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ing as the necessity of those primitive times required. Now the Lord comprises all in one short hook, having reference to the earlier ones, presupposing them, explaining, continuing, and interweaving them. It is altogether right, therefore, that we should compare them ; but not to bring into comparison the fulness of these with the brevity of those.
In the Evangelists Christ predicted the things which were about to happen before the dictation of the Apocalypse to John, and added a description of the Last things : in the Apocalypse he also mentioned intermediate events. From both, one whole as it were is made up.
3) In this book there is set forth to view, not only a summary and key of prophecy, both that which has long preceded and that which is recent, but also a supplement, the seals having been before closed. Therefore it cannot but contain many things now for the first time revealed, and not found in the remaining books of Scripture, as Gomarus and Cluverus admit. They therefore show little gratitude towards a revelation of such dignity as this, and reserved too for Christ’s exalted state, who, if anything is for the first time revealed in it, or is described in more exact and definite terms, are on that account more slow to value it, and more cautious in receiving, or more bold in rejecting it. The importance of the argument, and the short- ness of the book, prove that every word is of the greatest significance.
— 6 avay/vuxfxwv xai oi axovovreg, he who reads and they who hear ) One person , and, in the first instance, he, by whom John sent the book from Patmos into Asia, used to read publicly in the churches and many used to hear. Scripture highly commends the public reading of itself : Deut. xxxi. 11 ; Neh. viii. 8 ; Jer. xxxvi. 6 ; Luke iv. 16; Acts xv. 21 ; Col. iv. 16; 1 Thess. v. 27 ; 1 Tim. iv. 13. There would be more edification, if teachers would speak less of themselves, or, at any rate, if Scripture were more fully read to the multitude who are unlearned. — rijg Kpotprirdag, of the prophecy) In relation to Jesus Christ, it is a revelation ; it is a prophecy in relation to John ; and it is not until he is mentioned that the word prophecy is introduced. Prophecies support their claims by their own, and therefore by Divine authority ; this is especially the case with the Apocalypse, which, on this account, does not quote the old prophe- cies, unless in a summary way, and that once only : ch. x. 7. In the other books of the New Testament the prophecies of the Old Testament are quoted, and for this reason, that their fulfilment may be proved ; in the Apocalypse they are not quoted. Hence it came to pass, that when Surenhusius, for instance, had deduced quotations