To his Disciples (by occasion of Jerusalem and the Temple's destruction) he foretelleth, 4. what things shall be before the consummation of the world, as specially 14. the Church's full preaching unto all Nations: 15. then, what shall be in the very consummation, to wit, Antichrist with his passing great persecution and seduction, but for a short time: 29. then incontinent, the Day of judgment, to our great comfort in those miseries under Antichrist. 35. As for the moment, to us it pertaineth not to know it. 37. but rather every man to watch, that we be not unprovided when he cometh to each one particularly by death.To his Disciples (by occasion of Hierusalem and the Temples destruction) he foretelleth, 4. what things shal be before the consummation of the world, as specially 14. the Churches ful preaching vnto al Nations: 15. then, what shal be in the very consummation, to wit, Antichrist with his passing great persecution and seduction, but for a short time: 29. then incontinent, the Day of iudgement, to our great comfort in those miseries vnder Antichrist. 35. As for the moment, to vs it pertaineth not to know it. 37. but rather euery man to watch, that we be not vnprouided when he commeth to each one particularly by death.
And JESUS being gone out of the temple, went. And his Disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple.AND IESVS being gone out of the temple, went. And his Disciples came to shew him the buildinges of the temple.Et egressus Jesus de templo, ibat. Et accesserunt discipuli ejus, ut ostenderent ei ædificationes templi.
2And he answering said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you, there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be destroyed.And he answering said to them: Doe you see al these things? Amen I say to you, there shal not be left here a stone vpon a stone that shal not be destroyed.Ipse autem respondens dixit illis : Videtis hæc omnia ? amen dico vobis, non relinquetur hic lapis super lapidem, qui non destruatur.
3And when he was sitting upon Mount Olivet, the Disciples came to him secretly, saying: Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the world?And when he was sitting vpon Mount-oliuet, the Disciples came to him secretly, saying: Tel vs when shal these things be? and what shal be the signe of thy comming, and of the consummation of the world?Sedente autem eo super montem Oliveti, accesserunt ad eum discipuli secreto, dicentes : Dic nobis, quando hæc erunt ? et quod signum adventus tui, et consummationis sæculi ?
4And Jesus answering, said to them: Beware that no man seduce you:And IESVS answering, said to them: Beware that no man seduce you:Et respondens Jesus, dixit eis : Videte ne quis vos seducat :
5for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ; and they shall seduce many.for many shal come in my name saying, I am Christ; and they shal seduce many.multi enim venient in nomine meo, dicentes : Ego sum Christus : et multos seducent.
6For you shall hear of wars, and opiniones: rumours, reports of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must be done, but the end is not yet.For you shal heare of warres, & bruites of warres. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must be done, but the end is not yet.Audituri enim estis prælia, et opiniones præliorum. Videte ne turbemini : oportet enim hæc fieri, sed nondum est finis :
7For Nation shall rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places;For Nation shal rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom; and there shal be pestilences, and famines, and earth-quakes in places;consurget enim gens in gentem, et regnum in regnum, et erunt pestilentiæ, et fames, et terræmotus per loca :
8and all these things are the beginnings of sorrows.and al these things are the beginnings of sorowes.hæc autem omnia initia sunt dolorum.
9Then shall they deliver you into tribulation, and shall kill you: and you shall be odious to all Nations for my name's sake.Then shal they deliuer you into tribulation, and shal kil you: and you shal be odious to al Nations for my names sake.Tunc tradent vos in tribulationem, et occident vos : et eritis odio omnibus gentibus propter nomen meum.
10And then many shall be scandalized: and they shall deliver up one another: and they shall hate one another.And then many shal be scandalized: and they shal deliuer vp one an other: and they shal hate one an other.Et tunc scandalizabuntur multi, et invicem tradent, et odio habebunt invicem.
11And many False-Prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many.And many False-Prophets shal rise, and shal seduce many.Et multi pseudoprophetæ surgent, et seducent multos.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the charity of many shall refrigescet: candle-wax, the substance cold.And because iniquitie shal abound, the charitie of many shal waxe cold.Et quoniam abundavit iniquitas, refrigescet caritas multorum :
13But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.But he that shal perseuer to the end, he shal be saued.qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit.
14And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all Nations, and then shall come the consummation.And this Ghospel of the Kingdom shal be preached in the whole world, for a testimonie to al Nations, and then shal come the consummation.Et prædicabitur hoc Evangelium regni in universo orbe, in testimonium omnibus gentibus : et tunc veniet consummatio.
15Therefore when you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the holy place (he that readeth, let him understand)Therfore when you shal see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the holy place (he that readeth, let him vnderstand)Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quæ dicta est a Daniele propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat :
16then they that are in Jewry, let them flee to the mountains:then they that are in Iewrie, let them flee to the mountaines:tunc qui in Judæa sunt, fugiant ad montes :
17and he that is on the house-top, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:and he that is on the house-top, let him not come downe to take any thing out of his house:et qui in tecto, non descendat tollere aliquid de domo sua :
18and he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.and he that is in the field, let him not goe back to take his coate.et qui in agro, non revertatur tollere tunicam suam.
19And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.And woe to them that are with child, and that giue suck in those daies.Væ autem prægnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus !
20But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the Sabbath.But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the Sabboth.Orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra in hieme, vel sabbato :
21For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.For there shal be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world vntil now, neither shal be.erit enim tunc tribulatio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo, neque fiet.
22And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the Elect the days shall be shortened.And vnles those daies had been shortned, no flesh should be saued: but for the Elect the daies shal be shortned.Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro : sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi.
23Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there: do not believe him.Then if any man shal say to you: Loe here is Christ, or there: doe not beleeue him.Tunc si quis vobis dixerit : Ecce hic est Christus, aut illic : nolite credere.
24For there shall rise false Christs and false-Prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, so that the Elect also (if it be possible) may be induced into error.For there shal rise false Christes and false-Prophets, and shal shew great signes and wonders, so that the Elect also (if it be possible) may be induced into errour.Surgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetæ : et dabunt signa magna, et prodigia, ita ut in errorem inducantur (si fieri potest) etiam electi.
25Lo I have foretold you.Loe I haue foretold you.Ecce prædixi vobis.
26If therefore they shall say to you, Behold he is in the desert: go ye not out. Behold in the penetralibus: wardrobes, cupboards, believe it not.If therfore they shal say to you, Behold he is in the desert: goe ye not out. Behold in the closets, beleeue it not.Si ergo dixerint vobis : Ecce in deserto est, nolite exire ; Ecce in penetralibus, nolite credere.
27For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall also the advent of the Son of man be.For as lightning commeth out of the east, and appeareth euen into the west: so shal also the aduent of the Sonne of man be.Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.
28Wheresoever the body is, thither shall the Eagles also be gathered together.Wheresoeuer the body is, thither shal the Egles also be gathered together.Ubicumque fuerit corpus, illic congregabuntur et aquilæ.
29And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of Heaven shall be moved:And immediatly after the tribulation of those dayes, the sunne shal be darkned, and the moone shal not giue her light, and the starres shal fal from Heauen, and the powers of Heauen shal be moued:Statim autem post tribulationem dierum illorum sol obscurabitur, et luna non dabit lumen suum, et stellæ cadent de cælo, et virtutes cælorum commovebuntur :
30and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven: and then shall all Tribes of the earth bewail: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with much power and majesty.and then shal appeare the signe of the Sonne of man in Heauen: and then shal al Tribes of the earth bewaile: and they shal see the Sonne of man comming in the cloudes of Heauen with much power and maiestie.et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in cælo : et tunc plangent omnes tribus terræ : et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus cæli cum virtute multa et majestate.
31And he shall send his Angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from the furthest parts of Heaven, even to the ends thereof.And he shal send his Angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shal gather together his Elect from the foure windes, from the furthest parts of Heauen, euen to the ends thereof.Et mittet angelos suos cum tuba, et voce magna : et congregabunt electos ejus a quatuor ventis, a summis cælorum usque ad terminos eorum.
32And of the fig-tree learn a parable: when now the bough thereof is tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.And of the figtree learne a parable: when now the bough thereof is tender, and the leaues come forth, you know that sommer is nigh.Ab arbore autem fici discite parabolam : cum jam ramus ejus tener fuerit, et folia nata, scitis quia prope est æstas :
33So you also, when you shall see these things, know ye that it is nigh even at the doors.So you also, when you shal see these things, know ye that it is nigh euen at the doores.ita et vos cum videritis hæc omnia, scitote quia prope est, in januis.
34Amen I say to you, that this Generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.Amen I say to you, that this Generation shal not passe, til al these things be done.Amen dico vobis, quia non præteribit generatio hæc, donec omnia hæc fiant.
35Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.Heauen and earth shal passe, but my words shal not passe.Cælum et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non præteribunt.
36But of that day and hour no body knoweth, neither the Angels of Heaven, but the Father alone.¶ But of that day and houre no body knoweth, neither the Angels of Heauen, but the Father alone.De die autem illa et hora nemo scit, neque angeli cælorum, nisi solus Pater.
37And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.And as* in the dayes of Noe, so shal also the comming of the Sonne of man be.Sicut autem in diebus Noë, ita erit et adventus Filii hominis :
38For as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving to marriage, even unto that day in which Noe entered into the ark,For as they were in the dayes before the floud, eating and drinking, marying and giuing to mariage, euen vnto that day in which Noe entred into the arke,sicut enim erant in diebus ante diluvium comedentes et bibentes, nubentes et nuptum tradentes, usque ad eum diem, quo intravit Noë in arcam,
39and knew not till the flood came, and took them all: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.and knew not til the floud came, & tooke them al: so also shal the comming of the Sonne of man be.et non cognoverunt donec venit diluvium, et tulit omnes : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.
40Then two shall be in the field: one shall be taken, and one shall be left.Then two shal be in the field: one shal be taken, and one shal be left.Tunc duo erunt in agro : unus assumetur, et unus relinquetur.
41Two women grinding in the mill: one shall be taken, and one shall be left.Two women grinding in the mill: one shal be taken, & one shal be left.Duæ molentes in mola : una assumetur, et una relinquetur.
42Watch therefore because you know not what hour your Lord will come.Watch therfore because you know not what houre your Lord wil come.Vigilate ergo, quia nescitis qua hora Dominus vester venturus sit.
43But this know ye, that if the Good-man of the paterfamilias: master of the household did know what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken up.But this know ye, that if the Good-man of the house did know what houre the theefe would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken vp.Illud autem scitote, quoniam si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur venturus esset, vigilaret utique, et non sineret perfodi domum suam.
44Therefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not, the Son of man will come.Therfore be you also ready, because at what houre you know not, the Sonne of man wil come.Ideo et vos estote parati : quia qua nescitis hora Filius hominis venturus est.
45Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season?Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise seruant whom his Lord hath appointed ouer his familie, to giue them meate in season?Quis, putas, est fidelis servus, et prudens, quem constituit dominus suus super familiam suam ut det illis cibum in tempore ?
46Blessed is that servant, whom when his Lord cometh, he shall find so doing.Blessed is that seruant, whom when his Lord commeth, he shal find so doing.Beatus ille servus, quem cum venerit dominus ejus, invenerit sic facientem.
47Amen I say to you, that over all his goods shall he appoint him.Amen I say to you, that ouer al his goods shal he appoint him.Amen dico vobis, quoniam super omnia bona sua constituet eum.
48But if that malus: mischievous, playful servant shall say in his heart: My Lord is long a coming:But if that naughtie seruant shal say in his hart: My Lord is long a comming:Si autem dixerit malus servus ille in corde suo : Moram fecit dominus meus venire :
49and shall begin to strike his fellow-servants, and eateth, and drinketh with drunkards:and shal begin to strike his felow-seruants, and eateth, & drinketh with drunkards:et cœperit percutere conservos suos, manducet autem et bibat cum ebriosis :
50the Lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not, and an hour that he knoweth not,the Lord of that seruant shal come in a day that he hopeth not, & an houre that he knoweth not,veniet dominus servi illius in die qua non sperat, et hora qua ignorat :
51and shall dividet: cut asunder, sever him, and appoint his portion with the Hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.and shal deuide him, & appoint his portion with the Hypocrites: there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth.et dividet eum, partemque ejus ponet cum hypocritis : illic erit fletus et stridor dentium.
Annotations
2Not left. This was fulfilled 40 years after Christ's Ascension by Vespasian the Emperor and his son Titus. Euseb. li. 3. c. 6. and 7. and 8. and 10. (The Church can never fail.) Upon which words, There shall not be left here, which threaten the destruction of the Jews' Temple, and those words, upon this Rock I will build my church, (Matt. 16.) which promise the building of the Catholic Church of all Nations. St. Chrysostom making a long comparison of these two Prophecies of Christ, (li. cont. Gentes quod Christus sit Deus, prope finem.) saith thus: Thou seest in bonds, his great and unspeakable power, in that that he increased and built up them that worshipped him, and those that stumbled at him, he abased, destroyed, and plucked them up by the root. Doest thou see how whatsoever he hath built, no man shall destroy: and whatsoever he hath destroyed, no man shall build? He builded the Church, and no man shall be able to destroy it: he destroyed the Temple, and no man is able to build it; and that into long time: For thy King endeavoured to destroy that, and could not: and they have attempted to build up this, and they could not do that neither, etc.
3The sign. Our Master knowing that it was not profitable nor seemly for them to know these secrets, gave them by way of Prophecy warning of divers miseries, signs, and tokens, that should fall, some further off, and some nearer the later day: by which the Faithful might always prepare themselves, but never be certain of the hour, month, nor year, when it should fall. Aug. ep. 80.
4Seduce. The first and principal warning needful for the faithful from Christ's Ascension to the very end of the world, is, that they be not deceived by Heretics, which under the titles of true teachers, and the name of Christ and his Gospel, will seduce many.
5I am Christ. Not only such as have named themselves Christ, as Simon, Menander, and such like; but all Arch-heretics be Christs to their followers, Luther to the Lutherans, Calvin to the Calvinists, because they believe them, rather than Christ speaking in his Church.
12Iniquity abound. When Heresy and false teachers reign in the world, namely toward the later day, wicked life proceedeth, and charity decayeth.
14Shall be preached. The Gospel hath been preached of late years, and now is, by holy Religious men of divers Orders in sundry great Countries which never heard the Gospel before, as it is thought.
15Abomination of desolation. This abomination of desolation foretold, was first partly fulfilled in divers profanations of the Temple of Jerusalem, (The abomination of desolation.) when the Sacrifice and service of God was taken away, but specially it shall be fulfilled by Antichrist and his Precursors, when they shall abolish the holy Mass, (The abolishing of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass by Antichrist and his ministers.) which is the Sacrifice of Christ's body and blood, and the only sovereign worship due to God in his Church: as St. Hippolytus writeth in these words: The Churches shall lament with great mourning, because there shall neither Oblation be made, nor incense, nor worship grateful to God. But the sacred books of Churches shall be like to cottages, and the precious body and blood of Christ shall not be extant (openly in Churches) in those days, the Liturgy (or Mass) shall be extinguished, the Psalmody shall cease, the reciting of the Scriptures shall not be heard, Hippol. de Antichristo. By which it is plain, that the Heretics of these days be the special fore-runners of Antichrist.
22Shall be shortened. The reign of Antichrist shall be short, that is, three years and a half. Dan. 7. Apoc. 11. Therefore the Heretics are blasphemous and ridiculous, that say, Christ's Vicar is Antichrist, who hath sitten these 1500 years.
24Great signs. These signs and miracles shall be to the outward appearance only: for St. Paul calleth them lying signs, to seduce them only that shall perish. Whereby we see that if Heretics could work feigned and forged miracles, yet we ought not to believe them, much less when they cannot so much as seem to do any.
26In closets. Christ having made the Church's authority bright and clear to the whole world, warneth the Faithful to take heed of Heretics and Schismatics, (The secret mysteries of Heretics.) which have their conventicles in certain odd places and obscure corners, alluring curious Persons unto them, Aug. li. 1. q. Euang. q. 38. For as for the coming together of Catholics to serve God in secret places, (Catholic Christians secretly assembling in time of persecution.) that is a necessary thing in time of persecution, and was used of Christians for three hundred years together after Christ, and the Apostles also and Disciples came together in Jerusalem for fear of the Jews. And Catholics do the same in this day in our country, not drawing religion into corners from the society of the Catholic Church, but professing secretly the same faith, that in all Christendom shineth and appeareth most gloriously.
29Immediately. If the later day shall immediately follow the persecution of Antichrist, which is not to endure but three years and a half, as is afore said, then is it mere blasphemy, God's Vicar is Antichrist, and that (by their own limitation) these thousand years almost.