Cornelius a Lapide
Editorial Note
This appendix is Lapide's own chronological summary of the entire Apocalypse, presenting the order of the prophetic visions from chapters I through XXII in a single ordered enumeration.
Just as the Prophets received various revelations, even concerning the same matter, at different times, and consequently do not always preserve chronological order but recount later events first and earlier events afterward, and vice versa: so does S. John here from time to time, but more sparingly and less frequently. For the Apocalypse is more connected, consistent and orderly than the prophecy of Isaiah, Jeremiah and the other Prophets. The reason is that the whole Apocalypse turns upon the sealed book which John saw in chapter v, and its seals. Therefore some less rightly judge the order in the Apocalypse to be greatly confused and disturbed: their opinion moved Alcazar to devise a new interpretation, in which he might exactly preserve and uphold the order and sequence of S. John, namely by explaining everything mystically and symbolically. I judge both of these extremes to be less true and to be avoided, and that the middle way must be followed, namely that the order be preserved as far as possible, and the sequence of the text not be inverted, unless necessity or evident reason compels it; yet where it does compel, I shall not unwillingly admit a hysterologia and inverted order. That this happens very rarely will soon appear from the chronotaxis itself, namely only in four cases: first, in the seventh angel and trumpet of the seventh seal, of which chapter xi, verse 15, which is not to be placed before the sealed book, as the remaining seals are, but after, and that from the nature of the matter, namely the consummation of the world which it brings; whence properly there is no hysterologia in it, but the right series and order of things to be done. Second, in the binding of Satan accomplished by Christ, which ought to have been placed at the beginning of the Apocalypse; and his loosing in the time of Antichrist, which ought to have been placed at the beginning of chapter eleven: but they are placed here in chapter xx, for the reason I gave there. Third, in the narration of the death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven of Elijah and Enoch; for the account of their life is woven in chapter xi, verse 7, when in right order it should be placed in chapter xix, before verse 11. Fourth, in some visions which are interjected here and there at intervals concerning the heavenly glory of the Blessed, and concerning the judgment and pains of hell of the reprobate, as is seen in chapter vii, verse 15; chapter xiv, verse 14; chapter xv, verse 2. For these properly belong by their order to the end of the Apocalypse; yet they are often commemorated and recalled, partly in the seals, partly in the sealed book: because it is the work of the Apocalypse, through these and similar things, to encourage the faithful, both present and future, to endurance and constancy in persecutions; and nothing so encourages them as the hope and consideration of the glory and crown of Heaven. Again, to terrify and strike sinners, both present and future, especially in the time of Antichrist, when charity shall grow cold and iniquity shall abound, by the threat of divine judgment and the pains of hell. For the serious and attentive consideration of these things especially deters and restrains the impious from sins. Receive then the chronotaxis of the whole Apocalypse.
First, in the first three chapters are recounted the seven epistles and admonitions of Christ to the seven bishops and Churches of Asia Minor.
Second, in chapters iv and v, S. John through a vision sees the book sealed with seven seals, in which were described or consigned those things which were to come to pass from the time of S. John until the end of the world, and especially those which are to come under the times of Antichrist: for the seven seals contain those things which are to come, partly completely, partly inchoately, before Antichrist; but the sealed book itself contains the things to come in the time of Antichrist. Furthermore, the seals begin to be opened in chapter vi, and end in chapter x, verse 8: for there, the seals now being opened, the book is unsealed; therefore from chapter eleven to the end of the Apocalypse are recounted those things which were written or represented in the sealed book.
Third, in chapter six, in the first seal, by the white horse is signified the victory of the Apostles, and of the preachers of the Gospel over paganism and the gentiles who were and were yet to be subjected to Christ. In the second seal, by the red horse are signified the ten persecutions of the faithful, through the ten Roman Emperors down to Constantine. In the third seal, by the black horse is signified Arianism and the heresies which, after the persecutions of the Emperors, under Constantine the Great began to attack the Church. In the fourth seal, by the pale horse is signified Mahomet and Saracenism, which still now persecutes the Church. In the fifth seal, the souls of the holy Martyrs come forth, asking for the end of persecutions and for vengeance. In the sixth seal, John passes to the last times: whence he sees the sun darkened, the moon redden, stars fall from heaven, etc. Therefore from this point onward to the end of the book he treats of the last times, namely of the time of Antichrist, as in chapter xi and following, or of the years contiguous to it, and those immediately preceding it, as he does from this place of the sixth seal up to chapter xi.
Fourth, in chapter seven the elect Jews and Gentiles are sealed, lest they be touched by the plagues of God and of His seven angels which are now about to be sent forth into the world, that is, against the impious. This sealing pertains to the sixth seal, of which chapter vi, verse 12: for it precedes the plagues which are contained in the seventh seal, and consequently it will precede Antichrist: understand this in an inchoate sense: for the Jews shall begin to be converted and sealed before Antichrist, but they shall be fully and universally converted and sealed after Antichrist.
Magog, and Antichrist. For a little before their slaughter Elias and Henoch shall be killed, shall rise again, and shall ascend into Heaven. Here also, namely in verse 15 of chapter xi, he weaves in the seventh trumpet of the seventh angel and of the seventh seal. For this alone among the seals shall not precede the times of Antichrist, but rather shall follow them: for it shall accompany the death, resurrection, and ascension of Elias and Henoch; wherefore it, no less than the death, resurrection, and ascension of Elias and Henoch, seems in proper order to be placed in chapter xix, before verse 11: for it precedes Christ's victory and judgment.
Fifthly, in chapters eight and nine the seventh seal is opened, and seven angels go forth sending seven plagues upon the world — that is, upon the unsealed wicked. Christ briefly foretold these plagues in general in Matthew xxiv:29, Mark xiii:24, and Luke xxi:25; but John here narrates them in detail and seal by seal. Ribera judges that the destruction of Babylon, treated in chapters xvii and xviii, also belongs here. But on chapter xvii, verses 16 and 17, I have shown that it is set in its own place and order, and pertains not to the seals but to the sealed book.
Sixthly, in chapter ten, S. John sees an Angel in glorious garb, swearing that there shall be time no more — that is, that the end of the world is at hand: soon seven thunders peal forth and answer him in unison. Then, in verse 8, the seven seals being now opened, he is bidden to devour the book formerly sealed but now opened. Wherefore here the seals come to an end, and the first part of the Apocalypse, containing those things that shall be preliminary to Antichrist, is concluded, and the second part begins — which is the book itself, or the substance of the book: therefore
Seventhly, in chapter eleven he recounts those things that were contained in the book, which all pertain to the time of Antichrist. Thus chapter xi foretells that a great part of the Church and of the faithful shall be handed over to Antichrist, and that Elias and Henoch shall fight against him. For these shall be the two heads and chiefs of the faithful resisting Antichrist, and consequently they shall be as it were the leaders of the holy war against Antichrist, which he describes in the following chapters. Moreover, because in this chapter John has begun the history of Elias and Henoch, lest he be compelled to mention them again in what follows, he weaves it in here, and treats of their death, martyrdom, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven — all of which shall happen later, and whose proper place seems to be, that they should be placed in chapter xix, before verse 11, namely before the battle which Christ shall wage against Gog and Magog and Antichrist.
Eighthly, he describes the war of the demon against the faithful and the Church through Antichrist, throughout the whole of chapter xii. Ninthly, in chapter thirteen he describes Antichrist, his character and his forerunner, under the appearance and symbol of two beasts.
Tenthly, in chapter fourteen he describes the glory of the virgins who shall nobly resist Antichrist. Then, on that occasion, he summarily touches upon the day of judgment and the punishments of the reprobate in hell. Eleventhly, in chapters fifteen and sixteen he describes the seven last plagues. Twelfthly, after these shall follow the destruction of Babylon, of which he treats in chapters xvii and xviii; and thence the jubilation and exultation of the Saints, of which he treats at the beginning of chapter xix. Then he begins to narrate Christ's final battle against Antichrist, Gog, and Magog, and completes its narrative in chapter xx. There he traces the origin of this war from a deeper source, and begins from the binding of Satan accomplished a thousand years ago by Christ — who shall be loosed at the beginning of Antichrist's reign, but more so at its end, when he shall bring against him Gog and Magog and other nations. Then, after their slaughter, he describes Christ coming to the final judgment.
Finally, in chapters twenty-one and twenty-two he portrays at length and graphically the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, prepared for the Martyrs and Saints who fight nobly, which they shall receive from Christ as a prize on the day of judgment. From what has been said, it is easy to see how upright and exact is S. John's sequence and the order of events and times, and how rare and few are the historical inversions in the Apocalypse.