1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John, 2 Who has given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he has seen. 3 Blessed is he, that reads and hears the words of this prophecy; and keeps those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.



1:1 Revelation: Apocalypsis, which is the same as 'revealing' or 'uncovering'. (St. Albert the Great) This is the revealing of hidden mysteries when the intellect is enlightened by either divine dreams or by visions from divine enlightenment while awake. (St. Andrew of Caesarea)

God gave to him: The Gloss has 'The Father'. (St. Albert the Great)  Or God, in this passage, is understood as the whole Trinity. (St. Martin of Leon)  The reason why he says, he gave, is to show that Christ did not have these things from His humanity, but of grace. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  Also, he says, to make known, that is, to make public and do not hide it. (St. Albert the Great)

must shortly come to pass: For this reason he says shortly, because time is short with respect to all of eternity. Whence the Psalm 90:4: 'For a thousand years are as yesterday', and so on. (Hugh of St. Cher)   Every time, no matter how long, compared to eternity, is short.  Shortly, as if to say: the things that are revealed here must be fulfilled, namely, the tribulations and consolations of the just. (Anselm of Laon)  For there is no obstacle which can cause delay for fulfillment. (Arethas of Caesarea)  For it is unavoidable and is underway.   Hence, Acts 14:21 says, 'through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.' (St. Albert the Great)

signified: Namely, through signs that are instructed to be revealed.  Or, according to Haimo, it means sealed up.  The sign is meant here as a seal.  Thus understood, 'But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book' (Dn 12:4). (St. Albert the Great)  The order is as follows, God has revealed it to Christ, and Christ to John, and John to the seven churches, and he says signified because it was through certain figures and symbols shown to him. (Anselm of Laon)  Scripture is closed to the wicked but open to the faithful. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

by his angel: And note that the angel who was sent to John, this was a created spirit, who sometimes speaks in the person of Christ.  That is, like a messenger bringing the words of a prince, who sometimes speaks in the person of his master, or sometimes in his own person. (Hugh of St. Cher)  Or that is, the Christ who is the Angel of Great Counsel, according to the Septuagint (Is 9:6)... Thus Haimo says, that this angel appeared to John in the person of Christ. (St. Albert the Great)

to his servant John: Saint John the Apostle, and evangelist, is the one who wrote this book of the Apocalypse; although there are some, who say its not by him, but they say it was composed by another. (St. Ambrosius Autpertus)  This book was written not by another John but by the one who wrote the Gospel, he who at the marriage feast at Cana reclined on the breast of the Lord. (Berengaud)


1:2 who has given testimony: These words clearly demonstrate that it was not composed by another John, but from him who wrote the Gospel. (St. Ambrosius Autpertus) of the word of God: Namely, the Son of God; for the testimony of His divinity, 'In the beginning was the Word (Jn 1:1).  And concerning His humanity as we see below in the same book, 'the Word became flesh' (Jn 1:14). (St. Albert the Great)

things soever he has seen: He has used the same style in the Gospel too, as to preserve the truthfulness of his teaching. He said there, "This is that disciple who gives testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.(Jn. 21:24)" (Oecumenius)


1:3 The beginning of the book promises blessing to him that reads and hears and keeps, that he who takes pains about the reading may thence learn to do works, and may keep the precepts. (St. Victorinus of Pettau)  The words of this prophecy, each of which are full of mysteries and they are the words of salvation and of life.  Since, however, it is not enough to read and to hear, unless he does what is read and heard, as it says in Romans. 2:13, 'not hearers are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified', therefore, he adds, and keeps those things which are written in it. (Hugh of St. Cher)  Or, that reads, that is, studies.  And who hears, that is, obeys.  And keeps, by believing and maintaining.  For the Gloss says, 'who has faith in Christ and of the Church, and does not profane it, and fears this warning, and seeks the promises.' (St. Albert the Great)

 time is at hand: Namely, the time of death or the time of each one's judgment, when every one shall receive his reward. (Hugh of St. Cher)  Of judgment or retribution. (St. Martin of Leon)  For in comparison to eternity, our whole life is short. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 






4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be to you and peace from him that is, and that was, and that is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, who has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us a kingdom, and priests to God and his Father, to him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.



1:4 John: But why did he put his name here, and not in the beginning of the gospel? I answer... To give his authority for this work, by which he had no need of for the gospel which had been preached by the Lord, and from Whom the authority he had. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

seven churches: These are the great cities and their regions, on account of the congregations of the faithful who are there. (Bulus al-Bushi) Though John writes to seven churches, nevertheless he speaks to all. (The Muratorian Canon)

 in Asia: And note that there is a twofold Asia, as the Gloss says, Asia Major, which contains a third of the world.  And Asia Minor, which is a part of Asia Major.  These seven churches were located in Asia Minor. (Hugh of St. Cher) 

Grace be to you and peace: that is the remission of sins and rest from your vices. (St. Martin of Leon)  

him that is: That is, the Son of God, He who is immutable, because of the dignity of existence, because He alone truly is, properly speaking, compared to other things which are not.  (Ex. 3) 'who is, hath sent me unto you'.  that was: For He was when the world was not: (Jn 1:1) 'In the beginning was the word'. is to come: Namely, the Judgment.  (Is. 3:14) 'The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people'. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

seven spirits before his throne: Many say that the seven spirits are to be taken as the seven operations of the Holy Spirit.  However it is more probable that these are to be understood as angels. (Arethas of Caesarea)  Or from the Holy Spirit who is one in nature, but is sevenfold in grace... Or its understood to be the seven spirits of the body of angels mentioned in Tobit, 'I am the angel Raphael, one of the spirits of the seven angels who stand before God (Tobit 12:15).' (Hugh of St. Cher)  Or by spiritual men enlightened by the Holy Spirit. (St. Martin of Leon)  

his throne: That is, in which he sits and judges the holy angels. (Hugh of St. Cher) Or its where He sits or guards.  Or thrones are the angels and holy men whom God now decides not to judge in the future. (St. Martin of Leon)  Or, His throne is the Church in which God, through grace, is seated and is at rest. (St. Albert the Great)


1:5 faithful witness: Proclaiming the truth when he was in mortal flesh. (Isaiah 55:4) 'Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the people'. (Prov. 14:25) 'the faithful witness delivereth souls:. Nay, or the fear of death, he declared that He was the Son of God'. (Marc. 14:61) 'on the other hand the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said unto him, I am he'. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

 first-begotten of the dead: He is the first begotten of the dead as having risen in a glorified state before all others. (St. Methodius of Olypus)  But perhaps someone might mention how He resuscitated Lazarus, who rose before Christ.  The answer is clear: although Lazarus was raised from the dead, it was not into a glorified state, but Christ was risen unto glory.  Lazarus died again, as St. John of Damascus had said. (Hugh of St. Cher)

 prince of the kings of the earth: that is, of earthly powers, allowing them to override the interests of the good, but He is able to remove them when he wants. (Hugh of St. Cher)  And He permits their rage for His purpose. (St. Martin of Leon)  

he loved: Although we are unworthy. (St. Albert the Great) To explain the magnitude of this love, all language fails to do so, because it is incomprehensible and inexpressible. (1 Jn 3:16) 'In this we have known the charity of God, because he laid down his life for us'.  washed us from our sins: Both original and actual sin. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

by his own blood:  not of the calf, not the ram, as it is in the Old Law, but in His own. (St. Martin of Leon)  The sacraments of baptism and penance, are made efficacious by His blessed passion. (Nicholas of Lyra)  That is in the power of the blood, namely, because it was the divine blood, not from simple humans, 'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ (Heb 10:19).' (St. Thomas Aquinas)  In His own blood, not of goats and of bulls, but with His own, whom He poured out for us, through which we receive cleansing from our sins through Baptism... First washed us in Baptism. 'And I washed thee with water, and cleansed away thy blood from thee: and I anointed thee with oil (Ez 16:9).'  Also washed in preaching. 'you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (Jn 15:3).'  Also alms-giving, 'give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you (Lk 11:41).  Also suffering, 'If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning (Is 4:4).' (Hugh of St. Cher)


1:6 kingdom, priests: That is to say, a Church of all believers; as also the Apostle Peter says: "A holy nation, a royal priesthood.(1 Peter 2:9)" (St. Victorinus of Pettau)  He has made us a kingdom, of which he is the King. 'Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth (Eccl 10:17).'   'For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us (Is 33:22). In this kingdom we are no more a slave, but are all free, 'we are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free (Gal 4:31).'  priests: That is, we sacrifice to God by mortifying the flesh. (St. Albert the Great)   Hence, we ought to offer sacrifices to God in this way.  First, a sacrifice with a broken spirit, 'A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit (Ps 51:17).'  Second, the sacrifice of thanksgiving and prayer, 'the sacrifice of praise shall glorify me (Ps 50:23).'  (Hugh of St. Cher) 

to God and his Father: God, not an idol, not of the world, but the most high God, who is to be feared, to be worshiped, and to be honored. (St. Albert the Great)  This is not to be understood as twofold power, but a multiple praise, to God, by His power, and the Father, through good-will, God, Father of all, in general. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  glory: namely, that we may be grateful for all His kindness, and for Him to be praised by us, gloriously proclaimed, and magnified. (St. Albert the Great)  Namely, to praise Him. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  empire: in order obey and be obedient to Him, so that we may live for ever.  For Hebrews 12:9 says, 'Shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits and live?' (St. Albert the Great)  for ever and ever: That is, eternity. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  Amen: That is, truly, or it is so, or it is true. (Hugh of St. Cher)





7 Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall bewail themselves because of him. Even so. Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

Catechism Cross-reference  1:8 2854
Bible Cross References  1:7: Isaiah 3:13.; Matthew 24:30.; Jude 1:14.  1:8: Isaiah 41:4. 45:6. 48:12.; Apocalypse 21:6. 22:13



1:7 he comes: as speaking as its happening in order to inspire and instill terror, because it is near in a sense of eternity.  comes with the clouds: Here, he speaks of the second coming of the Lord Christ. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  clouds: Just as He ascended, 'as you have seen him ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). and, 'behold, on the clouds of heaven one like the Son of man came with the clouds (Dan 7:13).' (Hugh of St. Cher)  He does this, because what is created is a slave to the Creator. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  He it is who, to reward us, is to come with clouds— that is, with holy men who have been clouds, by showering upon others doctrine and performing miracles. (Rabanus Maurus) 

every eye shall see him: Evil as well as good.  'And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with great power and glory' (Mk 13:26).  To the good He will bring comfort, and to the bad He will bring shame and affliction. (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

they also that pierced him: That the Jews, who crucified Him by word of the soldiers through hand and Pilate by judging. (Nicholas of Lyra)  'They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.'(Zec. 12:10)  They will not only be sorry because of their torments in hell, but for their loss of such celestial company.  all the tribes of the earth: that is, all those who are more attached to the earthly land than heaven. (Hugh of St. Cher)  Namely, all the generations of men,  'And all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven (Mt 24:30).'   Even so: As if to say, we ought to praise Him and to obey Him. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Even so.  Amen: This is the adverb of affirmation in Latin and similarly Amen in Hebrew, and by means of this double affirmation it is implied that truth is not retractable. (Nicholas of Lyra) 


1:8 Alpha and the Omega: “Alpha” is the first letter to the Greek alphabet and “Omega” the last, and through this it is implied that God is the beginning of all effects and the end to which everything is ordained. (Nicholas of Lyra)  

beginning: God is called the beginning because He Himself always existed, and by Him all things came about, (Anselm of Laon)  by whom all things were created. The end to which all things are ordered. He who is, surely indeed, unchangeable, and that was, from eternity before all creation.   is to come, namely to judge everyone. (St. Albert the Great)  It is the whole Trinity that is speaking and which inspired into John these words. (Jean De La Haye)

the Almighty: That is in everything, and in all power, because He can never be hindered nor his power confined. (Hugh of St. Cher)   His power will be shown in the second coming. In the first, He came as the Lamb: in the second He will come like a lion.  'And who may abide the day of his coming?  And who shall stand when he appears (Mal 3:2)?' (St. Thomas Aquinas)  
 




9 I John, your brother and your partner in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island, which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying: What you see, write in a book, and send to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

 
1:9  your brother: Not in flesh but by faith.  patience in Christ Jesus: As if to say: you and I, by the fact that we have had patience, because we were in Christ Jesus, which He was an example of patience.   Patmos: John was sent into exile by Domitian, and sent to a place remote from the population of men, and therefore more fit for contemplation. (Hugh of St. Cher)  The Apostle John was first plunged, unhurt, into boiling oil, and thence remitted to his island-exile! (Tertullian Ag Her 36)

for the word of God: Namely, for the testimony of His Godhead and His humanity to be exhibited. (Glossa Ordinaria)


1:10 in the spirit: Manifestly, he was transported above the ways of our natural life through the intervention of God. Such substantial visions, even though transitory, occur rarely or hardly ever, and to only a few. For God imparts this kind of vision only to those who were very strong in the spirit of the Church and God’s law. Though these spiritual substances cannot be unclothed and seen clearly in this life by the intellect, they can nonetheless be felt in the substance of the soul by the most delightful touches and conjunctions. (St. John of the Cross As. Mt Car 24.3-4) Namely, in ecstasy of mind; where the soul breaks from the external senses, and separated from the body in a certain way, it can be raised up to heavenly things to be witnessed. (Hugh of St. Cher)  

Lord's day: The Lord's day, the day of the Resurrection, the day of Christians, is our day.  It is called the Lord's day because on this day the Lord ascended to the Father as Victor. (St. Jerome Hom 94)   This is the proper time for contemplation, because then one ought to cease from the work of external things and to be free for prayer and contemplation. (Hugh of St. Cher)  For the Lord's Day is kept in remembrance of the resurrection of the Lord. (St. Albert the Great)

heard: that is with spiritual ears, or physical.  great voice: That is with great significance or great allure. (St. Albert the Great)


1:11 write in a book: that is lay up in the mind. Or literally a book. (St. Martin of Leon) 

send to the seven churches: Hence a gloss says, send it to the seven churches of Asia to which John himself was in charge of, or to the universal Church, by reason of those seven signified the whole.   Ephesus: St. Paul, when he was younger was the first to preach there.  But after a distribution among the apostles, St. John preached there. (Hugh of St. Cher)

12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks: 13 And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 And his head and his hairs were white, as white wool, and as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came out a sharp two edged sword: and his face was as the sun shines in his power.



1:12 I turned to see: That the voice which he heard was not sensory he signifies by saying, I turned, not to hear it, but to see the voice, for spiritual hearing and seeing are the same. (St. Andrew of Caesarea)  seven golden candlesticks: meaning 7 churches, as explained in Rev. 1:13. (Nicholas of Lyra)  They are called candlesticks correctly, as if to say, they ought to have faith, which is the foot and the foundation of all good... In the candlestick are these three things: The strength of the foot, the rectitude of the shaft, a high degree of light. Golden, for the sake of the clarity of the instruction of the divine wisdom. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  This is the seven churches burning and the illuminated wisdom of the Divine Word. (Glossa Ordinaria)

golden: because the Church is founded on clarity and wisdom. (Anselm of Laon)


1:13 in the midst of: that is to say, in the midst of the Church, (St. Martin of Leon) and ready to assist everyone. (Anselm of Laon) 

one like to the Son of man: That is, an angel representing Christ, because it is not said here that John saw the Son of Man but one like the Son of Man. (Nicholas of Lyra) Christ is called Son of man to indicate that He took upon human flesh. (St. Jerome Com on Dan)  Or Christ, who after the resurrection was immortal, and therefore was not the Son of man but is called like him. (St. Albert the Great)

down to the feet: is the priestly vestments, reaching down to the ankles, and it signifies the Lord's flesh, out of love for us, in which He offered to His Father so that every day He offers the true priest and victim.  paps: because breasts are just as charity in the heart, which is in the breast.  golden girdle: that is, with the girdle of charity. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  Daniel saw the same angel (Dan 10:5), that is, in the person of Christ. (Anselm of Laon)  


1:14 his head: namely, the Godhead, which is the head of humanity. 'And the head of Christ is God (1 Cor 11:3).'   And the very hairs of, that is, thoughts, which are subtle and proceeding from the mind.  white as wool: means holiness or sincerity, as the sincerity of the thoughts and everything else.  eyes: that is, the gifts of the Holy Spirit... 'and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (Is 11:2).'  'upon one stone, there are seven eyes (Zech 3:9).'  flame of fire: flaming or insured by the fiery brilliance and intensity... or  to us the cause of the illumination of wisdom and charity, of receiving from Him a flaming ardor. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  Or God's commands, all of which shed light on the recipients, and they burn with the fire of love. (Anselm of Laon)


1:15 his feet: as to the stability of fortitude, and His manifold strength.  like unto fine brass: which is no longer burned but is colored.  furnace: which is the antagonism of the trials. sound of many waters: the voice is communication of virtue, that is of doctrine.  Its like the sound of rushing waters because with respect to the preaching of Christ it has the power to cleanse, 'now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (Jn 15:3).'  Or, of many waters, that is, an abundance of graces. 'The water that I shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into life everlasting (Jn 4:4).' (St. Thomas Aquinas)


1:16 seven stars: Farther down, he says, the seven stars are the seven angels of the churches. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) These stars are the bishops of those churches. (Nicholas of Lyra)  

two-edged sword: that is the proclamation of judgment, which, like a sword, will separate the bad from the good, and will destroy them forever.  He says double-edged, namely, both sides, because the soul and body will be damned. (St. Thomas Aquinas)  Or, its the preaching of the word. 'and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ep 6:17).' , Cuts on both sides because the evil works in the Old Testament: the desires and punishments in the New Testament.  Or, the sword is said to be sharp on both sides, because it divides a man who holds it from the love of self and of the world. 'I came not to send peace, etc.. but the fire: For I am come to set a man by his father, and so forth (Mt 10).' (Hugh of St. Cher) 

out of his mouth: It could also be understood in the mouth of the preachers of God. 'If you separate the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth (Jer 15:9).' (St. Thomas Aquinas)





17 And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, 18 And alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell. 19 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and which are, and which must be done hereafter. 20 The mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

Catechism Cross-reference 1:18 625 633 635 2854
Bible Cross References 1:17: Isaiah 41:4. 44:6. 48:12.; Apocalypse 21:6. 22:13.


1:17 I fell at his feet: John, after seeing the glory, fell, because the human mind knows when the more perfect the celestial beings are, so much the more should one's self be humbled. (Hugh of St. Cher)  There was good reason why he fell, because it was showing reverence and the greatness for the divine.   First: Because there is none before Him...  He is first because He is eternal.  Last: Because there is none after Him. 'I am the first and I am the last (Is 44:6).'   For God can not be understood to have an end, but other things, however, can be understood to have an end... Also God is said to be the last, because God is the final cause of all things, and to Him: thus all things are ordained to a final cause, because the Lord has done all things for Himself. (St. Thomas Aquinas)


1:18 keys of Death and Hell: He has authority over bodily and spiritual death. (St. Andrew of Caesarea)  keys: that is, power.  of death: that is, of the devil, who is the cause of death, sin, and of hell.  'I will be thy death: O death, I will be thy bite of hell (Hos 13:14).'  (St. Thomas Aquinas)


1:19 Write: Namely, about the Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection, and the present troubles and present aid, and the things which must come to pass after this, that is, the last persecution, which ought to inspire you to endurance. (Hugh of St. Cher)  Write in order to teach others. (St. Thomas Aquinas)


1:20 The seven stars are the angels: that is, the bishops. (Hugh of St. Cher)

  1 Jesus Christ God known angel John 3 Blessed prophecy 4 churches Asia Grace 5 loved sins 6 priests God and his Father glory Amen 8 Alpha and Omega 9 Patmos 11Ephesus Smyrna Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea 13 Son of man 20 mystery angels of the seven churches