Apocalypsis (I)

I. APOCALYPSIS, this word signifies in general revelation; and in particular the Apocalypse or Revelation which S. John had in the Isle of Patmos, whither he had Between the years of J. C. 95 and 97.been banished by Domitian. Caius, Priest of the Church of Rome, who lived about the end of the second Age, seems to assure us, that the Apocalypse or book of Revelations was written by the Archheretick Cerinthus¹. Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria says, that some indeed thought Cerinthus to be the author of it; that for his part, he believed it to be written by an holy man, whose name was John, but he would not take upon him to affirm, that it was really the work of the Apostle and Evangelist of this name. It passes however in the Church for a point very clear, that the book of Revelations was composed by S. John the Son of Zebedee, and Brother of S. James; and notwithstanding the doubts of Caius and Dionysius of Alexandria, the ancients have unanimously acknowledged him to be the Author of it.

The Apocalypse has not at all times been owned to be canonical. S. Jerom, Amphilochius, and Sulpitius Severus remark, that in their time there were many Churches in Greece, which did not receive this book. It is not in the catalogue prepared by the Council of Laodicea, nor in that of S. Cyril of Jerusalem; but Justin, Irenæus, Origen, Cyprian, Clemens of Alexandria, Tertullian, and after them all the Fathers of the fourth, fifth and following Ages, quote the Revelations as a book then acknowledged to be canonical. The Hereticks called Alogi by Epiphanius, the Marcionites, and the Disciples of Cerdo, Luther, and many other modern Hereticks, have likewise rejected the Revelations of S. John; but even this proves that it was received by the Catholick Churches, and Protestants themselves have forsaken Luther in this particular; and Beza has strongly maintained against his objections, that the Apocalypse is authentick and canonical.

The Book of Revelations contains two and twenty Chapters; the three first are an instruction to the Bishops of the seven Churches in Asia Minor, which are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The fifteen following Chapters contain the persecutions, which the Church has suffered from the Jews, Hereticks, and Roman Emperors, principally from Dioclesian, Maximian, Herculius, Galerius Maximian, Severus, Maxentius, Maximinus, and Licinius; and last of all from Julian the Apostate. After this we have a view of that Vengeance which God has exercised against the persons of persecutors, against the Roman Empire, and City of Rome, described under the name of Babylon the great prostitute, seated upon seven Hills. Lastly, the xix, xx, xxi, xxii Chapters include the description of the triumph of the Church, and its victories over its enemies, of the marriage of the Lamb, and the happiness of the Church triumphant. They who would see more at large what relates to the Apocalypse, may consult the Dissertations, which the Abbot Du Pin has joined with the Analysis of this book; and the Preface which we have inserted before our Comment on the Revelations.

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