(5) Speculations Concerning Time. On the designations of time which occur so frequently in the Apocalypse, this is not the place to enlarge. The entire subject is yet unsettled. Those who take a day for a year must prove the correctness and scriptural basis of such a principle. This is quite necessary after the arguments advanced by Maitland and Stuart to show that a day means no more than a day, and a year a year. We do not suppose that all, or most of the num bers are to be taken arithmetically. The num bers seven and three, especially, recur so often as to suggest the idea of their being employed in definitely for poetic costume alone. Yet there may be special reasons in the context of particular passages for abiding by the exact numbers stated.
15. Literature. By far the greater number of works on the Apocalypse are of no value, the au thors having failed to perceive the primary pur pose of the Apostle. We shall only mention a few ; to enumerate all would be impossible.
(a) Works on the literature of the book.
(b) Commentaries.
(a) One of the best books on the literature of the Apocalypse is that of Lucke. It is both copious and excellent. In addition to it may be mentioned the Introductions of Michaelis, Haenlein, Eichhorn, Bertholdt, Hug, Feilmoser, De Wette, Credner, Schott, Guerike; Bleek's Bci troge zur Kritik der Offenbarung Johannis (in the Zeitschrift of Schleiermacher, De \Vette and Lucke, ii, 252, sq.) ; Kleuker, Ueber Ursprung und Zweck der Offenbar. Johanizis; Steudel, Ve ber die richtigc Auffassung der Apocalypse (in Bengel's N. Archly., iv. 2) ; the Treatises of Koh hoff, Lange, and Dannemann, already referred to; Knitters Beitrage zur Kritik fiber Johannis Of fcnbarzing; Vogel's Commentatio de Apoe. Jo hannis, pt. i. vii; Neandcr's History of the Plant ing and Training of the Christian Church; Ols hausen's Proof of the Genuineness of the Writings of the New Testament (translated by Fosdick, Andover) ; Lardner's Credibility of the Gospel History, vols. I and 4to edition; Bonar's Bible
Thoughts and Themes.
(b) Pareus, Grotius, Vitringa, Eichhorn, Hein richs, Scholz, Ewald, Tinius, Bossuet, Alcassar, Hentenius, Salmeron, Herrenschneider, Hagen. Of English works, Lowman's Commentary has been highly esteemed, though his scheme is wrong. Mede's Clavis and the Commentary attached to it, have had great influence on subsequent writ ers; Faber's .Sacred Calendar of Prophecy is able and ingenious, but radically wrong; Sir Isaac Newton's Observations on the Apocalypse, and Bishop Newton's Remarks, are generally incorrect. Cunninghame has written various treatises illus trative of the Apocalypse, but his lucubrations are dark and doubtful. Woodhouse's' Commentary is pervaded by commendable diligence and sobri ety, though he has greatly deviated from the right mode of interpretation. We specially recommend Hammond and Lee (Six Sermons on the Study of the Holy Scriptures, London), who have per ceived the right principle lying at the basis of a correct exposition ; to which may be added the Latin Notes of Grotius, and the perspicuous Ger man Commentary of Tinius. A large and valuable work on the Apocalypse which has appeared in England is Elliott's Horne Apocalyptiece, in 3 vols., 8vo, characterized by great research and minute investigation, but proceeding on principles es sentially and fundamentally erroneous. The latest is Archbishop Benson's Apocalypse, London, 19oo.
Valuable suggestions in regard to the interpreta tion may be found in Stuart's Hints on the Inter pretation of Prophecy; Bush's Hieropliont; or Monthly Journal of Sacred Symbols and Proph ecy; as also in the various Introductions and Treatises mentioned under (a). S. D.