1

wilderness where she had a place rished for a time and times, and half prepared by God, that there they a time, from the face of the serpent. should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days.

7. And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels:

8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and satan; who seduceth the whole world: and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of: his Christ; because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death..

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Wo to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

15 And the serpent cast but of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth..

17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of JESUS Christ.

18 And he stood upon the sand of the sea.

CHAP. XIII.
Of the beast with seven heads.
AND I saw a beast coming up

out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.✨

2 And the beast, which I saw, was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength and great power.

8 And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he per-beast. s uli

secuted the woman, who brought 4 And they adored the dragon, forth the man-child :

14 And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nou

which gave power to the beast: and they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? and who shall be able to fight with him?

5 And there was given to him à

Ver. 1. A beast. This first beast, with seven heads and ten horns, is probably the whole company of infidels, enemies, and persecutors of the people of God from the beginning to the end of the world. The seven heads are seven kings, that is, seven principal kingdoms or empires; which have exercised, or shall exercise tyrannical power over the people of God of these five were then fallen, viz. the Egyptian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Persian, and Grecian monarchies: one was present, viz. the empire of Rome; and the seventh and chiefest was to come, viz. the great Antichrist and his empire. The ten horns may be understood of ten lesser persecutors.

Ver. 3. One of his heads, &c. Some understand this of the mortal wound which the idolatry of the Roman empire (signified by the sixth head) received from. Constantine: which was as it were healed again by Julian the apostate

[mouth speakings great things, and 15 And it was given him to give blasphemies and power was given life to the image of the beast, and eto him to do two and forty months. that the image of the beast should 6 And he opened his mouth unto speak: and should cause, that who3 blasphemies against: God, to blas-soever will not adore the image of pheme his name, and his tabernacle, the beast, should be slain. and them that dwell in heaven. 316 And he shall make all, both yo 7 And it was given unto him to little and great, rich and poor, freemake war with the saints, and to men and bondmen, to have a chaovercome them. And power was racter in their right hand, or on given him over every tribe, and their foreheads. people, and tongue, and nation. of 8 And all that dwell upon the earth, adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, which was slain from the beginning of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

17 And that no man might buy orsell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the

10 He that shall lead into cap-number of him is six hundred sixtivity, shall go into captivity: he ty-six. that shall kill by the sword, must

CHAP. XIV.

be killed by the sword. Here is the Of the Lamb and of the virgins that patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I saw another beast

coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight: and he caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed.

18 And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs, which were given him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and lived.

follow him.

beheld, and lo a Lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand having his name, and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder: and the voice, which I heard, was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.

3 And they sung as it were a new canticle before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.

4 These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb

Ver. 8. Slain from the beginning. In the fore-knowledge of God; and inasmuch as mercy and grace, from the beginning, was given in view of his death and passion.. Ver. 11. Another beast. This second beast with two horns may be understood of the heathenish priests and magicians; the principal promoters both of idolatry and persecution Ver. 18. Six hundred sixty-six. The numeral letters of his name shall make up this number.

Awhithersoever he goeth. These ven, saying to me: Write: Blesswere purchased from among men, ed are the dead who die in the the first-fruits to God and to the Lord. From henceforth now, saith Lamb': the Spirit, that they may rest from 5 And in their mouth there was their labours: for their works folfound no lie for they are without low them.home spot before the throne of God: -14 And I saw, and behold a

6. And I saw another angel fly-white cloud: and upon the cloud ing through the midst of heaven, one sitting like to the Son of man, having the eternal gospel, to preach having on his head a crown of gold, unto them that sit upon the earth, and in his hand a sharp sickle. and over every nation, and tribe, 15 And another angel came out and tongue, and people: from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud: Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, because the hour is come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. lipca 1956

7 Saying with a loud voice: Fear the Lord, and give him honour, because the hour of his judgment is come: and adore ye him, that made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of waters.

16 And he that sat on the cloud, thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire: and he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth: because the grapes thereof are ripe.

8 And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen: which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 19 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character in his forehead, or in his hand; 10 He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath, and shall be torment- 19 And the angel thrust in his ed with fire and brimstone in the sharp sickle into the earth, and gasight of the holy angels and in the thered the vineyard of the earth, sight of the Lamb. dead band cast it into the great press of 11 And the smoke of their tor- the wrath of God : nag Fine stand ments shall ascend up for ever and 20 And the press was trodden ever neither have they rest day without the city, and blood camo nor night, who have adored the out of the press, up to to the horses' beast, and his image, and whoso-bridles, for a thousand and six ever receiveth the character of his hundred furlongs.

name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of JESUS.

CHAP. XV.

They that have overcome the beast glorify God.

113 And I heard a voice from hea-ven

to a ND I saw another sign in hea ven great and wonderful: seangels having the seven last

Ver. 8. Babylon. It is probable that here, by the great Babylon, is meant the sity of the devil, that is, the universal society of the wicked; as Jerusalem is taken for the city and church of God.

Ver. 18. Die in the Lord. It is understood of the martyrs, who die for the Lord.

plagues. For in them is filled up of the beast and upon them that the wrath of God, showin adored the image thereof 197 2 And I saw as it were a sea of 3 And the second angel poured glass mingled with fire, and them out his vial upon the sea, and there that had overcome the beast and came blood as it were of a dead his image and the number of his man and every living soul died name, standing on the sea of glass, in the sea. having the harps of God

.

4 And the third poured out his 3 And singing the canticle of Mo-vial upon the rivers and the founses the servant of God, and the tains of waters and there was canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great made blood. and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways, O king of ages.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and

5 And I heard the angel of the waters, saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art, and who wast, the holy one, because thou hast judg

thou only arty thy name? For ed these things:

holy for all nations shall come, and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.

5 And after these things I look+ ed, and behold the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen, and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.

7 And one of the four living creatures, gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God who liveth for ever and

ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God, and from his power and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

CHAP. XVI.

The seven vials Is are poured out. A of the temple saying to the seven angels: Go, and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

ND I heard a great voice out

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7 And I heard another, from the altar saying: Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire:

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who hath power over these plagues, neither did they penance to give him glory,kde

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast: and his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain: 11 And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds, and did not penance from their works.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates: and dried up the water

thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.

13 And I saw from the mouth of 2 And the first went, and poured the dragon, and from the mouth of out his vial upon the earth, and the beast, and from the mouth of there fell a sore and grievous wound the false prophet, three unclean upon men, who had the character spirits like frogs

11 For they are the spirits of de-demnation of the great härlot, who working signs, and they go forth sitteth upon many waters, Vato the kings of the whole earth to

2 With whom the kings of the

gather them to battle against the earth have committed fornication": great day of 13 Behold, I come thief. have been made drunk with the Almighty God. and they who inhabit the earth, Blessed is he that watcheth, and wine of her whoredom. keepeth his garments, lest he walk 8 And he took me away în spirit naked, and they see his shame.⠀ into the desert. And I saw a woman 16 And he shall gather them to-sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, gether into a place, which in He-full of names of blasphemy, having brew is called Armagedon. seven heads and ten horns.

17 And the seventh angel poured 4 And the woman was clothed out his vial upon the air, and there round about with purple and scarcame a great voice out of the temple let, and, gilt with gold, and prefrom the throne, saying: It is done. cious stones and pearls, having a 18 And there were lightnings, golden cup in her hand, full of the and voices, and thunders, and there abomination and filthiness of her was a great earthquake, such an one fornication. as never had been since men were 5 And on her forehead a name was upon the earth, such an earthquake, written: A mystery: Babylon the so great. great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.

19 And the great city was dividid into three parts: and the cities of the gentiles fell. And great BabyTon came in remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 421 And great hail like a talent came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God for the plague of the hail; because it was exceeding great.

CHAP. XVII.

6 And 1 saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of JESUS. And I wondered, when I had seen her, with great admiration.

7 And the angel said to me: Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and ot the beast which carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast, which thou sawest, was and is not, and shall come up The description of the great harlot. out of the bottomless pit, and go ND there came one of the se-into destruction and the inhabiA ven angels who had the seven tants on the earth (whose names

vials, and spoke with me, saying are not written in the book of life -Come, I will shew thee the con- from the foundation of the world)

Ver. 5, A mystery. That is, a secret, because what follows of the name and title of the great harlot is to be taken in a mystical sense

Ver. 5. Babylon. Either the city of the devil in general, or, if this place be to be under stood of any particular city, pagan Rome, which then, and for 300 years, persecuted the church; and was the principal seat both of empire and idolatry.

Ver. 8. The beast which thou sawest. This beast which supports Babylon, may signify the power of the devil which was and is not, being much abridged by the coming of Christ, but shall again exert itself under Antichrist, The seven heads of this beast are seven mountains or empires, instruments of his tyranny; of which five were then fallen, as above: Ch. xiii. 5. 1. The beast itself is said to be the eighth, and of the seven; because they all ac under the devil, and by his instigation, so that his power is in them all, yet so as to make up, as it were, an eighth empire, distinct from them all