them that hold the doctrine of Ba- 24 And to the rest who are at laam, who taught Balac, to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat and commit fornication 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. 16 In like manner do penance: or else 1 will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Thyatira: Whosoever have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of satan, as they say, I will not put upon you any other burthen. 25 Yet that, which you have, hold fast till I come. 26 And he that shall overcome and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations, 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessel of a potter they shall be broken, 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knoweth, morning-star. but he that receiveth it. 18 And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet are like to fine brass. 28 As I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. CHAP. III. Directions what to write to Sardis, &c. ND to 19 1 know thy works, and thy A the angel of the church faith, and thy charity, and thy mi- of Sardis write: These things nistry, and thy patience, and thy saith he, that hath the seven spilast works which are more than rits of God, and the seven stars: I the former. 20 But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sarificed to idols. not repent of her fornication. know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: and thou art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I find not thy works full before my God. 3 Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and 21 And I gave her a time that she might do penance, and she will heard: and observe, and do penance. If then thou shalt not watch; 1 will come to thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come to thee. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery with her, shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance from their deeds: 4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white, because they are 23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he, that searcheth worthy. the reins and hearts, and I will give 5 He that shall overcome, shall to every one of you according to thus be clothed in white garments, your works. But to you 1 say and 1 will not blot out his name Ver. 26. Power over the nations. See here how the saints deceased live with God, and have power given them over countries and nations. round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 1.4 And round about the throne CHAP. V. The book sealed with seven seals is opened by the Lamb. upon the seats, four and twenty A him that sat on the throne, a were four and twenty seats and AND I saw in the right hand of ancients sitting, clothed in white book written within and without, garments, and on their heads were sealed with seven seals. crowns of gold. 2 And I saw a strong angel pro 5 And from the throne proceed- claiming with a loud voice: Who ed lightnings and voices, and is worthy to open the book, and to thunders: and there were seven loose the seals thereof? lamps burning before the throne, 3 And no man was able, neither which are the seven spirits of God. in heaven, nor on earth, nor under 6 And in the sight of the throne was as it were a sea of glass like to chrystal: and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first living creature was like a lion and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the • fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. 5 And one of the ancients said to me: Weepnot; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I saw and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it 8 And the four living creatures, had each of them six wings and were slain, having seven horns and are seven eyes: which are the seven round about and within thin they full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. 9 And when those living creatures gave glory and honour and benediction to him, that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever: 10 The four and twenty ancients fell down before hins that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying. Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came, and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, naving every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints: 9 And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord our seals thereof: because thou wast God, to receive glory, and honour, slain, and hast redeemed us to God, and power: because thou hast in thy blood, out of every tribe, and created all things, and for thy will tongue, and people, and nation. they were, and have been created. 10 And hast made us to our God Ver.8. The prayers of saints. Here we see that the saints in heaven offer up to Christ the prayers of the faithful upon earth. a kingdom and priests, and we shall horse that was red: and to him that reign on the earth.** sat thereon, it was given that he 11 And I beheld, and I heard should take peace from the earth the voice of many angels round and that they should kill one anoabout the throne, and the living ther, and a great sword was given creatures and the ancients: and to him. the number of them was thousands 5 And when he had opened the of thousands.. 12 Saying, with a loud voice: The Lamb, that was slain, is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction, 13 And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction and honour and glory and power for ever and ever. 14 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces: and adored him that liveth for ever and ever. CHAP. VI. What followed upon the opening six of the seals. A ND I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of thunder, saying: Come, and see. 2 And I saw: and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a a bow, and there was a crown given him, and he went forth conquering that he might conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature, saying: Come, and third seal, I heard the third living creature, saying: Come, and see. And behold a black horse, and he that sat on him, had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying: Two pounds of wheat for a penny, and thrice two pounds of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the wine and the oil. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying: Come, and see. 8 And behold a pale horse and he that sat upon him, his name was death, and hell followed him. And power was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord, (holy and true) dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? 11 And white robes were given to every one of them one: and it was said to them, that they should rest for a little time, till their felloware to be slain, even as they, should four thousand were signed, of every be filled up. see. 4 And there went out another servants, and their brethren who Ver. 2. White horse. He that sitteth on the white horse is Christ, going forth to subdue the world by his gospel. The other horses that follow represent the judgments and punishments that were to fall on the enemies of Christ and his church: the red horse signifies wars: the black horse famine; and the pale horse (which has death for its rider) plagues or pestilence. Ver. 9. Under the altar. Christ, as man, is this altar, under which the souls of the martyrs live in heaven: as their bodies are here deposited under our altars. Ver. 10. Revenge our blood. They ask not this out of hatred to their enemies, but out of zeal for the glory of God: and desire that the Lord would accelerate the general judgment, and the complete beatitude of all his elect. tribe of the children of Israel. 12 And I saw, when he had 5 Of the tribe of Juda, were opened the sixth seal, and behold, twelve thousand signed. Of the there was a great earthquake, and tribe of Ruben, twelve thousand the sun became black as sackcloth signed. Of the tribe of Gad, twelve of hair: and the whole moon became thousand signed.. as blood: 13 And the stars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig-tree casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind : 14 And the heaven departed as a book folded up and every mountain, and the islands were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and tribunes and the rich, and the strong, and, every bond-man, and every free-man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of mountains. 16 And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb: 17 For the great day of their wrath is come and who shall be able to stand? CHAP. VII. The number of them that were marked with the seal of the living God. saw four AFTER these things 1 Angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that they should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads. 6 Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Nepthali, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Manasses, twelve thousand signed. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousond signed. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand signed. 9 After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues: standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. 11 And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the four living creatures : and they fell down before the throne upon their faces, and adored God, 12 Saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the ancients answered, and said to me: These that are clothed in white robes, who are they? and whence came they? 14 And I said to him: My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who are come out of 4 And I heard the number of them great tribulation, and have washed hat were signed, an hundred forty-their robes, and have made them |