethatis".Tothisobjection,however,itmaybeansweredthatitwasthecustomofapocalypticwriters,e.g.,ofDaniel,Enoch,andtheSibyllinebooks,tocasttheirvisionsintotheformofpropheciesandgivethemtheappearanceofbeingtheworkofanearlierdate.Noliteraryfraudwastherebyintended.Itwasmerelyapeculiarstyleofwritingadoptedassuitingtheirsubject.TheSeeroftheApocalypsefollowsthispractice.ThoughactuallybanishedtoPatmosinthereignofDomitian,afterthedestructionofJerusalem,hewroteasifhehadbeenthereandseenhisvisionsinthereignofVespasianwhenthetempleperhapsyetexisted.Cf.2:12.

WecannotconcludewithoutmentioningthetheoryadvancedbytheGermanscholarVischer.HeholdstheApocalypsetohavebeenoriginallyapurelyJewishcomposition,andtohavebeenchangedintoaChristianworkbytheinsertionofthosesectionsthatdealwithChristiansubjects.Fromadoctrinalpointofview,wethink,itcannotbeobjectedto.Thereareotherinstanceswhereinspiredwritershaveavailedthemselvesofnoncanonicalliterature.Intrinsicallyconsidereditisnotimprobable.TheApocalypseaboundsinpassageswhichbearnospecificChristiancharacterbut,onthecontrary,showadecidedlyJewishcomplexion.Yetonthewholethetheoryisbutaconjecture.(SeealsoAPOCRYPHA)

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APAcitation.VandenBiesen,C.(1907).Apocalypse.InTheCatholicEncyclopedia.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany.RetrievedJune6,2015fromNewAdvent:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01594b.htm

MLAcitation.VandenBiesen,Christian."Apocalypse."TheCatholicEncyclopedia.Vol.1.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany,1907.6Jun.2015.

Transcription.ThisarticlewastranscribedforNewAdventbyMichaelC.Tinkler.

Ecclesiasticalapprobation.NihilObstat.March1,1907.RemyLafort,S.T.D.,Censor.Imprimatur.+JohnCardinalFarley,ArchbishopofNewYork.

Contactinformation.TheeditorofNewAdventisKevinKnight.Myemailaddressiswebmasteratnewadvent.org.Regrettably,Ican'treplytoeveryletter,butIgreatlyappreciateyourfeedbackespeciallynotificationsabouttypographicalerrorsandinappropriateads.

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