In Apocalypsin

In Apocalypsin is a commentary on the Book of Revelation written by Tyconius around 385 CE. This work applies the interpretive rules Tyconius established in his earlier The Book of Rules.1

Tyconius, an important theologian in 4th-century North African Christianity, developed a unique approach to biblical interpretation. He proposed seven rules to guide readers through Scripture, emphasizing historical typologies and the dual nature of biblical imagery. For instance, he suggested that passages seemingly about the Second Coming of Christ could also refer to the coming of his church. He also reinterpreted numbers, such as the 1,000-year reign in Revelation, to symbolize spiritual perfection rather than a literal duration.1

Tyconius's work, though largely lost, significantly influenced later theologians, most notably St. Augustine, who used Tyconius's ideas to counter the Donatist schism and develop his own theological arguments.1