The Eleventh Chapter: The Witnesses Described

“And I WILL GIVE POWER TO MY TWO WITNESSES, AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS, CLOTHED IN SACKCLOTH: THESE ARE THE TWO OLIVE-TREES, AND THE TWO CANDLESTICKS STANDING BEFORE THE GOD OF THE EARTH: AND IF ANY MAN WILL HURT THEM, FIRE PROCEEDETH OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND DEVOURETH THEIR ENEMIES; AND IF ANY MAN V.’ILL HURT THEM, HE MUST IN THIS MANNER BE KILLED! THESE HAVE POWER TO SHUT HEAVEN, THAT IT RAIN NOT IN

THE DAYS OF THEIR PROPHESY: AND HAVE POWER OVER WATERS TO TURN THEM TO BLOOD, AND TO SMITE THE EARTH WITH ALL PLAGUES AS OFTEN AS THEY WILL,” V. 3 — 6.

I. — The division, order, and times of the particular acts ascribed to the witnesses.

First, For their description, I come now to the angel’s discourse concerning the two witnesses, who are “the holy people, whose power is at last to be scattered;” to make way for the relation of which scattering, their condition is set forth, v. 3 — 6: and yet that John might know of whom he spake, as at last to be thus killed, they are described to him as opposing Antichrist in every age, because the angel needs to mention their whole time; but they are specially set forth by what in their latter times, immediately before their killing, they should have power to oppose the beast in, who yet should prevail against them after they had set up a temple, and poured out four vials, and that highest fourth-vial plague of devouring fire. Now they are described, first, By their office, as witnesses, (Testes,y to protest against Anti christ, especially now at last; and as prophets, to feed the church in the wilderness for twelve hundred and sixty years, c. xii. 6. Secondly, By their condition, as in sackcloth and mourning, whilst the Pope and his clergy are triumphing in their silk. Thirdly, By their number, being two; 1st, “By the mouth of two (or three) witnesses shall every word be established,” (2 Cor. xiii. 1.) 2dly, In allusion to these famous pairs or couples who lived in like times, figurative of the various progress of the state of the church through the ages of Antichrist’s reign: these were, Moses and Aaron, prophets to the church in Egypt, in the wilderness; Elias and Elishc.^ prophets to Israel in Ahab’s idolatrous day, when no face of a church was seen, and there were hid in corners seven thousand of the Lord’s secret opes; Zerubbabel and Joshua, prophets in the days of finishing the temple, after the people were

REV. XI. 5.] OF THE WITNESSES5 ACTS. 043

come forth from the captivity of Babylon. That the Holy Ghost here alludes to these appears, From the plagues of Egypt executed in v. 6; From the fire of Moses twice consuming his gainsayers, v. 5; By Elijah and Elisha’s preventing rain, v. 6; By Joshua and Zerubbabel being the two olive-trees and candlesticks, that began arid finished the temple. Now all these were eminent ministers and magistrates; and as such also the witnesses are two: and thus we have their quality, office, condition, and number.

Secondly, They are set forth by their several exploits during their prophecy, as particularly related in each verse following, the recital of which is so ordered as to draw our eyes to two of these facts, as more eminent and nearest the times of this last age of measuring the temple, viz. Their devouring their enemies with fire, v. 5, and Their being two olive-trees, &c. v. 4: these two things are first mentioned as setting forth these witnesses at first view, according to what they should be in this latter age: For, First, The words in v. 5, “If any man hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths? &c. refer directly to v. 3; as if the angel had said, “I will give to my two witnesses power — that if any man hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths,” &c. Now the CAI of v. 3, notes out that special opposition these vyitnesses should have power to make against those Gentiles entering on their outward court; “But I will give my witnesses power, that if any hurt them,” &c. “And I will give’1’’ referring to this, as well as to” And they shall prophesy:” for whereas he had said three things, in v. 1,2: That the temple was to be measured and finished in this latter age by the godly, (represented by John: ) That the outward court, fencing the temple and witnesses, was to be regained by the Papists, and trodden down: That the Gentiles’ whole time of reigning, (on this occasion mentioned,) was to expire. Answerably, and oppositely, with a “but? (as CAI is taken,) three things are said of these witnesses: 1st, That the same space of time wherein those Gentiles reign, the same the witnesses have to prophesy in, and to oppose them; the twelve hundred and sixty days of the one being the forty-two months of the other. 2dly, Whereas this temple was in this latter age to be begun to be measured, but interrupted in the progress by the assualt of these Gentiles on the court and temple; yet these witnesses shall be as those “two olive-trees, (v. 4,) that minister before the Lord of the whole earth,” (whose power is engaged in that work;) Joshua and Zerubbabel being so called in Zech. iv. in respect of their performing the like work of finishing the temple against all opposition. 3dly, Although those Gentiles, in their subduing the outward court, do much hurt to the witnesses, who oppose them in this their assault on it, and on the temple; yet they again shall be able to avenge all the hurt done to themselves, byjire returned upon their enemies, and spit out of their mouths against

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644 THE WITNESSES IN THE DARKEST AGES. [REV. XI. 6.

them, in their attempt to regain the outward court. Secondly, This power of hurting their enemies is spoken of as a matter of fact, done at the present time, and in the age wherein John, in the vision, stands in the name of the godly meters: and to encourage them, “If any man will hurt them,y?re comes out of their mouth.” Thirdly, Whatever is said of their power, in v. 6, (besides the two things, in v. 4, 5,) is added only to illustrate the power besides what they have in their days formerly exercised. “These have power in the clays of their prophesy,” &c. v. 6. But the main thing, first mentioned, is their “devouring their enemies with fire? which is plainly the fourth vial, following as an adjunct to the measuring of the temple. Fourthly, This their exploit hath also an emphasis on it, v. 5, “In this manner he must be killed” (who hurts them;) as noting the greatest plague these witnesses could execute, which so vexeth and tormenteth their enemies, (v. 10,) and so scorcheth them, (c. xvi. 8, 9,) that they are irritated to kill them for it, and so to rejoice over them chiefly in this very respect. Fifthly, These four plagues being plainly the four first vials, they are here mentioned in an inverted order from c. xvi. for the /Ere-vial there is last, and here first in execution; so that on the earth, there first, is here last; to shew that the fire-vial belonged to the present times of this chapter and its visions, (when the temple was measured,) and as mainly intended; and the other to come in only for illustration’s sake, to prove the witnesses to be these vial-pourers.

ii. — The witnesses’ acts in the darkest ages, and also in the separation from Popery.

The serviceable acts of the witnesses for the name of God all this long time of their prophecy, respect their enemies and the temple-church of God; What in this last age they were to do before their killing, and now when the temple is measured and the outward court to be trodden down, (v. 4, 5;) and, What in the former ages’of their prophecy they had also done, (v. 6;) according to the division of the vials, and in c. xiv. 1st, What they did against their enemies in the days fore-going this latter age, wherein John is supposed to stand, as in v. 6; Either, in the first darkest times of Popery, when the hundred and forty-four thousand stood on mount Zion without a temple, and when idolatry overspread the world, (c. xiv. 1 — 5,) “They shut heaven, that it rained not;” as Elijah did in Ahab’s time, when he thought himself left alone; and Ahab and his priests of Baal, (as the Pope and his mass-priests,) ruled the world: This signifies their privilege of exclusive grace, and of the dews and influence of heaven, so as to have a truth of doctrine among them to save them; which fell not into the knowledge and hearts of these priests of Baal; see c. xiv. 3. These gracious dews of saving doctrine, restrained from those apostates, were a just curse on their

REV. XI. 6.] THE WITNESSES IN THIS LAST AGE. 645

apostacy. Or, 2dly, From and after the times of their separation from Popery, and on their coming out of that Egypt, they execute the like plagues to those of Moses and Aaron in Egypt, even the three first vials, which are therefore in v.6, (see c. xvi.) and these are the days of separation from Antichrist, and first Reformation in c. xiv.

in. — The witnesses’ acts in this their last age of prophecy.

First, The devouring of men with fire. Towards the time of the new Reformation of the temple, and afore this their killing, they pour out the fourth vial in scorching and devouring their enemies with fire, (v. 5,) whether Papists or other injurious persons. And as Moses had brought the people out of Egypt, and long since set up the tabernacle and other ordinances of worship, when Nadab and Abihu were devoured with fire, and the princes in the rebellion of Korah, (Lev. x. 1, 2: Num. xvi. 35:) so after the church comes out of that spiritual Egypt, where these former plagues were executed; and after the public worship is erected and set up by the Reformation, according to God’s appointment in many things; this rebellion breaks out against the witnesses endeavouring to keep to the word of God in his temple’s frame and fabric, and against their calling for this at the builders’ hands. The quarrels of both those companies then, and of these now are parallelled thus: The first quarrel then was about introducing human inventions in God’s worship j and the second was not only a renewing and continuing that quarrel, but a taking away all distinction of persons in worshipping; for Nadab and Abihu “offered strange (or culinary)y?re before the Lord,” instead of the altar-fire from heaven; therefore fire consumed them for justifying such unwarrantable inventions: and as for Korah and his company they offered incense, though no priests, and also quarrelled with Moses and Aaron, for excluding some of the Levitcs from the priesthood. Now in England and other churches since the Reformation, (of the latter days of which time this is especially here understood, for it is the fourth vial,) the quarrel has been about the strange fire of human inventions, continued and justified against the few witnesses for the commands of God to be the only rule of worship: And as for the putting such a difference between man and man, between the holy and profane, this hath been a still greater grievance of hot and violent opposition against these witnesses, who insist that those who have such or such a work of grace on their hearts, and endeavour to walk thus and thus holy, are alone saints: the stream of their ministry in England, hath still run in this channel of distinguishing men from men, “the precious from the vile;” their work and bent hath been to mark out from that promiscuous mixture, who it is God hath chosen, and who only are true priests and worshippers of God in spirit and truth; and for this, their opponents, quarrel

646 THE WITNESSES IN THE LAST AGE. [REV. XI. 6.

with them, and silence them, saying as Korah’s company, “Are not all the people holy? (have they not all been baptized? ) ye take too much upon you, (out of the pride of your spirits, ye precise ones,) to lift up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord.” Or again, The quarrel hath been about God’s own election of a few to be priests unto him, (as Levi was chosen from Israel, and Aaron from the house of Levi,) “Who are his, and whom he hath chosen:” so these now plead the cause of all mankind in universal grace and redemption. Accordingly, all the quarrels between the Popish party and the witnesses are reducible to two heads: True purity of worship, and, True holiness and peculiar election of worshippers. The light in both these things hath in our days grown up so high and so clear, that many opponents of these sin out of rebellion and presumption, against their own convictions of the truth; and so their punishment like that of those conspirators against Moses and Aaron, is the fire of the fourth vial, a spiritual judgment on their souls, effected by the powerful conviction of the word out of the mouth of the witnssses, who spit fire into their consciences, and begin hell-fire aforehand: and this very allusion is thus interpreted, Heb. x. 26, 27: For, 1st, The sin of both is rebellion. After Moses’ conviction of Korah’s company, he was despitefully scorned and reproached by them for bringing them out of Egypt; and so these “sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth;” as here “if any man will hurt them,” which is repeated v. 5. 2dly, As they were struck dead by God “for despising Moses’ law,” under conviction of it “by two or three witnesses,” (as Moses and Aaron:) so here the angel adjudgeth them to this notorious death for despising the testimony of these two witnesses, and the light of the gospel. 3dly, Their punishment was of all then the sorest, even “a dying without mercy;” but “of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy,” &c.? for “in this manner he must be killed,” not with elementary fire, nor so much by killing their bodies as their souls: as the Hebrew doctors say of Korah, &c. (who were rather blasted than burnt,) that their souls were scorched; and thus they were most lively types for sinners under the gospel, to whom God becomes a consuming fire. 4thly, That which is here called fire is called by Paul iiery indignation: and “a fearful expectation of judgment;” God sealing up by flashes of his wrath the eternal damnation of such sinners: and this “fiery indignation” sparkles forth upon all occasions from the writings and lives, and from the preaching and testimonies of those witnesses’ mouths. 5thly, Here is the phrase of “devouring their enemies,” as the apostle speaks of devouring the under-hand adversaries, (HUPENANTIOUS, Sttbcon-Irarios;) shewing that such sinners, (like the Pharisees,) renounce not always all profession of God; for so they should not have place and opportunity of hurting the witnesses by their under-REV. XI. 6.] THE TEMPLE- WORK OF THE WITNESSES. 647

hand pretensions and opposition. Gthly, Such was the effect of the powerful, burning, and shining light of the ministry of John and of Christ, (whose crucifying is also alluded to v. 7 — 13;) the Pharisees being tormented with it; (as in v. 10, with c. xvi. 9;) and in Mai. iv. 1, the gospel-day became to the Pharisees “a terrible day, burning their consciences as an oven,” so that in the heat of their wrath they crucified Christ, knowing him to be the Son of God, even as the witnesses were known to be his prophets.

Secondly, The temple-work of the witnesses, for Christ and the church, also sets forth their power in these latter days, especially that in v. 1, represented most lively by the olive-trees and candlesticks, in Zech. iv. where Joshua and Zerubbabel having begun to sacrifice after the people’s first coming out of Babylon, and to set up public worship, within two years laid the foundation of the temple, and set up the altar, (Ezra iii.) but left the work imperfect, without the roof covered, or the temple beautified with all those holy utensils and ornaments, appointed as ordinances to the complement and perfection of God’s worship; and all this, through the opposition of a Samaritan faction, of amongrel religion, (2 Kings xvii. 41,) pretending “to seek their God as they did,” (Ezra iv. 2 — 5, 23, 24;) but not being taken into this work of building, nor owned by the true Jews, they forced the same to cease, instigating the Persian monarch to frustrate their purpose; until Haggai and Zechariah were sent to stir up Joshua and Zerubbabel to finish the work, which was yet a true temple, and place of woi’ship, all the years it remained imperfect. Among other visions exciting them, was that of two-olive trees, (called “sons of oil” as laying out their grace, gifts, and estates, and spending their fatness, in hearty endeavours for repairing and finishing the temple;) and a candlestick, whereinto they emptied their oil; for this being the most necessary utensil to complete and shew the glory of the temple, (into which it was brought last of all,) is put for all the rest: Hence Zerubbabel is represented with a plummet in his hand, and a measuring-line, (as John used the reed,y for measuring the temple to be now fully finished; for the hands that laid the foundation, were to finish it, in spite of the Samaritan “great mountain” of opposition: Now the meaning of this hieroglyphic is given in the angel’s answer to his own question, “Knowest thou what these be? this is the word of the Lord,” &c. Thus the church having long since come out of mystical Babylon, hath set up public worship, and by the authority of princes hath begun the foundation of the temple, but hath been hindered from going on to full perfection of discipline intended and endeavoured through the mixture of a Samaritan party, interrupting the attainment of the perfection contended for: But in the end God stirs up many of the English spirits, (like unto Joshua and Zerubbabel,) to finish what was before left incomplete, and to begin to make a further and purer edition of churches according

648 THE TEMPLE-WORK OF THE WITNESSES. [REV. XI. 6,

to the pattern: and so they stand in this age with a line or reed, and do empty oil out of themselves unto this work; endeavouring to add to this temple ordinances instituted of God, and tending to the perfection, beauty, complement, and glory of the temple, though not absolutely necessary to the being of a church: And though the allusion includes the foundation of this temple-church laid in the first Reformation, yet it principally falls upon the finishing of it; which is the proper and peculiar aim of the vision. From c. i. 20, it is evident that churches eminent for purity, as well as persons, are witnesses against the false church; though these witnesses may be oil-bearers for the candlesticks, which being here two, shew that these are sister-churches now, and not only one mother-church as then; and the proportion is doubled in other respects also, to shew the increase of gospel-blessings, as observed in c. iv. Now this new Reformation of the church in attempts to finish the temple, through now as “a day of small things despised,” shall go on and spread till it be perfected, for it is “not by power, nor by might, but by my Spirit, saith the God of the whole earth” (v. 4,) whose power backs it, and causes the hearts of the godly to fall to it; and the Romish “great mountain,” so standing in its way, “shall yet become a plain before it.” And as the vials are to come out of this temple, it shews that the true church is to be the plague and ruin of the false: But however small are the beginnings of such a work, so interesting the divine glory, it will progress, and its progress is in this book noticed, as observed in c. xiv. yet I fear these olive-trees and candlesticks will, (like the rest of the churches in Europe,) have their power scattered, ere the building be finished, and they revive again, and “grow up into an holy temple in the Lord,” Eph. ii. 21, with c. xix.. Finally, As the witnesses are here in sackcloth, so Joshua (Zech. iii. 4,) was in filthy apparel; and as there he had change of raiment given him, so after a few years will these witnesses also have “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” (Isa. lxi. 3;) and their testimony being ended, they shall put off their sackcloth, and put on “fine linen,” the wedding-dress of the Lamb’s wife, as in c. xix. 8; and so in the end, the glory of this temple, set up after Antichrist’s demolishment, will yet be more glorious, (as Zerubbabel’s also was, Hag. ii. 9,) by Christ’s coming into it; when a Holy of holies shall be added to it, (or rather swallow it up,) in which “the ark shall be seen;” but not till after