Works › Commentary on the Apocalypse of Blessed John
Volume 38 · pp. 614–616
Chapter IX: the pit, smoke, locusts, and their power
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Glossa: « Haereses quae latebant in cordibus eorum, proferre fecit. » Haymo: « Ipse hoc facit: quia eo instigante fit. »
« Et ascendit fumus putei. » Hic est quartum ubi dicitur quis fuit effectus apertionis.
Et ostenditur triplex. Primus est tenebrosae doctrinae productio. Secundus, obscuratio, ibi, « Et obscuratus est sol. » Tertius, Praedicatorum Antichristi multitudo, ibi, V. 3: « Et de fumo putei. »
Item, in prima dicuntur duo. Primo, ostenditur pravae doctrinae productio. Secundo, illius doctrinae ad doctrinam Antichristi assimilatio, ibi, « Sicut fumus fornacis. »
Dicit ergo ita: « Et aperuit puteum abyssi, » et puteo aperto, « ascendit fumus putei, » id est, doctrina prava, et tenebrosa, carens lumine veritatis, et nocens appropinquantium oculis.
« Ascendit, » scilicet, per manifestationem. Item, in mentem per superbiae praesumptionem. Isti sunt nares diaboli per quos fumum malae doctrinae emittit. Job XLI, 11: De naribus ejus procedit fumus, etc. Item, fumus est fama mala. De quo, Isa. XIV, 31: Ab Aquilone fumus veniet.
« Sicut fumus fornacis magnae, » id est, sicut doctrina perversa Antichristi, procedens ex novissima persecutione, quae dicitur fornax, quia bonos probabit. Eccli. XXVII, 6: Vasa figuli probat fornax, et homines justos tentatio tribulationis: malos autem devorabit. Exemplum de fornace Babylonis, quae Chaldaeos interfecit 1.
Hic quaeritur, Cum Dominus dicat, Matth. XXIV, 21, quod tunc erit tribulatio tanta, qualis non fuit ab initio, quomodo dicitur fumus putei similis fumo fornacis, id est, quomodo dicitur doctrina haereticorum similis doctrinae Antichristi?
Responsio Haymonis: Sciendum, quod illa persecutio et falsa doctrina Antichristi et caeterorum similis ex parte erit, et ex parte dissimilis. Similis erit in persecutione Sanctorum, et in mendacii errore: dissimilis vero in hoc, quod tunc miracula facient falsi Doctores, quod isti facere non possunt. Ideoque immanior erit, quia per utraque decipiet. Matth. XXIV, 24: Tunc surgent pseudochristi et pseudoprophetae, etc.
« Et obscuratus est sol et aer de fumo putei. »
Hic ponitur secundus effectus doctrinae haereticorum, qui est obscuratio verae doctrinae, sive Ecclesiae. Unde ait: « Et obscuratus est sol, » id est, majores alios illuminantes ad cognitionem veri, et inflammantes ad amorem boni, « Et aer, » id est, minores qui illuminantur ab aliis. Tales obscurabuntur, quia doctrina vera non reputabitur: quia multi de illis ad doctrinam malorum pervertentur.
« De fumo putei, » de caligine perversi dogmatis. Unde, Isa. V, 30: Adspiciemus in terram, et ecce tenebrae tribulationis, et lux obtenebrata est in caligine ejus.
3. « Et de fumo putei exierunt locustae in terram. »
Hic est tertius effectus. Et dicitur, quod ex prava doctrina haereticorum nascetur Praedicatorum et discipulorum Antichristi multitudo.
Unde dicit: « Et de fumo putei, » de tenebrosa haereticorum doctrina, « exierunt locustae in terram, » id est, discipuli erroris nati sunt in mundo: quia terrena corda hominum decipient.
Nota: Comparantur discipuli haereticorum et Antichristi locustis: quia, sicut Haymo dicit, locustae rectos gressus non habent ut animalia quaedam, nec volant ut aves. Sic haeretici fidem rectam non habent ad volandum in caelum, nec rectos gressus ad bene operandum. Item, locustae dant saltus, et virentia corrodunt. Sic haeretici per jactantiam elevantur, et animas quae virorem fidei habent, occidunt quando possunt. Et bene dicuntur tales exire de fumo putei. Nam fumus dum alta petit, in seipso deficit. Sic haeretici dum per superbiam elevantur, deficiunt et annihilantur. Psal. LXXII, 18: Dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.
The Gloss says: “He caused the heresies that were hidden in their hearts to be brought forth.” Haymo says: “He himself does this, because it is done at his instigation.”
“And the smoke of the pit ascended.” This is the fourth point, where it is said what the effect of the opening was.
And it is shown to be threefold. The first is the bringing forth of darksome doctrine. The second is darkening, there, “And the sun was darkened.” The third is the multitude of the Preachers of Antichrist, there, V. 3: “And from the smoke of the pit.”
Likewise, in the first, two things are said. First, the bringing forth of depraved doctrine is shown. Second, the assimilation of that doctrine to the doctrine of Antichrist, there, “Like the smoke of a furnace.”
Therefore he says thus: “And he opened the pit of the abyss,” and, when the pit was opened, “the smoke of the pit ascended,” that is, depraved and darksome doctrine, lacking the light of truth and harming the eyes of those drawing near.
“It ascended,” namely through manifestation. Likewise, into the mind through the presumption of pride. These are the nostrils of the devil, through which he emits the smoke of evil doctrine. Job XLI, 11: From his nostrils smoke proceeds, etc. Likewise, smoke is an evil reputation. Concerning this, Isaiah XIV, 31: Smoke will come from the North.
“Like the smoke of a great furnace,” that is, like the perverse doctrine of Antichrist, proceeding from the final persecution, which is called a furnace, because it will prove the good. Ecclesiasticus XXVII, 6: The furnace proves the vessels of the potter, and the trial of tribulation proves just human beings; but it will devour the evil. An example is from the furnace of Babylon, which killed the Chaldaeans 1.
Here it is asked: Since the Lord says, Matthew XXIV, 21, that then there will be so great a tribulation as has not been from the beginning, how is the smoke of the pit said to be like the smoke of the furnace, that is, how is the doctrine of heretics said to be like the doctrine of Antichrist?
The response of Haymo: It must be known that that persecution and false doctrine of Antichrist and of the others will be alike in part and unlike in part. It will be alike in the persecution of the Saints and in the error of falsehood; but unlike in this, that then false Doctors will do miracles, which these cannot do. And therefore it will be more monstrous, because he will deceive through both. Matthew XXIV, 24: Then pseudo-Christs and pseudo-prophets will arise, etc.
“And the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.”
Here is set down the second effect of the doctrine of heretics, which is the darkening of true doctrine, or of the Church. Hence he says: “And the sun was darkened,” that is, the greater persons who illuminate others to the knowledge of truth and inflame them to the love of the good; “and the air,” that is, the lesser persons who are illuminated by others. Such persons will be darkened, because true doctrine will not be esteemed, because many from among them will be perverted to the doctrine of the evil.
“By the smoke of the pit,” by the darkness of perverse dogma. Hence, Isaiah V, 30: We will look upon the earth, and behold the darknesses of tribulation, and the light has been darkened in its darkness.
3. “And from the smoke of the pit locusts went forth upon the earth.”
This is the third effect. And it is said that from the depraved doctrine of heretics there will be born a multitude of the Preachers and disciples of Antichrist.
Hence he says: “And from the smoke of the pit,” from the darksome doctrine of heretics, “locusts went forth upon the earth,” that is, disciples of error were born in the world, because they will deceive the earthly hearts of human beings.
Note: The disciples of heretics and of Antichrist are compared to locusts, because, as Haymo says, locusts do not have straight steps like certain animals, nor do they fly like birds. So heretics do not have the right faith for flying into heaven, nor straight steps for operating well. Likewise, locusts make leaps and gnaw green things. So heretics are lifted up by boasting and, when they can, kill souls that have the greenness of faith. And such persons are rightly said to go forth from the smoke of the pit. For smoke, while it seeks high places, fails in itself. So heretics, while they are lifted up through pride, fail and are brought to nothing. Psalm LXXII, 18: You cast them down while they were being lifted up.
« Et data est illis potestas, sicut habent potestatem scorpiones terrae. »
Supra actum est de haereticorum generatione, hic agitur de concessa sibi potestate.
Et dicuntur hic tria. Primo ponitur potestatis collatio, secundo ejusdem potestatis refraenatio, ibi, V. 4: « Et praeceptum est illis. » Tertio, ostenditur quanta sit refraenatio, et quanta sit ejus exsecutio, ibi, V. 5: « Et dictum est illis. »
Dicit ergo: « Et data est illis, » id est, haereticis praecursoribus Antichristi, « data, » permissione Dei, « potestas, » scilicet, nocendi, saeviendi, decipiendi, « sicut habent potestatem scorpiones terrae. »
Nota: Potestas nocendi in scorpione est in cauda, per quam percutit, et venena diffundit. Similiter diabolus per haereticos venenum suae malitiae diffundit, sicut per caudam suam. Isa. IX, 13: Propheta docens mendacium, ipse est cauda, scilicet diaboli. Item, similes sunt scorpionibus: quia scorpio blanditur in facie, sed occulte cauda percutit. Sic haeretici falsa veris miscent, et vera falsis, ut auditores facilius occulte decipiant, et sic veneno malae doctrinae interficiant. Psal. XIII, 3: Venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum. Vel, quia per temporalia decipiunt, quae dependent post, sicut cauda. Item, punctura scorpionis primo non sentitur, sed postea punctus occiditur. Sic decepti ab istis primo non sentiunt deceptionem, sed tandem perimuntur. Ezechiel. II, 6: Increduli et subversores sunt tecum, et cum scorpionibus habitas.
4. « Et praeceptum est illis ne laederent faenum terrae, neque omne viride, neque omnem arborem, nisi tantum homines qui non habent signum Dei in frontibus suis. »
Hic ponitur refraenatio potestatis eorum.
Et dicuntur duo. Primo, prohibentur ne laedant beatos. Secundo, permittitur ut laedant malos, ibi, « Nisi tantum homines. »
Prohibentur autem a laesione hominum, primo incipientium, ibi, « Faenum terrae: » secundo, proficientium, ibi, « Neque omne viride: » tertio, perfectorum, ibi, « Neque omnem arborem. »
Dicit ergo: « Et praeceptum est illis, » id est, cohibiti sunt potestate divina, « ne laederent faenum terrae, » id est, incipientes, et faciles decipi in fide, « neque omne viride, » id est, proficientes, « neque omnem arborem, » id est, perfectos qui inter ventos tentationum stabiles sunt. Psal. XCI, 14: Plantati in domo Domini, in atriis domus Dei nostri florebunt.
Hic quaeritur, Quare non dicit, ne laederent omne faenum, sicut dicit: Omne viride, et omnem arborem?
Responsio. Per faenum signantur incipientes, qui de facili cadunt, et cito laeduntur: aliqui tamen stant, et perseverant. Per viride signantur proficientes: per arborem perfecti, qui non laeduntur tali percussione, sed magis proficiunt. Ideo dicit: Neque omne viride, neque omnem arborem. Incipientes vero aliquando laeduntur, et cadunt: et ideo cum dicitur: Ne laederent faenum, non dicit, omne faenum. Vel sic, ut per tria praedicta tria genera salvandorum intelligantur, qui signantur per Noe, Daniel, et Job 2, hoc est, Praelati, continentes, et conjugati. Per faenum terrae conjugati, qui terrae adhaerent, et signantur per Job. Per omne viride continentes, qui virorem corporis servant, qui signantur per Danielem. Per arborem signantur Praelati, quorum rami refrigerium praestant aliis, qui signantur per Noe.
“And power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Above there has been treatment of the generation of heretics; here there is treatment of the power granted to them.
And three things are said here. First, the conferral of power is set down; second, the restraint of the same power, there, V. 4: “And it was commanded them.” Third, it is shown how great the restraint is and how great its execution is, there, V. 5: “And it was said to them.”
Therefore he says: “And it was given to them,” that is, to the heretics, the forerunners of Antichrist, “given” by God’s permission, “power,” namely of harming, raging, deceiving, “as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Note: The power of harming in the scorpion is in the tail, by which it strikes and diffuses poisons. Similarly, the devil diffuses the poison of his malice through heretics as through his tail. Isaiah IX, 13: The prophet teaching falsehood, he is the tail, namely of the devil. Likewise, they are like scorpions because the scorpion flatters with its face but secretly strikes with its tail. So heretics mix false things with true and true things with false, so that they may more easily deceive hearers secretly and thus kill them with the poison of evil doctrine. Psalm XIII, 3: The poison of asps is under their lips. Or, because they deceive through temporal things, which hang behind, like a tail. Likewise, the sting of a scorpion is not felt at first, but afterward the one stung is killed. So those deceived by these people do not at first feel the deception, but at last they are destroyed. Ezekiel II, 6: The unbelieving and subverters are with you, and you dwell with scorpions.
4. “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the hay of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only those human beings who do not have the sign of God on their foreheads.”
Here the restraint of their power is set down.
And two things are said. First, they are forbidden to harm the blessed. Second, they are permitted to harm the evil, there, “but only the human beings.”
They are forbidden from harming human beings, first beginners, there, “the hay of the earth”; second, those making progress, there, “nor any green thing”; third, the perfect, there, “nor any tree.”
Therefore he says: “And it was commanded them,” that is, they were restrained by divine power, “that they should not hurt the hay of the earth,” that is, beginners and those easy to deceive in faith; “nor any green thing,” that is, those making progress; “nor any tree,” that is, the perfect, who are stable among the winds of temptations. Psalm XCI, 14: Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
Here it is asked: Why does he not say that they should not hurt all hay, as he says, every green thing and every tree?
Response. By hay beginners are signified, who easily fall and are quickly harmed; yet some stand and persevere. By the green thing those making progress are signified; by the tree the perfect, who are not harmed by such a blow, but rather make progress. Therefore he says, “nor any green thing, nor any tree.” But beginners are sometimes harmed and fall; and therefore when it is said, “that they should not hurt hay,” he does not say all hay. Or thus: by the three things said above are understood the three kinds of those to be saved, who are signified by Noah, Daniel, and Job 2, that is, Prelates, continent persons, and married persons. By the hay of the earth, married persons, who cling to the earth and are signified by Job. By every green thing, continent persons, who preserve the greenness of the body and are signified by Daniel. By the tree are signified Prelates, whose branches provide refreshment to others and who are signified by Noah.
Est ergo sensus: « Et praeceptum est illis, » scilicet, a Deo, eorum potestatem limitante, « ne laederent faenum terrae, » id est, conjugatos in anima, licet corpus affligant, et temporalia auferant. Job II, 6: Ecce in manu tua est, etc.
« Neque omne viride, » id est, continentes pudicitia nitentes sive virentes, « neque omnem arborem, » id est, Praelatos foliis verborum alios sanantes, et fructibus operum satiantes, et umbra exemplorum vel consolationum alios recreantes.
« Nisi tantum homines, » scilicet, carnales dictos ab humo. I ad Corinth. III, 3: Nonne carnales estis, et secundum hominem ambulatis?
« Qui non habent signum Dei vivi in frontibus suis, » id est, signum crucis, fidei, passionis. « In frontibus suis, » scilicet, interiori, et exteriori: ut fidem habeant in corde, et eam confiteantur in ore. Ad Roman. X, 10: Corde creditur ad justitiam, etc. Ezechiel. IX, 6: Super quem videritis thau ne occidatis, scilicet eum.
Nota: Thau est ultima littera alphabeti Hebraeorum, et interpretatur confirmatio, et signat finalem perseverantiam in poenitentia et confessione nominis Christi, quae confirmat hominem. Unde et hoc signo liberantur omnes qui habent illud. Et est sensus, ac si dicatur: Illi qui erubescunt agere poenitentiam, et confiteri Christi nomen, laedentur ab istis Pseudopraedicatoribus, et aliis praecursoribus Antichristi.
5. « Et datum est illis ne occiderent eos, sed ut cruciarent mensibus quinque: et cruciatus eorum, ut cruciatus scorpii cum percutit hominem. »
Hic est secundum, ubi dicitur quantum se extendit potestas istorum respectu bonorum, et quomodo intelligitur refraenari potestas eorum.
Et dicuntur quatuor. Primo, prohibetur ne occidant bonos. Secundo, permittitur ut in praesenti affligant eos, ibi, « Sed ut cruciarent eos. » Tertio, dicitur quis sit cruciatus eorum, ibi, « Et cruciatus eorum. » Quarto, quod tantus erit quod homines desiderabunt mortem in diebus illis, ibi, V. 6: « Et in diebus illis, etc. »
Dicit ergo: « Et datum est illis, » id est, divina providentia ordinatum, « ne occiderent, » scilicet, spiritualiter in anima, quamvis permittantur in corpore occidi, « eos, » scilicet, qui sunt faenum, et viride, etc.: « sed ut cruciarent mensibus quinque, » hoc est, quamdiu vivunt in hac vita, quae quinque sensibus corporis regitur. Vel, « Mensibus quinque, » id est, toto tempore praesenti quod in hoc intelligitur, propter quinque aetates hujus vitae quae sunt infantia, pueritia, adolescentia, juventus, senectus. Et secundum aliam litteram: « Mensibus sex, » id est, sex aetatibus saeculi quibus permissione Dei tribulantur electi, ut in septima requiescant. Job V, 19: In sex tribulationibus liberabit te, et in septima non tanget te malum.
« Et cruciatus eorum, » id est, ab eis illatus, « ut cruciatus scorpionis cum percutit hominem, » supple, cujus cruciatus est gravis, et a posterioribus diffundit venenum. Similiter, sicut dicit Beda, impietas malorum a posterioribus nocet, cum anterioribus, id est, aeternis bonis temporalia, quae retro sunt, praeferri minis blandimentisque compellit.
Therefore the sense is: “And it was commanded them,” namely by God, who limited their power, “that they should not hurt the hay of the earth,” that is, the married in soul, although they may afflict the body and take away temporal things. Job II, 6: Behold, he is in your hand, etc.
“Nor any green thing,” that is, continent persons shining or flourishing with chastity, “nor any tree,” that is, Prelates healing others with the leaves of words, satisfying them with the fruits of works, and recreating others with the shade of examples or consolations.
“But only human beings,” namely carnal ones, named from humus. 1 Corinthians III, 3: Are you not carnal and walking according to man?
“Who do not have the sign of the living God on their foreheads,” that is, the sign of the cross, of faith, of the passion. “On their foreheads,” namely interior and exterior, so that they may have faith in the heart and confess it in the mouth. Romans X, 10: With the heart one believes unto justice, etc. Ezekiel IX, 6: Upon whom you see tau, do not kill him.
Note: Tau is the last letter of the alphabet of the Hebrews, and it is interpreted confirmation, and it signifies final perseverance in penance and confession of the name of Christ, which confirms a human being. Hence all who have it are also freed by this sign. And the sense is as if it were said: Those who blush to do penance and to confess the name of Christ will be harmed by these Pseudo-preachers and by other forerunners of Antichrist.
5. “And it was given to them that they should not kill them, but that they should torment them for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a human being.”
This is the second point, where it is said how far the power of these persons extends with respect to the good, and how the power of them is understood to be restrained.
And four things are said. First, they are forbidden to kill the good. Second, they are permitted to afflict them in the present, there, “but that they should torment them.” Third, it is said what their torment is, there, “And their torment.” Fourth, that it will be so great that human beings will desire death in those days, there, V. 6: “And in those days, etc.”
Therefore he says: “And it was given to them,” that is, it was ordained by divine providence, “that they should not kill,” namely spiritually in the soul, although they are permitted to be killed in the body, “them,” namely those who are hay and green thing, etc.; “but that they should torment them for five months,” that is, as long as they live in this life, which is ruled by the five senses of the body. Or, “for five months,” that is, for the whole present time, which is understood in this because of the five ages of this life, which are infancy, boyhood, adolescence, youth, and old age. And according to another reading: “for six months,” that is, through the six ages of the world in which, by God’s permission, the elect are troubled, so that in the seventh they may rest. Job V, 19: In six tribulations he will free you, and in the seventh evil will not touch you.
“And their torment,” that is, inflicted by them, “like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a human being,” supply, whose torment is grave and diffuses poison from the parts behind. Similarly, as Bede says, the impiety of the evil harms from behind, when by threats and blandishments it compels temporal things, which are behind, to be preferred to the things before, that is, to eternal goods.
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