Chapter 38

INTERPRETATION OF PROPHECY--1. General Remarks

I. _Prophecies relating to the Near Future_--2. Their Specific Character--Examples

II. _Prophecies relating to the Last Days_--3. Meaning of the Term "Last Days," and its Equivalents--General Character of this Class of Prophecies--4. Prophecies in which the Order of Events is indicated--Daniel's Fourth Monarchy; the Great Red Dragon of Revelation, the Two Beasts that succeeded to his Power, and the Woman riding a Scarlet-Colored Beast--5. Prophecies which give General Views of the Future--Examples--6. The Prophets give an Inward View of the Vital Forces which sustain and extend God's Kingdom--Unity of the Plan of Redemption; its Continual Progress; Indications of the End towards which it is tending; the End Itself the Chief Object of Interest--Great Crisis in the Church's History--Spirit that should actuate the Interpreter of Prophecy

III. _Question of Double Sense_--7. The Term defined--8. Examples of Literal and Typical Sense--Melchizedek's Priesthood; the Rest of Canaan--9. The Messianic Psalms--Different Principles on which they are interpreted: Exclusive Application to Christ; Reference to an Ideal Personage; Christ the Head and his Body the Church; Typical View--10. The Principle of Progressive Fulfilment

IV. _Question of Literal and Figurative Meaning_--11. General Remarks--12. Representative Use in Prophecy of Past Events--13. Of the Institutions of the Mosaic Economy--14. The Principle of Figurative Interpretation not to be pressed as Exclusive--15. Question of the Literal Restoration of the Jews to the Land of Canaan--16. Question of our Lord's Personal Reign on Earth during the Millennium