Horae Apocalypticae is an eschatological study written by Edward Bishop Elliott. The book is, as its long-title sets out, “A commentary on the apocalypse, critical and historical; including also an examination of the chief prophecies of Daniel illustrated by an apocalyptic chart, and engravings from medals and other extant monuments of antiquity with appendices, containing, besides other matter, a sketch of the history of apocalyptic interpretation, the chief apocalyptic counter-schemes and indices.”
“Horae Apocalypticae (Hours with the Apocalypse) is doubtless the most elaborate work ever produced on the Apocalypse. Without an equal in exhaustive research in its field, it was occasioned by the futurist attack on the Historical School of interpretation. Begun in 1837, its 2,500 pages are buttressed by some 10,000 invaluable references to ancient and modern works. Horae Apocalypticae consists of 4 volumes. It ran through five editions (1844, 1846, 1847, 1851 and 1862).”[1] In 1868, he published a Postscript to comment on the events, or perceived lack of events, marking the prophetically significant years, 1865/7.
~Excerpt by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horae_Apocalypticae
26 Part Series: Navigate the series by clicking on the hamburger in the upper righthand corner
Horae Apocalypticae Vol. I
Horae Apocalypticae Vol. II
Horae Apocalypticae Vol. III
Horae Apocalypticae Vol. IV
The year Elliott died (1875), Charles Spurgeon wrote that Horae Apocalypticae had become the “standard” work on the Book of Revelation. Sadly few in our Laodicean church age have ever heard of it and until recently it was very difficult to obtain.
Website dedicated to Horae Apocalypticae
A Brief Outline of the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, and 7 Bowls (Hard to memorize part of Revelation)
1. The 7 Seals (Revelation 6-8)
Elliott viewed the Seals as symbolic of significant events from the early Christian era up to the fall of the Roman Empire. Each seal represented different stages of Roman decline and upheaval.
- First Seal (White Horse): Represents the early spread of Christianity, conquering through the gospel.
- Second Seal (Red Horse): Represents internal civil wars and bloodshed within the Roman Empire.
- Third Seal (Black Horse): Symbolizes famine and economic distress in the empire.
- Fourth Seal (Pale Horse): Represents death and widespread pestilence across the Roman Empire.
- Fifth Seal (Souls under the Altar): Symbolizes the martyrdom of Christians under Roman persecution.
- Sixth Seal (Earthquake and cosmic disturbances): A great social and political upheaval, often interpreted by Elliott as the fall of paganism and the Christianization of the Roman Empire under Constantine.
- Seventh Seal: The introduction to the Seven Trumpets. It includes a period of silence, symbolizing a pause before further judgments.
2. The 7 Trumpets (Revelation 8-11)
Elliott interpreted the Trumpets as a series of judgments that came upon the Roman Empire, particularly focusing on the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the subsequent attacks on Christendom.
- First Trumpet: Hail, fire, and blood representing the invasions of the Visigoths and Alaric I (410 AD) which devastated the Roman Empire.
- Second Trumpet: A burning mountain thrown into the sea, symbolizing the Vandals under Genseric, who ravaged the Roman Mediterranean fleet (455 AD).
- Third Trumpet: A great star (Wormwood) falls into rivers, symbolizing Attila the Hun’s invasions and the desolation they brought upon parts of the Roman Empire.
- Fourth Trumpet: The darkening of the sun, moon, and stars representing the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD and the darkening of its political power.
- Fifth Trumpet (First Woe): Locusts representing the rise and spread of Islam and the Arab conquests under Muhammad and his successors.
- Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe): The loosing of the four angels at the Euphrates, which Elliott identified with the rise of the Turkish/Ottoman Empire and its invasions into Europe.
- Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe): This trumpet signals the final judgment, the destruction of the world’s kingdoms, and the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom. It encompasses the final events leading to the end of human history and the return of Christ.
3. The 7 Bowls (Vials) of Wrath (Revelation 16)
The Bowls represent God’s final judgments on the apostate Roman Church, particularly focusing on the judgments against the Papacy and Roman Catholicism. Elliott believed these judgments were future to his own time but were impending.
- First Bowl: Sores afflict those with the mark of the beast, symbolizing the spiritual and moral corruption of the Papal system.
- Second Bowl: The sea turns to blood, representing the destruction of Papal dominion over the nations (possibly involving maritime wars).
- Third Bowl: Rivers and fountains turn to blood, symbolizing the spread of God’s judgments upon the Papal territories and the people’s thirst for retribution.
- Fourth Bowl: The sun scorches people, symbolizing the intensification of God’s judgments on Papal Rome and its dominions.
- Fifth Bowl: Darkness upon the beast’s kingdom, which Elliott interpreted as the political and spiritual darkness that falls on the Papal system.
- Sixth Bowl: The Euphrates dries up, paving the way for the kings of the east. Elliott saw this as the decline of the Ottoman Empire, which he believed played a part in weakening Rome.
- Seventh Bowl: A great earthquake, lightning, and hail representing the final overthrow of the Roman Papal system and the culmination of God’s wrath upon the world before Christ’s second coming.
Summary of Elliott’s Historicist View
Elliott’s interpretation ties the Seals to the decline of the Roman Empire, the Trumpets to barbarian invasions and the rise of Islam and the Turks, and the Bowls to God’s final judgments against the Papacy and apostate Christianity, ultimately leading to the return of Christ and the final establishment of His kingdom.