VOCABULARY OF THE Symbolical Language. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THERE is one point on which commentators on the Apocalypse seem to be almost universally agreed; and that is, that the progress of Christianity is the subject of this prophecy. The phrases kingdom of Heaven and kingdom of God, when used in the prophetical sense, are now generally allowed to have this signification; or to mean, the Christian dispensation on earth. This kingdom is moreover understood to be a spiritual kingdom, consisting in the reign of true religion in the heart of man. Yet, notwithstanding the admission of these points by commentators in general, the proportion of political matter introduced into their exposition, will be found greatly to preponderate over that which is spiritual. To be convinced of this, the reader need only glance his eye over the subject of a few chapters, as stated in the table of contents, to Mr. Gauntlett's late work. He will there find the first Seal, it is true, interpreted spiritually, as foretelling the glorious success of the gospel in the apostolic age; but the spiritual view is then relinquished, and gives place to the political. second Seal is supposed to foretel destructive wars; The J L L the third, calamity, affliction, and mourning; the fourth, great mortality and so also with the Trumpets; the first, foretelling the invasion of Italy by the Goths; the second, the ravages committed by the Huns; the third, those by the Vandals and Moors; and the fourth, the subversion of the Western empire. (See note N in the Appendix). Very plausible reasons, it is admitted, are alleged for this introduction of political events; as for instance, that the Christians were greatly, if not principally concerned in these transactions; which, therefore, form an essential feature in the history of Christendom. But to this, the answer is, that the subject of the prophecy is not the history of Christendom, but the history of Christianity; a distinction, which, by the preceding outline of that history, will, it is hoped, be rendered sufficiently apparent; one, presenting an account of the political events which befel the Christians, while the other relates the progress of pure religion in the heart of man; such being the true nature of the kingdom of the Messiah, and the subject of the prophecy before us, The phrase kingdom of Heaven may, by some, be supposed to allude to a future state; but this is confounding its symbolical with its literal acceptation; and would be no less preposterous than to suppose the Horses or any other symbol in the vision to have no farther signification than that expressed by the thing literally represented. The one has here its symbolical meaning as well as the other. To Thus The nature of the Messiah's kingdom, and the meaning of the phrase kingdom of Heaven, are well explained by Dr. Sykes, as cited by Dr. Towers, in a work printed about thirty years ago, but not published, entitled, Illustrations of Prophecy. He shews that they signify the dispensation of the gospel, as preached and practised upon earth, and not a state of future existence, nor were ever thought to do so by the disciples of our Lord. a Jew, indeed, these phrases were familiar. Bishop Kidder assures us, that the Chaldee paraphrast, like the writers of the New Testament, sometimes denominated the kingdom of the Messiah, the kingdom of God. Accordingly, says Dr. Sykes, the Jews were so well acquainted with the meaning of this expression, and were so well apprised of a kingdom which God hath resolved in his due time to set up, that as often as Jesus talked of the kingdom of Heaven, or, of God, neither the people nor their rulers ever offered to ask him the meaning of that phrase,' It is true, however, that although the Jews rightly understood these phrases, as alluding to the Messiah on earth; yet did they wholly misconceive the nature of his reign, looking for a political, and not a spiritual kingdom; a prince, who was to govern by the arm of power, and not by spiritual influence in the heart of man. Another expression used by our Lord, and which fully explains the former, the kingdom of God is within you,' was either disregarded or misunderstood by them. But |