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. VII. (Book 7)

1 The Angels comming to hurt the earth, 3 are stayed vntill the Elect of the Lord, 5 of all tribes were sealed. 13 Such as suffred persecution for Christs sake, 16 haue great felicitie, 17 and ioy.

1 1 1.1 * 1.2 AFter that, I saw foure Angels standing vpon the a 1.3 foure corners of the earth, hol∣ding the foure winds of the earth, that no winde should blow vpon the earth, neither on the sea, 2 1.4 neither on any tree.

2 3 1.5 And I saw 4 1.6 another Angel come vp from the East, which had the seale of the liuing God; and he cried with a loud voyce to the foure An∣gels, to whom power was giuē to hurt the earth, and the sea, saying,

3 Hurt ye not the earth, neither the sea, nei∣ther the trees, till we haue sealed the seruants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them, which were sealed; and there were sealed 5 1.7 an hundreth

and foure and fortie thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Iuda, were sealed twelue thousand: Of the tribe of Ruben, were sealed twelue thousand: of the tribe of Gad, were sea∣led twelue thousand:

6 Of the tribe of Aser, were sealed twelue thousand: Of the tribe of Nephthali, were sea∣led twelue thousand: Of the tribe of Manasses, were sealed twelue thousand:

7 Of the tribe of Simeon, were sealed twelue thousand: 6 1.8 Of the tribe of b 1.9 Leui, were sealed twelue thousand: Of the tribe of Issachar, were sealed twelue thousand: of the tribe of Zabulon, were sealed twelue thousand:

8 Of the tribe of c 1.10 Ioseph, were sealed twelue thousand: Of the tribe of Beniamin, were sealed twelue thousand.

9 After these things I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, 7 1.11 which no man could number, of all nations and kinreds, and people, and tongues, and they 8 1.12 stood before the throne, and before the Lambe, clothed with long white robes; and palmes in their hands.

10 9 1.13 And they cryed with a loud voice, saying, Saluation commeth from our God, that sitteth vp∣on the throne, and from the Lambe.

11 And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and about the Elders, & the foure beasts; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen. Praise, and glorie, and wise∣dome,

and thankes, and honour, and power, and might, be vnto our God for euermore, Amen.

13 10 1.14 Then one of the Elders spake, saying vn∣to me; What are these which are arayed in long white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said vnto him, Lord, thou knowest. 11 1.15 And he said to me, These are they, which came out of great tribulation, and haue washed their long robes, and haue made them white in the blood of the Lambe.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serue him d 1.16 day and night in his Temple; and he that sitteth on the throne will e 1.17 ouer shadow them.

16 ‖ 1.18 They shal hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sunne light on them, neither any heate.

17 Because the Lamb, which is in the middes of the throne shall feede them, and shall lead thē vnto the liuely fountaines of water; and ‖ 1.19 God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  The 2. mēber of this part is a preuenting of dāger, as we di∣stinguished the same before ch. 6. 1. that is, of the cautiō whereby God took care before hand & {pro}uided for his; that after the example of the Israelites of old Exod. 8. 23. the faithfull might be exempted from the plagues of this wicked world. This whole place, is a certaine interloquution & bringing in, for this whose chap. by occasion of the prediction and argument of the sixt seale. For first that euill is preuented in the elect, vnto the 9. verse. Then thanks are giuen by the elect for that cause, ver 10. 11, 12. Lastly the accomplishment of the thing is set forth, vnto the end of the Chapter. The first verse is a transition, speaking of the Angels which keepe these inferiour parts from all euill, vntill God do command For (as it is excellently figured by Ezechiel cha. 1. 11. 12.) their fa∣ces and their wings are reached vpwards, continually wayting vpon and be∣holding the countenance of God for their direction, and euery of thē goeth into that part that is right before his face: whither soeuer the Spirit shall go, they go, they step not out of the way, that is, they depart not so much as a foot bredth from the path commanded them of God.
• * 1.2

  F. IVNIVS.
• a 1.3

  On the foure quarters or coasts of the earth.
• 2 1.4

  That is, neither into the aire, into which the tops of trees are aduāced.
• 3 1.5

  Now God pro∣uideth against the danger of his elect, by commandement, ver. 2. & 3. and by signe or figure, both for those of the nation of the Iewes, thence vnto the 8. vers. and also them of the Gentils vers. 9••.
• 4 1.6

  Not onely another, or differing in number from the cōmon Angels of God, but also in essence, office & ope∣ration excelling all Angels: that is Christ Iesus the eternall Angell or word of God, and mediator of the couenant. So hereafter Chap. 8. 3. and 10. 1. 5.
• 5 1.7

  That is, of the Iewes a number certaine in it selfe before God, & such as may be numbred of vs: for which cause also the same is here set downe as certain. But of the elect which are of the Gentiles the number in deed is in it selfe certaine with God, but of vs not possibly to be numbred, as God Gen. 15. 5. and often elsewhere, and Esay figured most excellently Chap. 49. and 60. This therfore is spoken with respect, when a certaine number is put for one vncertaine conferre this with verse 9.
• 6 1.8

  Here the tribe of Leui is reckoned vp in common with the rest, because all the Israelits were equally made priestes with them in Christ, by his priesthood. chap. 1. 6. and 5, 10. and Rom. 12 1. and 1. Pet. 2. 9. The name of Dan is not mē∣tioned, because the Danits long before forsa∣king the wor∣ship of God, were fallen a∣way from the fellowship of Gods people, vnto the part of the Gētiles. Which euil ma∣nie ages before Iacob foresaw, Gen. 49. 18. for which cause also there is no mention made of this tribe in the first booke of the Chronicles.
• b 1.9

  He skipped Dan, and recke∣neth Leui.
• c 1.10

  Of Ephraim, who was Iosephs other sonne, and had the byrth right giuen him, whereof he is called Ioseph.
• 7 1.11

  See before vpon the 4. verse.
• 8 1.12

  As Priests, kings, and glorious conquerours by martyrdome: which things are noted by their proper signes in this verse.
• 9 1.13

  The praise of God, celebrated first by the holy men, in this verse: then by the heauenly Angels, in the two ver∣ses following.
• 10 1.14

  A passage ouer vnto the expounding of the vision, of vvhich the An∣gel enquireth of S. Iohn, to stir him vp vvithall, in this verse: & Iohn in one forme of speech, both acknowledgeth his owne ignorance, attributing knowledge vnto the Angel, and also in most modest maner requesteth the expounding of the vision,
• 11 1.15

  The exposition of the vision, wherin the Angell telleth first the acts of the Saints, that is their sufferings, and worke of faith in Christ Iesus, in this ver. Secondly their glo∣rie, both present, which consisteth in two things, that they minister vnto God, and that God protecteth them, vers. 15: and to come, in their perfect deliuerance from all annoyances, vers. 16. and in participation of all good things, which euen the memorie of former euils shall neuer be able to dimi∣nish, vers. 17. The cause efficient, and which containeth all these things, is onely one, euen the Lambe of God, the Lord, the Mediator, and the Sauiour Christ Iesus.
• d 1.16

  He alludeth to the Leuites, which serued day and night, for else there is no night in heauen.
• e 1.17

  Or, vpon them: wherby is meant Gods defence & protection as it were towards thē, who are as safe, as men in the Lords tentes.
• ‖ 1.18

  Esay. 49. 10.
• ‖ 1.19

  Esay 25. 8. Chap. 21. 4.