Against the historical scheme it is urged that its advocates differ very widely among themselves; that
they assume without any authority thai the 1260 days
are so many years: that several of its applications e.g. of the symbol of the ten-horned beast to the popes,
and the sixth seal to the conversion of Constantine are inconsistent with the context; thai attempts by
Some ol this School to predict future events b\ the help
..I Revelation have ended in repeated failures.
Two methods have been proposed by which the Stu-
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dent of the Revelation may escape the incongruities and fallacies of the different interpretations, while he may derive edification from whatever truth they contain. It has been suggested that the book may be regarded as a prophetic poem, dealing in general and inexact descrip- tions, much of which may be set down as poetic ima- gery— mere embellishment. But such a view would be difficult to reconcile with the belief that the book is an inspired prophecy. A better suggestion is made, or rather is revived, by Dr. Arnold in his sermons On the Interpretation of Prophecy : that we should bear in mind that predictions have a lower historical sense, as well as a higher spiritual sense ; that there may be one, or more than one, typical, imperfect, historical fulfilment of a prophecy, in each of which the higher spiritual fulfil- ment is shadowed forth more or less distinctly. See Double Sense.
In choosing among the various schemes of interpre- tation, we are inclined to adopt that which regards the first series of prophetical visions proper (ch. iv-xii) as indicating the collapse (in part at the time already transpired) of the nearest persecuting power, namely, Judaism ; the second series (ch. xiii-xix) as denoting the eventual downfall of the succeeding persecutor, i. e. Rome (first in its pagan and next in its papal form); and the third series (xx, 1-10) as briefly outlining the final overthrow of a last persecutor, some yet future power or influence (figuratively represented by a name borrowed from Ezekiel). These three opponents of Christianity are set forth as successive developments of Antichrist, and the symbols employed are cumulative and reiterative rather than historical and consecutive. For special explanations, see Antichrist; Magog; Number of the Beast, etc.
VI. Commentaries. — Most of the above questions are treated in the regular commentaries and introductions, and in numerous monographs, published separately or in periodicals. The following are the exegetical helps solely on the whole book; to the most important we prefix an asterisk: St. Anthony, Expositio (in Opp. p. 645); Victorinus, Scholia (in Bill. Max. Patr. iii, 414; Galland. Bibl. Patr. iv, 49; also Par. 1549, 1609, 8vo) ; Berengaud, Expositio (in Ambrosii Opp. ii, 499) ; Trichonius, Expositio (in Augustini Opp. xvi, 617); Primasius, Commenfarius (in Bibl. Max. Patr. vol. x) ; Andreas Caesar, Commentarius (ibid, v, 590) ; Arethas, Explanations (ibid, ix, 741 ; also in (Ecumenii Opp. vol. ii) ; Bede, Explanatio (in Opp. v, 701 ; also in Works, i, 189 ; xii, 337) ; Ambrosius Autpert. In Apocal. (in Bibl. Max. Patr. xiii, 403); Alcuin, Commentarii (in Mai, Script. Vet. ix, 257); Bruno, in Apocal. (in Opp. vol. i) ; Hervanis, Enarrationes (in Anselmi Opp. ed. Picard, 1612); Rupert, In Apocal. (in Opp. ii, 450); Anon. Glossa (Lips. 1481, 4to) ; Albert, Comment. (Basil. 1506, 4to; also in Opp. vol. xi) ; Joann. Yiterb. Glossa (Colon. 1507, 8vo) ; * Joachim. In Apocal. (Yen. 1519, 1527, 4to) ; Huss, Commentarius (ed. Luther, Vitemb. 1528, 8vo); Lambert, Exegesis (Marp. 1 528 ; Basil. 1539, 8 vo) ; Aimo, < 'omm ntarius (Colon. 1529, 1531, 1534; Par. 1540, 8vo) ; Melch. Hoffmann, A uslegung (Argent. 1530, 8vo) ; Bul- linger. Condones (Basil. 1535, 1570, and often, fol.; also in English, Lond. 1573, 4to) ; Thomas of Wales, Exposi- tio (Flor. 1549, 8vo; also in Aquinas, Comment, l'aris, 1641); Bibliander, Commentarius (Basil. 1549, 8vo) ; Meyer, Commentarius (Tigur. 1554, 1603, fol.); Fulke, Prcelectiones (Lond. 1557, 1573, 4to); Conrad, Commen- tarius (Basil. 1560, 1574, 8vo) ; Borrhaus, Commentarius, (ibid. 1561; Tigur. 1600, fol.); Serranus, Commentaria (Complut. 1563, fol.) ; ChytrsBUS, Commentarius (Vitemb. 1563, 1571, 1575, 8vo; Rost. 1581, 4to) ; Artopaeus, Ex- plicatio (Basil. 1563, 8vo) ; Selnecker, Erklarung (Jen. 1567, 1568, 1608, 4to); Gyfford, Sermons (Lond. 1573, 4to); MarloratuSj.E'.r/jcm'&m (from the Latin, ibid. 1574, 4to); Brocardus, Interpretatio (L. B. 1580, 1590, 8vo; also in English, Lond. 1583, 4to); De Fermo [Rom. Cath.], Enarratio (from the Italian, Antw. 1581, 8vo) ; De Melo [Rom. Cath.], Commentarius (Pint. 1584, fol.) ;