The Eleventh Chapter: Accompaniments of the Rising

As there were certain events which accompanied Christ’s resurrection, so here there was an earthquake, affrighting the watchers: Now, 1st, The time of it was” the same hour” of the witnesses’ rising, as one of the means facilitating it by the removal of impediments, (like the rolling away the stone from Christ’s sepulchre;) the power of their enemies being thus scattered and dissolved: and though their resurrection and ascension are mentioned together, and then this earthquake is mentioned, after both, yet it follows not that all three were together; for the two distinct degrees of exaltation need not follow one another immediately, though put together as things of a sort; so this earthquake may refer only to the period of the witnesses’ first rising, as falling out the same hour when this great turn began. 2dly, The place and effects of this earthquake are expressed thus: “The tenth part of the city fell, and of the names of men were slain seven thousand” in the overthrow of the buildings thereof.

I. — What is the fall of the tenth part of the city?

First, Mr. Mede thinks it is the ruin of Rome itself, at the same hour with the witnesses’ rising and ascending, and all one with the fifth vial; for that, (it being an overthrow of the Popish enemy,) it must be reduced to one of the vials, four of which are mentioned before in v. 5, 6, 7, and the sixth seems to be that of v. 14, and then the seventh is all one with the seventh trumpet: for modern Rome is but a tenth part of the ancient imperial city, thus reduced by the trumpets in c. viii. and ix.; and” the names of men

668 THE FALL, EARTHQUAKE, AND SLAUGHTER, [REV. XL 13.

slain,” are ecclesiastics and other dignitaries, as cardinals, archbishops, bishops, &c. those Italian merchants who have enjoyed so much traffic by reason of this whore’s merchandise, are to be deposed and suffer a civil death, (as the witnesses had done,) at this seat of the beast’s now falling into Protestant hands. But, Secondly, Though this may be ultimately intended, my thoughts have been carried to some other distinct event, by observing the different effect which this earthquake hath on the hearts of the remnant of these slain in the fall of the city, from that which the full and fatal ruin of the seat of the beast, (under the effect of the fifth vial,) hath on the remnant of the beast’s company there; see v. 13, with c. xvi. 10, 11: The one having been drawn in through fear, to be of the Popish party, do afterwards repent; while the other cease not to blaspheme: so that it seems some special event connected with and making way for the witnesses’ rising and ascending where their chief slaughter was, through a mighty commotion of the state of things, and in men’s hearts; that as the Pope’s power had again been entertained by that tenth part of the city, through a forced consent and yielding to their slaughter, there is now a great insurrection against that power, and a proceeding to ruin the opposite party, of whom the unslaiu remnant in their fright “give glory to God,” and return to embrace the truth, and the cause of these witnesses. The scope of the Holy Ghost here is, to shew what properly concerns the rising of the witnesses as the means unto it, the earthquake and fall of the tenth part of the city being still reducible to the fifth vial, as a degree unto it, and as the final scope of it; for there are sprinklings of the same vial both before and after its acme, yet reducible to the vial of their own kind, to which they are either preparations or appen dices. Thirdly, “City” being taken in this book, either for Rome or its jurisdiction, “the tenth part” may be either or both; the fall of one being a step towards the fall of the other; and this double interpretation is frequent in scripture. But, Fourthly, I rather understand hereby some tenth part of Europe, (probably the same as “the street of the city” v. 8,) that one of the beast’s ten kingdoms, (by charter allotted to him, c. 17,) where are found most faithful witnesses lying dead for the three years and a half, and where they shall first begin to rise at the convulsion of the earthquake.

ii. — What is the great earthquake anddownfal in this tenth part of the city?

Under the sixth seal, the mighty change wrought in the Roman empire turned Christian, through Constantino’s deposing all heathen emperors and rulers and worshippers, is called an earth quake, c. vi. 12; and so is this last shaking of states politically or ecclesiastically, whereby this one of the ten states of Popedom falls off from the rest who belong to the beast, and becomes

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Protestant again, after having again been so enthralled to the Pope as to be guilty of the last blood of martyrs: and as earth quakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the earth, so this glorious revolution may arise from within that kingdom, either through the supreme magistrate’s beginning to “hate the whore” (c. xvii. 16,) or through the people’s hearts turning against the beast’s cruelty, after their consciences are enlightened, while their outward court lies trodden dgwn by the Gentiles, the witnesses also having the spirit of life re-enter, so that with one heart they join together to break their yoke asunder. Mr. Mede conjectures this voice to the witnesses out of heaven, to be that of supreme authority, with which the people also shall join, an earthquake being a commotion in the people and nations.

in. — What is the seven thousand names of men, and their slaying?

There is not such another phrase in the Bible as “names of men” which are certainly such enemies of the witnesses as had the chief hand in their killing, and in subjecting “the nations,” &c. to the beast’s power. First, Mr. Meide takes it for “men of name” (as “riches of glory” for “glorious riches,” &c.) meaning men of office, title, and dignity; (as they are also called in Num. xvi. 2;) who here are ecclesiastical dignitaries under the Papacy; as they do themselves speak of all the several ranks and orders of the hierarchical ministry, from the highest to the lowest, (which being so many are here numbered by sevens and by thousands,) thus, “By what names or titles soever dignified or distinguished;’’’ and these are “names of men” being of human invention, and not what the Holy Ghost teacheth: and this phrase is aptly connected with the ruin of the Pope’s creatures, brought about by such evil and error of theirs: But it is proper to civil offices and titles to be of men, as human ordinances or creations, (see p. 5, for ANTHROOPiNEEi CTISEI, 1 Pet. ii. 13:) but the foundation of the calling and office of ecclesiastical names is of another building, “not of men,” (Gal. i. 1,) though “by man” the persons may be set apart to fill such offices of which Christ is Lord, of whom they hold, as truly as gifts hold of the Spirit, and as operations do of the Father; and it is God that hath set (ETHETO,) teachers as well as apostles, 1 Cor. xii. 4 — 6, 28. Therefore Popish names, not being “plants of the Father’s planting, must be rooted out” of this kingdom, where they had caused us much mischief even to cruelty against the witnesses; and where the efficacy of working to uphold these names had brought it again under the measure of the tenth part of the city, ere the earthquake causes it again to fall from the jurisdiction thereof.

iv. — What is the tenth part of the city that fell by the earth quake and resurrection?

670 WHAT IS THE TENTH PART OF THE CITY [REV. XI. 13.

Though it is rash to determine, it is not hard to conjecture, which of the ten European kingdoms or states shall first be privileged with so blessed a handsel of the general revival of the churches: for God makes new choice of nations and churches beyond our thoughts; for “his ways are past finding out,” by any designment traced on the face of previous dealings with any of the churches. I will therefore only prognosticate, from the face of the sky in the churches of this present age, where this heaven (into which the witnesses shall ascend,) is likely first to clear up from under these clouds, and from out of this hour of darkness to come upon the world. First, The saints and churches belonging to the kingdom of France, God hath made a wonder to me in all his proceedings towards them, first and last; and there would seem some special honour in reserve for them. The light of the gospel by the first and second angel’s preaching, (c. xiv.) which laid the foundation of Antichrist’s ruin, began from Lyons and other places, which have endured the heat of that morning of persecution, greater perhaps than any since, wherein the French churches have also had perhaps the largest share; and though they have continued a glorious church for so many centuries since their separation from Antichrist, (see p. 611,) yet they have not had that great honor and privilege of a supreme magistrate’s professing their religion, (with which other churches have been so blest;) for such have been either their bloody persecutors and oppressors, or else have apostatized from them: we may therefore yet expect their kings to be wrought upon “to hate the whore and to burn her with fire,” c. xvii. 16; and the voice which calls these witnesses up to heaven, may yet proceed from the throne of France, where the witnesses have ever prophesied in sackcloth; so that that kingdom may have the first stroke in the ruin of Rome. But, Secondly, Viewing the face of the present condition of the saints and churches in Europe, as it presents itself in this last age, (wherein these things are in all likelihood to be fulfilled,) together with a retrospect into the times past also; and putting all together, Great Britain and the islands belonging to it, seem to have stronger claims than any other of the Reformed churches to the glory of being the prominent stage both of this great slaughter, and also of the rising and ascending of these witnesses. For without being swayed through affection only, (which might betray the judgment,) I have seriously and impartially considered and weighed things: for since the fourteenth century, there has been as glorious a succession of godly witnesses and martyrs, (as you may collect among Mr. Fox’s martyrology,) as any other nation can produce; and since the Reformation, the descriptive marks of these witnesses designed to this slaughter and glory, appear the liveliest upon those of Great Britain. For 1st, Here God hath continued the most faithful, and called, and chosen, (c. xvii. 14,) who are of the Lamb’s side, and are to overcome,

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with him, the kings that shall hate and burn the whore; there being more that hold forth the power of religion here than in all the nine kingdoms besides: and surely where the most eminent witnesses are, there will be the most eminent slaughter, and consequently also, their most glorious resurrection and ascension; magnitude of sufferings, multitude of witnesses, and greatness of glory, being thus commensurate. 2dly, In this “street of the city,” (more than in all other churches,) God hath eminently stirred up men’s hearts to breathe after, and contend for, a further and purer Reformation and measuring of the temple; and this more or less ev’er since the first erection of the English church of Frankfort, in queen Mary’s days. Now the bitter persecutions brought on through such contentions against all false worship, have caused our witnesses to prophesy in sackcloth, more apparently than others in other Reformed churches; whence hath followed a greater increase in spiritual light and holiness, and in practical knowledge in the ways and works of sanctification, (by which the worshippers are to be measured,) and also a clearer insight into the institution and true government of a church, (by which the temple and altar are to be measured;) others in the quiet enjoyment of this sort of purity having run out into little better than an outward-court formal profession, with but few priests of the inner temple, those worshippers who worship God in power, in spirit, and in truth. By consulting the Exposition of the first six verses, and by impartially applying the interpretation given to the Protestant professors this day in Europe, how pre-eminently will the state of British saints, and their constant conflict with the beast and his abettors, fit the measure thereof, and approach nearer the life of that face of things presented in the British, rather than in any other European Zion? 3rdly, The description of the eminent opponents of the witnesses in these last days, as authors of their slaughter, also fits those open and professed enemies in these kingdoms, where are found those that receive the number of the beast’s name, who yet have rather denied, and may still for awhile deny his character, and disclaim his name: to whom else shall we liken this generation? or where else shall we find similitudes for them, if the said description in these chapters suits them not? And these number-names being the beast’s last-named last champions, (as in c. xiii. 17; xv. 2;) are to hold up the last great quarrel of the beast’s cause, and to fight the last combat with the witnesses; and so in this last age to be overcome in open field by them, as their predecessors, that had the mark and image of the beast, have been overcome by the former generation of witnesses in elder times. 4thly, In which of the Reformed churches, except in these kingdoms, are those names of men continued, (according to the otherwise unused phrase, “By what names or titles soever distinguished”) who are to be the killers of the witnesses, and therefore to be slain

672 FALL OF THE TENTH PART OF THE CITY. [REV. XI. 13.

by this earthquake, in their revenge? which several names and titles and dignities, from the highest to the lowest, may haply amount to just seven thousand, (or a great number,) even besides such ministers of parishes and assemblies, as for the substance of their office have a warrant from God, though their usual names be of man’s devising. Yea, is not this very thing made the quarrel now, Whether these same ranks of ministry be names of God or of man, about which the witnesses have contended from the beginning? And is it not the suspicion and general opinion, that to continue and secure these their names, men would again introduce Popery? for this the witnesses have been silenced, fined, deprived, and deposed from their ministerial charge, lest (as the Pharisees said of Christ,) the people’s running after their doc trine should endanger their names, credit, and dignity; and so “take away their kingdom.” This hath been the secret cause of the continuation of the quarrel, though under other outward pretences; yea, this will be the provocation for the ensnaring slaughter of these witnesses, which now approacheth; they say within their hearts, “Let us kill these witnesses, and the vineyard will be ours.” 5thly, On all the above grounds, how plainly probable does it seem, that these accompaniments of the witnes ses’ resurrection, are to fall out in this tenth part of Europe, and in one, or both, of these our kingdoms? and how just were it with God to give up these “names of men” (who havebeen the enemies of his witnesses in all times since the Reformation,) to receive at least “the number of the beast’s name” and under his name and power, as his trained band and leaders in this his last war, to become in the end the killers of these witnesses? And how wonderful and wise a dispensation of God will it be towards his own in these kingdoms, to have reserved the utter extripation of these long contended for “names of men” unto such a time and occasion as this? and that after they shall first have done this feat and exploit for the beast, in killing the witnesses, they should then be sacrificed, (as Baal’s priests were by Elias;) when these witnesses, whom they so persecuted, shall rise to die no more? thus the ruin of those their enemies is made their triumph, and the removing them out of the way by this earthquake is the foundation of their ascension into heaven: after which the work of measuring the temple, by these Samaritans interrupted, shall go forward in the hands of Joshua and Zerubbabel; and the people, before afraid, shall begin to cry “Grace, grace, unto it:” so the rearing of these purer churches shall be upon the rubbish of this Samaritan mountain of the false church. 6thly, If the fifth vial be also aimed at in this earthquake, and the fall of Rome, the seat of the beast; how comely will it be, and suitable with the long expectation of God’s witnesses and holy ones, that the ruin of these sees and seats of those that shall do Antichrist such service, shall fall out with, or be preparative unto the fall of

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that great bishop’s see, (as expounded in the fifth vial;) when both shall go down together, as alike pertaining to the same building of man, not of God! Lastly, If this prove the issue of God’s dealings with these kingdoms, how gloriously shall God thereby acquit himself in the conclusion of all his dispensations towards them? For to see two such contrary streams running so strongly one against another in the same channel, hath indeed caused a wonderment in the godly- wise of this last age, what God means to do, and what end he means to make with England: how equally God means to proceed here both towards them that fear him, and towards the opposite party, that arc and have been here, is the great expectation of the churches; for it is miraculously strange to see how God upholds in the same state two such contrary factions and parties, one of his own people, rising higher and higher in spiritual light, against superstition, and breathing after further purity of holiness and perfection of public worship; and herewith at the same time another strong party, looking towards Rome, and increasing in superstition, darkness, and an impudent outfacing the light of truth, even when shining clearest and brightest on them. Now for the all-wise God, whose art and skill “knoweth how to preserve the righteous, and to reserve the wicked unto punishment,” (2 Pet. ii. 9,) to come off at last so gloriously; what more equal and likely dispensation, than the course chalked out in this chapter, towards both parties in our kingdom? which course, according to God’s dealing throughout the scriptures, the godly-wise might have hoped he intended to run, even though this prophecy had not been left us in this chapter concerning these very times.

v. — This resurrection and ascension, is a shadotv of “the restitution of all things”

To make appear yet more glorious all that hath been said about the great privilege and honor to befall one tenth part of Europe, let me add, That this resurrection of the witnesses seems the commencement of the first great turn of things in the church hastening to the new Jerusalem, and the dawn of the fulnes of Christ’s kingdom, and the final restitution of the church’s liberation from under the yoke of Antichrist. “Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” was the disciples’ question after Jesus’ resurrection, (Acts i. 6, 7:) Jesus denies not the fact, but denies them only the knowledge of “the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” But now these times and seasons drawing near, tho rising of these witnesses, (which being figured out by his resurrection, and the fulfilment of it, is called in c. xx. 5, C, “the Jirst resurrection” ) is here mentioned as the signal of that restitution: and so the ancients generally spake of that day, That this killing and rising again of the two witnesses, (though interpreted by them of Enoch and Elijah,) are the harbinger-signs of that joyful day of Christ’s

2 Y kingdom, which they called the day of judgment: And this particular occurrence in but a tenth part of Europe, is here mentioned, rather than others likely to fall out with it or after it, (as the ruin of Rome, in itself a greater one,) that this one passage might more properly become a sign, (to give which is the Holy Ghost’s scope in this chapter,) of the approaching of the new Jerusalem, under the seventh trumpet: For it is not only the first step of the restauration of the church after Antichrist’s last scattering of it, for ever to go on increasing till the full restitution of all things; being the first turn of the stream after that last low ebb, whose waters still rise to full sea never to ebb again; (these witnesses now rising, as Christ did, never to die again, but to cast off their sackcloth for ever;) But further also, being in many particulars the liveliest picture and model of that great revolution to come, this passage is singled out as the fore-running type and resemblance of what is to begin with the seventh vial, (which is all one with the seventh trumpet,) when “old things are to be done away, and all things made new,” (2 Cor. v. 17; c. xxi. 5:) and as here, so there, there is said to be a great earth quake; one “dividing the remainder of Babylon into three parts,” and precipitating “the cities of the nations,” (c. xvi. 18, 19;) the other precipitating the tenth part of the city, and slaying those “names of men:” and as the one is ushered in with the first resurrection, so the other with a revival of dead witnesses to a better life than they had before: for this wonderful work and change shall be, (like the conversion of the Jews,) as “life from the dead,” Rom. xi. 15.

vi. — Conjectures about the time of the witnesses’ killing and rising.

Two periods have been especially pitched on, by writers of the seventeenth century, for great changes in the churches of Christ; one about A.D. 1650-6, the other A.D. 1666, (see p. 603,) concerning which, and also any other conjectures out of these prophecies, this general caution must be taken in: That in such computations a mistake of a few years may occur, from the years since the incarnation being uncertainly kept; as Arnobius saith, “It is about three centuries, more or less, since we began to be churches;” and therefore Helvicus, (one of the best chronologers,) makes A.D. 1650, to be A.D. 1652; and others allow four years difference: And an unknown English writer, in a little book dedicated to the church of Rome, A.D. 1539, first gave this obscure hintof the year A.D. 1666: “Yet two months, two weeks, two days and a half; and thy number six hundred three-score and six shall be fulfilled;” reckoning from Pope Innocent’s time, A.D. 406. Simpson, the Scotch abb re viator of the church’s story, and Mr. Wood in his manuscript on the Revelation, incline also to A.D. 1666. The other period, A.D. 1650-6, some make the time of the Jews’ first calling, and others the expiring of Antichrist, and the fall of the city; so that holy man Hiltenius, (the great forerunner of Luther, in Germany,) who foretold the very year of Luther’s rising after him to teach his doctrine; which Melancthon saw writ ten under his own hand; this being one of his last sayings, (recorded among the lives of the German divines, by Melchior Adam;) “That A.D. 1651, shall be the time of the change of this, and the beginning of the new world. Since him Finch, in his book of” The Jews’ calling,” (and many others also,) makes that the time “when God will leave off’ to scatter his holy people, for then shall the Turk’s first declining come,” &c. and the most learned Rabbi in the world communicated this period to Mr. Forbes, as the utmost time of the advent of their Messiah. Mr. Mede also makes Antichrist’s commencement, A.D. 395; so that thus there would be as many years from Christ to the beginning of the new world, as from the creation to Noah, to which age Christ compares his coming. In Dan. xii. 11, this same angel says, “That from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days “or years” added to Julian’s time; for from Vespasian and Titus’ time, they would have been out near five hundred years ago. Hiltenius, (who was a great studier of Daniel’s prophecies,) first made this conjecture; and Wood, Finch, and others followed him, as did most of the Jews. Now these two computations of A.D. 1656, and A.D. 1666, may be reconciled by the two gradual accomplishments of the fifth vial; whereof the one is the preparation to the other, some portions being poured out at the top, and others at the dregs of God’s wrath; the first degree of it beginning at the rising of the witnesses, with the fall of the tenth part of the city, (or Romish jurisdiction;y the other completing the ruin of Rome itself, (c. xvi.) which is but a tenth part of the original Rome. Now this angel here, declared in Dan. xii. 1, 7, That about the same time the children of his people, (the Jews,) should be called by Michael their prince, (Christ,) and be also delivered out of the greatest distress from the Turkish empire, (the second woe to pass away, v. 14,) ever nation was in; after which restoration of the Jews, and resurrection of the witnesses, the church’s reign on earth will begin to be established on the ruins of Antichrist, at the blast of the seventh trumpet. But the other period of” the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days,” (or years,) being about

forty-five years anterior, would have brought it down to A.D. 1690-9; and these two periods are set as two posts, the one at the beginning, and the other at the ending of the whole style of time allotted for the fulfilment of events before Christ’s kingdom. Again in Dan. xii. 7, the angel seems to mention Antichrist’s “three and a half times,” distinct from the “accomplishing to scatter the power of the holy people” by killing the witnesses; and then “all these things, (about the ruin of the Pope and Turk,) shall be finished,” or a finishing; for they would scarcely all end together at one time. So that the twelve hun-

2 Y 2 dred and ninety years designs not so much Antichrist’s time, as the first turn of things at the saints’ scattering, preparatory to Christ’s kingdom; this expiring of his time being somewhere within these forty-five years: For, 1st, The angel’s fixing a latter period for the final end of all, leaving so many years between, augur the former to be the punctum beginning the time for the accomplishment of these great things, whereof Antichrist’s ruin is one, and that of the Turk is a great one also. 2dly, Having repeated this scattering, &c. as a preface to his answer about the time of its being finished; “Many, (says the angel,) shall be made white, and tried, and purified” by this scattering; and then is subjoined, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, (under Julian, as some interpret,) shall be twelve hundred and ninety days,” to the killing of the witnesses: Now these three years and a half were prefigured by those of Antiochus, and accompanied with the same trial, Dan. xi. 35; “Many shall fall, to try them, to purge them, and to make them white;” the scattering in the apostate Emperor’s time being a strong resemblance with that to come under apostate Rome: But the Pope’s “three times and a half” would have been reckoned from some more eminent and suitable mark than this heterogeneal passage of Julian’s persecution, as hornogeneal with this killing of the witnesses. 3dly, As the latter period emphatically blesses him that cometh thereto, it intimates a blessedness also on the dawn of it, forty-five years before, in comparison of the scattering times previous thereto; though thrice blessed are the times of which the angel saith to Daniel, “Thou shall stand up in thy lot,” &c. as he saith in c. xx. 6, “Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” It is in explanation of Daniel, that the angel here insists so largely on this last killing of the witnesses, and their first resurrection; the forty-five years ending also with another resurrection still more glorious, the Pope and Turk being destroyed utterly in the interim: and in further confirmation of this harmony, the twelve hundred and ninety days are pitched on by some for the conversion of the Jews, and the fall of Turcism; the taking away the Jews’ sacrifice being pitched on as the eminent mark and post, whence to reckon the account: for the Jews’ last at tempt to erect their temple-worship in Julian’s time was overthrown by an earthquake; thus fulfilling the prophecy of Christ then again, “not to leave one stone upon another” even under ground: The time therefore of their turning to the Messiah is reckoned from temple-matters of which he is the substance; and if the resurrection of the European witnesses, and the conversion of the Jews, should fall out together, how famous would Daniel’s days be made by two so glorious resurrections, accompanying the foundations of the new Jerusalem; the enemies of Jews and Protestants, hitherto letting, being now “taken out of the way,” that the Son of man might be revealed; as the Roman empire did let the revelation of “the man of sin” and his kingdom. Thus both these typical resurrections will become pledges of “the resurrection of the just,” and that of the witnesses will prepare the effusion of the fifth vial on the ruined Romanist, as that ot the Jews will prepare the effusion of the sixth vial on the ruined Turk. And it may be observed, that these forty-five years correspond with the period of the Exodus of Israel, adding the five years of battling for the promised land to the forty years in the wilderness, as in Joshua xiv. 10.