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.
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 _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.
V. "When the Symbol and that which it symbolizes differ from each other, the correspondence between the representative and that which it represents, still extends to their chief parts; and the elements or parts of the symbols denote corresponding parts in that which is symbolized."--_Ib._
VI. "The Names of Symbols are their literal and proper names, not metaphorical titles."--_Ib._
VII. "A single agent, in many instances, symbolizes a body and succession of agents."--_Ib._
VIII. Symbols of the same kind, and used in the same relations, always represent one class of objects; and when the office of a symbol has been once shown, the same symbol, similarly used, always fills a like office. They are never used arbitrarily.