18. Spiritual Interpretation (mystical) seeks, in the language of Scripture, a meaning that is not expressed by any of the ordinary rules of language. It sets at defiance all the laws of language, and makes fancy the interpreter of prophecy. “It subjects clear predictions to an exegetical alembic that effectually subtilizes and evaporates their meaning.”—Bush.
19. Ultra Literal Interpretation is a disregard of the peculiarities of symbols and of the several kinds of tropes—understanding them as if they were literally expressed.
20. Symbols and Tropes are literally explained, when interpreted in accordance with the grammatical laws which respectively govern their use.
21. Prophetic Symbols are objects, real or imaginary, representative of agents or objects possessing analogous characteristics. All agents or objects seen in symbolic visions are symbols. The inspired explanations of symbols are always literal, except when they are affirmed to be the same as some other symbol which represents the same object, as in Rev. 17:9.
22. Laws of Symbols.
I. “The Symbol and that which it represents resemble each other in the station they fill, the relation they sustain, and the agencies they exert in their respective spheres.”—Lord.
II. The Symbol and that which it represents are of the same, or they are of different species, kinds, or rank, according to the nature and use of the symbol.
III. “When the Symbol is of such nature, or is used in such a relation that it can properly symbolise something [pg 011] different from itself, the representative and that which it represents, while the counterpart of each other, are of different species, kinds, or rank.”—Lord.
Example.—Dan. 7:3, beasts; v. 17, governments.
IV. “Symbols that are of such a nature, station or relation, that there is nothing of an analogous kind that they can represent, symbolize agents, objects, acts, or events of their own kind.”—Ib. Example.—Dan. 7:9.