Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER II.

ON THE ANTIQUITY OF THE PROPOSED

INTERPRETATION.

6

CALMET, in his Bibliotheca Sacra, speaking of the Commentators on the Apocalypse, observes that some expound the visions, which St John proposes to us, as declaring those signs, which are to be the 'forerunners of the last judgment, of the coming of 'Antichrist, and his wars with the saints:' And he names Victorinus, Primasius, Andreas and Arethas, as having adopted this interpretation'.

6

PERERIUS, after describing the interpretation, which was current in the Church during the middle ages, proceeds as follows: Another method of interpreting the Apocalypse, is that adopted by several writers, who are far from being contemptible, that ⚫ all or at least the greater part of the visions, described by St John in this book, must be interpreted concerning the last ages of the Church, and the per'secution of Antichrist, and the final coming of Christ to judgment. This mode of interpretation is fol'lowed for the most part by Victorinus, the martyr ; in several places by the Venerable Bede, and Albertus

6

6

6

1 Calmet, Bibliotheca Sacra, Art. Lxiv.

2 Altera interpretandi Apocalypsin ratio est quorundam minimè ignobilium scriptorum, aut omnes, aut certè plerasque visiones B. Joannis in hoc libro descriptas, interpretari de novissimis ecclesiae temporibus, et de Antichristi per

secutione, et de ultimo Christi adventu ad judicandum: quasi hoc tantùm in suâ Apocalypsi B. Joannes cognoverit, et scriptis tradiderit. Hanc secundam interpretandi rationem ferè secutus est Victorinus martyr, et plurifariam Venerabilis Beda, et Albertus Magnus; et in eâ ipsâ plurimum noster Ribera

[ocr errors]

6

Magnus; and in a great measure also by our countryman Ribera.'

With the exception of Victorinus, the present writer would hardly venture to include the Commentators here named in this first class of interpreters. They incline rather towards the opinion, that the Apocalypse unfolds the future fortunes of the Christian Church. There is, however, one author, Cassiodorus, who decidedly adopted this interpretation. The opinions of this eminent writer, on the subject of the Apocalypse, were probably not known to Pererius, because this portion of his works was supposed to have perished. They were discovered, however, and published in the early part of the last century.

6

6

CASSIODORUS. 3A certain preface is prefixed, in order briefly to indicate the dignity of the present 'book. For the Apostle John affirms, that a vision concerning the end of the world was shewn to him by the Lord Christ: and he mentions the person by whom, and the cause for which it was shewn: that, by the disclosure of truths of such great moment, 'both the faithful disciple might acquire confidence, ' and the conscience of the infidel might be struck 'with awe. A blessing is also pronounced on him 'that readeth, and on them that hear the words of

6

6

versatur. Pererius, Prolegomena in Apocalypsin, Disp. viii. p. 28.

The reader will observe, that the phrase, "hanc secundam interpretandi rationem," refers simply to the order in which Pererius has classed the interpretations which he notices: for, according to the chronology of the interpretations themselves, this unquestionably holds the first rank.

3 Quidam prologus praemittitur, ut praesentis libri dignitas breviter indicetur: dicit enim Joannes Apostolus, a Domino Christo visionem sibi de fine saeculi fuisse monstratam; et per quem, et cur sit ostensa memoratur: ut tantâ veritate patefactâ, et confidentiam devotus acciperet, et metum infidelium conscientia reperiret. Laudatur etiam, qui haec legere vel custodire maluerit;

[ocr errors]

this prophecy, and keep those things that are

' written therein: in order that the minds of the faithful, being invited by such promises, may be 'the more ardently excited.'

Going back to still earlier times, the next testimony which occurs is found in the Homilies, which pass under the name of

6

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

16

TYCHONIUS. In one very ancient MS. of this 'work the first Homily begins with the following "words:"With regard to those things, my beloved brethren, which are contained in the Apocalypse of 'St John, it was the opinion of several of the ancient Fathers, that the whole or at least the far larger part appears from the very words themselves to signify the day of judgment and the coming of 'Antichrist. Those, however, who have examined 'the subject more diligently, [have thought] that the things, which are contained in the Revelation ' itself, began immediately after the passion of our 'Lord and Saviour, and so are to be in a state of ' progressive fulfilment until the day of judgment: so that a small portion only would appear to remain for the times of Antichrist.""

6

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

ut talibus promissionibus invitatus devotorum animus ardentiùs excitetur. Cassiodori Complexiones, p. 213.

1 Porro, in vetustissimo Abbatiae S. Petri Carnutensis codice Homilia prima non idem quod in editis habet exordium, sed aliquanto diversum sub hisce verbis :--Ea quae in Apocalypsi sancti Joannis continentur, fratres carissimi, aliquibus ex antiquis patribus hoc visum est, quòd aut tota, aut certè maxima pars ex

ipsâ lectione, diem judicii, vel adventum Antichristi significare videatur. Illi autem qui diligentiùs tractaverunt, quôd ea quae in ipsâ revelatione continentur, statim post passionem Domini Salvatoris nostri fuerunt inchoata, et ita sunt usque ad diem judicii consummanda; ut parva portio temporibus Antichristi remanere videatur. Admonitio de Tychonii Expositione in Apocalypsin, p. 142.

6

This extract appears to the present writer exceedingly important: for it clearly proves these two points;-first, that not only had the Apocalypse been understood with reference to the second coming of the Messiah, but those whom this writer calls ancient Fathers,' so understood it ;-secondly, that the system of accommodating its visions to the history of the Christian Church was not introduced until a later period.

Unhappily, but few of the works of these ancient Fathers' have escaped the ravages of time. Such fragments, however, as have been preserved, shall now be presented to the consideration of the reader. The earliest expositions of the Apocalypse which are extant, are the Commentary of Victorinus, and the Homilies, which pass under the name of Tychonius. These two works, though scarcely more than mutilated fragments, are yet very valuable, as preserving remnants of the original interpretation of the Apocalypse, which are not to be met with in later authors. And, what is also worthy of observation, the former writer is more clear and full on this subject than the latter. As neither Victorinus nor Tychonius has given any statement of the general subject of the Apocalypse, but both proceed at once to an exposition of its several parts, their opinions on this point can only be ascertained by inference from the particulars of their interpretations. But the allusions to the latter times, the times of Antichrist, the end of the world, the coming of Christ, the universal judgment, the happiness of the life to come, contained in these works, afford a strong presumption that their authors looked upon the whole prophecy as relating chiefly, if not entirely, to those events.

[ocr errors]

6

6

SECTION I.

Ch. i. ver. 7. Behold, He cometh with clouds, &c.] VICTORINUS. He, who first came concealed under the manhood, which He had assumed, will ' after a short time come openly in majesty and glory 'to judgment.' With this coming of Christ to judgment the vision described, ver. 12-16, is supposed to be immediately connected: and this connexion gives rise to the following interpretations.

Ver. 15. And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.] This passage receives two interpretations. First,

[ocr errors]

TYCHONIUS writes as follows. In these burning feet the Church is to be understood; which 'immediately before the day of judgment is to be tried by excessive persecutions, and proved by fire. And because the foot is the lowest part of the body, and the feet are said to be burning, therefore by these feet is understood the Church in the last time; which is to be proved by many tribulations ' like gold in a furnace.' After a few lines, however, he returns again to this passage, and gives a different interpretation of it. 3. With regard to the preced

6

6

6

6

ing passage: His feet like unto fine brass, as if

they burned in a furnace: this may be understood

1 Qui primò in suscepto homine venit occultus, post paululum in majestate et gloriâ veniet ad judicandum manifestus.

2 In pedibus ignitis ecclesia intelligitur; quae, imminente die judicii, nimietate pressurarum probanda et igne examinanda est. Et quia pes novissima pars est corpo

ris, et pedes ignitos dixit esse, ideo in pedibus ecclesia novissimi temporis intelligitur, multis tribulationibus velut aurum in fornace probanda.

3

Quod autem supra dixit, Pedes ejus similes aurichalco, tanquam in fornace conflati, possunt etiam apostoli intelligi, qui per passionem

« PreviousContinue »