The Apocalypse of St. John by Rev. E. Sylvester Berry [1921]

[Stone]

THE VICISSITUDES OF THE CHURCH


CHAPTER VIII

1. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven, as it were for half an hour.

2. And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets.

3. Another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God.

4. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.

5. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it on earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings, and a great earthquake.

6. And the seven angels, who had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to sound the trumpet.

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.



The breaking of the seventh seal reveals the vicissitudes of the Church during the centuries which follow its establishment upon the ruins of the Roman Empire. The varying fortunes of the Church during these centuries serve to separate the good from the bad. This work of separation goes on through all the centuries to be completed only at the last judgment. Hence the visions of the seventh seal continue on to the end of the Apocalypse. We can now begin to realize how logically the prophecies of the Apocalypse are developed. Each succeeding chapter presents in regular order a new period of the Church s existence on earth.

1. Upon the breaking of the seventh seal there is silence in heaven, a mark of reverence and awe. The half hour represents the time given St. John to contemplate the vision set before him.

2. The seven angels before the throne of God are ever ready to execute His commands for are they not all ministering spirits?" 1 Seven, the perfect number, signifies the thoroughness with which God's every command shall be carried into effect. In a symbolic meaning these angels represent the bishops and the priests of the Church. Each one is given a trumpet to proclaim the Gospel to the uttermost bounds of the earth. The voice shall be clear and strong, leaving no excuse for those who will not hear.

3,4. Another angel offers to God the prayers of the faithful on the golden altar of incense. The prayers are symbolized by the sweet odors rising up before the throne of God. St. John takes much of his symbolism from the tabernacle and from the Temple of Jerusalem.

During the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, the tabernacle furnished them a miniature representation of the court of heaven. In the Holy of Holies stood the ark of the covenant overshadowed by the outstretched wings of two cherubim. The lid of the ark was considered the throne of God who there dwelt amongst His people. Before the throne, but separated from it by a veil, stood the golden altar of incense in the Holy Place. Here the priests daily offered incense which arose before God as a sweet odor to symbolize the prayers of the people: "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight."

The tabernacle, the earthly representation of the heavenly court, was reproduced in the temple of Jerusalem which thus became "the pattern of heavenly things" as St. Paul says. Again he writes: "Jesus is not entered into the Holies made with hands, the pat terns of the true; but into heaven itself."3 Hence it is most appropriate for St. John to use the temple as a figure of the Church which is truly the dwelling place of God, the heavenly court on earth.

The incense offered by the angel at the golden altar of incense symbolizes the prayers of the faithful, and especially the holy sacrifice of the Mass offered to God through the ministry of the priesthood represented here, as elsewhere, by the angel. The altar of incense, and the altar of holocaust mentioned in vi, 9, probably symbolize Christ who offered Himself "a propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world," and is "always Irving to make intercession for us."4

5. The fire taken from the altar symbolizes the merits of Christ which give value to all our works and prayers, as the fire kindles the incense and sends forth its sweet perfumes. The fire is cast upon earth; in other words the merits of Christ are offered to the un faithful who reject them and thus bring down the punishments of God, thunders, lightnings, and earthquakes. A similar punishment is predicted below in verse 7.

6. The seven angels preparing to sound their trumpets represent the bishops and priests of the Church going forth to preach the Gospel to every creature. Their voice shall resound through the world like a trumpet-blast. Christ said to His Apostles: "That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light; and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the house-tops.

7. Some will hearken to the voice of Christ in the preaching of His Gospel. Others will harden their hearts and refuse to obey. These shall be chastised by fire from heaven to destroy their harvests. The fire is mingled with blood, a symbol of war and revolutions. Here is fulfilled the prophecy of the aged Simeon: "Be hold, this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. "

According to St. Irenaeus, plagues similar to those of Egypt in the days of Moses shall afflict all unfaithful nations in the days of Antichrist.7

(1) Hebrews i, 14.
(2) Psalm cxl, 2.
(3) Hebrews ix, 23, 24.
(4) I John ii, 2; Hebrews vii, 25.
(5) St. Matthew x, 27.
(6) St. Luke ii, 34.
(7) St Irenaeus, "Adversus Haereses" IV, 30, iv; cf. also Apoc alypse xvi.



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:

9. And the third part of those creatures died, which had life in the sea, and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

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:

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.

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.

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.


8. At the sound of the second trumpet a burning mountain, or volcano, is hurled into the sea thereby changing a third part of the waters to blood. In Holy Scripture a mountain symbolizes a powerful nation or government.1 As usual the sea represents human society. The vision shows that despite the preaching of the Gospel some great nation will bring war and blood shed upon a large portion of mankind. It also predicts great persecutions against the Church. Nations will seek to destroy the Church at all hazards. This double interpretation is fully confirmed by the history of the past and present.

9. The fish are the faithful scattered amongst the people of the world. The ships are churches of the various nations. In the early ages the fish was a common symbol of Christ and of the faithful, as the ship was a figure of the Church.2 Numberless Christians and even whole churches have often perished in wars and persecutions. And only too often have the weaker brethren denied their Faith through fear of torture and death.

10. As the third angel sounds his trumpet a great star falls from heaven like a naming torch and poisons a large portion of the streams and even their very sources. The name wormwood denotes a bitter and poisonous nature. This vision is a striking image of unfaithful bishops and priests
who fall from the firmament of the Church where Christ has placed them to enlighten and direct the world. By false teachings and example they poison
the very sources of doctrine which should now pure as water from the mountain torrent. Like our divine Saviour, the bishops and priests of the
Church must be "fountains of water springing up into life everlasting."

11. Unfortunately many of the faithful drink from these poisoned streams of false doctrine and so perish.

12. The thoughts of many hearts are being revealed more and more as the Gospel is preached throughout the world.4 Many reject it; others abandon it. There is a growing decadence in the Church. Its doctrine and sanctity shine with diminished lustre. The day is less brilliant; the
night of ignorance becomes darker. This is symbolized by the darkening of the sun, moon and stars.

In such critical times in the past God has always raised up illustrious saints and religious orders to awaken the zeal and strengthen the faith of His
people. He will most assuredly do likewise in the future for He said: "Behold, I am with you all days even to the con summation of the world. " Many a
time our Lord seems to sleep as the bark of His Church is beaten by the storm- tossed sea. In His own good time He arises to command the waves:
Peace be still.6

The prophecies of this chapter have been fulfilled many times in the past. No doubt they will often be verified in the future. It should be noted, however, that a progressive accumulation of evils is predicted. At first it affects individuals only (v. 7). Then a nation or an entire church is involved (v. 8), and a number of great heretics fall away from the Faith (v. 10). Finally the whole Church suffers from a weakening of Faith and discipline (v. 12). This gradual progression of evil, this "mystery of iniquity" which was working even in the days of St. Paul,7 will finally usher in the Antichrist.

13. An eagle appears in mid-heaven proclaiming three great woes to follow the sounding of the remaining trumpets. Two interpretations are
permissible. The first recognizes in the eagle a powerful nation which shall be an instrument of God's judgments upon the world. The other interpretation sees in the eagle a symbol of new preachers of the Gospel. God raises up new saints or religious orders to arouse the faithful to renewed faith and zeal in His service. Nevertheless, three great evils shall afflict the Church before her final victory over the world and the devil.

Whatever interpretation be adopted, there can be no doubt that this verse heralds the beginning of a new and important epoch in the history of the
Church.

(1) Cf. Jeremias li, 25; Zaebarias iv, 7.
(2) Catholic Library, Archeology Series, voi ii. page 83.
(3) St. Johniv, 14.
(4) St. Luke ii, 35.
(5) St. Matthew xxviii, 20.
(6) St. Luke viii, 23, 24.
(7) II Thessalonians ii, 7.