Old Document Review 'Brief explanations of the Apocalypse'

This ancient document was written by Cassiodorus (d.580) who was a senator, then theologian before he founded a monastery in Italy where he resided with scholar-monks till his death. Only one copy of this document remains in existence and is in Verona.

Cassiodorus sees John's vision in the Apocalypse (Revelations) as specifically "concerning the end of the world" and that furthermore the visions are "joining things in the past with things in the future".

Here the seals are seen differently to other commentators of Revelations which I have mentioned before, Cassiodorus believes that the first two seals and the first two horsemen symbolize Christ. The white horse is purity and the red horse is the blood that was shed. He also sees other symbolic things as describing parts of the church, for example the 144,000 are the "congregation of the saints" also, the 'harp of the elders' signifies the relationships between the members of the church.

Old Document Review 'Exposition of the Apocalypse'

This old document was composed by Caesarius of Arles and was written somewhere between the years of 510-537A.D. It was intended as a commentary of understanding the meanings hidden within the Apocalypse (Revelations). In the preface, Caesarius claims that there were originally people within the beginnings of the church that understood fully the greater part of the book and that the knowledge had been lost to time.

Some other theologians apply the book of Revelations to the life of Christ, but in this document applies the book of Revelations to Christ and His church. The white horse is seen as the church that has been made snow-white-clean by the sacrifice of Christ, and how it spead out across the world. He further more highlights the description of the darkened sun, the red moon and the falling stars as representing different sorts of people within the church. For example the falling stars here as seen as people who have fallen away from the church.

The other three horses are seen here as a trilogy, all being ridden by the devil. The black horse is seen as representing sinister people (who are influenced by the devil), and that these sinister people pretend to serve justice but are deceiving. The red horse is seen as evil people and the pale horse as people who persecute others.

Although I do not agree with everything that the author wrote, it is very interesting for me to see his view of things. I have always believed that Revelations has an interpretation and in some places that interpertation will have double meanings, as this is how prophets always write, in cryptic meanings that sometimes mean so much more than the initial interpretations.