Jerome to Paulinus
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The Theme of the Apocalypse of St. John
That which the Old Testament foretold of Christ himself, the Apostles could report the fulfilling thereof in the New Testament, by way of history, even from his Conception to his Glorification. But of his Church, they could not do so: because in their time it did but begin: being to continue long after them, even to the end of the world, and then at length to be glorified, as Christ her Spouse already is. Hereupon God would have St. Luke to report in the Acts of the Apostles, the story of the Churches beginning, and for the rest of it to the end, (that we might receive this benefit also by the Apostles hands) he would have St. John tell us of it in this book by way of prophecy.
Of which book St. Jerome said: The Apocalypse of St. John has as many sacraments or mysteries, as words. Yes more then that, in every word there are hid manifold and sundry senses. Therefore it is very little that can here be noted, in respect. Yet to give the good Catholic (whose comfort is here) some little help, the book may be divided into five parts.
Chap. 1-3 1st part The first contains seven Epistles from Christ now in glory, so seven churches of Asia, or (for, there he makes alone) to the seven Bishops of those churches, meaning not to those only, but also his Churches and Bishops throughout the world, saying there in every one of them, to all in general, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Church." As also in every one he exhorts us to fight manfully (in this spiritual warfare of ours against sin) for the victory, and in every one accordingly promises us a reward in heaven. But before this, in the beginning of every one, he partly commended, partly reprehended, and exhorted to penance. Where this is much to be noted, and feared, that among so many, he reproaches somewhat in all, except only in two, which are the second and the sixth. In the beginning also of every one, he takes some piece out of the apparition going before, to frame thereof his style agreeably to the matter of each Epistle.
chap. 4-8; 2nd part After this admonition to pastors and their flocks, the second part follows, wherein the Church and whole course thereof from the beginning to the end, is expressed in the opening of a book in God's hand, and the seven seals thereof, by Christ, for which, he sees praise sung now in heaven and earth, not only to the Godhead, as before, but also (after a new manner) to Christ according to his Manhood. And he, when he is come to the opening of the last seal, signifying Domesday, he lets that matter alone for a while, and to speak more fully yet of the said course of the Church, he brings in another pageant (as it were) of seven angels with seven trumpets. The effect of both the seals and trumpets, is this, that the Church beginning and proceeding, there should be raised against it, cruel persecutions, and pestilent heresies, and at length after all heresies, a certain most blasphemous apostasy, being the next preparation to the coming of Antichrist, after all which, Antichrist himself in person shall appear in the time of the sixth seal, and sixth trumpet, persecuting and seducing (for a short time of his reign) more than all before him. The Church not withstanding shall still continue, and wade through all, because Christ her Spouse is stronger then all these adversaries, who also straight after the said fixed time, shall in the seventh, come in majesty and judge all.
Chap. 12-14; 3rd part Of the which judgement, differing yet a while to speak at large, he does first in the third part entreat more fully of the Devil's working by Antichrist and his company against the Church, that the justice of Christ afterward in judging, may be more manifest.
Chap. 15-21; 4th part At length therefore in the fourth part he comes to the seven last plagues, the seventh of them containing the final damnation of the whole multitude society or corps of the wicked, from the beginning of the world to the end. Which multitude, in the Gospel and first Epistle of this same St. John (as also in the other Scriptures commonly) is often called Mundus, the world. And here he calls it partly, Mereticem, a whore or harlot, because with her concupiscence she entices the carnal and earthly men away from God, partly, Cruitatem Babylon, the city of Babylon, because it makes war against Jerusalem the city of God, and labors to hold God's people captive in sin, as it was shadowed in Nabuchodonosor and his Babylonians, leading and hold the Jews with the Jerusalem, in captivity, until Cyrus (in figure of Christ) delivered them. But whether all these seven plagues should be understood (as the seventh) of Doomsday itself, it is hard to define. More like it is, that the first six are to go before Doomsday, but whether corporeally and literally, (so as Moses plagued Egypt) or rather spiritually it is more hard to define. Yet it seems more easy to understand them corporeally as also the plagues wherewith Elijah and his fellow shall in the time of Antichrist plague the wicked (which peradventure shall be the same last plague) whereof we read in this book 11:5-6. But not content to have deceived thus the damnation of the whole adulterous and bloody society, he does also report of their three captains of damnation, which are these, Antichrist, and his False Prophet, and the Devil himself the author of all this mischief.
Chap. 21-22, 5th part Finally, on the other side, in the fifth part he reported the unspeakable and everlasting glory,, that the Church after all this suffering, shall by Christ her glorious Spouse assumpted unto. And so he concludes the book.
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