DEDICATION

...so that I may be made worthy of his grace. At Venice, in the Island Monastery of Saint Christopher original: "Insulari Locello divi Christophori." This refers to San Cristoforo della Pace, a monastery on an island (now part of San Michele) in the Venetian lagoon., on the Ides of June June 13th, 1525.

For a greater understanding of the mysteries contained in this and other small works by this author, one must first consider those things which the author himself places at the beginning of his exposition on Isaiah. Specifically, he first sets forth the three states of the world Joachim’s "Three Ages" (Ages of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), which form the core of his prophetic history., beginning from Adam and proceeding until the end of time. Then, he describes certain concordances and agreements, or combinations, along with the significance and meanings of different times.

He also presents the mystery of the church, which revolves annually, depicted within the dragon A symbolic representation where the history of the church is mapped onto the body of the dragon from the Book of Revelation., beginning from its head and from Septuagesima Septuagesima: The third Sunday before Lent, traditionally marking the start of the pre-Lenten season in the liturgical calendar.. Through this are declared and signified the tribulations and pressures which the church has suffered and is yet to suffer until the end of the world, as well as the consolations and divine aid.

He presents the time before the Law, the time under the Law, and the time of Grace, along with their sacraments: the Trumpet, its symbolic form and meaning; and the Seals and their openings Refers to the opening of the seven seals in Revelation 5–8..

He presents a dragon of another form, having seven heads, which designate seven pressures or battles: namely, all the evils which the church and its members have suffered and will similarly suffer throughout seven periods of time.

He presents the Psaltery of Ten Strings A reference to Joachim’s work "Psalterium decem chordarum," where he uses the ten-stringed harp as a mathematical and musical metaphor for the Holy Trinity., in which we are instructed how to flee from, conquer, and overcome the snares of the serpent and ancient enemy. This was prefigured in David,