Revelatio Matthaei (secunda) de Novissimis
Standard abbreviation: 2 Rev. Matt. End
Other titles: De die iudicii, De Antichristo
Clavis numbers: ECCA 522
Category: Apocalypses
Related literature: 1 Revelation of Matthew about the End Times; Revelation of John about the Antichrist; the Fifteen Signs Before Doomsday
Compiled by: Charles D. Wright, University of Illinois, and Stephen Pelle, University of Toronto
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Wright, Charles D., and Stephen Pelle. “2 Revelation of Matthew about the End Times.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/2-revelation-of-matthew-about-the-end-times/.
Created May 2020. Current as February 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The Second Revelation of Matthew about the End Times (unrelated to 1 Revelation of Matthew about the End Times except in subject matter) begins with signs of the last days based on Matthew 24 and then moves to the advent of Antichrist, who is to be born from a whore in Babylon or Chorazin (depending on the recension) and raised in Bethsaida and Chorazin. A number of signs, drawn from Revelation 9, attend Antichrist’s advent. Antichrist sits in the temple of Jerusalem, performs miracles, commands that he be worshiped as if he were God, kills those who refuse, and has his followers branded with his mark. An angel then descends and announces the imminent end of the world. Enoch and Elijah come to preach, are slain by Antichrist, and ascend to heaven; earthquakes then cause part of Jerusalem to collapse. The signs accompanying the death of Antichrist, based on Revelation 12, are then described. The narrative here corresponds in many particulars to the tradition popularized by Adso, De ortu et obitu Antichristi.
After the death of Antichrist, God saves those who were seduced by the devil during a set period, the duration of which varies according to the recension. When fifteen days remain until Doomsday, signs begin to appear that herald its approach. Finally, all humanity is resurrected at the age of thirty years, and the Lord comes to Judgment. The Day of Judgment is described with material drawn from the dies irae sequence in Zephaniah and from the Psalms and 1 Peter as well as from non-biblical sources (including a homily by Haimo of Auxerre and liturgical responsories). Christ is preceded by fire, thunder, and lightning, and accompanied by all the nine orders of angels. He displays the wound in his side and the instruments of his Passion. The Jews who crucified Christ will be present, and all flesh will see the salvation of God. The good are separated from the bad like sheep from goats, and Christ addresses each group with the Venite and Discedite verses from Matthew 24.
After the Judgment, a fire inflames the world and consumes its impurities. The reprobate go before the fire into the outer darkness. Then the sun will shine seven times brighter than it does now, and the earth will shine more brightly than silver or like gold. There will be no more night because of God’s splendor, nor will there be rain or dew, and the Elect will be like angels in heaven, enjoying the glory promised by God to those who love him.
Named historical figures: Antichrist, Dan (patriarch), Destroyer (devil), Elijah (prophet), Enoch (patriarch), Holy Spirit, Jacob (patriarch), Jerome, Jesus Christ, Matthew (apostle).
Geographical locations: Babylon, Bethsaida, Chorazin, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Persia.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Latin
Recension 1:
A Assisi, Biblioteca del Sacro Convento, fondo antico Ms. 551, fol. 224r (15th cent.) ~ defective; IMAGES
B Berlin, Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Theol. lat. qu. 151, fols. 64v–66r (1440–1460) ~ IMAGES
Ha Hannover, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Bibliothek (olim Niedersächsische Landesbibliothek), Ms. I 101a, fols. 26r–28v (1427)
He Herzogenburg, Augustiner-Chorherrenstift, Ms. 172, fols. 294v–296v (15th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
I2 Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol (ULBT), Cod. 569, fols. 274r–275r (15th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
M Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 27428, fol. 159r (1411) ~ defective
P Prague, Knihovna Národního muzea XVI E 16, fols. 256r–257r (15th cent.)
W Würzburg, Universitätsbibliothek I.t.q.6 (Hubay, Nr. 686), fols. 1r–5v (15th cent.)
Recension 2a:
I1 Innsbruck, Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Tirol (ULBT), Cod. 285, fols. 92r–93v (14th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
Recension 2b:
Su Subiaco, Biblioteca statale del Monumento nazionale di S. Scolastica, Manoscritti, Ms. 144, CXL, fols. 21v–24v (15th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION (with two images)
T Toulouse, Bibliothèque d’Étude et du Patrimoine (olim Bibliothèque municipale) 208, fols. 60v–64r (13th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Not evaluated:
C Capestrano, Biblioteca del Convento di S. Giovanni da Capestrano, Cod. XXXII, fol. 64r ff. (15th cent.)
Si Šibenik, Croatia, Monastery of Franciscan Conventuals, Cod. X, fols. 260v–266r (1433)
3.1.2 Italian (translated from Recension 2b)
M Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Gaddi 120, fols. 84r–86v (14th cent.)
N Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, II.II.68, fols. 178r–180r (1391)
R1 Florence, Biblioteca Riccardiana, 1290, fols. 31r–32v (15th cent.)
R2 Florence, Biblioteca Riccardiana, 1472, fols. 106r–112r (14th cent.)
V1 Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II, 477, fols. 35r–38v (14th cent.)
V2 Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II, 732, fols. 92v–95v (15th cent.)
Colella, Giancarlo. “Un sermone sul giorno del giudizio in volgare castellano.” La lingua italiana 9 (2013): 19–36 (edits the text of manuscript V1 of the Italian translation, with excerpts from manuscript R2).
Lodone, Michele. I segni della fine. Storia di un predicatore nell’Italia del Rinascimento. Rome, Viella, 2021 (prints the text of the Fifteen Signs section from manuscript R2 of the Italian translation).
———. “L’attesa e la paura. La fine dei tempi nella predicazione fiorentina del tardo medioevo (XIV–XVI secolo).” Cahiers d’études italiennes 29 (2019): 1–25 (contains excerpts from manuscript R2 of the Italian translation).
Zambrini, Francesco, ed. “Descrizione del giudizio universale. Testo inedito del buon secolo della lingua.” L’eccitamento 1 (1858): 728–34 (editio princeps of manuscript N of the Italian translation).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Wright, Charles D., and Stephen Pelle, trans. “2 Revelation of Matthew about the End Times.” Pages 596–649 in vol. 3 of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. 3 vols. Edited by Tony Burke with Brent Landau. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016–2023 (synoptic translation of all available witnesses).
3.3 General Works
Heist, William W. The Fifteen Signs before Doomsday. Lansing: Michigan College State Press, 1952.
Ottosen, Knud, ed. The Responsories and Versicles of the Latin Office of the Dead. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, 1993.
Quadri, Riccardo, ed., with Roland Demeulenaere. Heirici Autissiodorensis homiliae per circulum anni, pars hiemalis. CCCM 116. Turnhout: Brepols, 1992.
Reindel, Kurt, ed. Die Briefe des Petrus Damiani, Teil 3. MGH, Briefe d. dt. Kaiserzeit 4.3. Munich: Monumenta Germaniae Historica, 1989.
Verhelst, Daniel, ed. Adso Dervensis: De ortu et tempore Antichristi. CCCM 45. Turnout: Brepols, 1976.