The Mystery of the Two Witnesses Unveiled, Verse 11
VERS. 11. And after three dayes and a halfe, the ſpirit of life from God entred into them: and they ſtood upon their feet, and great feare fell upon them that ſaw them.
VVE have ſpoken of the witneſſes propheſying in ſackcloth, of their death & ſlaying, which was a time of mourning & ſadneſſe to them; but of joy and triumph to their adverſaries, who ſport and rejoyce over their dead bodies. Now cometh a ſeaſon wherein theſe poore deſpiſed witneſſes ſhall exult and be glad: when their enemies ſhall be vexed & tormented; for when they had ſlaine the faithfull witneſſes of Chriſt, they thought never to heare of them more, but that which will damp all their mirth & jollitie is this, theſe witneſſes ſhall ſtand upon their feet, and riſe againe. Now of their reſurrection we are to conſider.
Firſt, the time when they ſhall riſe, and that's After three dayes and a halfe.
Secondly, the cauſe or meanes by which they ſhall riſe, and that is, The ſpirit of life from God entred into them.
Thirdly, we have their reſurrection it ſelfe, expreſſed in theſe words; And they ſtood upon their feet.
Fourthly, and laſtly, we have the conſequent or ſequell thereof: And great feare fell upon them that ſaw them.
Concerning the time or ſeaſon of the riſing of theſe witneſſes, it's expreſſed by three dayes and a halfe, which terme of time hath been opened already, and as you heard, holds proportion with forty two moneths, And with 1260 dayes, and with a time, times, and halfe a time. All the time of the powerfull raigne of the beaſt, the witneſſes propheſie in ſackcloth, they are alwaies killing and ſlaying, they lie dead in the great Citie, and their bodies are kept above ground for the ſpace of three dayes and a halfe, which holds a juſt proportion with the time of the womans being in the wilderneſſe, in Chap. 12. 14. expreſſed by a time, times, and halfe a time. After which time of ſorrow and ſadneſſe, that ſhall befall theſe witneſſes, they ſhall rejoyce, for they ſhall riſe againe.
Now in that it's ſayd, After three dayes and a halfe, it doth ſeem to imply, an earneſt expectation in the witneſſes of their reſurrection, when the time ſhall draw neer, when the laſt period of time ſhall come, of their ſadneſſe and mourning, then ſuddenly they ſhall expect a time of riſing and rejoycing. Before the time they cannot expect deliverance: but when it draweth neer, then they are exceedingly taken up in the expectation of it.
Secondly, the cauſe or meanes of their reſurrection, The ſpirit of life from God entred into them. After this, foreign, ſpirit of life; or as the Hebrews call it, the breath of life; as it's ſayd, God breathed into man the breath of life, Gen. 2. 7. when he made man a living ſoule. So when the Lord doth raiſe up his witneſſes from their ſtate of ſadneſſe and ſackcloth, he breathes into them the breath of life. The breath of God, is the ſpirit of God, and the breath of life, is the power and operation of that ſpirit. Life is nothing but the ſoules communion with God. The body is dead without the ſpirit, ſo is the ſoule without Ghd. The conjunction of ſoule and body is life; ſo the union of the ſoule with God is divine life. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, In thy preſence there is life. And marke it, he doth not ſay, the ſpirit of propheſie, ſuch whereby they did only ſee things remotely, foretelling what ſhould come to paſſe in after times: but the ſpirit of life from God entred into them. The mighty and powerfull ſpirit of life, cauſeth theſe witneſſes to live: it is not that ſpirit, whereby they ſhould ſay, we ſhall live hereafter, or whereby they ſhould wiſh, O that we might live but the ſpirit of life, whereby they doe live, and they know they live; I ſay, this mighty, powerfull and glorious ſpirit of life, ſhining forth upon their hearts, living and operating in them, this ſhall cauſe them to ariſe from ſhame and ſorrow, even from that meane, low, and poore condition they were in, prophecying in ſackcloth. It is then, the divine preſence, the ſpirit and life of God, the glorious ſhining forth of this face and love, that occaſions the reſurrection of the witneſſes.
Thirdly, we come to the reſurrection it ſelfe, and that is expreſſed in theſe words; And they ſtood upon their feet. We cannot underſtand this of a reſurrection properly ſo called; but as the ſlaying and death of the witneſſes was myſticall; ſuch alſo muſt their reſurrection be. Then it cannot be meant of a bodily or fleſhly reſurrection; but of that which is myſticall and ſpirituall; namely, a reſurrection from ſhame and miſery, from bondage and weakneſſe, from their meane, low, weake, and fackcloth condition, unto a ſtate of more perfection and liberty, of more glory & light; their condition ſhould be much more glorious and excellent, then it was before. From this expreſſion; And they ſtood upon their feet; note two things.
Firſt, it notes a riſing from a poore, low, meane, captivated condition, as plainly appeares from that place, from whence theſe words are borrowed, Ezek 37. 10. when the Prophet was commanded to propheſie unto the foure winds, to breath upon the ſlaine, and upon the dry bones, that they might live. The dry bones, and the ſlaine are the houſe of Iſrael under the Babyloniſh captivity, they were as ſlaine, and as a dead body: (even as the witneſſes are under the tyranny of Myſticall Babylon) now it is by the breath of God, entering into theſe dry bones, that they are made to live: the breath of life being in them, they ſtand upon their feet. That notes their reſurrection from the meane and loſt condition under the oppreſſion of their enemies. Hence they are ſayd, to ariſe out of their graves, verſ. 12. So the witneſſes being but as dead bodies, and as dry bones, under the tyranny and oppreſſion of Antichriſt; but when the ſpirit of life enters into them, they ſtand upon their feet, and ariſe out of bondage & ſhame, into a ſtate of liberty and glory.
Secondly, to ſtand upon their feet, notes, that they ſhould ſtand by themſelves, they ſhould ſtand by that wiſdome, that knowledge, light and power they ſhould enjoy in themſelves; they ſhould ſtand upon their owne leggs, and not depend upon others; they ſhould not live upon the wiſdome, opinion, and knowledge of other men, but upon their owne light and experience in the things of God. The time was, that the Arke was carried upon mens ſhoulders, from place to place, untill at laſt it was brought …nto the Temple, and then it reſted: So the Saints, while prophecying in ſackcloth, under weake and faint diſcoveries of truth, did much depend upon the judgements and opinions of other men; but now the ſpirit of God ſhall dwell ſo plentifully in them, that they ſhall live upon their owne experience of the light and life of God in themſelves. The ſpirit of life breathing in them, with much life, with much power and evidence, that they ſhall no longer be carried away with the conceits of other men, but ſhall ſtand upon their owne feet. Thus we ſee, that the reſurrection of theſe witneſſes is firſt, from bondage and miſery, unto liberty and freedome. Secondly, from darkneſſe and meaneſſe, unto light and glory.
The fourth and laſt thing here to be conſidered is the conſequent or ſequell hereof; And great feare fell upon them that ſaw them. When the witneſſes were ſlaine, and their dead bodies lying in the ſtreet of the great Citie; The men of the earth could rejoyce, make merry, and triumph; but now at the witneſſes riſing, the caſe ſhall be otherwiſe with them, now they ſhall feare and tremble, now amazement and aſtoniſhment ſhall take hold of them. When the witneſſes were ſlaine, they thought never to heare of them more, they hoped they ſhould never ariſe; but behold now they riſe againe, and how greatly doth this affright the men of the world; here is terrour and amazement to all that dwell in the earth. Suitable unto this is that paſſage in Act. 5. 5. when that judgement was manifeſted upon Anania…; the Text ſaith; Great feare fell upon all that heard thoſe things. Thoſe perſecutours that did vex and trouble the witneſſes, they thought they had made ſure worke of them, that they had been wholly deſtroyed, and that they ſhould never more have been troubled with theſe Prophets; but now to their great griefe and amazement they riſe againe, and ſtand upon their feet; this doth more affright & trouble the men of the earth, then ever their prophefie did.
Having thus unfolded the words, we paſſe on to the Obſervations they offer to our Conſideration.
Firſt, Obſerve; That when the time of 1 Obſer.the witneſſes ſuffering and ſadneſſe drawes to an end, there is an earneſt expectation in them of their reſurrection. The text doth relate to the time of their reſurrection, when their ſuffering condition ſhall draw to an end. After three dayes and a halfe, &c. There is a day, and after that two dayes, in which the witneſſes are in the middeſt of their ſufferings and perſecutions, their evills are multiplyed, and they cannot ſay when they ſhall be delivered, and therefore reſolve to wait with patience, and ſubmit to the will of the Lord. But when the halfe day ſhall come, which ſhall be but ſhort, then theſe witneſſes are brought into a comfortable expectation of a ſeaſonable and ſpeedy deliverance, when they ſhall plainly ſee, that the witneſſes have been long time in ſlaying, and have been dead, and now ſpeedily ſhall revive and riſe againe. Theſe ſhall be able to ſay, the Lord will cut his worke in righteouſneſſe. It is ſayd, that all Babylons plagues ſhall come in one day, Chap. 18 8. that is all in ſome ſhort time, ſuddenly, and beyond expectation. So ſudden ſhall be the riſing of the witneſſes, when they come to the halfe day, or laſt period of time. Now I am moſt confident, that it is the time of the ſixt Trumpet, in which time the witneſſes are not to be ſlaine, but to ariſe, and aſcend to God, in the cloud; and therefore the great expectation in the ſpirits of many Saints this day, of ſome notable change, and of ſome great manifeſtation of the kingdome of God, doth predict to me, the ſudden riſing of the witneſſes. The three whole dayes of the beaſts raigne are paſt, it's the halfe day, the dividing of time, the time of the image of the beaſt; and therefore the Saints ſhall ſhortly ſing by experience that ſong; Babylon is fallen, is fallen, Revel. 18. 2. The Saints may ſing and rejoyce, their time of deliverance draweth neer; the ſpirit of life appeares in ſome of them already, and ſhall ſhortly ſhine forth in others by a diſcovery of that glory of the Lord that's riſen upon them, & theſe ſhall ſhine forth in the brightneſſe thereof. Many things in the conſequent words of the Text will farther manifeſt, that the witneſſes are in riſing.
Secondly, Obſerve, That the witneſſes 2 Obſerv:are enabled to ariſe by the mighty powerfull ſpirit of life, from God. Nothing but the mighty, ſtrong, prevailing ſpirit of life, can cauſe the witneſſes to ariſe. There's no motion, but it flows from life, and there's no true life, but it flows from Chriſt, and his ſpirit. The firſt Adam was made a living ſoule, the ſecond was made a quickning ſpirit, 1 Cor. 15. 45. Chriſt is alive-making ſpirit, it is the ſpirit that makes man to live a ſpirituall life. This is the true life, the ſpirit of life; all ſpirituall actions flow from this life, it is Chriſt living and acting in the ſoule. Now it is the abundant flowing forth of this ſpirit of life, that muſt cauſe the witneſſes to ariſe. It was the great and powerfull voyce of Chriſt, that cauſed the dead to riſe, Joh. 5. So it muſt be the powerfull quickning, inlivening, filling, reviving ſpirit of life from Chriſt that brings forth a reſurrection to theſe two witneſſes. It is not a ſmall meaſure of the ſpirit, neither is it a ſpirit of propheſie, as to foretel things to come, or to ſee things at a great diſtance, that will make the witneſſes revive and ſtand upon their feet; but the ſpirit of life, when they ſhall know they live, when all they act & ſpeake flows from that life, their works and ſpeeches are all living, when they are able to ſay, we live, when they can declare the ſpirit of life from God lives in them, then I ſay, it is that cauſeth the witneſſes to ariſe, when this ſpirit lives in them, whoſe property is to quicken, and cauſe all things to live.
Thirdly, Obſerve, As there is a time 3 Obſerv:when the witneſſes lie ſlaine and dead; ſo alſo there is a time, when they ſhall revive and live againe. They ſhall not alwayes be troden underfoot by the men of the earth, and propheſie in ſackcloth, and be ſlaine by the beaſt that ariſeth out of the bottomleſſe pit; and their bodies to lie in the ſtreets of the great Citie, that they ſhould alwayes be made a ſcorne to their adverſaries; but they ſhall have a riſing time, when they ſhall caſt off their ſack cloth and mourning, they ſhall ſtand upon their feet and rejoyce; and then their enemies that rejoyced over them ſhall weep and lament. If their enemies did know this, they could not ſo much triumph over them. For as the Prophet ſpeakes; Though they fall, yet they ſhall riſe againe, Mich. 7. 8. Theſe Prophets of the Lord may be eclipſed for a ſeaſon, and they may give forth their teſtimony faintly and weakly, and in much weakneſſe and darkneſſe; but afterward they breake forth in greater luſtre & brightneſſe then ever they did before. Though they for a ſpace lie dead, & their bones are dried (as the Prophet ſpeakes of Iſrael) yet the Lord will by the operation of his divine power, and by the ſpirit of …ife enter into them, he will cauſe▪ their dead bodies to ariſe: So that▪ now they ſhall not act ſo much in the ſtrength and power of the creature, they ſhall not be upheld by the authority, reaſon, judgement, and opinion of other men, but they ſhall ſtand upon their owne feet; they ſhall not live upon the ſtreng…h of mans parts, wiſdome or argument; but upon their own knowledg…, experience, and aſſurance of the ſpirit of life from God dwelling in them. Now they ſhall not propheſie or foretell of good things to come, or of deliverance at a great diſtance; but they ſhall act and ſpeake in the name of the Lord, from the anoynting that dwells in them, they ſhall onelyonly move, ſpeake and act by that ſpirit of life, that hath raiſed them from the dead.
Fourthly, and laſtly, obſerve, That 4 Obſerv:the riſing of the witneſſes, is a moſt dreadfull ſight to the men of the earth. The witneſſes now ariſe from ſhame, oppreſſion and tyranny, and how can it be otherwiſe, but that their enemies that oppreſſed and tormented them, ſhould be much amazed and affrighted. When Herod heard of the works of Chriſt, he was much afraid, ſaying, It is John whom I have beheaded, Mark. 6. 16. So when the Lord ſhall raiſe up his ſervants from bondage and ſlavery, from darkneſſe and weakneſſe, and ſhall lift them up into a higher condition; what will the world ſay, are not theſe they that we have perſecuted and ſlaine, riſen up in the rule, dominion, and power of the kingdome of Chriſt. The ſight and beholding of this ſtrikes the world dead, at one blow. This ſight is terrible to all earthly men. When the Souldiers came to apprehend Chriſt in the garden, and did but heare Chriſt ſay, I am he; they fell downe backward: So when the men of the earth ſhall heare and ſee▪ the poore deſpiſed Saints to ſtand upon their own feet, they ſhall fall backward; they ſhall as Saul fall flat upon the earth, they ſhall become heartleſſe & ſpiritleſſe, feare and trembling▪ ſhall take hold on them. The propheſie of the witneſſes, though but in ſackcloth, was a great trouble to the men of the earth they were diſquieted and troubled at that; therefore they were much comforted and refreſhed in …laying of them, by hindering them in the▪ courſe of their propheſie. But now when they ſhall ſee them ariſe higher then ever, O! this ſtrikes the world▪ to the very heart, this is an exceeding terror & amazement to them. There is juſt cauſe for the earth to mourne at the riſing of the witneſſes, becauſe the liberty and glory of theſe, ſhall be their bondage and ſhame: as one of the ſcales of the ballance goes downe, when the other goes up; ſo the honour, proſperity, & dignity of theſe witneſſes, and of carnall men, are inconſiſtent one with the other. Then this amazement falls irriſiſtibly upon worldly men; fearfullneſſe and aſtoniſhment doth ſurprize them all, paleneſſe of face, and ſadneſſe of heart ſtrikes the men of the earth, when they thought they had ſlaine theſe Saints ſo that they ſhould never riſe more, they thought they had made an utter riddance, never to heare of them, never to ſee them more, unleſſe their dead bodies and carkaſes, to make merry withall: but now that theſe ſhould revive and live againe, the ſight of this, nay the very thought hereof is like a milſtone, that breaks them in pieces, and doth make their hearts to melt, and their ſpirits to faile within them.