In this session, we look to St Augustine's commentary on the Book of Revelation, with special focus on the following themes: The Beast and his Mark, the Whore of Babylon, the Thousand Years of peace, the First and Second Resurrection, etc.
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The City of God
By St Augustine of Hippo
Session 13, The Book of Revelation
The gods of the nations are demons. (Ps 95)
Glorious things are said of thee, o City of God! (Ps
86)
Note on
schedule: We come to the conclusion of the book with St Augustine’s discussion
of the Day of Judgment, Hell and Heaven, the Resurrection of the body, and the
New Heavens and New Earth. We conclude our course at the end of November.
I. Outline
of Books XIX - XXII
A.
What is the supreme good? That it is not in this life, nor in any gains of this
life, but only in God and the enjoyment of God in Heaven (Book XIX)
B.
The Day Judgment and prophecy about that Day in Scripture (Book XX)
C.
The punishment of the damned and the eternity of hell (Book XXI)
D.
The reward of the just and the life of heaven
(Book XXII)
II.
Revelation 20, The first and second resurrection, the 1,000 years, Gog and
Magog
A.
Read the whole chapter of Revelation 20. Note specifically: the “thousand
years”, the “binding of Satan”, the “first resurrection”, “Gog and Magog”, “the
beast” and “the false prophet”, “the book of life”, “the sea”, “the second
death”, etc.
B.
Consider Fr George Leo Haydock’s commentary, which is only a summary of City of
God!
“Ver.
2. And
bound him for a thousand years. I shall give the reader an abridgment
of what S. Augustin has left us on this chapter, in his 20th book de Civ. Dei.
From the 5th to the 16th chap. he treats upon these difficulties: What is meant
by the first and second resurrection; by the binding and chaining up of the
devil; by the thousand years that the saints reign with Christ; by the first
and second death; by Gog and Magog, &c. As to the first
resurrection, c. vi. he takes notice on the 5th verse, that resurrection
in the Gospels, and in S. Paul, is applied not only to the body but also to the
soul; and the second resurrection, which is to come, is that
of the bodies: that there is also a death of the soul, which
is by sin; and that the second death is that of soul and body
by eternal damnation: that both bad and good shall rise again in their bodies.
On those words, (v. 6) Blessed is he that hath part in the first
resurrection; in these the second death hath no power. Such, saith he,
(c. ix.) as have risen from sin, and have remained in that resurrection of the
soul, shall never be liable to the second death, which is damnation. Cap. vii.,
he says that some Catholics not understanding rightly the first
resurrection, have been led into ridiculous fables, and
this by the interpretation which they put on the thousand years; as
if the first resurrection implied a resurrection of the bodies of
the martyrs and saints, who should live on the earth with Christ for
a thousand years before the general resurrection, in all manner of
delights. This was the opinion of those called Millenarians: this,
saith he, might seem tolerable in some measure, if taken for
spiritual delights, (for we ourselves were once in these sentiments) but if for
carnal pleasures, it can only be believed by carnal men.
“He
then expounds what may be understood by the binding and
chaining of the devil for a thousand years; (Cap. vii. & viii) that the
thousand years, meaning a long time, may signify all the time from Christ's
first coming to his second at the end of the world, and to the last short
persecution under antichrist. The devil is said to be bound, that
is, his power much lessened and restrained, in comparison of
the great and extensive power he had over all nations before Christ's
incarnation; not but that he still tempts many, and raiseth persecutions, which
always turn to their greater good; and that towards the end of the world he
shall be let loose, as it were, for a short time, and permitted with his
infernal spirits to exercise his malice against mankind, to try the patience of
the elect, and to shew the power of God's grace, by which his faithful servants
shall triumph over the devil. N.B. What S. Augustine adds divers times in these
chapters: "Let no one," says he, "imagine that even during that
short time, there shall be no Church of Christ on the earth: God forbid: even
when the devil shall be let loose, he shall not be able to seduce the
Church."
“Cap.
ix, he expounds those words, (v. 4-5) I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years . . .
This is the first resurrection: i.e. the first resurrection is while
the devil is chained up for the space of a thousand years. He takes notice that
the present state of the Church is many times called the
kingdom of God, and that the Church of Christ reigns now with
Christ, both in the living saints and in those who are dead, in the
souls of the martyrs, and of others, who having lived and died piously, now
reign with Christ, not yet in their bodies, but their souls
reign with him. On those words of the 4th verse: who had not
adored the beast, nor his image, nor received his mark, he only gives
this exposition, as agreeable to the Christian faith, that by the beast may
be understood the multitude of wicked sinners in general, and the image
of the beast those who are of the Church in outward appearance and
profession only, and not by their works. When it is said (v. 5) that the rest
of the dead lived not till the thousand years were finished: they
lived not, says he, as to their souls, when they should have lived; and
therefore not being happy in heaven, when their bodies shall rise, it
shall not be to life, but to judgment and damnation, which is the second death.
“Cap.
xi, he expounds the 7th and 8th verses, where it is said that Satan
shall be loosed . . . and seduce the nations which are over the four quarters
of the earth, Gog and Magog, and shall gather them together to battle.
This, says S. Aug. will be the last persecution at the
approach of the day of judgment, which the whole city, or the whole Church of
Christ dispersed through the universe, will suffer from the whole city of the
devil. Neither need Gog and Magog be taken for a particular barbarous people,
but such as are dispersed in a manner in every nation, and who shall then break
out by the instigation of Satan into an open hatred and persecution against the
faithful servants of God; as it is said, (v. 8.) they ascended upon the
breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, where we
cannot literally understand one camp, one city, or one place, but the Church
every where dispersed.
“Cap.
xii, he expounds the 9th verse, where he takes fire to
signify, metaphorically, the firm resistance and constancy of
the good, and the fire of their zeal, which devoured as it were the
wicked; or we may understand with others, the temporal fire of
God's judgments in this world against the wicked, but not the last eternal
fire; because the eternal fire comes not down from heaven but
the wicked are cast into it below. Cap. xiii, he teacheth that the last
persecution of antichrist, here mentioned, shall last but three years and six
months; i.e. a little while. Cap. xiv and xv, he expounds the 10th and
following verse, of the devil being cast into the lake of fire, after the last
persecution of antichrist. By the beast he understands, as
before, the city or multitude of all the wicked; and by the false
prophet, either antichrist or the outward appearance of faith in them
that have none.
“Then
follows the last judgment, where it is said that the books are opened, and
also that another book was opened. By the first book, may be
understood men and their consciences; and by the other book, the book
of life, that of eternal predestination. Thus far S.
Augustine, where we see that he delivers the common Catholic doctrine, that by
the thousand years, so often mentioned in this chapter, he understands all that
time in which the souls of the martyrs, and of all other saints, reign happy
with Christ in heaven, till after the general resurrection they receive a full
and complete happiness, both as to soul and body.
III.
Various scriptural references to the end of the world and day of judgment
A.
St Augustine discusses various passages and comments on different heretic and
orthodox interpretations.
B.
The various verses referring to “Twelve Thrones” of the Apostles for Judgment
of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. St Augustine specifies that “twelve” means the
fulness or completeness of the multitude of saints who will join Christ in the
judgement over all the people of the earth. [note: St Thomas discusses how the
greatest saints will participate in Christ’s judgment. Some will not be judged
but straight away condemned, others will be judged and saved, others will not
be judged but will be saved and participate in the judgment of the world]
C.
On the resurrection of living and the dead: Those whose souls are alive by
grace their bodies will be raised to eternal life, but those whose souls are
dead in sin their bodies will be raised to eternal death. We speak of the “first resurrection” of the
soul – meaning, the life of grace in the soul in this life.
E.
The discussion of “the image of the beast” or “the inscription on the forehead
or hand” are those who belong to the City of Men, the Earthly City – who put
their hope in the world and take delight in worldly pleasures.
F.
Gog and Magog: “These nations which he names Gog and Magog are not to be
understood of some barbarous nations in some part of the world” but rather to
all the nations and peoples who belong to the Earthly City and where the devil
has found his home in the hearts of men.
IV.
What do we believe about other details of the book of Revelation?
A.
The Whore of Babylon (Rev 17:1-11ff): Probably refers to Rome (the City on 7
hills), and the beast likely refers to the kings of Rome who persecuted the
early Church. This is not a reference to
the Catholic Church in Rome, but to the Pagan Persecution of Christians by the
Roman Empire
B.
The Two Witnesses (Rev 11:3ff): Refers perhaps to Sts Peter and Paul who gave
testimony to Christ and suffered martyrdom in Rome. Also refers to the tradition that Enoch and
Elijah will return to preach against the anti-Christ, will be slain, will rise
from the dead – and then comes the end.
C.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev 6:1-8): Perhaps the White Horseman
could represent the Lord Jesus himself and the bow is his Gospel. The other
horsemen are the punishments that will fall upon the enemies of the Church. Another
option is that the other horsemen represent persecutions against the Church. In
any case, these represent the trials that will befall the earth until the end
of time when the King of Peace will return.
D.
The Number 666 (Rev 13:18): A numeric device to indicate NERO, the Emperor who
persecuted the Church most notoriously.
Also, symbolizes the exaltation of man and the City of Man against the
authority of God and the City of God – for man and beast were made on the 6th
day, but the 7th day is the Day of the Lord.
E.
Who is the anti-Christ? While we believe that there will be many anti-Christs
(and already have been – for whoever sets himself up against Christ is an
anti-Christ), there will be one particular man who leads that last rebellion
against God. St Thomas says he will be a true man, who is perfectly possessed
by the Devil – probably will be Jewish, celibate with no children, a great
political leader.
VI.
Recommended reading for Books XIX-XXII
A. Book XIX,
Chapters 4-20, 24-27 Discussion of
the supreme good and true happiness, as well as peace among nations and just
war theory
B. Book
XX, Chapters 1-30 The Judgment as
prophesied in the Old and New Testaments
C. Book
XXI, Chapters 1-3, 10-27 The punishment of the damned and eternity of Hell
D. Book
XXII, Chapters 1-7, 12-24, 29-30 Of
the reward of the just, the resurrection to eternal life, the glorified body,
and the beatific vision
VII.
Recommended listening on LibriVox for Books XIX-XXII
Book XIX,
Chapters 5-12, 13-21, 22-28
Book XX,
All Chapters
Book XXI,
All Chapters
Book
XXII, All Chapters
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