THE APOCALYPSE OF IOHN THE APOSTLE — CHAPTER VII
Nota Bene: Before proceeding, the reader is advised to review our post titled, PREFATORY TO THE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN THE APOSTLE as well as our post titled, THE ARGVMENT OF THE APOCALYPSE OF S. IOHN. The reader is also advised that the source text of THE APOCALYPSE OF IOHN THE APOSTLE — CHAPTER VII transcribed herewith can be accessed online by referring to pp. 712–713 of the original Rheims New Testament through the following link: THE NEVV TESTAMENT OF IESVS CHRIST, TRANSLATED FAITHFVLLY INTO ENGLISH, out of the authentical Latin, according to the beſt corrected copies of the ſame, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages: Vvith Argvments of bookes and chapters, Annotations, and other neceſſarie helpes, for the better vnderſtanding of the text, and ſpecially for the diſcouerie of the Corrvptions of diuers late tranſlations, and for cleering the Controversies in religion, of theſe daies: In the English College of Rhemes. PRINTED AT RHEMES, by Iohn Fogny. 1582.
Chap. VII.
The earth being to be puniſhed, 3 they are commaunded to ſaue them that are ſigned in their foreheads : 4 vvhich are deſcribed and numbered both of the Ievves and Gentiles, bleſsing God. 13 Of them that vvere clothed in vvhite ſtoles or long robes.
1. After theſe things I ſavv foure Angels ſtãding vpon the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure vvindes of the earth that they ſhould not blovv vpon the land, nor vpon the ſea, not on any tree. † b b The Epiſtle vpon Al-hallovves day. 2. And I ſavv an other Angel aſcenfing from the riſing of the ſunne, hauing the ſigne of the liuing God: & he cried vvith a loud voice to the foure Angels, to vvhom it vvas giuen to hurt the earth and the ſea, † 3. ſaying, Hurt not the earth and the ſea, nor the trees, til ⸬ vve ſigne the ſeruants of our God in their foreheades. ⸬ It is an alluſion to the ſigne of the Croſſe which the faithful beare in their foreheads, to ſhevv they be not aſhamed of Chriſt. S. Auguſt. tract. 43. in Io.
† 4. And I heard the number of them that vvere ſigned, an hundred fourtie foure thouſand vvere ſigned, c of euery tribe of the children of Iſraël. c Of al the tribes put together, ſo many, 144000. † 5. Of the tribe of Iuda, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Ruben, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Gad, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. † 6. Of the tribe of Aſer, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Nephthali, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Manaſſes, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. † 7. Of the tribe of Simeon, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Leui, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Iſſachar, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. † 8. Of the tribe of Zabulon, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Ioſeph, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. Of the tribe of Beniamin, tvvelue thouſand ſigned. He ſignifieth by theſe thouſands and the multitude folowing, al the elect: but the elect of the Ievves, to be in a certaine number: the elect of the Gentiles to be innumerable.
† 9. After theſe things I ſavv c a great multitude vvhich no man could number, of al nations, and tribes, and peoples, & tonges : c The elect of the Gentiles. ſtanding before the throne, and in the ſight of the Lambe, clothed in vvhite robes, and ⸬ palmes in their hands: ⸬ Boughes of the palme tree be tokens of triumph and victorie. † 10. And they cried vvith a lovvd voice, ſaying Saluation to our God vvhich ſitteth vpon the throne, and to the Lambe. † 11. and al the Angels ſtoode in the circuite of the throne and of the ſeniors and of the foure beaſtes: and they fel in the ſight of the throne vpon their faces, and adored God, † 12. ſaying, Amen. Benediction, and glorie, and vviſedom, & thãkesgiuing, honour and povver, and ſtrength to our God for euer and euer. Amen.⊣
The Epiſtle for many Martyrs. † 13. And one of the ſeniors anſvvered, & ſaid to me, Theſe that are clothed in the vvhite robes, vvho be they? & whence came they? † 14. And I ſaid to him, My Lord thou knovveſt. And he ſaid to me, Theſe are they vvhich are come out of great tribulation, and haue vvaſhed their robes, and made them vvhite in the bloud of the Lambe. The glorie of Martyrs. † 15. therfore they are before the throne of God, and they ſerue him day and night in his temple : and he that ſitteth in the throne, ſhal dvvel ouer them. † 16. * they ſhal no more hunger nor thirſt, neither ſhal the ſunne fall vpon them, nor any heate. Eſa. 49,10. † 17. becauſe the Lambe vvhich is in the middes of the throne, ſhal rule them, and ſhal conduct them to the liuing fountaines of vvaters, and * God vvil vvipe avvay al teares from their eies. Eſ. 25,8. Apo. 21,4.⊣
⊣ As stated at source in relation to the following mark, (⊣): “This marke ſignifieth the ending of Goſpels and Epiſtles.” See source page titled, The signification or meaning of the Nvmbers and Markes vſed in this Nevv Teſtament., said page following the preface titled, the preface to the reader treating of these three points: of the translation of holy scriptvres into the vulgar tongues, and namely into Engliſh: of the cauſes vvhy this nevv Teſtament is tranſlated accoring to the auncient vulgar Latin text: & of the maner of tranſlating the ſame.↩️