liveth for ever and ever. No. 309, vi. 7, The voice. No. 310, vi. 11, A little. No. 311, vi. 12, Behold. No. 312, viii. 7, Angel. No. 313, ix. 3, Only. No. 314, ix. 16, And, (before I heard.) No. 315, x. 4, Their voices, the second time. No. 316, x. 4, To me. No. 317, xi. 1, And an angel stood. No. 318, xi. 17, And art to come. No. 319, xiii. 3, I saw. No. 320, xiii. 5, War. No. 321, xiii. 17, Or. No. 322, xiv. 3, As it were. No. 323, xiv. 5, Before the throne of God. No. 324, xiv. 8, The city beheld, (before them.). No. 325, xiv. 13, To me. No. 326, xiii. 15, To thee. No. 327, xv. 2, And his mark. No. 328, xv. 5, Behold. No. 329, xvi. 4, Angel. No. 330, xvi. 5, Lord. No. 331, xvi. 6, For. No. 332, xvi. 7, Another from. No. 333, xvi. 8, Angel. No. 334, xvi. 10, Angel. No. 335, xvi. 12, Angel. No. 336, xvi. 14, Of the land, and. No. 337, xvi. 17, Angel. No. 338, xvii, 1, To me. No. 339, xvii. 10, And, (before one is.) No. 340, xviii. 6 To you. No. 341, xviii. 9, Her. No. 342, xix. 1, And, (before after.) No. 343, xix. 1, And the honor. No. 344, xix. 5, Both. No. 345, xix. 14, And, (before clean.) No. 346, xix. 15, And, (before wrath.) No. 347, xx. 4, Their, (before faces) No. 348, xxi. 4, God. No. 349, xxi. 9, To me. No. 350, xxi. 10, Great. No. 351, xxi. 11, And, (after God.) No. 352, xxii. 1, Clean. No. 353, xxii. 2, One. No. 354, xxii. 9, For. No. 355, xxii. 12, And, (before lo!) No. 356, xxii. 17, And, (before whomsoever.) No. 357, xxii. 21, Our.

It would have been more in accordance with general usage, to have given these spurious readings in the Greek language; but this would not have benefited those for whose use the version is made.

Table XIII.

PROPHETIC SYMBOLS.

THE sacred scriptures are their own best interpreters, both in literal and figorative language. The interpretation of the following symbols is drawn, for the most part, from the book itself. We have consulted the Eastern Oneirocritics, as handed down to us in the book of Achmetus, containing the acquisitions of the interpreters of the kings of India, Persia, and Egypt. These three great interpreters of dreams and similitudes-Syrbacham, interpreter to the king of India; Baram, interpreter to the king of Persia; and Tarphan, interpreter to Pharaoh, king of Egypt-interpret almost all the symbols found in the Bible, although they derived both the symbols and their interpretation from other sources. Grotius, Mede, and More, have shown that these interpreters understood the similitudes which occur in their works, very generally, in the sacred scriptures. We have examined More's work very attentively, and most of the works found in Tower's Illustrations. These we use rather as confirmatory or corroborative of the meaning ascertained from the Jewish and Christian prophets and scribes.

ABOMINATIONS, Sin in general. An Idol-Isaiah, xliv, 19, "Shall I make the residue thereof an abomination."

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, The Roman army, so called on account of its ensigns and images, which the soldiers worshipped, and which were abominable to the Jews-Matthew xviv, 15: "When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet."

ADULTERESS, or HARLOT, An apostate church or city; particularly the daughter of Jerusalem, or the Jewish church and people-Isaiah i, 21: "How is this faithful city become a harlot."

ADULTERY, Idolatry and apostacy from the worship of the true God-Jeremiah iii, 8, 9: "When backsliding Israel committed adultery with stones and with stocks."

AIR is frequently equivalent to heaven: the symbol of government and an emblem of the kingdom of Satan. He is called "the prince of the power of the air;" and wicked spirits are said to have their place of power in the air, Ephesians vi, 12. A vial poured upon the air denotes the destruction of all existing governments under the influence of Satan.

ANGEL, in symbolic language, denotes any agent or messenger which God employs in executing his will.

ARROWS, Calamities or judgments of God-Job vi, 4: "The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit." Also abusive and slanderous words-Psalms xliv, 3: "Who bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words."

ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN, Symbol of the acquisition of political dignity and honor. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning: for thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven." "And the witnesses ascended up into heaven in a cloud." Rev. xi. 12.

BALANCE, emblem of Justice. Joined with symbols denoting the sale of corn, or fruits of the earth, it is the symbol of scarcity. Bread by weight is a curse. Lev. xxvi, 26.

BALDNESS, Destruction-Jeremiah xlvii, 5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza." BEAST-Wild beast denotes a usurping, tyrannical power; a succession of men exercising a lawless, arbitrary power, whether civil or ecclesiastical.— Beasts sometimes denote a kingdom or state. Thus, in Daniel, four wild beasts represent four empires under the same cruel and tyrannical idolatry-Chaldea and Assyria the first wild beast; Media and Persia the second wild beast; Macedon, Thrace, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt, the third wild beast; and the Roman empire the fourth wild beast. Paul compares a body politic to an animal, 1 Cor. 12, and therefore any polity may be compared to a man or any other animal; the character of the polity will decide whether it be a wild or domestic animal, a natural or unnatural organization.

BED-Great tribulation and anguish. Revelation ii, 22: "I will cast her into a bed." To be tormented in bed, where men seek rest, is peculiarly griev

ous.

BEHOLDING, the act of "Their enemies beheld them." To behold signifies to rejoice, or to be grieved according to the circumstances of the person affected.

BINDING, the act of, denotes forbidding or restraining from acting. "To bind the dragon," is to restrain that cruel and tyrannical power represented by the dragon.

BIRD OF PREY-A hostile army coming to prey upon a country. Isaiah xlvi, 11: "Calling a ravenous bird from the East;" Cyrus and his army.

BITTER, BITTERNESS-Affliction, misery and servitude. Exodus i, 14: "They made their lives bitter with hard bondage." Gall of bitterness, (Acts viii, 23.) A state offensive to God.

BLACK, the color of, denotes affliction, disaster, and anguish; any thing sad, dismal, cruel, or unfortunate.

BLASPHEMY, when a symbol, denotes idolatry. Thus, in Isaiah, "You have burnt incense upon the mountains to idols, and blasphemed me upon the hills." Deut. xxxi. In the Hebrew it reads "They will turn to other gods, and they will blaspheme me." Idolatry is blasphemy against God.

BLOOD-War, carnage, slaughter. "To turn waters into blood," is to embroil nations in war. "If I pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it, man

and beast."

Book, the sealing of-the concealing of its meaning. To seal a roll, or book, is to conceal its meaning.

BOW AND ARROWs, when in the hand, are symbols of war and victory.

"If

a man dream, (say the Egyptians and Persians) that he holds in his hand, bow and arrows, he shall victoriously insult over his enemies."

BOWELS-Pity, compassion. Luke i, 78: "Through the tender mercy (literally bowels of mercy) of our God."

BRASS-Strength. Psalm cvii. 16. "He hath broken the gates of brass," that is, the strong gates. In Jeremiah i. 18. and xv. 20. brazen walls signify a strong and lasting adversary and opposer.

BRIDE-The heavenly Jerusalem. Rev. xxi. 9. "The bride, the Lamb's

wife."

BRIMSTONE-Perpetual torment and destruction. Job xviii. 15. "Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation;" that is, his house or family shall be destroyed forever by an inextinguishable fire. Also, corrupt, infernal, and destructive doctrines. Rev. ix. 17. "Out of their mouth issued fire and brimstone."

BURNING, the act of, complete destruction-"To burn with fire," is utterly to destroy.

BUYING, the act of "No man might buy or sell," give or receive religious instruction, administer ordinances, traffic in the wares of the priesthood, partake of the honors and powers of the clergy.

CANDLE-emblem of prosperity, success, joy. "His candle shall be put out." Job xviii. "O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head." Job xxix.

CANDLESTICK, or lamp, is sometimes the symbol of government, but frequently of affording instruction, removing ignorance, and imparting cheerfulness and joy. Two candlesticks and two olive trees are applied to the two witnesses, because of the light and comfort which these "two prophets" afforded those who waited on them.

CHAIN-Bondage, or affliction. Lamentations iii. 7. "He hath made my chain heavy."

CHARACTER, or mark; "mark on the forehead"-Open profession of allegiance to those whose name or character they bear. Both servants and soldiers, in ancient times, were marked on the forehead and hands.

CITY, the Great City-The European part of the Western Roman Empire, and the great body of the spurious christians who inhabit it, are called the Great City: for as the ten horns represent the ten powers into which the empire is divided, so the city is represented as consisting of ten streets. "The tenth part of the city" is particularized in Revelation xi. 13.; and in verse 8th "the street of the great city" is also spoken of. A city is the symbol of a corporate body, under one and the same police. The analogy may be to Babylon, the great city of the Assyrian empire.

CLOUD, an emblem of prosperity and glory. To ride on clouds, is to rule and conquer. When no storm accompanies, or no attribute is attached to it, a cloud is the emblem of majesty and glory. By Daniel it is said, "One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven;" to which our Lord adds, as explanatory of the symbol, "with power and great glory." Matth. xxiv. 30.

CROWN-Emblem of dignity, power, and honor. The ten horns with ten crowns, denote so many kings reigning in dignity and honor over as many kingdoms or distinct provinces.

CROWN OF LIFE-A triumphant immortality. Rev. ii. 10. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

CUP-The blessings and favors of God. Psalm xxiii. 5. "My cup runneth over." Also, afflictions or sufferings, the effects of the wrath of God. Isaiah li. 17. "Stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury. Thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling."

DARKNESS-Symbol of affliction. The kingdom of the beast was full of darkness, confusion, and distress.

DAY-In prophetic style, "I have given you a day for a year," is the rule; one revolution of the earth on its axis for a revolution in its orbit. "Twelve

APPENDIX.

hundred and sixty days" are expressed by "time, times, and half a time," or by "forty-two months." These periods are each equal to three years and a half. DEATH-As natural death is a ceasing to be as before, a change of state, or the destruction of the life of the animal, so it is the symbol of the destruction of any subject, according to the nature of it. "Moab shall die with tumult:" not that each individual shall perish; but that Moab, the nation, shall change its condition for a worse one; shall pass into subjection and slavery.

DESERT, or Wilderness, means Paganism; the wild savage manners and state of Paganism. As the idolatry of the Pagans was practised in groves, woods, and waste places, and the names of their demons had reference to fields and deserts; so desert became, among the Jews, the symbol of Paganism.

Dew, and Rain, are the symbols of heavenly blessings. The Oneirocritics say that "dew and rain are the symbols of all manner of good things." "The two witnesses have power to shut heaven, that it rain not." They will restrain the blessings of Heaven from falling upon those who reject their testimony.

DOG-The Gentiles. The bad properties of dogs are obstinate, barking, cruel, biting, insatiable gluttony, filthiness in lust, vomiting and returning to their vomit.

DOOR-The symbol of opportunity, way of access or introduction. Rev. iv. 1. "Behold a door was opened in heaven;" that is, opportunity, or access to the discovery of divine secrets, was granted.

DRAGON "The well known symbol of the old Roman government, in its Pagan persecuting state." The Egyptians, Persians, and Indians regard the dragon as the established emblem of a monarch. It is sometimes used for monarchical despotism in general. The whole principality of the old serpent may be denoted by it; but in the Old Testament it is appropriated to the wicked monarchs of the Pagan nations: "Art not thou he who has cut Rahab [Egypt] and wounded the dragon?" "I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of the rivers." Hence is he called leviathan, the water serpent: "Thou breakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to thy people in the wilderness." This, like the dragon in the Apocalypse, had more heads than one.

"The seven-headed serpent which represents the Roman state, is so represented, not only in regard to that old serpentine form that tempted our first parents, but has a reflection also upon that tyrannical kingdom of Egypt, which was typified under the image of a dragon and leviathan." It is in different forms the symbol of Rome Pagan and Rome Papal.

DRUNKENNESS.-"They are drunken, but not with wine." Persons intoxicated with the pleasure and affluence of this world, are said to be drunk. Also, the stupidity and confusion of mind consequent upon deep affliction or calamity, is symbolized by drunkenness.

EAGLE-A king or kingdom. Ezekiel xvii. "A great eagle, with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came to Leba non;" that is, Nebuchadnezzar. The divers colors refer to the various nations that composed the Babylonian empire.

EARTH-Symbol of the great body of the people contrasted with the government; antichristian part of mankind; idolatrous communities. There are in the political and moral worlds, as well as in the natural world, heavens and earth, sun, moon, and stars, mountains, rivers, and seas.

EARTHQUAKE-The established symbol of the political and moral revolutions and convulsions of society. To "shake the heavens and the earth" is explained by Haggai as denoting the overthrow of thrones, and the subversion of the strength of the kingdoms. "I will shake the heavens and the earth: I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." ch. ii. 21, 22. The Oneirocritics concur in affirming that "by earthquakes are signified wars, slaughter of men, and subversion of states and fortunes."

EATING (the act of) denotes destruction in any way, or taking from others. To "eat her flesh," is to consume her riches.

ECLIPSE, or the obscuration of sun, moon, and stars. The universe being the symbol of a kingdom or polity, the obscuration of the sun denotes the diminu tion or obscuration of the glory of its sovereign, and so of the other potentates symbolized by the moon and stars. Revelation xi. 8. "Their dead EGYPT-A mystical name of wickedness. bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt."

ELDERS, (the twenty-four)-Probably such of the Patriarchs and Prophets of the old church, as saw by faith the day of redemption and rejoiced; and who are expressly termed elders (presbuteroi) in Hebrews xi. 2. Rev. iv. 10. "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that liveth forever and ever."

EYE-The symbol of light or knowledge, as blindness is of ignorance. A sceptre with an eye upon the top of it, means political skill in managing the affairs of state. Zechariah xii. 4. "I will open my eyes upon the house of Judah. I will smite the horse and his rider with blindness."

FAMILY-The church of God. Ephesians iii. 15. "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."

FIRE signifies fierce destruction. "He is like the refiner's fire to consume the dross." "For behold the Lord will come with fire, to render his anger with fury." lxvi. 15. "For by fire and sword will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Fire is never the symbol of a blessing, but of a curse. "So destructive is the symbol of fire," says More, "that it de"His throne was like notes destruction in some way, by war and hostility." the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." "The dispensations of his providence will be very destructive to the wicked.

FIRE FROM HEAVEN.-The comminations or excommunications of those in authority.

FIRE BROUGHT DOWN FROM HEAVEN-The ecclesiastic beast, or the antichristian priesthood, has such power with the civil government as to bring down its anathemas and persecutions upon those obnoxious to their displeasure.

FLESH-Riches and possessions of any sort. To "eat the flesh of kings, captains," &c. is to consume their wealth and resources. "Flesh is universal. ly referred to gold and riches in the interpretation of dreams."-Achmet. FLOOD-Symbol of abuse, denunciation, and persecution; emblem of trouble and distress from any cause.

FOREHEAD-Public profession.

FORNICATION, or Whoredom-Symbol of idolatry; departing from the insti tutions of religion, and forming alliances with the enemies of God. "I am broken with their whorish heart, which has departed from me; and with their eyes, that go a whoring after their idols."

Fox-A cunning, deceitful person." Luke xiii. 32. "Go tell that fox." Ezekiel xiii. 4. "Thy prophets are like the fores in the deserts."

FROGS-A hieroglyphic of imperfection among the Egyptians. The symbolic meaning of frogs, says Artimidores, is impostors and flatterers, who seek favor from the lowest of mankind.

GARMENT-The symbol of the condition or state in which any one is. To be clothed in white, denotes prosperity or victory. To put on clean garments after washing, signifies freedom from oppression, care, and evil, together with honor and joy.

GATES "Gates of the daughter of Zion."-The ordinances of Jehovah, by which the soul is helped forward in the way of salvation. Psalm ix. 14. "That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion."

GATES OF DEATH-Imminent danger of death. Psalm ix, 13. "Have mercy upon me, O Lord! thou that deliverest me from the gates of death."