The Eleventh Chapter: The Resurrection and Ascension of the Witnesses

“AND AFTER THREE DAYS AND AN HALF, THE SPIRIT OF LIFE
FROM GOD ENTERED INTO THEM, AND THEY STOOD UPON THEIR
FEET; AND GREAT FEAR FELL UPON THEM WHICH SAW THEM.
AND THEY HEARD A GREAT VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO
THEM, COME UP HITHER: AND THEY ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN
IN A CLOUD; AND THEIR ENEMIES BEHELD THEM: AND THE
SAME HOUR WAS THERE A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, AND THE TENTH
PART OF THE CITY FELL, AND IN THE EARTHQUAKE WERE SLAIN
OF MEN SEVEN THOUSAND: AND THE REMNANT WERE AFFRIGHT
ED, AND GAVE GLORY TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN,” V. 11 — 13.

I. — Four general observations concerning this resurrection.

First, The circumstance of it correspond with ChrisCs resurrection and ascension; Christ mystical, in these last days when his visible kingdom draws near, being more eminently conformable to Christ personal, both in his death and resurrection, (those last of his acts done on earth before his kingdom then:) and though there are some evident characters of likeness between his passion and their killing, yet there are still more striking ones between his and their rising again. Secondly, The peculiar circumstances of his resurrection correspond with those of the k illing, as a well-proportioned reward; for, 1st, A spirit of life enters into these slain. 2dlyp Instead of any longer lying dead in the street, they stand upon their feet. 3dly, Their enemies, or false hearted friends, who with pleasure see them (BLEPSOUSI,) or who help them not, now (THEOOROUNTAS) with terror behold them,

666 STEPS AND DEGREES OF THE WITNESSES* RISING. [REV. XI.

4thly, Great fear falls on their enemies, who before with joy looked on. 5thly, Their dead bodies suffered the contempt of remaining above ground, unburied and exposed; but now they more than live, being called up to heaven thither to ascend. 6thly, Thousands of their enemies are now killed in turn, as sacrificed unto them. By all this, Thirdly, The parallel of Christ’s resurrection and ascension is made; the lower was the one, the higher is the other, as in Eph. iv. 9, 10: where he rose, who died: he went up to heaven, who wrent down to hell; he sitteth at God’s right hand, who lay in the chambers of the grave. Fourthly, In this ressurrection there is a fore-running shadow of that last great victory, which brings in the dawn of the kingdom of Christ and the saints for a thousand years, beginning under the seventh trumpet, v. 15. I shall notice these particulars after despatching the following interpretation of

ii. — The steps and degrees of this resurrection and ascension.

First, “The spirit of life from God enters into them? as Christ’s soul coming again into his body was the principle of his future life. This notes a full restoration of their former state of life and power; and it is a reviving, not of their bodies but of their persons, (as surviving this short storm,) or of successors standing up in their cause: that whereas they were like dead men for three and a half years, in respect of their life of prophesying, (and perhaps through their own discouragements and fears, they lay too still and quiet, suffering their enemies to carry it, by their not opposing them as they ought,) yet now a bold and steeled resolution comes upon them, and they stand on their feet, and make head against their enemies, being thus alive again from the dead; while those who were actually slain by the Gentiles may be said to rise in their successors; for the saints are a holy nation and community; and what the next succession doth, through the prayers or sufferings of a former, that the former is said to do; as in Isa. v. 8, 12, and as John Baptist rose up in the spirit of Elijah, and as in Christ’s ministry John was thought to be risen again from the dead. Now this “spirit of life” enters into the witnesses’/row God, as a special demonstration of the power of his hand, such as he put forth in the resurrection of Christ, Eph. i. 19, 20; Rom. i. 4. Secondly, “They stand upon their feet” 1st, As in their former state or station. 2dly, As men erect, and taking heart; their cause being just, though they were before condemned. 3dly, As ready to defend themselves, and able and resolved to confront their enemies, into whose guilty consciences it strikes a mighty dread; “great fear falling on the spectators,” whose hearts begin to sink, (as the hearts of Haman’s friends misgave at his beginning to fall before Mordecai,) at the witnesses’ first beginning to live; for they see this prophecy fulfilled, beyond all expectation, as Christ foretold his resurrection after three days: and now the church will

EEV.XI. 13.] ACCOMPANIMENTS OF THE WITNESSES’ RISING. 667

sing, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy,” &c. Mic. vii. 8, 10. Or, “Those that saw them” may be the by-standers of “the nations,” &c. who not having relieved these their friends, are taken with fear and reverence of God and his truth, so as now to take part with them, contemplating their wonderful zeal and courage, and awed at the power and majesty ofGod’s finger herein, as in Jer. xxxiii. 9. Thirdly, “They are called up to heaven in a cloud” (as Christ ascended;) where “heaven” means not “the church,” (as it often doth in this book,) but a moro honourable and glorious condition than they had before, so that they shall die no more (Rom. vi. 9) the death of tcitnesses, whom it became “thus to suffer and to enter into their glory,” Luke xxiv. 26: their former state was as a church on earth, this is as a church in heaven. This “ascending up to heaven” is used to express new power, freedom, and glory, (as Isa. xiv. 12, 13,) such as is the dawning of the glory of” the new heaven and earth” to the enjoyment of which the church shall henceforward be raised up, as in c. xix.