But when we come to the most important part of the prophecies, those concerning the two beasts (chap. 13), and that concerning the woman riding on the scarlet-colored beast (chap. 17), this principle utterly fails.  It cannot be that so many specific and very peculiar marks mean only persecuting powers in general.  They point with wonderful clearness and precision to that grand combination of the civil with the ecclesiastical power of which papal Rome has ever been the chief representative.

We come, then, for the true key to the Apocalypse, to the other principle, which may be called the historic.  This seeks in the history of the church and of the world for the great events foretold in this book.  It is no valid objection to this principle, that in the attempt to apply it interpreters find great, and in many cases insuperable difficulties.  The mystery of God is not yet finished.  It may be that the mighty events of the future can alone throw a clear light on the entire plan of the book.  Meanwhile we must wait in reverential expectation, having in the plain fulfilment of that part of its prophecies which describes the rise and character of the combined ecclesiastical and political power which, under the name of Christianity, persecutes the true servants of Christ, a certain pledge that all the rest will be accomplished in due season.  Expositors are agreed that the predictions of the book do not run on in chronological order from beginning to end.  Most find in chaps. 6:1-11:18 (with an episode, chaps. 10:1-11:13) one series relating more to the outward history of the world in its relations to God’s people; while in chap. 12 the writer returns to the primitive days of Christianity, and gives a more interior and spiritual view of the conflicts of God’s people along the track of ages and their final triumph, adding at the close various supplementary views of the same mighty struggle and victory.

5.  On the symbolic import of the numbers in the Apocalypse a few words may be added.

Seven is the well known symbol of completeness, and this is the most prominent number in the book.  Thus we have the seven churches of Asia represented by the seven golden candlesticks, and their seven angels represented by seven stars (chap. 1:4, 12, 16, 20); the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God (chap. 4:5); the seven seals (chap. 5:1); the seven trumpets (chap. 8:2); the seven thunders (chap. 10:4); the seven last plagues (chap. 15:1); to which may be added the seven ascriptions of praise—­power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, blessing (chap. 5:12), blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, might (chap. 7:12).  Lastly, we have the seven heads of the persecuting beast in all its various forms.  Chaps. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3.  So far as the number seven has its fulfilment in the history of the world, we are at liberty to suppose that this is accomplished, in