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.

CHAP. V. (Book 5)

1 The booke sealed with seuen seales. 3 which none could open, 6 that Lambe of God 9 is thought worthie to open, 12 euen by the consent of all the companie of hea∣uen.

1 1 1.1 * 1.2 ANd I saw at the 2 1.3 right hād of him that sate vpon the throne, 3 1.4 a booke written with∣in, and on the backside, sealed with seuen seales.

2 And I sawe a mightie Angell, which procla∣med with a loud voyce; Who is worthie to open the booke, and to loose the seales thereof?

3 4 1.5 But none in heauen, nor on earth, neither vnder the earth, was able to open the booke, nei∣ther to looke therein.

4 I therefore wept much, because no man was founde worthie to open, and to read the booke, neither to looke thereon.

5 5 1.6 Then one of the Elders said vnto me, Weepe not: behold, that ‖ 1.7 6 1.8 Lion which is of the tribe of Iuda, that roote of Dauid, hath gotten the victorie, that he might open the booke and loose the seuen seales thereof.

6 I looked therefore, and loe, 7 1.9 betweene the throne, and the foure beasts, and in the midds of the Elders, stood a Lambe as though he had bene killed, which had seuen hornes, and seuen eyes, which are those seuen spirits of God, sent our into all the world.

7 8 1.10 He came, and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne.

8 9 1.11 And when he had taken the booke, the foure beasts and the foure and twentie Elders fell downe before the Lambe, hauing euerie one 10 1.12 harpes and golden vials full of odours, which are the a 1.13 prayers of the Saints:

9 And they sung a b 1.14 new 11 1.15 song, saying, 12 1.16 Thou art worthy to take the booke, and to o∣pen the seales thereof; because thou wast killed, & hast redeemed vs to God, by thy bloud, out of euery kinred, and tongue, & people, and nation.

10 And hast made vs vnto our God ‖ 1.17 kings & priests, and we shall raigne ouer the earth.

11 13 1.18 Then I beheld, and I heard the voyce of many Angels round about the throne, and about the beasts and the Elders, 14 1.19 and their number was ‖ 1.20 c 1.21 ten thousand times ten thousand, and a thousand thousands:

12 Saying with a loud voyce, Woorthy is the Lambe that was killed, to d 1.22 receiue power, and riches, and wisedome, and strength, and honour, and glorie, and praise:

13 15 1.23 Also all the creatures which are in hea∣uen, and on the earth, and vnder the earth, and in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, say∣ing: Vnto him, that sitteth vpon the throne, and vnto the Lambe be praise, and honour, and glory, and power, for euermore.

14 16 1.24 And the foure beasts said, Amen; & the foure & twenty Elders fell downe (vpon their fa∣ces) & worshipped him that liueth for euermore.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  A passage vn∣to the second principal cause, which is the sonne of God, God and man, the mediatour of all, as the e∣ternall word of God the Fa∣ther, manife∣sted in the flesh. This chapter hath two parts: one that pre∣pareth the way vnto the Reue∣lation by re∣hearsall of the occasions that did occurre, in the first foure verses. Another, the historie of the Reuelatiō of Christ, thence vnto the end of the chapter.
• * 1.2

  F. IVNIVS.
• 2 1.3

  That is, in the very right hand of God.
• 3 1.4

  Here are shewed the occasions for which this principall cause, and his Reuelation was also necessarie: the same are three: the first a present vision of the booke of the counsels of God, concerning the gouernment of this whole world, which booke is said to be laid vp with the Father as it were in his hand: but shut and vnknowen vnto all creatures, in this verse. The second is a religious desire of the Angels of God, to vnderstand the mysteries of this booke, vers. 2. whereof see 1. Pet. 1. 12. The third is a lamentation of S. Iohn & all the godly moued by the same desire, vers 4. when they saw that it was a thing vnpossible for any creature to effect: which is declared in the third verse.
• 4 1.5

  Thus, neither of them that are in heauen, nor of them which are in the earth, &c. And this I like better. Now this enumeration of partes is suf∣ficient to the denying of the whole. For of the creatures, one sort is in hea∣uē, aboue the earth; another in the earth; and another vnder the earth, in the sea, as is after declared, verse 13.
• 5 1.6

  The second part of this chapter, in which is set down the Reuelatiō of the Sonne; as before was said. This part contei∣neth first an historie of the manner how God prepared S. Iohn to vnderstand this Reuelation, in this verse. Secondly, the Reuelation of the Sonne him∣selfe, vnto the seuenth verse. Thirdly, the accidents of this Reuelation, in the rest of the Chapter. The manner how is here described in two sortes, one frō without him, by speech in this verse. Another within, by opening the eyes of S. Iohn (which before were held) that he might see, in the verse following.
• ‖ 1.7

  Gene. 49. 9.
• 6 1.8

  That is, The most mightie and most approued Prince: according to the vse of the Hebrew speech.
• 7 1.9

  The summe of the reuelati∣on. Christ the mediatour ta∣keth and open∣eth the booke, vers. 6. 7. There∣fore in this re∣uelation is de∣scribed the per∣son of Christ; in this verse. His fact, in the next verse. The per∣son is thus de∣scribed. Christ the mediatour betweene God, Angels, & men, as the eternall word of God; & our redeemer: as the Lambe of God, standing as slaine, and making inter∣cession for vs by the vertue and merite of his euerlasting sacrifice, is armed with the Spirit of God in his owne person, that is, with the power & wisdome of God esientially vnto the gouernment of this whole world.
• 8 1.10

  The fact of Christ the mediatour, that he commeth vnto the throne of the Father, of which chap 4. and taketh the booke out of his hand to open it. For that he opened it, it is first expressed chap. 6. 1. &c.
• 9 1.11

  Now follow in the end the accidents of the reuelation last spoken of: that all the holy Angels and men did sing vnto him: both the chiefe, verse 9. 10. and common order of Angels, verse 11. 12. & of all things created, verse 13. the princes of both sorts agree∣ing therunto, verse 14.
• 10 1.12

  The symbols or signes of praise, sweet in sauour, and acceptable vnto God. See chap. 8. 3.
• a 1.13

  Looke cha. 8. 3.
• b 1.14

  No common song.
• 11 1.15

  That is, composed according to the present matter: the Lambe hauing receiued the booke, as it were with his feete, and opened it with his hornes; as is said in the Canticle.
• 12 1.16

  The song of the Nobles or Princes standing by the throne, consisting of a publication of the praise of Christ, and a confirmation of the same, from his benefites, both which we haue receiued of himselfe (as are the suffering of his death, our redemption vpon the crosse by his bloud, in this verse: and our communion with him in Kingdome and Priesthood, which long ago he hath granted vnto vs with himselfe) and which we hereafter hope to ob∣taine; as our kingdome to come, in Christ; in the verse following.
• ‖ 1.17

  Chap. 1. 6. 1 Pet 2. 9.
• 13 1.18

  The consent of the common order of Angels answering in melodie vnto their princes that stood by the throne.
• 14 1.19

  A number finit, but almost infinit, for one infinit in deed, as Dan. 7 10.
• ‖ 1.20

  Dan. 7. 10.
• c 1.21

  By this is ment a great number.
• d 1.22

  To haue all praise giuen to him as to the mightiest and wisest, &c.
• 15 1.23

  The consent of all the cōmō multitud of the creatures.
• 16 1.24

  A confirmation of the praise before going, from the contesta∣tion of the Nobles, expressed in word & signes, as once or twise before this.