The Holy Scripture - english version B.indd - Sabbat

320INTERPRETATION AND USE OF THESEPROPHECIESIN PRE-REFORMATION TIMES.First, then, let us glance at the history of prophetic interpretation in theinterval extending from apostolic times to the fall of the Roman empire in thefifth century. This was the period of the so-called Fathers of the Christian Church.A multitude of their writings remain to us, containing, not only almost countlessreferences to the prophecies in question, but complete commentaries on Danieland the Apocalypse. It is boldly claimed by many that the Fathers of the first fivecenturies held the futurist interpretation of these books. We deny the correctnessof this position, and assert that the Fathers of the first five centuries belonged tothe historical school of interpretation. It was impossible for them, owing to theearly position which they occupied, rightly to anticipate the manner and scaleof the fulfilment of these wondrous prophecies; but as far as their circumstancespermitted they correctly grasped their general significance, and adhered to thatinterpretation which regards prophecy as foretelling the whole course of theChurch‘s warfare from the first century to the second advent.It is impossible at this time to do more than present a brief summary of theviews of the Fathers on this subject, and to name and refer you to their works.1. The Fathers interpreted the four wild beasts of prophecy as representingthe four empires, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Here we have thefoundation of the historical interpretation of prophecy. Take as an instance thewords of Hippolytus on the great image and four wild beasts of Daniel: „Thegolden head of the image,“ he says, „is identical with the liones, by whichthe Babylonians were represented; the shoulders and the arms of silver arethe same with the bear, by which the Persians and Medes are meant; thebelly and thighs of brass are the leopard, by which the Greeks who ruledform Alexander onwards are intended; the legs of iron are the dreadful andterrible beast, by which the Romans who hold the empire now are meant; thetoes of clay and iron are the ten horns which are to be; the one other littlehorn springing up in their midst is the antichrist; the stone that smites theimage and breaks it in peaces, and that filled the whole earth, is Christ, whocomes from heaven and brings judgment on the world.“ (Hippolytus: vol. i., p. 447.)This statement is remarkable for its clearness, correctness, and condensation,and expresses the view held still by the historic school.Hippolytus says, in the treatise on „Christ and Antichrist“: „Rejoice, blessedDaniel, you have not been in error; all these things have come to pass“ (p. 19).„Already the iron rules; already is subdues and breaks all in pieces; already itbrings all the unwilling into subjection; already we see these things ourselves.Now we glorify God, being instructed by you“ (p. 20).2. The Fathers held that the ten-horned beasts of Daniel and John are thesame. As an instance, Irenæus, in his book „Against Heresies,“ chap. xxvi., says:„John, in the Apocalypse, ... teaches us what the ten horns shall be whichwere seen by Daniel.“