❧ Sermons of Henry Bullinger, upon the Apocalypse revealed to the holy Apostle and Evangelist Saint John.

Of the title of the whole work, and the exposition thereof.

I said the whole book was contained in six parts.  Now must we look on the first part: Which hath chiefly three members: The Title, the beginning, and a brief narration.  For this present we will only speak of the title, which is thus.

The second Sermon.

THe revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, for to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass: And he sent and shewed by his angel unto his servant John, which bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  Happy is he that readeth and they that hear the words of the Prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.  For the time is at hand.

The title of the work.

This title is plentiful, and uttereth all profitable circumstances, that are to be declared in the beginnings of books: for here be seven things set down for us to consider.

The revelation of Jesus Christ.

First is set the title, or inscription of the whole work, that is, the Apocalypse, or revelation of Jesus Christ, which declaredly was opened or revealed by Christ Jesus himself.  This title straightway proveth, that this work is no man’s invention, but a doctrine of God: As the which was by our Lord, King, and Priest Jesus Christ, out of heaven, from the right hand of the Father, executing there the office of High Bishop, and yet still teaching us profitable things.  And albeit it be called also the revelation of John, yet is it challenged to him for none other cause, than for that he received it, and wrote {7:R} it as a Register.

From whence is that revelation?

Again it is yet more plainly declared, from whence this revelation is: Even of God himself.  For he saith, which God, namely the Father, gave unto him, to wit to Christ.  For in the holy and blessed Trinity, there is a distinction of persons.  And albeit that all things, which the Father hath, be the Son’s also; And all things which the Son hath, be the Father’s likewise; Yet the Scripture avoucheth the Father to give unto the Son, and the Son to receive of the Father, which thing all the ancient writers have full godly expounded to be done by the Mystery of Christ’s dispensation.  For the son received somewhat of the Father, as man: who otherwise as the very son of God, saith: Father, glorify thou me with the glory which I had with thee, before the world was. [John 17.5]

Moreover, the Son is the wisdom, word, and mouth of the Father, by whom God spake in times past to the fathers, Prophets, and Apostles, and now speaketh to the universal church.  The Father by dispensation gave to his Son this office, that he should be Bishop.  For no man hath seen God at any time: The only begotten which is in the bosom of the Father, hath revealed him unto us. [John 1.18.]  Let us assure ourselves therefore, that this is a heavenly Revelation, which God the Father for love to mankind hath revealed to his Church by our only High Bishop.  And it so joineth together the Father and the Son, that nevertheless the holy distinction of persons remaineth safe.

To what use and to whom it is revealed.

Now also is added, to what end God the Father hath revealed, or given the charge of revealing, (I mean the office of Priesthood) to his Son our Lord Jesus Christ: namely, that he should point out the things that were revealed, and as it were lay them forth before the eyes of his servants, that is to say of his worshippers the Christians, which are called the servants of God, for their willing obedience.  And as a servant is the servant of a Lord & oweth to his Lord all that he hath, or is worth: So we owe unto God ourselves whole, and all ours, or else we be free, and not bound. [John 8.]  Here is also declared unto whom this revelation is opened: namely, to all the servants of God.  If therefore thou be glad to be called the servant of God, hear this book, & remember it: And know that this book is prepared for thee of God.

Afterward he compriseth in few words, what Christ revealed to John, which were the things that must shortly come to pass.  The destinies therefore of the Church are recited, {7:V} what good and evil things shall happen to the godly, and likewise what punishments must be laid upon the wicked.

How good and evil things must be done.

And let no man gather necessity upon this word, must, as though God wrought not freely: Or that the wicked did evil, not through their own fault, but by God’s compulsion.  Good things must be done, because God willingly binding himself to us by his promise, can not but do that which he doth and promiseth: and yet nevertheless he worketh freely.

Good things must be done by the godly, because it is the nature of grace and faith so to do, like as it is the property of ungodliness to contemn and transgress.  Wherefore they must also be punished.  And because the world is such as it is, there must needs be heresies and calamities innumerable.  And he saith that the things which are revealed must come to pass shortly, because certain things began in the very time of John.  And although many things are found to be done a thousand years after, yet the Apostle Peter saith, that a thousand years before the Lord, be but as it were yesterday. [2 Pet. 3.8; Psalm 90.4.]  Therefore this Revelation appertaineth to the times of the primitive and last Church: And declareth what things soever shall happen unto it till the last judgment.  Yea, and how it shall reign for ever.

The manner of revealing; Three kinds of prophesying.

Moreover the manner of revealing is also touched.  For Christ revealed those things in sending his Angel, or by sending forth his Angel, unto whom he gave in commandment what he should say and do.  Whereupon this Angel is afterward called Christ, because he represented the person of Christ.  Therefore, in this book, it is not the Angel, but it is Christ that is always to be considered as the true author of all these things.  And indeed the Godhead of Christ is here commended unto us, what time we hear that Christ is the Lord of Angels.  Whereof Paul to the Hebrews [ch. 1] hath reasoned more at large.  Moses, in the 12th [chapter] of Numbers setteth forth chiefly three manners of prophesying or revelation:  First by vision, of the which sort many are ascribed to Daniel, one notable to Peter in the 10th [chapter] of the Acts, & likewise to Paul. [Acts 16.8-10.]  And into this form I refer also the Apocalypse.  Secondly by Dream: of the which sort were those of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar kings, whereof Joseph and Daniel were interpreters. [Daniel 4; Genesis 41.]  The Prophet Joel in the second chapter mentioneth visions and dreams.  For in the New Testament also there be very many holy & prophetical dreams.  Last of all, Moses rehearseth an open manifestation, of which {8:R} sort many were made to Moses and to the Apostles.  Into whose fellowship the Apocalypse cometh after a sort also, where visions are openly expounded.  Here appeareth the unspeakable goodness of God, who seasoneth our salvation with so great variety, disclosing it unto us, and setting it before us to enjoy it so sweetly sauced.  Unhappy is he, that knoweth not these things.

To whom it was revealed, and by whom it was written.

Besides this, he mentioneth oftentimes unto whom Christ hath opened this divine and most excellent revelation, namely to John.  He commendeth him, that is himself (for so was it expedient for the confuting of his adversaries, seeing that Paul also many times maintained his authority against the false Apostles,) by three several titles.  For first he calleth himself the servant of Christ.  This is the ancientest and noblest title, which the fathers, Prophets, and Apostles have used.  For they be addicted [surrendered] and consecrated to God.  Secondly, John testified the word of God amongst the Apostles, most expressly declaring the Godhead of Christ, especially where he testified and said: In the beginning was the Word, &c. [John 1.] Moreover he testified the witnessing of Jesus Christ: Under which name the Lord himself in the Gospel, and John in the 21st chapter of his Gospel, comprised the whole Evangelical doctrine.  And truly he was a present beholder of all these things which he witnesseth.  For in the first chapter, we have seen (saith he) his glory. [John 1.14.]  And in the 19th chapter he saw water & blood gush out of the Lord’s side.  In his Epistle, that we have seen, saith he, and have heard. &c.  Aretas noteth, that in certain Greek copies there is added this sentence following: (which is had also in the Greek copy of Spain) “And what things soever he hath heard, and whatsoever be, and whatsoever must be done hereafter.”

The commendation of John.

That same John therefore is author of this book, which as he saw the Lord in flesh upon earth, so he saw the same in spirit revealing these things in heaven: and propoundeth to the Church sights most certain and sure.  This John was that beloved disciple of the Lord, which in the last supper rested upon his breast, unto whom in his last will he bequeathed his mother on the cross, one virgin to another.  He alone stood by at the altar of the cross [Heb. 9.14; 1 Pet. 2.24] when Christ died, as a witness of his true death, and of our purification.  He lived till the time of the Emperor Trajan, which thing Eusebius in his Chronicles citeth out of Irenaeus, in the noting of the year from the birth of Christ one hundred and three.  Dorotheus a most {8:V} ancient writer, affirmeth that John lived six score years.

The commodity of this revelation.

Lastly is touched also this profit of this godly work of revelation, that hereby the readers and hearers might be provoked to diligence, where this book is called also a Prophecy.  For this book by reason of the foretelling of things to come, is the prophecy of the New Testament.  Moreover it is a prophecy (that is an exposition) which openeth and expoundeth the old Prophets.  And it promiseth blessedness to the readers, hearers, and keepers of the things that are written in this book.  Blessedness comprehendeth the benefits of the life present, so far forth as the Lord permitteth them to the godly: but chiefly of the life to come.  Of the profit of this book there hath been somewhat spoken before in the first Sermon.  And mark, that it is not enough to read or hear this book.  It must be performed indeed, and kept diligently.  For the Lord said also in the Gospel: Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. [Luke 11.28.]  Happy are they then that shall frame their life after this book.  For both they fly the seducing of Antichrist, and abide in the faith of Christ, and live for evermore, &c.

And he finisheth the title with an acclamation, by the which he moveth the hearers exceedingly: For the time is at hand.  As though he should say: Let no man think that here are told strange things, and such as concern him nothing, or which shall come to pass at length after many worlds, — doubtless they belong to every one of us.  For they be written of matters that chiefly concern us, and even of our own affairs.  So sheweth he that this book is profitable for all worlds, men, and ages.  God the Father who teacheth us profitable things by his Son, and admonisheth us time enough and in due season, be praised world without end.  Amen.