Works › Commentary on the Apocalypse of Blessed John
Volume 38 · pp. 649–652
Fourth Vision, Chapter XII, and the Opened Temple
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VISIO QUARTA.
CAPUT XII.
Cum mulier cernente dracone filium peperisset, raptus est ab ea filius ejus ad Deum: tunc facto in caelo praelio, lapsus draco coepit mulieris semen persequi.
1. Et signum magnum apparuit in caelo: mulier amicta sole, et luna sub pedibus ejus, et in capite ejus corona stellarum duodecim:
2. Et in utero habens, clamabat parturiens, et cruciabatur ut pariat.
3. Et visum est aliud signum in caelo: et ecce draco magnus rufus, habens capita septem, et cornua decem, et in capitibus ejus diademata septem:
4. Et cauda ejus trahebat tertiam partem stellarum caeli, et misit eas in terram: et draco stetit ante mulierem quae erat paritura, ut cum peperisset, filium ejus devoraret.
5. Et peperit filium masculum, qui recturus erat omnes gentes in virga ferrea: et raptus est filius ejus ad Deum et ad thronum ejus:
6. Et mulier fugit in solitudinem, ubi habebat locum paratum a Deo, ut ibi pascant eam diebus mille ducentis sexaginta.
7. Et factum est praelium magnum in caelo: Michael et Angeli ejus praeliabantur cum dracone, et draco pugnabat et Angeli ejus:
8. Et non valuerunt, neque locus inventus est eorum amplius in caelo.
9. Et projectus est draco ille magnus, serpens antiquus, qui vocatur diabolus et Satanas, qui seducit universum orbem: et projectus est in terram, et Angeli ejus cum illo missi sunt.
10. Et audivi vocem magnam in caelo, dicentem: Nunc facta est salus, et virtus, et regnum Dei nostri, et potestas Christi ejus, quia projectus est accusator fratrum nostrorum, qui accusabat illos ante conspectum Dei nostri die ac nocte:
11. Et ipsi vicerunt eum propter sanguinem Agni, et propter verbum testimonii sui: et non dilexerunt animas suas usque ad mortem.
12. Propterea laetamini, caeli, et qui habitatis in eis. Vae terrae et mari, quia descendit diabolus ad vos, habens iram magnam, sciens quod modicum tempus habet.
13. Et postquam vidit draco quod projectus esset in terram, persecutus est mulierem quae peperit masculum:
14. Et datae sunt mulieri alae duae aquilae magnae, ut volaret in desertum in locum suum, ubi alitur per tempus, et tempora, et dimidium temporis, a facie serpentis.
15. Et misit serpens ex ore suo post mulierem, aquam tamquam flumen, ut eam faceret trahi a flumine.
FOURTH VISION.
CHAPTER XII.
When the woman, while the dragon was watching, had brought forth a son, her son was snatched away from her to God; then, when a battle had taken place in heaven, the fallen dragon began to persecute the woman’s seed.
1. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
2. And having one in her womb, she cried out travailing and was tormented that she might give birth.
3. And another sign was seen in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
4. And his tail was drawing the third part of the stars of heaven, and he cast them onto the earth; and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that, when she had given birth, he might devour her son.
5. And she brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod; and her son was snatched away to God and to his throne.
6. And the woman fled into solitude, where she had a place prepared by God, so that there they might feed her for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
7. And a great battle was made in heaven: Michael and his Angels were battling with the dragon, and the dragon was fighting, and his Angels.
8. And they did not prevail, nor was their place found any longer in heaven.
9. And that great dragon was cast forth, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduces the whole world; and he was cast onto the earth, and his Angels were sent with him.
10. And I heard a great voice in heaven saying: Now salvation has been made, and power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brethren has been cast forth, who accused them before the sight of our God day and night.
11. And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony; and they did not love their souls even unto death.
12. Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has little time.
13. And after the dragon saw that he had been cast onto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the male child.
14. And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly into the desert, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15. And the serpent sent from his mouth after the woman water like a river, so that he might make her be carried away by the river.
16. Et adjuvit terra mulierem, et aperuit terra os suum, et absorbuit flumen quod misit draco de ore suo.
17. Et iratus est draco in mulierem: et habiit facere praelium cum reliquis de semine ejus, qui custodiunt mandata Dei, et habent testimonium Jesu Christi.
18. Et stetit supra arenam maris.
IN CAPUT XII APOCALYPSIS ENARRATIO.
« Et apertum est templum Dei in caelo: et visa est arca testamenti ejus in templo ejus, et facta sunt fulgura, et voces, et terraemotus, et grando magna 1. »
Supra positae sunt tres visiones, hic ponitur quarta, sicut dicit Beda, sub figura mulieris parientis in qua labores et victorias Ecclesiae aperit, et praemia digna rependit.
Nota differentiam istarum visionum: quatuor primae respiciunt statum Ecclesiae universalem, tres ultimae statum finalem. Prima fuit argutoria monens ad poenitentiam: secunda, consolatoria per mysteriorum revelationem: tertia, comminatoria per Angelorum clangorem: quarta, exhortatoria ad pugnam spiritualem. Et istae quatuor generant in nobis affectiones ordinatas in Deum. Prima dolorem de peccatis, secunda gaudium de beneficiis, tertia timorem de poenis, quarta speciem de victoria inimici.
Pars autem ista quae continet quartam visionem, dividitur in tres partes. In prima dicit mysterium in Ecclesia revelatum esse. In secunda dicit, quod ex hoc secutae sunt praedicationes, miracula, et pugnae Ecclesiae, ibi, « Facta sunt fulgura. » In tertia, incipit agere de pugna Ecclesiae, ibi, V. 1: « Et signum magnum apparuit in caelo. »
Nota: Sicut dicit Glossa, per duo prima ostenditur ista visio habere dependentiam a secunda et tertia visione. Quia primum, id est, revelatio mysterii Incarnationis scriptum est quarto capite. Secundum, hoc est, praedicatio, miracula, et pugnae Ecclesiae, scriptum est octavo capite. Propter hoc videtur, quod ista visio non incipiat hic: « Et apertum est templum, » sed, ibi, « Et signum magnum apparuit in caelo. » Et illa duo quae ponuntur hic sunt continuativa istius visionis ad praecedentes.
Et secundum hoc pars haec dividitur in duas. Primo, continuat hanc visionem praecedentibus. Secundo, istam prosequitur, ibi, V. 1: « Et signum magnum. »
16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth, and absorbed the river that the dragon sent from his mouth.
17. And the dragon was angry against the woman, and he went away 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.
EXPLANATION ON CHAPTER XII OF THE APOCALYPSE.
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven; and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were made lightnings, and voices, and earthquakes, and great hail 1.”
Above, three visions were set down; here the fourth is set down, as Bede says, under the figure of a woman giving birth, in which he opens the labors and victories of the Church and pays back worthy rewards.
Note the difference of these visions: the first four look to the universal state of the Church, the last three to the final state. The first was reproving, admonishing to penitence; the second, consolatory through revelation of mysteries; the third, threatening through the trumpet-blast of the Angels; the fourth, exhortatory toward spiritual battle. And these four generate in us affections ordered toward God: the first, sorrow for sins; the second, joy concerning benefits; the third, fear concerning punishments; the fourth, hope concerning victory over the enemy.
But this part, which contains the fourth vision, is divided into three parts. In the first he says that the mystery has been revealed in the Church. In the second he says that from this there followed preachings, miracles, and battles of the Church, there, “There were made lightnings.” In the third he begins to deal with the battle of the Church, there, V. 1: “And a great sign appeared in heaven.”
Note: As the Gloss says, through the first two things it is shown that this vision has dependence on the second and third vision. For the first, that is, the revelation of the mystery of the Incarnation, was written in the fourth chapter. The second, that is, the preaching, miracles, and battles of the Church, was written in the eighth chapter. For this reason it seems that this vision does not begin here, “And the temple was opened,” but there, “And a great sign appeared in heaven.” And those two things that are placed here are continuations of this vision to the preceding ones.
And according to this, this part is divided into two. First, he joins this vision to the preceding ones. Second, he pursues this one, there, V. 1: “And a great sign.”
In prima, primo tangit secundam visionem: secundo, tertiam, ibi, « Et facta sunt fulgura. »
Dicit ergo:
« Et apertum est templum Dei, » id est, Christus, « in caelo, » id est, in Ecclesia. Templum enim dicitur Christus, Joan. II, 19: Solvite templum hoc, etc. Ecclesia vero caelum, habens luminare majus, id est, Praelatos majores: et minus, id est, Praelatos minores: et stellas, id est, singulos fideles. Ad Philip. II, 15: Inter quos lucetis sicut luminaria, etc. Hoc templum « apertum est in caelo, » id est, manifestatum in Ecclesia. Primo, per Angeli denuntiationem. Luc. II, 10: Evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, etc. Secundo, per Magorum adorationem. Matth. II, 11: Procidentes adoraverunt eum. Tertio, per miraculorum operationem. Joan. II, 11: Hoc fecit initium signorum, etc.: et manifestavit gloriam suam. Quarto, per lateris apertionem. Joan. XIX, 34: Unus militum lancea latus ejus aperuit. Quinto, per resurrectionem et Apostolorum instructionem. Luc. XXIV, 45: Tunc aperuit illis sensum ut intelligerent Scripturas. Sexto, per Apostolorum praedicationem. Marc. XVI, 20: Illi autem profecti praedicaverunt ubique, etc. Ergo, « Apertum est templum in caelo, » id est, Christus manifestatus in Ecclesia, quem infideles negant.
Vel sic: « Apertum est templum, » id est, Ecclesia, « in caelo, » quia conversatione est caelestis. Ad Philipp. III, 20: Nostra conversatio in caelis est. Hic aperta est velamine figurarum amoto. Vel, caelum appellatur Scriptura sacra, quae habet luminare majus, sicut Novum Testamentum, et minus, Testamentum Vetus: et stellas, id est, sanctorum expositiones. In hoc caelo fuit templum clausum quamdiu latuit sub figuris Christi mysterium: sed adveniente veritate, est reseratum multis expositionibus sanctorum. Psal. CIII, 2: Extendens caelum sicut pellem, id est, Scripturam per multiplicem expositionem.
« Et visa est arca testamenti ejus, » id est, mysterium incarnationis Ecclesiae innotuit. Unde sequitur: « In templo ejus, » id est, Ecclesia. Psal. X, 5: Dominus in templo sancto suo.
Nota: Christus dicitur arca quae fuit facta de lignis setim, deaurata intus et foris. In ea fuerunt duae tabulae Moysi, virga Aaron, et manna, sicut dicit Hieronymus. Ligna setim sunt levia et imputribilia, albae spinae similia, et signant Christum qui assumpsit humanitatem sine gravedine peccati, cujus corpus imputribile fuit. Psal. XV, 10: Nec dabis sanctum tuum, etc. Simile tamen spinae: quia carnem similem peccatrici accepit. Deaurata fuit ejus humanitas: quia intus plena charitate, et foris bona conversatione. In eo sunt tabulae propter nostram doctrinam: quia Magister verus fuit, sed testamenti, quia testis fidelis 2. Item, virga nostrae correctionis et directionis. Psal. XLIV, 7: Virga directionis, etc. Item, manna nostrae consolationis et refectionis. II ad Corinth. I, 3: Deus totius consolationis.
In the first, he first touches the second vision; second, the third, there, “And there were made lightnings.”
Therefore he says:
“And the temple of God was opened,” that is, Christ, “in heaven,” that is, in the Church. For Christ is called a temple, John II, 19: Destroy this temple, etc. But the Church is heaven, having the greater luminary, that is, the greater Prelates, and the lesser, that is, the lesser Prelates, and stars, that is, the individual faithful. Philippians II, 15: Among whom you shine like luminaries, etc. This temple “was opened in heaven,” that is, manifested in the Church. First, through the announcement of the Angel. Luke II, 10: I announce to you great joy, etc. Second, through the adoration of the Magi. Matthew II, 11: Falling down, they adored him. Third, through the working of miracles. John II, 11: This beginning of signs Jesus did, etc., and he manifested his glory. Fourth, through the opening of his side. John XIX, 34: One of the soldiers opened his side with a lance. Fifth, through the resurrection and the instruction of the Apostles. Luke XXIV, 45: Then he opened their understanding so that they might understand the Scriptures. Sixth, through the preaching of the Apostles. Mark XVI, 20: But they, going forth, preached everywhere, etc. Therefore, “The temple was opened in heaven,” that is, Christ was manifested in the Church, whom unbelievers deny.
Or thus: “The temple was opened,” that is, the Church, “in heaven,” because it is heavenly in its manner of life. Philippians III, 20: Our conversation is in heaven. Here it is opened when the veil of figures has been removed. Or, sacred Scripture is called heaven, which has the greater luminary, as the New Testament, and the lesser, the Old Testament, and stars, that is, the expositions of the saints. In this heaven the temple was closed as long as the mystery of Christ lay hidden under figures; but when truth came, it was unlocked by the many expositions of the saints. Psalm CIII, 2: Stretching out heaven like a skin, that is, Scripture through manifold exposition.
“And the ark of his testament was seen,” that is, the mystery of the incarnation became known to the Church. Hence there follows: “In his temple,” that is, the Church. Psalm X, 5: The Lord is in his holy temple.
Note: Christ is called the ark, which was made of setim wood, gilded within and without. In it were the two tablets of Moses, Aaron’s rod, and manna, as Jerome says. Setim woods are light and incorruptible, like white thorns, and signify Christ, who assumed humanity without the burden of sin, whose body was incorruptible. Psalm XV, 10: Nor will you give your holy one, etc. Yet it was like a thorn, because he received flesh like sinful flesh. His humanity was gilded, because within it was full of charity and without of good manner of life. In him there are tablets on account of our doctrine, because he was the true Teacher, but of the testament, because he is the faithful witness 2. Likewise, the rod of our correction and direction. Psalm XLIV, 7: The rod of direction, etc. Likewise, the manna of our consolation and refreshment. II Corinthians I, 3: The God of all consolation.
Est ergo sensus: « Et visa est arca testamenti ejus, » id est, Christus, « in templo ejus, » id est, in Ecclesia Dei. Vel, secundum Glossam: « Et apertum est templum, etc., » id est, Spiritus sanctus datus est fidelibus a Christo, « et visa est arca testamenti ejus, » id est, data est intelligentia mysteriorum Christi, et Ecclesiae Dei.
« Et facta sunt fulgura, » id est, miracula, quae sic dicuntur, quia incutiunt timorem, reddunt splendorem, inducunt stuporem. Item, fulgura secant, urunt, foetent: sic miracula secabant homines per contritionem et confessionem, urebant per satisfactionem, foetebant, id est, foetere faciebant per peccati detestationem: ergo fulgura, id est, miracula.
« Et voces, » id est, praedicationes, et laudes: nam visis miraculis omnes Deum laudabant et benedicebant.
« Et tonitrua, » id est, comminationes deterrentes: « et terraemotus, » id est, terrenorum commotiones. Quidam enim visis miraculis movebantur ad fidem, alii vero ad iram.
« Et grando magna, » id est, persecutio malorum, hoc est, tyrannorum. Per grandinem intelliguntur persecutores Ecclesiae: quia sicut grando fruges comminuit, tamen ipsa simul conteritur: et sicut fit ut grando deficiat, sed tamen terra fruges faciet postea: sic persecutores Ecclesiae deficiunt, et ipsa proficit in melius. Psal. XIX, 9: Ipsi obligati sunt, et ceciderunt: nos autem surreximus, etc.
Therefore the sense is: “And the ark of his testament was seen,” that is, Christ, “in his temple,” that is, in the Church of God. Or, according to the Gloss: “And the temple was opened, etc.,” that is, the Holy Spirit was given to the faithful by Christ, “and the ark of his testament was seen,” that is, understanding of the mysteries of Christ and of the Church of God was given.
“And there were made lightnings,” that is, miracles, which are so called because they strike fear, render brightness, and induce amazement. Likewise, lightnings cut, burn, and stink; so miracles cut human beings through contrition and confession, burned through satisfaction, and stank, that is, made them stink through detestation of sin; therefore lightnings, that is, miracles.
“And voices,” that is, preachings and praises; for when the miracles had been seen, all praised and blessed God.
“And thunders,” that is, deterrent threats; “and earthquakes,” that is, shakings of earthly persons. For some, when miracles had been seen, were moved toward faith, but others toward anger.
“And great hail,” that is, the persecution of evil people, that is, of tyrants. By hail the persecutors of the Church are understood, because just as hail breaks crops, nevertheless it itself is also broken at the same time, and just as it happens that the hail fails, but nevertheless the earth afterward brings forth crops, so the persecutors of the Church fail, and the Church itself advances into better things. Psalm XIX, 9: They were bound and fell, but we have risen, etc.
Notes
- This verse is the last of the preceding chapter, but it is explained here because it pertains to the fourth vision, as will be clear below in the explanation. (Versiculus iste est ultimus capitis praecedentis, sed hic exponitur quia pertinet ad visionem quartam, ut infra patebit in enarratione.) ↩
- Apocalypse I, 5. (Apocal. I, 5.) ↩
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