The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 73: Apocalypse
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8:4. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended
up before God from the hand of the angel.
8:5. And the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the
altar and cast it on the earth: and there were thunders and voices and
lightnings and a great earthquake.
8:6. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves
to sound the trumpet.
8:7. And the first angel sounded the trumpet: and there followed hail
and fire, mingled with blood: and it was cast on the earth. And the
third part of the earth was burnt up: and the third part of the trees
was burnt up: and all green grass was burnt up.
8:8. And the second angel sounded the trumpet: and, as it were, a great
mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea. And the third part
of the sea became blood.
8:9. And the third part of those creatures died which had life in the
sea: and the third part of the ships was destroyed.
8:10. And the third angel sounded the trumpet: and a great star fell
from heaven, burning as it were a torch. And it fell on the third part
of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters:
8:11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And the third part of
the waters became wormwood. And many men died of the waters, because
they were made bitter.
8:12. And the fourth angel sounded the trumpet: and the third part of
the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part
of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day
did not shine for a third part of it: and the night in like manner.
8:13. And I beheld: and heard the voice of one eagle flying through the
midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, Woe, Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the rest of the voices of the
three angels, who are yet to sound the trumpet!
Apocalypse Chapter 9
Locusts come forth from the bottomless pit. The vision of the army of
horsemen.
9:1. And the fifth angel sounded the trumpet: and I saw a star fall from
heaven upon the earth. And there was given to him the key of the
bottomless pit.
A star full... This may mean the fall and apostasy of great and learned
men from the true faith. Or a whole nation falling into error and
separating from the church, not having the sign of God in their
foreheads. And there was given to him the key of the bottomless pit...
That is, to the angel, not to the fallen star. To this angel was given
the power, which is here signified by a key, of opening hell.
9:2. And he opened the bottomless pit: and the smoke of the pit arose,
as the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened
with the smoke of the pit.
9:3. And from the smoke of the pit there came out locusts upon the
earth. And power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have
power.
There came out locusts... These may be devils in Antichrist's time,
having the appearance of locusts, but large and monstrous, as here
described. Or they may be real locusts, but of an extraordinary size and
monstrous shape, such as were never before seen on earth, sent to
torment those who have not the sign (or seal) of God on their foreheads.
Some commentators by these locusts understand heretics, and especially
those heretics, that sprung from Jews, and with them denied the divinity
of Jesus Christ; as Theodotus, Praxeas, Noetus, Paul of Samosata,
Sabellius, Arius, etc. These were great enemies of the Christian
religion; they tormented and infected the souls of men, stinging them
like scorpions, with the poison of their heresies. Others have explained
these locusts, and other animals, mentioned in different places
throughout this sacred and mystical book, in a most absurd, fanciful,
and ridiculous manner; they make Abaddon the Pope, and the locusts to be
friars mendicant, etc. Here it is thought proper, not to enter into any
controversy upon that subject, as the inventors of these fancies have
been already answered, and fully refuted by many controvertists:
besides, those who might be inposed on by such chimerical writers, are
in these days much better informed.
9:4. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of
the earth nor any green thing nor any tree: but only the men who have
not the sign of God on their foreheads.
9:5. And it was given unto them that they should not kill them: but that
they should torment them five months. And their torment was as the
torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man.
9:6. And in those days, men shall seek death and shall not find it. And
they shall desire to die: and death shall fly from them.
9:7. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto
battle. And on their heads were, as it were, crowns like gold: and their
faces were as the faces of men.
9:8. And they had hair as the hair of women: and their teeth were as
lions.
9:9. And they had breastplates as breastplates of iron: and the noise of
their wings was as the noise of chariots and many horses running to
battle.
9:10. And they had tails like to scorpions: and there were stings in
their tails. And their power was to hurt men, five months. And they had
over them
9:11. A king, the angel of the bottomless pit (whose name in Hebrew is
Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon, in Latin Exterminans).
9:12. One woe is past: and behold there come yet two woes more
hereafter.
9:13. And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet: and I heard a voice from
the four horns of the golden altar which is before the eyes of God,
9:14. Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet: Loose the four
angels who are bound in the great river Euphrates.
9:15. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour,
and a day, and a month, and a year: for to kill the third part of men.
9:16. And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times
ten thousand. And I heard the number of them.
9:17. And thus I saw the horses in the vision. And they that sat on them
had breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone. And the heads
of the horses were as the heads of lions: and from their mouths
proceeded fire and smoke and brimstone.
9:18. And by these three plagues was slain the third part of men, by the
fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which issued out of their
mouths.
9:19. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails.
For, their tails are like to serpents and have heads: and with them they
hurt.
9:20. And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did
not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore
devils and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which
neither can see nor hear nor walk:
9:21. Neither did they penance from their murders nor from their
sorceries nor from their fornication nor from their thefts.
Apocalypse Chapter 10
The cry of a mighty angel. He gives John a book to eat.
10:1. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with
a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head: and his face, as the sun, and
his feet as pillars of fire.
10:2. And he had in his hand a little book, open. And he set his right
foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.
10:3. And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when he
had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
10:4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about
to write. And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Seal up the
things which the seven thunders have spoken. And write them not.
10:5. And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth
lifted up his hand to heaven.
10:6. And he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created
heaven and the things which are therein, and the earth and the things
which are in it, and the sea and the things which are therein: That time
shall be no longer.
10:7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall
begin to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he
hath declared by his servants the prophets.
Declared... literally evangelized, to signify the good tidings,
agreeable to the Gospel, of the final victory of Christ, and of that
eternal life, which should be the reward of the temporal sufferings of
the martyrs and faithful servants of God.
10:8. And I heard a voice from heaven, again speaking to me and saying:
Go and take the book that is open, from the hand of the angel who
standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
10:9. And I went to the angel, saying unto him that he should give me
the book. And he said to me: Take the book and eat it up. And it shall
make thy belly bitter: but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.
10:10. And I took the book from the hand of the angel and ate it up: and
it was in my mouth, sweet as honey. And when I had eaten it, my belly
was bitter.
10:11. And he said to me: Thou must prophesy again to many nations and
peoples and tongues and kings.
Apocalypse Chapter 11
He is ordered to measure the temple. The two witnesses.
11:1. And there was given me a reed, like unto a rod. And it was said to
me: Arise, and measure the temple of God and the altar and them that
adore therein.
11:2. But the court which is without the temple, cast out and measure it
not: because it is given unto the Gentiles. And the holy city they shall
tread under foot, two and forty months:
11:3. And I will give unto my two witnesses: and they shall prophesy, a
thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
My two witnesses... It is commonly understood of Henoch and Elias.
11:4. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks that stand
before the Lord of the earth.
11:5. And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths
and shall devour their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, in this
manner must he be slain.
11:6. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of
their prophecy: And they have power over waters, to turn them into blood
and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
11:7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that
ascendeth out of the abyss shall make war against them and shall
overcome them and kill them.
11:8. And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city which
is called spiritually, Sodom and Egypt: where their Lord also was
crucified.
11:9. And they of the tribes and peoples and tongues and nations shall
see their bodies for three days and a half: and they shall not suffer
their bodies to be laid in sepulchres.
11:10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and
make merry: and shall send gifts one to another, because these two
prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth.
11:11. And after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God
entered into them. And they stood upon their feet: and great fear fell
upon them that saw them.
11:12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them: Come up
hither. And they went up to heaven in a cloud: and their enemies saw
them.
11:13. And at that hour there was made a great earthquake: and the tenth
part of the city fell. And there were slain in the earthquake, names of
men, seven thousand: and the rest were cast into a fear and gave glory
to the God of heaven.
11:14. The second woe is past: and behold the third woe will come
quickly.
11:15. And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet: and there were great
voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is become our Lord's
and his Christ's, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Amen.
11:16. And the four and twenty ancients who sit on their seats in the
sight of God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying:
11:17. We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art and who wast
and who art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power,
and thou hast reigned.
11:18. And the nations were angry: and thy wrath is come. And the time
of the dead, that they should be judged and that thou shouldest render
reward to thy servants the prophets and the saints, and to them that
fear thy name, little and great: and shouldest destroy them who have
corrupted the earth.
11:19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his
testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices
and an earthquake and great hail.
Apocalypse Chapter 12
The vision of the woman clothed with the sun and of the great dragon her
persecutor.
12:1. 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.
A woman... The church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to
our blessed Lady. The church is clothed with the sun, that is, with
Christ: she hath the moon, that is, the changeable things of the world,
under her feet: and the twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the
twelve apostles: she is in labour and pain, whilst she brings forth her
children, and Christ in them, in the midst of afflictions and
persecutions.
12:2. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in
pain to be delivered.
12:3. And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems.
12:4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast
them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready
to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her
son.
12:5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.
12:6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place
prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two hundred
sixty days.
12:7. And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels.
12:8. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
12:9. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is
called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was
cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.
12:10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation
and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ:
because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them
before our God day and night.
12:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of
the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.
12:12. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe
to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
12:13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child.
12:14. And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the desert, unto her place, where she is
nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the
serpent.
12:15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water, as
it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the
river.
12:16. And the earth helped the woman: and the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
12:17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war
with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
12:18. And he stood upon the sand of the sea.
Apocalypse Chapter 13
Of the beast with seven heads and of a second beast.
13:1. And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and
ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of
blasphemy.
A beast... This first beast with seven heads and ten horns, is probably
the whole company of infidels, enemies and persecutors of the people of
God, from the beginning to the end of the world. The seven heads are
seven kings, that is, seven principal kingdoms or empires, which have
exercised, or shall exercise, tyrannical power over the people of God;
of these, five were then fallen, viz.: the Egyptian, Assyrian, Chaldean,
Persian, and Grecian monarchies: one was present, viz., the empire of
Rome: and the seventh and chiefest was to come, viz., the great
Antichrist and his empire. The ten horns may be understood of ten lesser
persecutors.
13:2. And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard: and his feet were
as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the
dragon gave him his own strength and great power.
13:3. And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his
death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the
beast.
One of his heads, etc... Some understand this of the mortal wound, which
the idolatry of the Roman empire (signified by the sixth head) received
from Constantine; which was, as it were, healed again by Julian the
Apostate.
13:4. And they adored the dragon which gave power to the beast. And
they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? And who shall
be able to fight with him?
13:5. And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies: and power was given to him to do, two and forty months.
13:6. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme
his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.
His tabernacle, etc... That is, his church and his saints.
13:7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe and people and
tongue and nation.
13:8. And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the
beginning of the world.
Slain from the beginning, etc... In the foreknowledge of God; and
inasmuch as all mercy and grace, from the beginning, was given in view
of his death and passion.
13:9. If any man have an ear, let him hear.
13:10. He that shall lead into captivity shall go into captivity: he
that shall kill by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints.
13:11. And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth: and he had
two horns, like a lamb: and he spoke as a dragon.
Another beast... This second beast with two horns, may be understood of
the heathenish priests and magicians; the principal promoters both of
idolatry and persecution.
13:12. And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight.
And he caused the earth and them that dwell therein to adore the first
beast, whose wound to death was healed.
13:13. And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down
from heaven unto the earth, in the sight of men.
13:14. And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs which
were given him to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that
dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which
had the wound by the sword and lived.
13:15. And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and
that the image of the beast should speak: and should cause that
whosoever will not adore the image of the beast should be slain.
13:16. And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor,
freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand or on their
foreheads:
13:17. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the
character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
13:18. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the
number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of
him is six hundred sixty-six.
Six hundred sixty-six... The numeral letters of his name shall make up
this number.
Apocalypse Chapter 14
Of the Lamb and of the virgins that follow him. Of the judgments that
shall fall upon the wicked.
14:1. And I beheld: and lo a Lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an
hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father
written on their foreheads.
14:2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters and
as the voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as the
voice of harpers, harping on their harps.
14:3. And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne and
before the four living creatures and the ancients: and no man could say
the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand who were purchased
from the earth.
14:4. These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are
virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were
purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
14:5. And in their mouth there was found no lie: for they are without
spot before the throne of God.
14:6. And I saw another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having
the eternal gospel, to preach unto them that sit upon the earth and over
every nation and tribe and tongue and people:
14:7. Saying with a loud voice: Fear the Lord and give him honour,
because the hour of his judgment is come. And adore ye him that made
heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of waters.
14:8. And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen,
is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of
her fornication.
Babylon... By Babylon may be very probably signified all the wicked
world in general, which God will punish, and destroy after the short
time of this mortal life: or it may signify every great city wherein
enormous sins and abominations are daily committed; and that when the
measure of its iniquities is full, the punishments due to its crimes are
poured on it. It may also be some city of the description in the text,
that will exist, and be destroyed, as here described, towards the end of
the world.
14:9. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If
any man shall adore the beast and his image and receive his character in
his forehead or in his hand,
14:10. He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath: and shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight
of the Lamb.
14:11. And the smoke of their torments, shall ascend up for ever and
ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast
and his image and whoever receiveth the character of his name.
14:12. Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus.
14:13. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labours. For their works follow them.
Die in the Lord... It is understood of the martyrs who die for the Lord.
14:14. And I saw: and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one
sitting like to the Son of man, having on his head a crown of gold and
in his hand a sharp sickle.
14:15. And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud
voice to him that sat upon the cloud: Thrust in thy sickle and reap,
because the hour is come to reap. For the harvest of the earth is ripe.
14:16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth:
and the earth was reaped.
14:17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he
also having a sharp sickle.
14:18. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over
fire. And he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle,
saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the
vineyard of the earth, because the grapes thereof are ripe.
14:19. And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth and
gathered the vineyard of the earth and cast it into the great press of
the wrath of God:
14:20. And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of
the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred
furlongs.
Apocalypse Chapter 15
They that have overcome the beast glorify God. Of the seven angels with
the seven vials.
15:1. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven
angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath
of God.
15:2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them
that had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:
15:3. And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the
canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord
God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, O King of ages.
15:4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou
only art holy. For all nations shall come and shall adore in thy sight,
because thy judgments are manifest.
15:5. And after these things, I looked: and behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
15:6. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven
plagues, clothed with clean and white linen and girt about the breasts
with golden girdles.