The Mystery of the Two Witnesses Unveiled, Verse 18
VERS. 18. And the Nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they ſhould be judged, and that thou ſhouldeſt give reward unto thy ſervants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that feare thy Name, ſmall and great, and ſhouldeſt deſtroy them which deſtroy the earth.
FRom theſe words take notice. Firſt, how the adverſaries vex and fret, and doe even rage in furie and madneſſe: and good reaſon they have ſo to doe: for the time of their dead was come, that they ſhould be judged: all dead power, rule, and authority, all dead ordinances and ſervices, all the dead wayes and practiſes of Antichriſt, theſe muſt all be judged, condemned, and deſtroyed: all things that have not the ſpirit and life of God in them, all theſe muſt be judged: well may the world then vex and rage, and gnaw their …ongues for paine. This is the reaſon of all that bitterneſſe, malice, ſury, and madneſſe, that is in the hearts of men at this day, what makes them vexing and fretting, but that all things they ſet up, maintaine, enjoy, and take pleaſure in, are judged and condemned for dead power, dead ordinances, dead gifts, all things of man are judged to be dead. When the Lord comes to judge the earth, confuſion and a conſuming fire goes before his face, Pſal. 97. 2. which muſt needs make that judgement very dreadfull and terrible to all formall powers, and fleſhly actings: eſpecially becauſe the Saints ſhall judge the world, yea, and Angells alſo, 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3. They ſhall judge men, and things of higheſt principles and places, thoſe things that carry a civill or ſpirituall excellency upon them, ſhall be judged by the Saints. What follows?
Secondly, The Saints are rewarded and advanced, And that thou ſhouldeſt give reward unto thy ſervants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that feare thy Name ſmall and great. As the portion of the world is, vexing, fretting, curſing, and wrath: ſo the portion of Saints is love, goodneſſe, bleſſings, thankeſgivings. The dreadfull day of doome and darkneſſe, of judgement and confuſion unto the world, is a day of light and joy, of comfort and reward unto the Saints. The worlds trouble and ruine, is the Saints peace and ſalvation. Though the Lord come in fire and wrath to deſtroy Antichriſt, yet he comes in love and mercy to ſave Sion; and therefore, when he comes forth, and a devouring fire, burning up his enemies round about, Pſal. 97. 3. Yet Sion heard and was glad, and the daughter of Judah rejoyced, becauſe of his judgements, verſ. 8. The Saints have been a long time under oppreſſion, ſhame, and perſecution: now the Lord will reward them, and give them light for darkneſſe, ſtrength for weakneſſe, glory for ſhame: they ſhall now receive reward and praiſe, for all their former ſorrow and ſufferings. The Saints ſhall rejoyce in heaven for the vengeance powred out upon Antichriſt: Therefore rejoyce over her, thou heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets, for God hath avenged you on her, Revel. 18. 20. When the Kings of the earth, and Merchants, mightie and rich men ſhall weep and wayl, and cry alas, alas, then ſhall the Saints (here called the holy Apoſtles and Prophets) rejoyce and ſing: becauſe the ruine and fall of theſe, ſhall be their joy and reward.
Thirdly, The Lord will not onelyonly judge the dead principles, practices, ordinances, and powers of Antichriſt, and give reward unto his ſervants; but alſo will deſtroy the Antichriſtian partie. And ſhouldeſt deſtroy them which deſtroy the earth. The word tranſlated deſtroy, ſignifies corrupt: that is, Thoſe that have managed the cauſe of Antichriſt, have corrupted the earth; according as it's ſaid in Revel. 19. 2. The great whore did corrupt the earth with her fornication; That is, by her ſoſſeries and fornications, ſhe hath corrupted the minds of the men of the earth, drawing them aſide from the Lord, by the intoxicating wine of her fornication, ſhe hath blinded the mindes, adulterated the affections, and polluted the hearts of the men of the world, and have made them to ſerve Satan the God of this world. Theſe that have managed the cauſe of the beaſt, and have thus corrupted the earth, ſhall be deſtroyed. This deſtruction is not ſo much meant of a bodily deſtruction, as of place and power: theſe that have by their power & rule, by their deceit and falſhood corrupted the earth, theſe in their dignity, office, rule and authoritie ſhall all be ſlaine. It followeth.