Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John | Page 6

the rest.
Notes to Chap. I.
[1] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 5, 6, 7.
[2] 2 Chron. xxxiv.
[3] 2 Chron. xii. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9. & xv. 3, 5, 6.
[4] 2 Chron. xiv. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.
[5] 2 Chron. xv. 3, 12, 13, 16, 18.
[6] 2 Kings xvii. 27, 28, 32, 33.
[7] 2 Kings xvii. 34, 41.
[8] Gen. xxxvi. 31.
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CHAP. II.
_Of the Prophetic Language._
For understanding the Prophecies, we are, in the first place, to acquaint
our-selves with the figurative language of the Prophets. This language

is taken from the analogy between the world natural, and an empire or
kingdom considered as a world politic.
Accordingly, the whole world natural consisting of heaven and earth,
signifies the whole world politic, consisting of thrones and people, or
so much of it as is considered in the Prophecy: and the things in that
world signify the analogous things in this. For the heavens, and the
things therein, signify thrones and dignities, and those who enjoy them;
and the earth, with the things thereon, the inferior people; and the
lowest parts of the earth, called Hades or Hell, the lowest or most
miserable part of them. Whence ascending towards heaven, and
descending to the earth, are put for rising and falling in power and
honour: rising out of the earth, or waters, and falling into them, for the
rising up to any dignity or dominion, out of the inferior state of the
people, or falling down from the same into that inferior state;
descending into the lower parts of the earth, for descending to a very
low and unhappy estate; speaking with a faint voice out of the dust, for
being in a weak and low condition; moving from one place to another,
for translation from one office, dignity, or dominion, to another; great
earthquakes, and the shaking of heaven and earth, for the shaking of
kingdoms, so as to distract or overthrow them; the creating a new
heaven and earth, and the passing away of an old one, or the beginning
and end of the world, for the rise and ruin of the body politic signified
thereby.
In the heavens, the Sun and Moon are, by interpreters of dreams, put
for the persons of Kings and Queens; but in sacred Prophecy, which
regards not single persons, the Sun is put for the whole species and race
of Kings, in the kingdom or kingdoms of the world politic, shining with
regal power and glory; the Moon for the body of the common people,
considered as the King's wife; the Stars for subordinate Princes and
great men, or for Bishops and Rulers of the people of God, when the
Sun is Christ; light for the glory, truth, and knowledge, wherewith great
and good men shine and illuminate others; darkness for obscurity of
condition, and for error, blindness and ignorance; darkning, smiting, or
setting of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, for the ceasing of a kingdom, or
for the desolation thereof, proportional to the darkness; darkning the

Sun, turning the Moon into blood, and falling of the Stars, for the same;
new Moons, for the return of a dispersed people into a body politic or
ecclesiastic.
Fire and meteors refer to both heaven and earth, and signify as follows;
burning any thing with fire, is put for the consuming thereof by war; a
conflagration of the earth, or turning a country into a lake of fire, for
the consumption of a kingdom by war; the being in a furnace, for the
being in slavery under another nation; the ascending up of the smoke of
any burning thing for ever and ever, for the continuation of a conquered
people under the misery of perpetual subjection and slavery; the
scorching heat of the sun, for vexatious wars, persecutions and troubles
inflicted by the King; riding on the clouds, for reigning over much
people; covering the sun with a cloud, or with smoke, for oppression of
the King by the armies of an enemy; tempestuous winds, or the motion
of clouds, for wars; thunder, or the voice of a cloud, for the voice of a
multitude; a storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and overflowing rain, for
a tempest of war descending from the heavens and clouds politic, on
the heads of their enemies; rain, if not immoderate, and dew, and living
water, for the graces and doctrines of the Spirit; and the defect of rain,
for spiritual barrenness.
In the earth, the dry land and congregated waters, as a sea, a river, a
flood, are put for the people of several regions, nations, and dominions;
embittering of waters, for great affliction of the people by war and
persecution; turning things into blood, for the mystical