5. The Scope of the book.
The intention of Saint John is, both to teach the universal Christian Church concerning its lot from the times of the Apostles to the end of the world: and to rouse the courage of the pious, fainting under coming calamities, and to render them free from care concerning persecutions, the end of which is salutary: and to depict the form, character, subordinates, attendants, and place of the Kingdom of Antichrist in vivid colors, being about to arise not long after the calming of the storms of persecutions, with the Bishops of the Churches wallowing in luxury and ambition; so that it might at length be recognized with greater accuracy: and, finally, to set before the eyes the punishments and destruction of Antichrist, and of all the enemies of the Church, but the triumphs of the Church, and the happy denouement of all the persecutions.