--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 733 of 769 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/733/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation, section 733. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/733/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 2 of 2. ## 733. Revelation · 1 of 37 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/733/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/733/#p-N ### Preface to the Revelation of St. John the Divine [¶1] Among the interpreters of the Apocalypse, both in ancient and modern times, we find a vast diversity of opinions, but they may be all reduced to four principal hypotheses, or modes of interpretation: - [¶2] 1. The Apocalypse contains a prophetical description of the destruction of Jerusalem, of the Jewish war, and the civil wars of the Romans. [¶3] 2. It contains predictions of the persecutions of the Christians under the heathen emperors of Rome, and of the happy days of the Church under the Christian emperors, from Constantine downwards. [¶4] 3. It contains prophecies concerning the tyrannical and oppressive conduct of the Roman pontiffs, the true antichrist; and foretells the final destruction of popery. [¶5] 4. It is a prophetic declaration of the schism and heresies of Martin Luther, those called Reformers, and their successors; and the final destruction of the Protestant religion. [¶6] The first opinion has been defended by Professor Wetstein, and other learned men on the continent. [¶7] The second is the opinion of the primitive fathers in general, both Greek and Latin. [¶8] The third was first broached by the Abb Joachim, who flourished in the thirteenth century, was espoused by most of the Franciscans; and has been and still is the general opinion of the Protestants. [¶9] The fourth seems to have been invented by popish writers, merely by way of retaliation; and has been illustrated and defended at large by a Mr. Walmsley, (I believe), titular dean of Wells, in a work called the History of the Church, under the feigned name of Signior Pastorini. [¶10] In this work he endeavors to turn every thing against Luther and the Protestants, which they interpreted of the pope and popery; and attempts to show, from a computation of the Apocalyptical numbers, that the total destruction of Protestantism in the world will take place in 1825! But this is not the first prophecy that has been invented for the sake of an event, the accomplishment of which was earnestly desired; and as a stimulus to excite general attention, and promote united exertion, when the time of the pretended prophecy was fulfilled. But 1825 is past by, and 1832 is come, and the Protestant Church is still in full vigor, while the Romish Church is fast declining. [¶11] The full title of the book which I quote is the following: - "The General History of the Christian Church, from her birth to her final triumphant state in Heaven, chiefly deduced from the Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle. By Sig. Pastorini. 'Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy.' - Apocalypse, [Rev 1:3]. [¶12] Printed in the year M.DCC.LXXI." 8vo. No place nor printer's name mentioned. [¶13] The place where he foretells the final destruction of Protestantism is in pp. 249 and 262. [¶14] The Catholic college of Maynooth, in Ireland, have lately published a new edition of this work! in which the author kindly predicts the approaching overthrow of the whole Protestant system, both in Church and state; and in the meantime gives them, most condescendingly, Abaddon or the devil for their king! [¶15] Who the writer of the Apocalypse was, learned men are not agreed. This was a question, as well in ancient as in modern times. We have already seen that many have attributed it to the Apostle John; others, to a person called John the presbyter, who they say was an Ephesian, and totally different from John the apostle. And lastly, some have attributed it to Cerinthus, a contemporary of John the apostle. This hypothesis, however, seems utterly unsupportable; as there is no probability that the Christian Church would have so generally received a work which came from the hands of a man at all times reputed a very dangerous heretic; nor can the doctrines it contains ever comport with a Cerinthian creed. [¶16] Whether it was written by John the apostle, John the presbyter, or some other person, is of little importance if the question of its inspiration be fully established. If written by an apostle it is canonical; and should be received, without hesitation, as a work Divinely inspired. Every apostle acted under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. John was an apostle, and consequently inspired; therefore, whatever he wrote was written by Divine inspiration. If, therefore, the authenticity of the work be established, i.e., that it was written by John the apostle, all the rest necessarily follow. [¶17] As I have scarcely any opinion to give concerning this book on which I could wish any of my readers to rely, I shall not enter into any discussion relative to the author, or the meaning of his several visions and prophecies; but for general information refer to Dr. Lardner, Michaelis, and others. [¶18] Various attempts have been made by learned men to fix the plan of this work; but even in this few agree. I shall produce some of the chief of these: and first, that of Wetstein, which is the most singular of the whole. [¶19] He supposes the book of the Apocalypse to have been written a considerable time before the destruction of Jerusalem. The events described from the fourth chapter to the end he supposes to refer to the Jewish war, and to the civil commotions which took place in Italy while Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian were contending for the empire. These contentions and destructive wars occupied the space of about three years and a half, during which Professor Wetstein thinks the principal events took place which are recorded in this book. On these subjects he speaks particularly in his notes, at the end of which he subjoins what he calls his Ανακεφαλαιωσις, or synopsis of the whole work, which I proceed now to lay before the reader. "This prophecy, which predicts the calamities which God should send on the enemies of the Gospel, is divided into two parts. The first is contained in the closed book; the second, in the open book. [¶20] I. The first concerns the earth and the third part, i.e., Judea and the Jewish nation, [¶21] II. The second concerns many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings, [Rev 10:11], i.e., the Roman empire. [¶22] 1. The book written within and without, and sealed with seven seals, [Rev 5:1], is the bill of divorce sent from God to the Jewish nation. [¶23] 2. The crowned conqueror on the white horse armed with a bow, [Rev 6:2], is Artabanus, king of the Parthians, who slaughtered multitudes of the Jews in Babylon. [¶24] 3. The red horse, [Rev 6:4]. The Sicarii and robbers in Judea, in the time of the Proconsuls Felix and Festus. [¶25] 4. The black horse, [Rev 6:5]. The famine under Claudius. [¶26] 5. The pale horse, [Rev 6:8]. The plague which followed the robberies and the famine. [¶27] 6. The souls of those who were slain, [Rev 6:9]. The Christians in Judea, who were persecuted, and were now about to be avenged. [¶28] 7. The great earthquake, [Rev 6:12]. The commotions which preceded the Jewish rebellion. [¶29] 8. The servants of God from every tribe, sealed in their foreheads, [Rev 7:3]. The Christians taken under the protection of God, and warned by the prophets to flee immediately from the land. [¶30] 9. The silence for half an hour, [Rev 8:1]. The short truce granted at the solicitation of King Agrippa. Then follows the rebellion itself. [¶31] 1. The trees are burnt, [Rev 8:7]. The fields and villages, and unfortified places of Judea, which first felt the bad effects of the sedition. [¶32] 2. The burning mountain cast into the sea which in consequence became blood, [Rev 8:8]; and, [¶33] 3. The burning star falling into the rivers, and making the waters bitter, [Rev 8:10], [Rev 8:11]. The slaughter of the Jews at Caesarea and Scythopolis. [¶34] 4. The eclipsing of the sun, moon, and stars, [Rev 8:12]. The anarchy of the Jewish commonwealth. [¶35] 5. The locusts like scorpions hurting men, [Rev 9:3]. The expedition of Cestius Gallus, prefect of Syria. [¶36] 6. The army with arms of divers colors, [Rev 9:16], [Rev 9:17]. The armies under Vespasian in Judea. About this time Nero and Galba died; after which followed the civil war, signified by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, [Rev 10:7], [Rev 10:11]; [Rev 11:15]. [¶37] 1. The two prophetic witnesses, two olive trees, two candlesticks, [Rev 11:3], [Rev 11:4]. Teachers in the Church, predicting the destruction of the Jewish temple and commonwealth. [¶38] 2. The death of the witnesses, [Rev 11:7]. Their flight, and the flight of the Church of Jerusalem, to Pella, in Arabia. [¶39] 3. The resurrection of the witnesses, after three days and a half, [Rev 11:11]. The predictions began to be fulfilled at a time in which their accomplishment was deemed impossible; and the doctrine of Christ begins to prevail over Judea, and over the whole earth. [¶40] 4. The tenth part of the city fell in the same hour, and seven thousand names of men slain, [Rev 11:13]. Jerusalem seized by the Idumeans; and many of the priests and nobles, with Annas, the high priest, signified by names of men, i.e. men of name, slain by the Zealots. [¶41] 5. The woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, [Rev 12:1]. The Christian Church. [¶42] 6. The great red dragon seen in heaven, with seven heads, seven diadems, and ten horns, [Rev 12:3]. The six first Caesars, who were all made princes at Rome, governing the armies and the Roman people with great authority; especially Nero, the last of them, who, having killed his mother, cruelly vexed the Christians, and afterwards turned his wrath against the rebellious Jews. [¶43] 7. The seven-headed beast from the sea, having ten horns surrounded with diadems, [Rev 13:1]. Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, who were shortly to reign, and who were proclaimed emperors by the army. [¶44] 8. This beast, having a mouth like a lion, the body like a leopard, the feet like a bear, [Rev 13:2]. Avaricious Galba; rash, unchaste, and inconstant Otho; Vitellius, cruel and sluggish, with the German any.