1 Virgins follow the Lamb whithersoever, singing a new canticle. 6 One Angel evangelizeth the Gospel: 8 an other Angel telleth the fall of Babylon: 9 the third declareth their torments that have adored the beast. Moreover 14 the same having sickle, 16 one of them is commanded to reap during the corn, 18 the other to gather the grapes as in vintage, which are trodden in the lake of God's wrath.1 Virgins follovv the Lambe vvhithersoeuer, singing a nevv canticle. 6 One Angel Euangelizeth the Gospel: 8 an other Angel telleth the fal of Babylon: 9 the third declareth their torments that haue adored the beast. Moreouer 14 the same hauing sickle, 16 one of them is commaunded to reape during the corne, 18 the other to gather the grapes as in vintage, vvhich are troden in the lake of Gods vvrath.✦
And I looked, & behold a Lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty four thousand having his name, and the name of his Father written in their foreheads.AND I looked, & behold a Lambe stoode vpon mount Sion, and vvith him an hundred fourtie foure thousand hauing his name, and the name of his Father vvritten in their foreheads.✦Et vidi : et ecce Agnus stabat supra montem Sion, et cum eo centum quadraginta quatuor millia, habentes nomen ejus, et nomen Patris ejus scriptum in frontibus suis.
2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder: and the voice which I heard, as of harpers harping on their harps.And I heard a voice from heauen, as the voice of many vvaters, and as the voice of great thunder: and the voice vvhich I heard, as of harpers harping on their harpes.✦Et audivi vocem de cælo, tamquam vocem aquarum multarum, et tamquam vocem tonitrui magni : et vocem, quam audivi, sicut citharœdorum citharizantium in citharis suis.
3And they sang as it were a new song before the seat and before the four beasts, and the seniores: elderly men; elders, ancients of the heavenly court, and no man could say the song, but those hundred forty four thousand, that were bought from the earth.And they sang as it vvere a nevv song before the seate and before the foure beastes, and the seniors, and no man could say the song, but those hundred fourtie foure thousand, that vvere bought from the earth.✦Et cantabant quasi canticum novum ante sedem, et ante quatuor animalia, et seniores : et nemo poterat dicere canticum, nisi illa centum quadraginta quatuor millia, qui empti sunt de terra.
4These are they which were not defiled with women. For they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall go. These were bought from among men, the first fruits to God and the Lamb:These are they vvhich vvere not defiled vvith vvomen. For they are virgins. These folovv the Lambe vvhithersoeuer he shal goe. These vvere bought from among men, `c` the first fruites to God and the Lambe:✦Hi sunt, qui cum mulieribus non sunt coinquinati : virgines enim sunt. Hi sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit. Hi empti sunt ex hominibus primitiæ Deo, et Agno :
5and in their mouth there was found no lie. for they are without spot before the throne of God.and in their mouth there vvas found no lie. for they are vvithout spot before the throne of God.✦et in ore eorum non est inventum mendacium : sine macula enim sunt ante thronum Dei.
6And I saw an other Angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the eternal Gospel, to evangelize unto them that sit upon the earth, and upon every nation, and tribe, and tongue, & people:And I savv an other Angel flying through the middes of heauen, hauing the eternal Gospel, to euangelize vnto them that sit vpon the earth, and vpon euery nation, and tribe, and tõgue, & people:✦Et vidi alterum angelum volantem per medium cæli, habentem Evangelium æternum, ut evangelizaret sedentibus super terram, et super omnem gentem, et tribum, et linguam, et populum :
7saying with a loud voice, Fear our Lord, and give him honour, because the hour of his judgement is come: and adore ye him that made heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them, and the fountains of waters.saying vvith a loud voice, Feare our Lord, and giue him honour, because the houre of his iudgement is come: and adore ye him * that made heauen and earth, the sea and al things that are in them, and the fountaines of vvaters.✦dicens magna voce : Timete Dominum, et date illi honorem, quia venit hora judicii ejus : et adorate eum, qui fecit cælum, et terram, mare, et fontes aquarum.
8And an other Angel followed, saying, Fallen fallen is that great Babylon, which of the wine of the wrath of her fornication made all nations to drink.And an other Angel folovved, saying, * Fallen fallen is that great Babylon, vvhich of the vvine of the vvrath of her fornication made al nations to drinke.✦Et alius angelus secutus est dicens : Cecidit, cecidit Babylon illa magna : quæ a vino iræ fornicationis suæ potavit omnes gentes.
9And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man adore the beast and his image, and receive the character: a brand, a mark stamped on in his forehead, or in his hand:And the third Angel folovved them, saying vvith a loud voice, If any man adore the beast and his image, and receiue the character in his forehead, or in his hand:✦Et tertius angelus secutus est illos, dicens voce magna : Si quis adoraverit bestiam, et imaginem ejus, et acceperit caracterem in fronte sua, aut in manu sua :
10he also shall drink of the merum: neat, unmixed wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath, and shall be tormented with fire & brimstone in the sight of the holy Angels and before the sight of the Lamb.he also shal drinke of the vvine of the vvrath of God, vvhich is mingled vvith pure vvine in the cuppe of his vvrath, and shal be tormented vvith fire & brimstone in the sight of the holy Angels and before the sight of the Lambe.✦et hic bibet de vino iræ Dei, quod mistum est mero in calice iræ ipsius, et cruciabitur igne, et sulphure in conspectu angelorum sanctorum, et ante conspectum Agni :
11and the smoke of their torments shall ascend for ever & ever: neither have they rest day and night, which have adored the beast, and his image, and if any man take the character of his name.and the smoke of their torments shal ascend for euer & euer: neither haue they rest day and night, vvhich haue adored the beast, and his image, and if any man take the character of his name.✦et fumus tormentorum eorum ascendet in sæcula sæculorum : nec habent requiem die ac nocte, qui adoraverunt bestiam, et imaginem ejus, et si quis acceperit caracterem nominis ejus.
12Here is the patience of saints, which keep the commandments of God and the faith of JESUS.Here is the patience of sainctes, vvhich keepe the commaundements of God and the faith of IESVS.✦Hic patientia sanctorum est, qui custodiunt mandata Dei, et fidem Jesu.
13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead which die in our Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they rest from their labours. for their works follow them.`b` And I heard a voice from heauen, saying to me, Vvrite: Blessed are the dead vvhich die in our Lord. From hence forth novv, saith the Spirit, that they rest from their labours. for their vvorkes folovv them.¶✦Et audivi vocem de cælo, dicentem mihi : Scribe : Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur. Amodo jam dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant a laboribus suis : opera enim illorum sequuntur illos.
14And 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.And I savv, and behold a vvhite cloude: and vpon the cloude one sitting like to the Sonne of man, hauing on his head a crovvne of gold, and in his hand a sharpe sickle.✦Et vidi : et ecce nubem candidam, et super nubem sedentem similem Filio hominis, habentem in capite suo coronam auream, et in manu sua falcem acutam.
15And an other Angel came forth 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 dry.And an other Angel came forth from the temple, crying vvith a loud voice to him that sate vpon the cloude, * Thrust in thy sickle, and reape, because the houre is come to reape, for the haruest of the earth is drie.✦Et alius angelus exivit de templo, clamans voce magna ad sedentem super nubem : Mitte falcem tuam, et mete, quia venit hora ut metatur, quoniam aruit messis terræ.
16And he that sat upon the cloud, thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped.And he that sate vpon the cloude, thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth vvas reaped.✦Et misit qui sedebat super nubem, falcem suam in terram, et demessa est terra.
17And an other Angel came forth from the temple which is in heaven, himself also having a sharp sickle.And an other Angel came forth from the temple vvhich is in heauẽ, him self also hauing a sharpe sickle.✦Et alius angelus exivit de templo, quod est in cælo, habens et ipse falcem acutam.
18And an other Angel came forth from the altar, which had power over the 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 be ripe.And an other Angel came forth from the altar, vvhich had povver ouer the fire: and he cried vvith a loud voice to him that had the sharpe sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharpe sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth: because the grapes thereof be ripe.✦Et alius angelus exivit de altari, qui habebat potestatem supra ignem : et clamavit voce magna ad eum qui habebat falcem acutam, dicens : Mitte falcem tuam acutam, et vindemia botros vineæ terræ : quoniam maturæ sunt uvæ ejus.
19And the Angel thrust his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, & cast it into the great lacum: winepress of the wrath of God:And the Angel thrust his sharpe sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, & cast it into the great `c` presse of the vvrath of God:✦Et misit angelus falcem suam acutam in terram, et vindemiavit vineam terræ, et misit in lacum iræ Dei magnum :
20and the press was trodden without the city, and blood came forth out of the press, up to the horse bridles, for a thousand six hundred stadium: stadia, a measure of about an eighth of a mile.and the presse vvas troden vvithout the citie, and bloud came forth out of the presse, vp to the horse bridles, for a thousand sixe hundred furlongs.✦et calcatus est lacus extra civitatem, et exivit sanguis de lacu usque ad frenos equorum per stadia mille sexcenta.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
13From henceforth now. This being specially spoken of Martyrs (as not only S. Augustine seemeth to take it, but the Calvinists themselves, translating, in domino, for our Lords cause) the Protestants have no reason to use the place against Purgatory or prayer for the departed, seeing the Catholic Church and all her children confess, that all Martyrs are straight after their death, in bliss, and need no prayers. Whereof this is S. Augustine's known sentence, He doeth injury to the Martyr, that prayeth for the Martyr. Ser. 17 de verb. Apost. c. 1. And again to this purpose he writeth thus most excellently tract. 84 in John. We keep not a memory of Martyrs at our Lords table, as we do of other that rest in peace, that is, for the intent to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us &c. But if we take the words generally for all deceased in state of grace, as it may be also, then we say that even such, though they be in Purgatory and God's chastisement in the next life, and need our prayers, yet (according to the foresaid words of S. Augustine) do rest in peace, being discharged from the labours, afflictions, and persecutions of this world, and (which is more) from the daily dangers of sin and damnation, and put into infallible security of eternal joy with unspeakable comfort of conscience, and such indeed are more happy and blessed then any living, who yet are usually in the Scriptures called blessed, even in the midst of the tribulations of this life. Whereby we see that these words, from henceforth they shall rest from their labours, may truly agree to them also that are in Purgatory, and so here is nothing proved against Purgatory. Lastly, this adverb, a modo, in Latin, as in the Greek ἀπάρτι, doth not properly signify, from this present time forward, as though the Apostle had said, that after their death and so forward they are happy: but it noteth and joineth the time past together with the time present, in this sense, that such as have died since Christ's Ascension, when the first entering into heaven opened it for others, go not to Limbus Patrum, as they were wont before Christ's time, but are in case to go straight to bliss, except the impediment be in themselves. Therefore they are here called blessed, that die now in this state of grace & of the new Testament, in comparison of the old faithful and good persons.From hence forth now. This being specially spoken of Martyrs (as not onely S. Augustine seemeth to take it, but the Caluinists them selues, translating, in domino, for our Lords cause) the Protestants haue no reason to vse the place against Purgatorie or praier for the departed, seeing the Catholike Church and al her children confesse, that al Martyrs are straight after their death, in blisse, and neede no praiers. Vvhereof this is S. Augustines knowen sentence, He doeth iniurie to the Martyr, that praieth for the Martyr. Ser. 17 de verb. Apost. c. 1. And againe to this purpose he vvriteth thus most excellently tract. 84 in Ioan. Vve keepe not a memorie of Martyrs at our Lords table, as vve doe of other that rest in peace, that is, for the intent to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for vs &c. But if vve take the vvordes generally for al deceased in state of grace, as it may be also, then vve say that euen such, though they be in Purgatorie and Gods chastisement in the next life, and neede our praiers, yet (according to the foresaid vvordes of S. Augustine) do rest in peace, being discharged from the labours, afflictions, and persecutions of this vvorld, and (vvhich is more) from the daily dangers of sinne and damnation, and put into infallible securitie of eternal ioy vvith vnspeakable comfort of conscience, and such in deede are more happie and blessed then any liuing, vvho yet are vsually in the Scriptures called blessed, euen in the middes of the tribulations of this life. Vvhereby vve see that these vvordes, from hence forth they shal rest from their labours, may truely agree to them also that are in Purgatorie, and so here is nothing proued against Purgatorie. Lastly, this aduerbe, a modo, in Latin, as in the Greeke ἀπάρτι, doth not properly signifie, from this present time forward, as though the Apostle had said, that after their death and so forward they are happie: but it noteth and ioyneth the time past togeter vvith the time present, in this sense, that such as haue died since Christs Ascension, vvhen the first entring into heauen opened it for others, goe not to Limbus Patrum, as they vvere vvont before Christs time, but are in case to goe straight to blisse, except the impediment be in them selues. Therfore they are here called blessed, that die novv in this state of grace & of the nevv Testament, in comparison of the old faithful and good persons.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.