Apocalypsis A brief and learned commentary upon the revelation of Saint John the apostle…Apocalypsis A briefe and learned commentarie vpon the reuelation of Saint Iohn the apostle…
Apocalypsis A brief and learned commentary upon the revelation of Saint John the apostle and evangelist, applied unto the history of the Catholic and Christian Church. Written in Latin by M. Francis Junius Doctor of Divinity, and professor in the University of Heidelberg: And translated into English for the benefit of those that understand not the Latin.Apocalypsis A briefe and learned commentarie vpon the reuelation of Saint Iohn the apostle and euangelist, applyed vnto the history of the Catholicke and Christian Church. Written in Latine by M. Francis Iunius Doctor of Diuinitie, and professor in the Vniuersitie of Heidelberge: And translated into English for the benefit of those that vnderstand not the Latine.
Franciscus Junius 1545–1602London: printed by Richard Field for Robert Dexter, 1592
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4 6But it was commanded them, that they should ⟨p. 30⟩not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree: but only those men which of have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
4 6But it was cōmanded thē, that they should ⟨p. 30⟩not hurt the grasse of ye earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree: but onely those mē which of haue not the seale of God in their foreheads.
6Here that power of the devils is particularly described, according to their actions and the effects of the same. Their actions are said to be bounded by the counsell of God: both because they hurt not all men, but only the reprobate (for the godly and elect, in whom there is any part of a better life, God guardeth by his decree) whom Christ shall not have sealed, in this verse; and also because they neither had all power, nor at all times, no not over those that are their own, but limited in manner and time by the prescript of God, verse 5. So their power to afflict the godly is none, & for the wicked it is limited in act and in effect, by the will of God: for the manner was prescribed unto them, that they should not slay but torment the wretched world. The time is for five months, or for an hundred and fifty days, that is, for so many years, in which the devils have in deed mightily perverted all things, in the world; and yet without that public and unpunished licence of killing, which afterwards they usurped when the sixth Angel had blown his trumpet, as shall be said upon the thirteenth verse. Now this space is to be accounted from the end of that thousand years mentioned chapter 20. 3. and that is, from the Popedom of that Gregory the seventh, a most monstrous Necromancer, who before was called Hildebrandus Senensis: for this man being made altogether of impiety and wickedness, as a slave of the devil, whom he served, was the most wicked firebrand of the world he excommunicated the Emperor Henry the fourth: went about by all manner of treachery to set up and put down Empires and Kingdoms, as liked himself: and doubted not to set Rodolph the Swedon over the Empire in steed of Henry before named, sending unto him a crown with this verse annexed unto it, Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho, that is, The Rock to Peter gave the crown, and Peter Rodolph doth renown. Finally, he so finely bestirred him self in his affairs, as he miserably set all Christendom on fire, & conveyed over unto his successors the burning brand of the same; who enraged with like ambition, never ceased to nourish that flame, and to in kindle it more & more: whereby Cities, Common weals, and whole kingdoms set together by the ears amongest themselves, by most expert cutthroats, came to ruin, whiles they miserably wounded one another. This term of an hundred and 50. years, taketh end in the time of Gregory the ninth, or Hugolinus Anagniensis (as he was before called) who caused to be compiled by one Raymond his chaplain and confessor, the body of the Decretals, and by sufferance of the Kings and Princes, to be published in the Christian world, and established for a law. For by this sleight, at length, the Popes arrogated unto themselves licence to kill whom they would, whiles other were unawares; and without fear established a butchery out of many, the wicked Canons of the Decretals, which the trumpet of the 5. Angel had expressly forbidden, & had hindered until this time. The effects of these bloody actions are declared upon the 6 verse: that the miserable world languishing in so great calamilities, should willingly run together unto death, and prefer the same before life, by reason of the grievousness of the miseries that oppressed them.
Here that power of the deuils is particularly described, according to their actions and the effectes of the same. Their actions are sayd to be bounded by the counsell of God: both because they hurt not all men, but onely the reprobate (for the godly and elect, in whom there is any part of a better life, God gardeth by his decree) whom Christ shall not haue sealed, in this verse; and also because they neither had all power, nor at all times, no not ouer those that are their own, but limited in manner and time by the prescript of God, verse 5. So their power to afflict the godly is none, & for the wicked it is limited in acte and in effect, by the will of God: for the manner was prescribed vnto them, that they should not slay but torment the wretched world. The time is for fiue monethes, or for an hundred and fiftie dayes, that is, for so many yeares, in which the deuils haue in deede mightilie peruerted all things, in the world; and yet without that publique and vnpunished licence of killing, which afterwards they vsurped when the sixt Angell had blowen his trumpet, as shall be sayd vpon the thirteenth verse. Now this space is to be accounted from the end of that thousand yeares mentioned chapter 20. 3. and that is, from the Popedome of that Gregorie the seuenth, a most monstrous Necromancer, who before was called Hildebrandus Senensis: for this man being made altogether of impietie and wickednesse, as a slaue of the deuill, whom he serued, was the most wicked firebrand of the world he excommunicated the Emperour Henry the fourth: went about by all maner of trecherie to set vp and put downe Empires and Kingdomes, as liked himselfe: and doubted not to set Rodolph the Swedon ouer the Empire in steed of Henrie before named, sending vnto him a crowne with this verse annexed vnto it, Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho, that is, The Rocke to Peter gaue the crowne, and Peter Rodolph doth renowne. Finally, he so finely bestirred him selfe in his affaires, as he miserably set all Christendome on fire, & conueyed ouer vnto his successours the burning brand of the same; who enraged with like ambition, neuer ceased to nourish that flame, and to in kindle it more & more: whereby Cities, Common weales, and whole kingdomes set together by the eares amōgest themselues, by most expert cutthroates, came to ruine, whiles they miserably wounded one another. This terme of an hundred and 50. yeares, taketh end in the time of Gregorie the ninth, or Hugolinus Anagniensis (as he was before called) who caused to be compiled by one Raymond his chapleine and confessour, the body of the Decretals, and by sufferance of the Kings and Princes, to be published in the Christian world, and established for a law. For by this sleight, at length, the Popes arrogated vnto themselues licence to kill whom they would, whiles other were vnwares; and without feare established a butchery out of many, the wicked Canōs of the Decretals, which the trumpet of the 5. Angell had expresly forbidden, & had hindered vntill this time. The effectes of these bloudy actions are declared vpon the 6 verse: that the miserable world lāguishing in so great calamilities, should willingly run together vnto death, and preferre the same before life, by reason of the grieuousnesse of the miseries that oppressed them.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be vexed five months; and that their should be as the pain that cometh of a Scorpion, when he hath stung a man.
5 And to them it was giuen that they should not kill them, but that they should be vexed fiue monethes; and that their should be as the paine that commeth of a Scorpion, when he hath stung a man.
7 7The form of the locusts was like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were set as it were crowns, like unto gold, & their faces were like the faces of men.
7 7The forme of the locustes was like vnto horses prepared vnto battell; and on their heads were set as it were crownes, like vnto gold, & their faces were like the faces of men.
7The form these hellish spirits and administers, is shadowed out by signs & visible figures in this sort: that they are very expert & swift: that wheresoever they are in the world the kingdom is theirs: that they menage all their affairs with cunning & skill, in this verse: that making show of mildness and tender affection to draw on men with all, they most impotently rage in all mischief: that they are most mighty to do hurt, verse 8. that they are freed from being hurt of any man, as armed with the colour of Religion and sacred authority of privilege: that they fill all things with horror, verse 9. that they are fraudulent: that they are venomous and extremely noisome, though their power be limited, verse 10. All which things are properly in the infernal powers, and communicated by them unto their ministers and vassals.The forme these hellish spirites and administers, is shadowed out by signes & visible figures in this sort: that they are verie expert & swift: that wheresoeuer they are in the world the kingdome is theirs: that they menage al their affaires with cunning & skil, in this verse: that making shew of mildnes and tender affection to draw on men with all, they most impotently rage in all mischief: that they are most mightie to doe hurt, verse 8. that they are freed from being hurt of any man, as armed with the colour of Religion and sacred authoritie of priuilege: that they fill all things with horrour, verse 9. that they are fraudulent: that they are venimous and extremelie noysome, though their power be limited, verse 10. All which things are properly in the infernall powers, and communicated by them vnto their ministers and vassals.
9 They had also habergeons, like to habergeons of iron: and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, when many horses run together in battle:
9 They had also habbergions, like to habbergions of yron: and the sound of their wings was like the sound of charets, when many horses run together in battell:
11 8Now they had a King set over them, which ⟨p. 31⟩is the Angel of the bottomless pit; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek is called Apollyon, that is, the destroyer.
11 8Now they had a King set ouer them, which ⟨p. 31⟩is the Angell of the bottomlesse pit; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greeke is called Apollyon, that is, the destroyer.
8The order of the powers of maliciousness: that they are subject unto one infernal king, whom thou mayest call in English the destroyer: who driveth the whole world both Jews and Gentiles into the destruction that belongeth unto him self. And I cannot tell whether this name have respect unto the Etvmologicall interpretation of Hildebrand, by a figure often used in Scripture: which albeit it may otherwise be turned of the Germans (as the sense of compound words is commonly ambiguous) yet in very deed it signifieth as much as if thou shouldest call him the firebrand, that is, he that setteth on fire those that be faithful unto him.The order of the powers of maliciousnesse: that they are subiect vnto one infernall king, whom thou mayest call in English the destroyer: who driueth the whole world both Iewes and Gentiles into the destruction that belongeth vnto him selfe. And I cannot tell whether this name haue respect vnto the Etvmologicall interpretation of Hildebrand, by a figure often vsed in Scripture: which albeit it may otherwise be turned of the Germaines (as the sence of cōpound wordes is commonly ambiguous) yet in very deede it signifieth as much as if thou shouldest call him the firebrand, that is, he that setteth on fire those that be faithfull vnto him.
13 10¶ Then the sixth Angel blew the trumpet, 11and I heard a certain voice from the bfour horns of the golden altar, which is before God,
13 10¶ Then the sixt Angel blew the trumpet, 11and I heard a certaine voyce from the bfoure hornes of the golden altar, which is before God,
10The sixth execution done upon the world, by the tyrannical powers thereof, working in the four parts of the earth, that is, in most cruel manner executing their tyrannous dominion through the whole world: and killing the miserable people without punishment, which before was not lawful for them to do in that sort, as I showed upon the fourth verse. This narration hath two parts: a commandment from God, in the fourteenth verse: and an execution of the commandment, in the verses following.The sixt execution done vpon the world, by the tyrannicall powers thereof, working in the foure partes of the earth, that is, in most cruell manner executing their tyrannous dominion through the whole world: and killing the miserable people without punishment, which before was not lawfull for them to doe in that sort, as I shewed vpon the fourth verse. This narration hath two partes: a commaundement from God, in the fourteenth verse: and an execution of the commaundement, in the verses following.
11The commandment given by Christ him self, who is governor over all.The commaundement giuen by Christ him selfe, who is gouernour ouer all.
bHe alludeth to the altar of incense, which stood in the court which the priests were in, over against the Ark of the Covenant, having a veil betwixt them.He alludeth to the altar of incēse, which stood in the courte which the priests were in, ouer against the Arke of the Couenant, hauing a vayle betwixt them.
14 Saying to the sixth Angel, which had the trumpet; 12Loose the four Angels, which are bound at the great river Euphrates.
14 Saying to the sixt Angell, which had the trumpet; 12Loose the foure Angels, which are bound at the great riuer Euphrates.
12As if he should have said, these hitherto have been so bound by the power of God, that they could not freely run upon all men as themselves lusted, but were staved and restrained at that great flood of Euphrates, that is, in their spiritual Babylon (for this is a Periphrasis of the spiritual Babylon, by the limits of the visible Babylon long since overthrown) that they might not commit those horrible slaughters, which they long breathed after. Now, go to, let loose those four Angels, that is, administers of the wrath of God, in that number that is convenient to the slaughtering of the four quarters of the world: stir them up, and give them the bridle, that rushing out of that Babylon of theirs, which is the seat of the wicked ones, they may flee upon all the world, therein to rage and most licentiously to practise their tyranny, as God hath ordained. This was done when Gregory the ninth by public authority established for law, his own Decretals; by which he might freely lay trains for the life of simple men. For, who is it that seeth not that the laws Decretal most of them are snares to catch souls withal? Since that time (O good God) how great slaughters have there been? how great massacres? All histories are full of them: and this our age aboundeth with most horrible and monstrous examples of the same.As if he should haue sayd, these hitherto haue bene so bounde by the power of God, that they could not freely runne vpon all men as themselues lusted, but were staved and restrained at that great floud of Euphrates, that is, in their spirituall Babylon (for this is a Periphrasis of the spirituall Babylon, by the limites of the visible Babylon long since ouerthrowne) that they might not commit those horrible slaughters, which they long breathed after. Now, goe to, let loose those foure Angels, that is, administers of the wrath of God, in that number that is conuenient to the slaughtering of the foure quarters of the world: stirre them vp, and giue them the bridle, that rushing out of that Babylon of theirs, which is the seate of the wicked ones, they may flee vpon all the world, therein to rage and most licentiously to practise their tyrannie, as God hath ordeined. This was done when Gregorie the ninth by publique authoritie established for law, his owne Decretals; by which he might freely lay traynes for the life of simple men. For, who is it that seeth not that the lawes Decretall most of them are snares to catch soules withall? Since that time (O good God) how great slaughters haue there bene? how great massacres? All histories are full of them: and this our age aboundeth with most horrible and monstrous examples of the same.
15 13Then the four Angels were loosed, which were prepared at an hour, at a day, at a month, and at a year, to slay the third part of men.
15 13Thē the foure Angels were loosed, which were prepared at an houre, at a day, at a moneth, and at a yeare, to slay the third part of men.
13The execution of the commandment, is in two points: one, that these butcherers are let lose, that out of their tower of the spiritual Babylon they might with fury run abroad thorough all the world, as well the chief of that crew which are most prompt unto all assays: in this verse; as their multitudes, both most copious, of which a nun ber certain is named for a number infinite, verse 16. and in themselves by all means fully furnished to hide and to hurt, vers. 17. as being armed with fire, smoke & brimstone, as appeareth in the colour of their armour which dazzleth the eyes of all men: and have the strength of Lyons to hurt withal, from which (as out of their mouth) the fiery, smoky, and stinking darts of the Pope are shot out, vers. 18. The other point is, that these butcherers have effected the commandment of God by fraud and violence, in the two verses following.The executiō of the commandement, is in two pointes: one, that these butcherers are let lose, that out of their tower of the spirituall Babylon they might with furie run abroad thorough all the world, as well the chiefe of that crue which are most prōpt vnto all assayes: in this verse; as their multitudes, both most copious, of which a nū ber certaine is named for a number infinit, verse 16. and in themselues by all meanes fully furnished to hide and to hurt, vers. 17. as being armed with fire, smoke & brimstone, as appeareth in the colour of their armour which dazeleth the eyes of all men: and haue the strength of Lyons to hurt withall, from which (as out of their mouth) the firie, smokie, and stinking darts of the Pope are shot out, vers. 18. The other point is, that these butcherers haue effected the commaundement of God by fraude and violence, in the two verses following.
16 I also saw horses in a vision, and them that sate on them, having fiery habergeons, and of Jacinth, and of brimstone; & the heads of the horses were as the heads of Lyons: & out of their mouths came forth fire and smoke and brimstone.
16 I also saw horses in a vision, and them that sate on them, hauing firie habbergions, and of Iacinth, and of brimstone; & the heads of the horses were as the heads of Lyōs: & out of their mouthes came forth fire and smoke and brimstone.
19 For their power is in their mouths, and in their tails: 14for their tails are like unto Serpents, having heads, wherewith they hurt.
19 For their power is in their mouthes, and in their tayles: 14for their tayles are like vnto Serpents, hauing heads, wherewith they hurt.
14That is, they are harmful every way: on what part soever thou put thine hand unto them, or they touch thee, they do hurt. So the former are called Scorpions, verse 3.That is, they are harmefull euery way: on what part soeuer thou put thine hand vnto them, or they touch thee, they do hurt. So the former are called Scorpions, verse 3.
