Apocalypse Vii. 1.

Apoc., f. 11, says, that it is proved hy the agreement of almost all in- terpreters, that the events of the sixth seal are future . But almost all interpreters, with the exception of those who refer it to the very consummation of the world, interpret it of the past ; as even the Apocalyptic Parallels of Sentiments by Jungnitius teach, p. 138, and following. As far as relates to the subject, he has not proved that this seal refers to those things which are about tc take place before the end of the world, and have not however as yet. taken place : and yet on this theory he has built up the whole mass of his superstructure, fol. foil. Wherefore this ought to have been demonstrated as firmly as possible. We lately vindicated the pas- sage from Matt, xxiv., to which there is a parallel in Luke xxi. — o rjXioc — j) ffeXqvq,1 the sun — the moon ) They are here taken in their literal sense. There is a description of the alarm occasioned to the dead by that condition of the universe which there shall be at the last day : an alarm occasioned at the time when the Apocalypse was written : which even at that early time truly said, it is coming . [It is plain that these things cannot he referred to the destruction of the wTorld itself ; for there follows at length (not until after the sixth) the seventh seal , containing many things , and those of importance : nor to any other judgment, to he put into execution against enemies ; of whom, in fact , the mention is made afterwards . In like manner , under the fifth seal , it was revealed to the souls under the altar, out of favour to them, what was being done on their account. The beginning is made from the earth ; as ch. xx. 11. — V. g.]2