The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

III. Main Features Established, Not Variant Details

Emphasis upon the obvious soundness of the main positions of the Historical School of interpretation should not be construed as commendation of the many conflicting and often in congruous details of various expositions. Rather, endorsement is confined to those basic features only-those clear, major aspects upon which there was unity. These positions have been established by the cumulative testimony of the reverent scholar ship of the centuries. Not only were they clearly recognized during the course of fulfillment, but they have since been con firmed by the passage of time and the clarifying perspective of the years. PFF2 791.3

These various mountain peaks of unified exposition, which stand out in over-towering prominence, and are generally recognized as established, bear the attesting stamp of demonstrated soundness. Mark it: These conclusions were reached progressively-first in anticipation, then in contemporary recognition, and finally in the retrospective conviction that the historical counterpart had clearly matched the inspired prediction. Sub ordinate details were realigned and corrected. Earlier inaccuracies on lesser features were superseded by sounder positions. PFF2 792.1

Moreover, the chronological placement of the great time periods was clarified and certified by obvious fulfillment. When the beginning and the close of a prophetic period are seen in historical perspective, and are found to be in perfect correspondence and in harmony with the facts, then the soundness of the application may be regarded as checked and certified. Thus with the 70 weeks of years, the close of which involved the death of Christ in the seventieth week of years. The same is true with the special 1260-year era assigned by the Almighty to the course of the papal Little Horn, obviously stretching from Justinian on to the deadly wound that followed as the aftermath of the French Revolution. The consensus of competent, reverent scholarship may then be well conceded as having established the soundness of the exposition. Such essentials form the heart and essence of prophetic interpretation. PFF2 792.2