Ver. 6 f. The fresh series of disasters does not advance matters any further than the previous seal-series. Both lead up to the final catastrophe, and upon the edge of it melt into a further develop- ment which practically goes over the same ground once more. This reflects of course literary artifice, not any succes- sive or continuous scheme of events; it is iterative not historically chronolo- gical. It is doubtful if the prophet in- tended to suggest the idea which occurs to a modern mind, viz., that such appa- rent cycles seem to recur in history. At cettain epochs everything seems to be working up to some mighty climax for which men look in dread or hope, and yet the world rights itself for another epoch; the dénouement fades for the time being into the far horizon; the powers of evil gather themselves afresh in other forms. Neither here nor in the previous seven cycles can the astrological reference (to the colours and character- istics of the planets, cp. Exp. Tt. xx. 426- 427) be worked out with any plausibility.
Vv. 6-12. The first four trumpets.
Ver. 6. In the scheme of the trumpet- visions, as of the seal-visions, the first four are differentiated from the next three; the fifth and sixth in both cases stand by themselves and are separated by a considerable interlude from the clos- ing seventh. It is remarkable that even the final trumpet of xi. 15 f. does not cor- respond to the loud trumpet-blast which according to Jewish and early Christian tradition, was to awaken the dead to resurrection or to rally the saints (Matt. xxiv. 31) at the close of the world. The Apocalypse knows nothing of this fea-
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. . , 4 xi.19,xvi.aitods ἵνα σαλπίσωσι.
21 only, in