The Revelation Unveiled, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of what Enſueth after the 1260 Days are at an End.
IT is confidently concluded by many Writers, that exactly and immediately after the Perioding of the 42 Months and 1260 Days, there is an end of the Dominion of the Beaſt, and of the Sufferings of the Saints; whereas I am confident they are miſtaken in both; another Event was to be expected. It's true, then the Witneſſes come out of their Sackcloth-ſtate, but ſoon after they paſs into a worſe ſtate; as will appear under the next Rule.
Rule 8. That after the Expiration of the 1260 Days, and finiſhing of the Teſtimony, there is a Witneſs-killing War, the Death and Reſurrection of the Witneſſes, and a great Commotion before the ſounding of the Seventh Trumpet.
This appeareth: For,
It's clear that Daniel's little Horn continueth after the time, times and half, Dan. 7. 25, 26. the Judgment ſhall ſit, and they ſhall take away his Dominion, to conſume and deſtroy it to the End.
Therefore his loſing his Dominion and his Deſtruction, will be by a Conſumption after thoſe times (which are the ſame with 1260 Days) are ended. Yea, he is prevalent, thinketh to change Times and Laws; How long? v. 21, 22. until the ancient of days came,—and the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdom, i. e. until the Seventh Trumpet.
And further to confirm this, after the time, times and half, it is added, Dan. 12. 7. [and when he ſhall have accompliſhed to ſcatter the Power of the holy People, all theſe things ſhall be finiſhed] viz. Daniel's People, the Jews, ſhall be delivered, v. 1.
So then, the accompliſhing to ſcatter the Power of the holy People, is after the time, times and half are expired. And ſeeing we read not of any new ſcattering of the Jews, and this belongeth to the Fourth Monarchy, and is a Gentile Number, it may poſſibly refer to Gentile Chriſtians, and be in part expreſſive of the way of ſlaying the Witneſſes by a ſcattering them and their Church-Aſſemblies, after theſe times or 1260 days are expired.
Alſo John in the Revelation clearly placeth what concerneth the Death of the Witneſſes after the 1260 days are ended, Revel. 11. 7. foreign, when they have finiſhed their Teſtimony,—then, and not before, doth the Witneſs-killing War begin. I had rather render it ſo in the time paſt, being in the Aorist than [when they are about to finiſh]. And their Teſtimony was not finiſhed till the 1260 days of their Propheſying expired; ſeeing the Teſtimony of Jeſus is the Spirit of Propheſie, (Rev. 19. 10.) ſo long as they Propheſie, (though in Sackcloth) it is not finiſhed either for time or work. And not only the import of the word foreign, but the Nature of the thing maketh that War and Death ſubſequent. For during the 1260 days of their propheſying the Witneſſes are Overcomers, and their Enemies are killed. Rev. 11. 5, 6. [if any Man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their Mouth, and devoureth their Enemies]—and [he muſt in this manner be killed]—and this [in the days of their Propheſie]—
Whereas the iſſue of this War is, the Witneſſes are overcome and killed, v. 7. the Beaſt—ſhall overcome and kill them, Rev. 13. 7.
Yea, the Propheſying ſtate, in the very mentioning of it, is inconſiſtent with the Deathſtate, and the Death far worſe than the Propheſying, though in Sackcloth; ſo long as they Propheſie they are alive, not dead. Neither do the Witneſſes in the time of their lying dead, torment the Earth-dwellers, as they do in the time of their Propheſying, v. 5, 6, 10.
The Concluſion then is, that the finiſhing of the Teſtimony, however the Witneſs-killing War, and the Death of the Witneſſes are after the 42 Months and 1260 days are expired and at an end.
For the further diſcovering who are the Witneſſes, and what their Death; how, where, and when they are to be Slain, taken Seven Propoſitions.
Prop. I. That the [Two Witneſſes] are faithful Miniſters, and pure Profeſſors or Beaſt-oppoſing Churches.
For they are [two Candleſticks] Rev. 11. 4. (which are interpreted Churches, Rev. 1. 20▪ the ſeven Candleſticks are ſeven Churches), and they are [two Olive Trees] which is but an Alluſion to Zech. 4. 3, 11, 14. and cannot be confined to Magiſtrates and Miniſters, ſeeing they are never called a Candleſtick, and pure Profeſſors and Churches are anointed ones, Rom. 11. 17, 18, 19, 20. 1 John 2. 20. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Yea, theſe are ſuch as Prophecy (1 Cor. 14. 24, 31. Rev. 19. 10.) and that 1260 Rev. 11. 3. not only making a Profeſſion at large, but bearing and finiſhing a Teſtimony for Chriſt and his Kingdom againſt the Beaſt, as v. 7. ſo as he becometh their Enemy, and maketh War with them. The Two Teſtaments are their Teſtimony, and ſo cannot be the Witneſſes; however it cometh to the ſame in Effect; for if theſe, or Magiſtrates and Miniſters lye dead, then ſo will ſuch pure Profeſſors and Churches alſo, and ſo are to be deemed Witneſſes.
Prop. II. That [the Death of the Witneſſes] is an Extremity of Suffering: Or, it conſiſteth in an unparallell'd Ceſſation of Testimony and Deprivation of Means and Comforts of Life.
The various Phraſes of overcoming and killing them, may intimate its being attended with much Bloodſhed: but it is not chiefly a corporal Death, for then ſuch muſt be the reſurrection or recovery out of it, and that under the ſixth Trumpet, Rev. 11 11. 14. whereas the corporal reſurrection is not until the ſeventh Trumpet, v. 18. And their Enemies behold them with pleaſure three Prophetical days or years and half, which they could not do if it were a corporal Death. It muſt then be a metaphorical Death, by the Churches being in a ſtate and condition full of Extremity, of Affliction and Suffering, which often is called a Death, 2 Cor. 1. 10. and 11. v. 23. Pſal. 71. 20. and 80. 18. Iſai. 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 10.—35. Rom. 11. 15. It will not only be a civil death, by deprivation of Publick Miniſtration and Employment, as to the exerciſe of office; but alſo a ſpiritual Death, by an unparallelled Ceſſation of Teſtimony, for they dye not meerly as Men, but as Witneſſes they loſe much of their witneſſing Spirit, Rev 11. 7. Their ſtate is far worſe than in their propheſying time, poſſibly by military Men having Power over, (v. 9, 10.) and forcibly diſabling of them for former actual witneſſing work; and thus it will be not only their Sin, but their Suffering, that there is a failing of their Teſtimony. And although Spiritual Life it ſelf will not utterly fail, yet they will in an extraordinary unpreſidented way, be cut ſhort of external means for the ſupport of it, ſo as they are deemed as dead Corps, v. 8, 9. and their reſtauration or recovery, is by the Spirit of Life from God entring into them, which importeth a precedent want of it. As the dead-ſtate of the Jews or Iſraelites, Ezek. 37. importeth not only the ruin of their City, deſtruction of their Temple, deſpoiling of them of outward Comforts, Houſes, Lands, Relations. Accommodations;—but the Profaning of the ſolemn Worſhip of God, the trampling under foot his Ordinances, the caſting down from Church-ſtate or work, and ſubjecting them to the wills of mercileſs Men, and their own drawing up deſpairing Concluſions, v. 11. our hope is loſt, we are cut off for our parts: and the reſtoring of them, is a recovery out of this condition, v. 8. to 15.
So the Death of the Witneſſes importeth the like; an unparallelled, unwonted loſs of a witneſſing Spirit, deprivation of the external Worſhip and Ordinances of Chriſt and Church-ſtate, by ſcattering, loſs of Communion, and all aggravated with the triumphant Blaſphemies of Enemies, and Inſultations over them, Rev. 11. 10. and their own deſpairing Concluſions, from their ſeeing no viſible poſſibility of coming into a better condition afterward; all which, will be attended with a variety of other Afflictions and Sufferings, rendring their conditions ſo deplorable, as is hardly to be pre-conceived of before experienced.
Prop. III. That it is by a latter Victorious War of the First Beast that the Witneſſes are ſlain.
Rev. 11. 7.—The Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, ſhall make War againſt them, and ſhall overcome and kill them.
Where note, It was not by [the Dragon] i. e. not by any of the Ten Perſecutions in the Firſt three hundred Years after Chriſt, under Pagan Emperours, but by [the Beaſt] who was the Dragon's Succeſſor; he is the ſlayer of the Witneſſes: and not the ſecond Beaſt, the Pope (though it may be by his Inſtigation) but by the firſt Civil, Perſecuting, Ten-horned, Crowned, Whore-ridden Beaſt: for, it is by him which aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit; Compare Rev. 17. v. 3, 7, 8. with Rev. 13. 1, 2. and 11. 7.
And it is by [a War] not a meer worldly literal War, but a Spiritual, Myſtical War, by a difference ſtated between the Witneſſes and the Beſtians; and ſo, not where the power of the Beaſt hath wholly prevailed, but where Chriſt hath a potent party to make oppoſition. And, not any War ſoon after the riſing of the Ten-Horned Beaſt, or during the 1260 days, but when the Witneſſes have finiſhed their teſtimony as to time and work, and are overcome and the War ended; and hence this [Death of the Witneſſes] was not by any National diſtreſſes and calamities, which equally betide Beſtians and the true Witneſſes; nor could the Death of the Witneſſes be before or at the Smalcaldian War, nor at the Council of Trent, Ann. 1546. nor at the Maſſacre at Paris, Ann. 1572. for from the riſing of the Horns to thoſe times, the 1260 days could not be ended, or teſtimony finiſhed, and ſo the Witneſs-killing War was not then ſo much as begun.
Prop. IV. That it is in an open place of Myſtical Babylon that the Witneſſes lie dead: How long this Witneſs-killing War laſteth, the Scripture doth not determine, but the event muſt, but it leaveth Spiritleſs, Lifeleſs, Rev. 11. 8. their dead bodies ſhall lye in the Street of the great City, which Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was Crucified.
This [great City] is Myſtical Babylon, ſee Rev. 14. 8. and 16. v. 19. and 17. v. 18. and 18. v. 10, 16, 18, 19, 21. and the deſcription agreeth to that, for it is [Spiritually] i. e. not literally, but myſtically called [Sodom] for ſpiritual Whoredom and Idolatry, (Rev. 17. 5.) and [Egypt] for tyranny and cruelty (Rev 17. 6.) [where our Lord was Crucified] which was under Pontius Pilate a Roman Deputy, and in that Juriſdiction.
It cannot be literally [Jeruſalem] for that was not a great City in the days of John, nor ever after till the New Jeruſalem, (Rev. 21. 10.) after which there will be no more ſorrow or death (v. 4.) Z…ph. 3. 15. Z…ch. 9. 8. Amos 9. 14, 15. Ezekiel's meaſuring is after reſtauration, not before, Ezek. 40. 17, 19, 20. and 48. 15, 16. and therefore that is under the Seventh Trumpet, after which they will not lye dead, and therefore that is not the ſame, nor at the ſame time with Johns meaſuring, for that and the death of the Witneſſes, is before the end of the Sixth Trumpet, Rev. 11. 1, 7, 14. They lye dead in the great City, the Roman dominion, not in the whole compaſs of it, but in [a Street] thereof, where ſome eminent teſtimony was held for Chriſt and his Kingdom, againſt the Beaſt, not in Streets. Yet foreign, though diſtinguiſhed from City, as being only a part thereof (Luk. 10. 10. and 14. 21.) noteth a publick, broad and open place, in oppoſition to what is private, as Mat. 6. 5. and 7. 13. [wide] is the Gate—Rev. 21. 21. and 22. 3.
So that the Witneſſes ſhall lye dead in [the Street] i. e. in a moſt open place of Myſtical Babylon, expoſed to the view of all, even of Enemies. The openneſs of it is ſuch, as v. 9. [they of the People, Kindreds, Tongues and Nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies, and not ſuffer them to be put in the Grave.] Denying Burial to the Dead, generally ſoundeth disfavour, and being barbarous (Am. 8. 3. Pſal. 79. 2, 3. Jer. 16. 4, 6. and 22. 19. and 25. 33.) but if it be an act of favour here, ſecuring them from utter deſtruction, yet it is a very publick buſineſs, the ſadneſs of their condition is notoriouſly known to thoſe of various Nations and Kingdoms▪ by the dead Witneſſes being perſonally preſent there. And ſo, either they are ſlain in diverſe Nations and Kingdoms, or elſe after dead, they are tranſported, exiled, baniſhed, and by flight diſperſed and driven for refuge thither, and finding welcome there, by their kindneſs are ſheltred, and ſecured from burial, from utter ruin and deſtruction. Or elſe (as ſome think) military men of all gatherings of ſeveral Nations, Kindreds and Tongues, will have power over them, and hold them under their death; and the Beſtians are expreſſed under the ſame notions, Rev. 13. 7, 8. and the Earthdwellers rejoice over them, Rev. 11. 10 and to be ſure theſe are Enemies.
Prop. 5. That when the Witneſſes have lain dead three years and half, they ſhall be eminently revived and advanced, Rev. 11. 11, 12. After three days and half, the Spirit of life from God entred into them—and they heard a voice from Heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither—It is a determinate time, elſe it might have been ſaid as well after three or four days, if only a ſhort uncertain time had been intended; whereas it is three days and half, and ſo twice mentioned. Nor can they be Natural days, for the Earth-dwellers could not ſo congratulate one another at a diſtance, in three natural days and half. Nor are they the ſame with the 1260 days; For, who can imagine that ſo many days ſhould ſignifie no more than three days and half in the ſame breath? And beſides, they are different ſtates, the one of Sackcloth the other of Death. Neither are they dead when they begin their teſtimony (as that would have it) nor till they finiſh it. It remaineth then that the time of the Witneſſes lying dead is [three years and half] not to be counted from the firſt beginning of trouble, that is longer, for the witneſs-killing War bringeth trouble, but from the end of the War, when it can be ſaid, Now the Witneſſes are overcome and killed, are able to make no more conſiderable oppoſition againſt the Beſtians, but are Spiritleſs, their power is gone; thence begin thoſe days.
And hence, where the Witneſſes remain in the ſame deplorable and ſad condition, or go into a worſe, a longer ſpace, as four or ſix years, that is not the time of the Witneſſes lying dead▪ For it is ſaid [After three days and half, the Spirit of life from God entred into them] Rev. 11. 11. Some extraordinary if not immediate hand of God beyond all expectation before the fourth year is come giveth ſome reviving, removeth that wherein the Death of the Witneſſes did conſiſt.
[And they ſtood upon their feet] they were fallen down, but now are recovered into a better poſture, to the affrightment, and aſtoniſhment of Spectators; [Great fear fell upon them which ſaw them.] This ſecond ſtep followeth not long after their reviving, a reſurrection.
Afterwards they have an invitation or call into a more honourable condition, v. 12. [and they heard a great voice from Heaven, ſaying, Come up hither.] It is not the higheſt Heaven, for the call thither is not till the end of the Seventh Trumpet; but [the Church] is [the Heaven] they are called up to, which they were greatly caſt down from, during the time of their Death, now they are called to publick exerciſes again, in a Church State of exaltation and advancement, [and they aſcended] their Reſurrection is immediately after the half day, but their Aſcention may be ſome time after, more gradual, and [in a Cloud] i. e. with a great multitude, as Heb. 12. 1. a Cloud of Witneſſes; a vaſt number, who at their death ſeemed fewer: what if this Cloud ſhould be that fulneſs of the Gentiles coming in, as an immediate fore-runner of the Jews return, and Iſraels being ſaved? Rom. 11. v. 25, 26. [and their Enemies beheld them] Rev. 11. v. 11. 12. this expreſſion at the ſecond view differeing ſo much from the firſt, v. 11. maketh me queſtion, whether the great fear after the reſurrection of the Witneſſes when they ſtand upon their feet be not of friends as Enemies, anſwerable to that great fear at the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, (all alluding to him) which fell upon thoſe that kept the Watch to hinder his riſing, as well as upon thoſe Diſciples that ſought him after riſen, Matth. 28. v. 2, 3, 4, 8. Mark 16. v. 5, 6, 7.
So after the Reſurrection of the Witneſſes at firſt hand, not only thoſe that have kept the Watch, and by Edicts and Acts, in the time of their Death ſought to hinder their riſing, are ſtruck into a pannick fear, but as well many Friends and Witneſſes may be filled with great trembling, fear and amazement, at the firſt hand, by the Earth-quake and terrible diſpenſations. The riſing of the Witneſſes at firſt, may not be obvious to eminent Chriſtians, ſo as to deliver them from fear, or great workings of unbelief: but at their Aſcention, their exaltation by that call is ſo eminent and publick, that then [the Enemies] of the Witneſſes only fall under aſtoniſhing fears.
And obſerve, that whilſt the Witneſſes lie dead, there is a remnant that is ſecured from that death; all the Witneſſes in all places do not die, it is not ſo general; God hath a reſerve in that day, of a number that ſhall bear ſome teſtimony, and not ſuffer at the rate that others do, where the ſtage of this Tragedy is, in the time of lying dead; For thoſe that lay dead (all of them for ought I know) are called up into Heaven, into a ſtate of exaltation, Rev. 11. 12. and therefore there are others who give the call, and not thoſe that lay dead; theſe do not call themſelves but are called, therefore there are others who did not fall under that Death: but theſe Witneſſes or Friends who are reſerved, ſhall not appear ſo eminently till about the time of their Aſcenſion, then the Witneſſes had that call, [and they Aſcended up to Heaven in a Cloud.]
Prop. 6. That there is an Earth-quake or ſtupendious alterations, to the deſolating a famous tenth part of the City, about the time of the Witneſſes reſtoration: Rev. 11. 13. [and the ſame hour (or day, as in ſome copies) there was a great Earth-quake—] i. e. at the ſame time with the Witneſſes Reſurrection; poſſibly as a means of their riſing, it alludeth to Mat. 28. 1, 2. or at their Aſcenſion.
There was [an Earth quake] i. e. commotions or wonderful alterations in the face of things, (as Rev. 6. 12.) and would hardly be called [a great Earth-quake] if it did not extend to many Nations and Kingdoms. This ſeemeth to be a Turkiſh Earth-quake, for it is cloſed thus, Rev. 11. 14. The ſecond Woe is paſt—i. e. the Sixth Trumpet is over, which ſounded by the Turk, as is generally granted and proved, in that all matters of it aptly agree to him. So that this is a ſure direction, to tell us where we are at the Witneſſes Aſcenſion, viz. at the concluſion of the Sixth Trumpet.
And it is very obſervable, that the fifth duplicate page duplicate page Trumpet is cloſed thus, Rev. 9. 12. One Woe is paſt; but when he had mentioned much work of the ſixth Trumpet, v. 13, &c. he doth not end the chapter in the ſame manner, but ſuſpendeth and deferreth that, till he had mentioned ſome other eminent occurences, chap▪ 10, & 11. and then addeth, v. 14. The ſecond Woe is paſt, i. e. the Witneſſes being Riſen, Aſcended, and the Earth-quake over, now the Turks have done their work of the ſixth Trumpet, the puniſhing the Romaniſts for their Idolatry, Worſhiping Images of Gold and Silver, (Rev. 9. 20, 21.) now the Turks will ceaſe to be a Woe as formerly to them; no more famous exploits of theirs againſt Papiſts are to be expected. The Turks then may loſe their dominion, or much of it, though their utter ruine and deſtruction may not be till afterwards, and that upon the Mountains of Iſrael, (Ezek. 39. 4.) but they will be much concerned in this Earthquake, as the laſt part of their work againſt the Romaniſts.
Now this Earth-quake is ſignalized, by the deſtruction of a vaſt number of Dignitaries, either of the Turks or Romaniſts, Rev. 11. 14. and in the Earth-quake were ſlain of men 7000. names of men, i. e. men of Name and Office (many more than of Enemies of the common ſort) poſſibly parallel to Rev. 18. 6, 8, 15, 16. and by the Repentance of ſome, Rev. 11. 14. [And the remnant were affrighted, and gave Glory to the God of Heaven;] and eſpecially by the Deſtruction of a famous tenth part, [And the tenth part of the City fell.] To [fall] is to be ruined, overthrown, deſtroyed, made deſolate, as Rev. 18. 10, 17, 19, 21. This [Tenth part] which falleth, ſome think to be one Kingdom where the Witneſſes did lye Dead, which is not proved, and is unlikely, ſeeing their Death and the effect of their Aſcenſion reacheth other Kingdoms, v. 15. it is then, either Conſtantinople or ſome other famous Kingdom belonging to the Turks (as Hungary, or Greece.—) Seeing the Turkiſh Woe now ſoon paſſeth and loſeth ground before the ſeventh Trumpet; Or elſe ſeeing it is a tenth part of the City; I think it rather is Rome it ſelf; not upon Mr. M. too curious notion of that being but a tenth part now, of what it was of old; but as being emphatically the foreign, and becauſe its fall is an immediate fore-runner of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20. There is a Triumphant Song, that [the Kingdoms of the World, are become the Kingdoms of the Lord a… of his Chriſt:] which is the ſame that is … the deſtruction of the Whore of Babylon, and by the ſame perſons; compare it with Rev. 19. 7, 9, 11, 15, 19, 20.
And hence, Rev. 18. is an explication, not of the fifth Vial, but the ſixth, and the rather becauſe after the Witneſſes Reſtoration, a remnant repented, Rev. 11. 13. and ſo their riſing cannot be under the fourth, or fifth, or ſeventh Vials, for then they repented not, but blaſphemed God, Rev. 16. 9, 11, 21. Their Reſurrection and Aſcenſion then muſt be under the ſixth Vial.
It muſt be before the ſeventh Vial at Armageddon; For, at the ſeventh Vial, the whole fourth Kingdom of the Beaſt falleth, whereas at the riſing of the Witneſſes, it is but a tenth part that falleth, and that upon an Earth-quake under the ſixth Trumpet, Rev. 11. 13. after which there is another, and the greateſt Earthquake under the ſeventh Trumpet, v. 19. Whereas the ſeventh Vial is the laſt of the laſt Plagues, and bringeth the greateſt Earth-quake, Rev. 16. 18. and ſo cannot be that at the riſing of the Witneſſes, for that is not the laſt nor greateſt. And further after the deſtruction of the Whore, there is an interval for the lamentation of ſome of her friends which ſurvive, Rev. 18. 9, 10. and for the rejoycing of others, her Enemies, and making themſelves ready, Rev. 19. 8, 9. when the great ſupper at Armageddon by the ſeventh Vial is to come, ver. 19, 20.
Only we muſt diſtinguiſh between the deſtruction [of Babylon at Rome] (which is at the Earth-quake, near the riſing of the Witneſſes, under the ſixth Vial, Rev. 11. 13.) and the Perdition [of Babylon, as extending into the Nations] or the whole compaſs of the Roman Dominion, which is not till the Earth-quake at the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 9. and at the ſeventh Vial, when the Cities of the Nations fall, Rev. 16. 19. and then great Babylon cometh into remembrance, to give her the fierceſt wrath; but Babylon at Rome was deſtroyed before, Rev. 18.
Some not obſerving this diſtinction, run upon miſtakes, either to think that Rev. 18. belongeth to the ſeventh Vial, which is the laſt wrath, whereas, that Rev. 19. 19, 20▪ cometh after; Or elſe ſay, that the Turks and Conſtantinople, are the Babylon mentioned under the ſeventh Vial; which I dare not think; they being no where called Babylon in the Apocalyps, but rather belong to the Beaſt or Dragon; And it is untrue, for the Ten-Horned Beaſt carrieth the Whore of Babylon, Rev. 17. 3, 5, 7. whereas the Ten-Horned Beaſt never carried the Turks, nor did the corrupt Church of Rome Ride upon the Turks; neither was Conſtantinople the great City, which in the days of John did Reign over the Kings of the Earth, v. 18. but Rome was that City, and ſtretching into the Nations; ſo it is the Babylon mentioned in the ſeventh Vial.
And here obſerve, that this ſlaying or lying dead of the Witneſſes three days and half, cannot be ſucceſſively in one Kingdom after another: For, at their Reſurrection or Aſcenſion, the tenth part of the City falleth, Rev. 11. 13. the ſixth Trumpet paſſeth, v. 14. and ſoon the ſeventh Trumpet ſoundeth, v. 15. that notion would make divers ſlaughters, reſurrections and falls: whereas the Scripture maketh but one ſlaughter, one reſurrection, one Earth-quake, one fall of the Tenth part; neither can the ſixth Trumpet paſs, or the ſeventh ſound in one Kingdom after another, for when that ſoundeth, not onelyonly one Kingdom, but the Kingdoms of the World, become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt, v. 15.
Prop. VII. That the Death of the Witneſſes, Ann. 1680. was not paſt, but to come.
There are various thoughts among learned Men, whether this black and diſmal day of the Witneſſes Death be paſt or yet to come? I think it is near approaching, not only becauſe the days of their Sackcloth in all probability are finiſhed, and the Warring time ſeemeth near at an end; but becauſe the ſixth Trumpet hath ſounded a long time, above 200 years, if it began when the Turk obtained Conſtantinople, Ann 1453. therefore the concluſion of it cannot be far off.
I do not think the Church to be the proper ſubject, which the Trumpets ſound judgment againſt, but the Civil State of the Roman Empire; and clearly the ſeventh bloweth good to the Church, Rev. 11. 15. I ſhall refer the Reader to Mr. Mede and others, to ſee how and when the ſeveral Trumpets ſounded. All things concerning the ſixth agree to the Turk; and if [the hour, day, month and year] Rev. 9. 15. notifie the time allotted to the Turkiſh Tyranny, then the end of his work is haſtening; for the time muſt be counted, not from the time of their being [prepared,] but of their being [looſed] to do the work of ſlaying the third part of Men, v. 14, 15. This looſing of four Angels, or Sultans, ſeemeth to be before Ann. 1300. for then they fell into one Ottoman Family; however, (taking a day for a year as elfewhere) the time for that Woe will expire within a few years, which is after the Witneſſes Reſurrection and Aſcenſion.
But my opinion is, that the Death of the Witneſſes is yet to come 1680 I ſhould be glad herein to be miſtaken; my grounds are theſe.
I. Ʋntil the 1260 days, and the Warring State be at an end, their death-ſtate is not come: for it is after finiſhing their Teſtimony, that the Beaſt maketh War with them and killeth them, Rev. 11. 7. So long as their Teſtimony is not finiſhed, and the War not ended, ſo long they are not Dead, nor the three days and half begun; And therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was yet to come.
It's true, in the time of their Death there may be Edicts or Acts (as after the Death of Chriſt, Sealing the Tomb—) to hinder the Witneſſes Reſurrection, but till there be a ſuppreſſion of their Teſtimony, they are not dead.
II. The Condition of the Witneſſes ſince finiſhing of their teſtimony, hath not been for three years and half, far worſe than it was before, by a greater ſuppreſſion of Teſtimony, and other unparallelled ſufferings; therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was not paſt, but to come.
The conſequence is clear, becauſe the Deathſtate is far worſe than the Sack-cloth-ſtate, as death is far worſe than life, though in a mournful condition; this hath been proved before. Prop. 2.
III. Whatever the Death of the Witneſſes conſiſteth in, ſome recovery out of that is the immediate iſſue of the three days and half; For, elſe they muſt be longer dead, whereas Rev. 11. 11. [after three days and half, the Spirit of life from God entred into them, &c.] This [life] ſtandeth in oppoſition to the [Death] and no medium between them; no moment wherein they are not either dead or alive; at the expiration of theſe days, before the fourth day, they live. If their Death conſiſteth in an unparallell'd ceſſation of Teſtimony, then there is ſome recovering into witneſſing work again, before four years be expired, and ſo whatever elſe their Death may be placed in.
But no ſuch recovery out of that which is their Death, or no removal of that wherein it doth conſiſt, hath been the immediate iſſue of three years and half, of any ſuppoſed time for their death already paſt, and ſo that is yet to come.
I ſee no Scripture evidence for a gradual reviving or reſurrection, yet there may be a gradual Aſcenſion.
IV. There hath not been ſuch a triumphant ſtate of Earth-dwellers, for freedom from former Torments, which they felt by the Witneſſes Propheſying, as anſwereth Rev. 11. 10. They that dwell upon the Earth ſhall rejoice over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them—It was by their Propheſying and Praying as Elias did, that they tormented the Beſtians, Carnal, Earthly minded Men; and whilſt the Witneſſes lye dead, the Earth-dwellers are in a very proſperous flouriſhing condition, keep a Jubilee, with more than ordinary ſigns of joy, (as the variety of Expreſſions intimates) and this for freedom from their former Torments.
But no ſuch triumphant State of Earthdwellers hath been experienced in the time paſt, ſince finiſhing their Teſtimony. Therefore their Death is yet to come.
The like might be ſaid of the Nations, Kindreds and Tongues not ſeeing their dead Bodies, ſo as to hinder their Burial, v. 9.
5. Immediately after the reviving of the Witneſſes from their Death-ſtate, there is ſuch a reſtitution to their former Poſture, as is to the great affrightment of Spectators, Rev. 11. 11, 12.—Great fear fell upon them which ſaw them.
But this is not yet experienced by Friends or Enemies, and ſo their Death-ſtate is not paſt, but yet to come.
6. There hath not been Ann. 1680. ſuch a great Earthquake or Commotion as uſhers in the Conſequents of the Witneſſes reſurrection. And ſo it is not paſt, but yet to come.
Rev. 11. 13. The ſame Hour there was a great Earthquake—
There is not yet a fall of that famous Tenth part of the City, nor the Slaughter of 7000. a vaſt number of Men of Name; nor the Repentance of a Remnant, ſo as to give Glory to God; nor is the Turkiſh Wo yet paſt, as v. 14.
Therefore the Death, Reſurrection, and Aſcention of the Witneſſes cannot be yet paſt, but to come.
7. The ſeventh Trumpet hath not yet ſounded; Therefore the Witneſſes are not yet aſcended.
For then that cometh quickly, Rev. 11. 14, 15. though not the ſame moment with their Reſurrection, yet very ſpeedily after their Aſcenſion, and ſo their Death could not be at the time many fix upon; as at the Council of Trent—which are paſt above 100 years paſt.
It's true, the great Reformation about the time of Luther, hath its place in the words of this Book, ſo as one of the ſeven Vials (I think the fourth Vial) was then eminently poured out; but that was not the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet.
There are invincible Arguments to prove, that the ſeventh Trumpet hath not yet ſounded.
For, when that doth begin to ſound, the Myſtery of God is finiſhed, Rev. 10 7. as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets. And what can this be, or is called ſo in Scripture, that it can be applied to, but the Converſion of the Jews? Rom. 11. 25, 26 And it is evident, the Jews are not yet converted and ſaved.
And further, the ſecond Turkiſh Wo is not yet paſt; they do not yet ceaſe to be a Wo to the Roman Idolaters, which muſt be before the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 14, 15.
And there is a Reſurrection and Aſcenſion of the Witneſſes before the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 11, 12, 15. after which, it can never be proved that they ſhall paſs under a Death any more, or ſuch an extremity of Suffering as they are under at this day, in France and elſewhere.
And once more, immediately after the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, not only a Jewiſh Nation, but the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11. 15. and that ſo, as he reigneth for ever and ever. And therefore after the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet Antichriſt ſhall never recover, to regain any of the Kingdoms to ſubmit to him again, as he hath done ſince the Reformation. Therefore the ſeventh Trumpet hath not yet ſounded; and conſequently the Witneſſes are not yet aſcended.
I have wondred that this ſeventh Trumpet beginneth thus, and not with terrible Diſpenſations; but poſſibly the aforementioned great Earthquake, Rev. 11. 13. did much of the firſt deſtructive work, ſo as to uſher in this triumph, v. 15, 16, 17. and ſo the firſt ſounding of it is with Praiſes, and much of the Wo of the Trumpet is reſerved to the latter part of it, v. 18, 19.