of Mr. David C. Lord and others. My purpose does not require me to examine these opinions in detail. Justice could not be done to them in the limited compass which I have; and it is better to institute a direct inquiry whether any events are known which can be regarded as corresponding with the symbols here employed. In regard to this, then, the following things may be referred to:―― (a) It will be assumed here, as elsewhere in these Notes, that the Apocalypse was written in the time of Domitian, about A.D. 95 or 96. For the reasons for this opinion, see Intro. § 2. Comp. an article by Dr. Geo. Duffield in the _Biblical Repository_, July, 1847, pp. 385‒411. It will also be assumed that the book is inspired, and {141} that it is not to be regarded and treated as a work of mere human origin. These suppositions will preclude the necessity of any reference in the opening of the seals to the time of Nero, or to the events pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the Jewish persecuting enemies of the church――for the opinion that those events are referred to can be held only on one of two suppositions: either that the work was written in the time of Nero, and before the Jewish wars, as held by Professor Stuart and others; or that it was penned _after_ the events referred to had occurred, and is such a description of the past as could have been made by one who was uninspired. (b) It is to be presumed that the events referred to, in the opening of the first seal, would occur _soon_ after the time when the vision appeared to John in Patmos. This is clear, not only because that would be the most natural supposition, but because it is fairly implied in ch. i. 1: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things which must _shortly_ come to pass.” See Notes on that verse. Whatever may be said of _some_ of those events――those lying most remotely in the series――it would not accord with the fair interpretation of the language to suppose that the _beginning_ of the series would be far distant, and we therefore naturally look for that beginning in the age succeeding the time of the apostle, or the reign of Domitian. (c) The inquiry then occurs whether there _were_ any such events in that age as would properly be symbolized by the circumstances before us――the horse; the colour of the horse; the bow in the hand of the rider; the crown given him; the state and bearing of the conqueror.