(4.) The end itself towards which the plan of redemption tends is the chief object of interest in prophetic representation.  To nourish the faith and hope of the church, to invigorate her in her present struggles by the assurance of final victory—­this, and not the gratification of a prurient curiosity respecting the exact dates of “times and seasons,” is the main design of prophecy.  That it has other subordinate ends need not be denied.  It challenges for itself the attribute of omniscience, and its fulfilment is, to those who live after it, a proof of the validity of its claim.  But to become absorbed in calculations beforehand respecting its dates is to elevate the subordinate and circumstantial in prophecy to the place of the essential.  The bright end of the present conflict with the powers of darkness is what prophetic vision is continually presenting for our encouragement.  To those who love God, this is the point of chief interest; and accordingly the prophets make it, not the exact number of years that is to elapse before the final consummation with the details of their history, the prominent point.  Some great crises in the church’s history are indicated so clearly that they who can discern “the signs of the times” may understand beforehand that they are near.  The general expectation of the Messiah’s advent at the time when he actually appeared had its foundation in a sober comparison of the prophecies with the existing condition of the covenant people.  The present universal belief among Christians that the time for the final overthrow of the triple league between Satan, wicked kings, and wicked priests for the suppression of the gospel is at hand rests, we doubt not, on the same solid ground.  But farther than this we cannot go.  We cannot say that it shall be in such a year of the present century, or even in the century, in harmony with the true spirit of prophecy.  It is enough for us to know that God “will hasten it in his time”—­that the victory is certain, and that every believer from Abel to the trump of the archangel shall have his share in it.

III.  THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE SENSE.

7.  The so-called double sense of Scripture, especially of prophecy, concerning which there has been so much discussion among biblical writers, must be distinguished from the double sense of pure allegory, which all admit.  In allegory, the first or literal meaning is only a cover for the higher spiritual sense, which alone is of importance.  That we may have a true example of double sense, the obvious literal meaning must have its own proper significance, irrespective of the higher sense belonging to it, and this higher sense must be intended by the Spirit of inspiration.  The question now to be considered is:  Do such examples occur in Scripture, by whatever term we may choose to designate them?

    To avoid logomachy, arising from the use of the same phrase in
    different senses, we prefer the expression literal and
    typical sense.