The Mystery of the Two Witnesses Unveiled, Verse 8
VERS. 8. And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great Citie, which ſpiritually is called Sodome and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified.
IN the former verſe we had the death and ſlaying of the witneſſes. Now here we are to enquire what becomes of their bodies: of which we have an account in this, and the two following verſes. Firſt, their bodies lie in the great Citie: Secondly, they are kept from buriall, verſ. 9. Thirdly, their enemies rejoyce over them, verſ. 10. And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet, &c. Here take notice.
Firſt, what is meant by their dead bodies.
Secondly, the place where they lie, and that is in the ſtreet of the great Citie.
Thirdly, we have a deſcription of this great Citie.
Firſt, by it's reſemblance; firſt, to Sodome: ſecondly, to Egypt.
Secondly, by it's action; Where our Lord was crucified.
Firſt, to enquire what is meant by the dead bodies of the witneſſes. We muſt beare in minde how, and in what manner they were ſlaine: and that was myſtically and metaphorically, and therefore their bodies muſt be ſo underſtood alſo: Then if it were meant of the Witdeſſes being ſlaine in their teſtimony: then it muſt here be meant of the outward forme and body of their teſtimony: therefore by theſe bodies are meant all the externall figures and formes of worſhip in which the witneſſes were exerciſed, and through which they did ſometimes give forth their teſtimony. When the Church was driven into the Wilderneſſe, to worſhip God in the ſecret Temple, the outward Court, the whole body of their externall formes of worſhip they left behinde them, and the Gentiles made uſe of them: ſo that this body or whole forme of worſhip did remaine in the ſtreet of the great Citie. The outward and externall part of worſhip, when the ſpirit & life wa… departed from it, and the witneſſes had left it, bec…me as a dead body or carkaſe, as having no breath or true life in it: for as the body becomes as a carkaſe when the ſoule and life is departed; ſo is the externall forme of worſhip when the ſpirit of the Lord is departed from it.
Now that the externall part of worſhip, in the formes and figures of it, when 'tis ſpirit-leſſe, and without life, is as a dead body or carkaſe. We have a full place of Scripture to prove this interpretation; if we rightly obſerve that Text in Matth. 24. 28. where Chriſt ſaith, Whereſoever the carkaſe is, there will the Eagles be gathered together. The common interpretation of this Text is, that here by the carkaſe ſhould be meant of Chriſt, and that Saints are compared to Eagles, as reſorting to Chriſt. But conſider how far remot… this opinion is, from the adequate ſence of the place. For firſt, it would be a moſt i…kſome and na…ſeous compariſon, to liken Chriſt to a dead ſtinking carkaſe: The like compariſon of Chriſt we finde not in Scripture. Secondly, it would alſo be as much unſavoury and harſh a ſimilitude, to aſſi…late the Saints to the Eagle, which is a bird of prey, mentioned, Job 39. 27, 28. &c. But if we would enquire for the minde of Chriſt in this Text, wee are to conſider the whole drift and ſcope of the Chapter, which is no other then a full and ample declaration, or rather a prediction of the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, the Temple, the Nation, and Church of the Jewes, as appeares plainly by the beginning of the Chapter. Now in the middeſt of thoſe tribulations & deſolations that ſhould befall the State, & Church of the Jewes; Many ſhould ſay, lo here, or lo there is Chriſt, verſ. 23. But Chriſt exhorts them not to beleeve thoſe falſe Prophets, that ſhould ſay, he was in the deſert, or in the ſecret Chamber: and why? For as the lightening cometh out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even unto the Weſt, ſo ſhall alſo the coming of the Son of man be. Now as it is the native property of lightning to make a full diſcovery of it ſelfe, by it's lightſomeneſſe and brightneſſe: ſo Chriſt ſhall be eminently manifeſted, and declared to be the Meſſiah, by the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, of the Temple and worſhip of the Jewes. So that Chriſt's coming to deſtroy Jeruſalem, was like lightning; for what could more evince and teſtifie, that Chriſt was the true Meſſiah, then the deſtruction of the Temple & worſhip of the Jewes, which they upheld after the coming of Chriſt; when it ſhould all have been aboliſhed. Chriſt foretelling of this deſtruction, by which himſelfe ſhould be manifeſted, coming as lightning, ſhining from the Eaſt to the Weſt: ſaith; For whereſoever the carkaſe is, there will the Eagles be gathered together. Now by the carkaſe he meaneth Jeruſalem, the Temple, and the worſhip of the Jewes, which they kept up in uſe, after the coming of Chriſt, when the Jewiſh formes were to be aboliſhed, when the ſpirit, life, & preſence of God was departed from theſe things; then the State, & Church, their Temple and worſhip became as a dead carkaſe, without any life or ſpirit in it; they onelyonly upheld the ſuperficiall part of their forme and ſervice, when there was no breath of life, nothing of the Spirit of God left in it. And as for the Eagles, being birds of prey, they are meant of thoſe people and Nations that beſieged, and at laſt ſacked Jeruſalem, pulled downe the Temple, ſcattered the people, and deſtroyed their worſhip. Thus it was with the Temple and worſhip, with the people and Cities of the Jewes, being left of God, without his preſence and ſpirit, became as a dead carkaſe, and the enemies, like birds of prey, came and devour's them. So here, when theHab. 1. 8. The enemy is compared to an Eagle. Church was driven into the Wilderneſs, to worſhip God in his ſecret Temple; then the Gentiles poſſeſſed themſelves of the outward Court, of the externall formes and figures of worſhip; but without the preſence or ſpirit of Chriſt. Theſe are the bodies of the witneſſes, that lie in the ſtreet of the Citie, and that Antichriſt will not ſuffer to be buried, or put in graves. For what is all the forme of worſhip, and ſervice of the carnall Church, and of worldly Chriſtians, but as a dead carkaſe, lifeleſſe, and ſpirit-leſſe. The Jewes kept up all their formes of worſhip after the Meſſiah was come, and had aboliſhed them all; and therefore it was, that when the Apoſtle was asked, why he would revile Gods high Prieſt? he anſwereth, he did not know him to be Gods high Prieſt; for, ſaith he, it is written, Thou ſhalt not ſpeake evill of a Ruler, &c. Act. 23. 5. Now I verily beleeve that the Apoſtle knew well enough who it was, that he was brought before, and that he was the titular High-Prieſt: …ut when he ſaith; I wiſt not that it was Gods high Prieſt; he ſpake ironically, or by way of deri…ion; becauſe he ſate as high Prieſt, when he was not, at that time a lawfull high Prieſt, the office of Prieſthood being expired, by the coming of the Meſſiah. Now the Jewes were very willing to have kept up their rites and formes, their worſhip and Prieſthood, when they ſhould have been layd aſide, the Lord being departed from them, they were but as dead carkaſes. In like manner doth Antichriſt, by the outward Court, or externall formes of worſhip, that the witneſſes have exerciſed in, theſe they uphold and preſerve; theſe are the bodies of the witneſſes, they keep in the ſtreet of their Citie, theſe they keep above ground, and will no… ſuffer them to be buried: they onelyonly ſlay the teſtimony & ſpirit of the witneſſes, but they preſerve their bodies for their own uſe, and to ſerve their own ends.
Secondly, Conſider, the place where theſe bodies lie, and that is in the ſtreet of the great Citie. Here we have two things to enquire after, viz. what is meant.
Firſt, by this great Citie?
Secondly, by the ſtreet thereof.
Firſt, This great Citie is meant of great Babylon, mentioned in Chap. 17. 5. called the mother of harlots and abominations: It is an alluſion to old Babylon, called great, Dan. 4. 30. which was eminent for tyranny and oppreſſion. Antichriſt is called the mother of harlots, and the great whore, becauſe as a ſtrumpet, ſhee doth not onelyonly commit ſpirituall whoredomes, but doth alſo teach and nouriſh her children in the ſame way, and ſo …ill the earth with her abominations. This whoriſh woman is deſcribed to be this great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the earth, verſ. 18. I confeſſe, that Rome hath myſtically ruled the Nations, and hath been as the well-bead of the filthineſſe and abomination of the world. But more eſpecially this woman, here called the great Citie, is the carnall, worldly, Antichriſtian Church; which hath as a whore departed from God, and hath been led by a lying ſpirit, and hath followed after whoriſh inventions of her owne braine, hath gathered the nations of the world into a Church, and called them by the name of Chriſtians, and all this hath been by a myſtery of iniquity, a very babell and confuſion. This woman called the great Citie, is no other then the whole Church of Antichriſt; that rides upon the beaſt or earthly power; and is clothed in gay cloathing of humane ordinances and formall profeſſions, pretending to be the Spouſe of Chriſt, when ſhe is a very harlot, going after other lovers; and whiles ſhe pretends Chriſtianity, ſhee is drunke with the bloud of the Saints. This whoriſh woman is the great Citie, where lieth the dead bodies of the witneſſes.
Secondly, by the ſtreet of this great Citie is meant the whole Territory and ſpace, the confines and large extent of the Dominion and rule of the Antichriſtian church and government. The word foreign being of the ſingular number, is put for the plurall, and ſignifies all the ſtreets, territories and places of Antichriſt's rule and domination. It cannot properly be taken for one ſtreet; for thero is no great Citie made of one ſtreet: but indeed the word, as rendred by the Septuagint, ſignifies a whole Countrey, the whole confines or bounds of a place: So that this ſtreet cannot be meant of one ſtreet, or diſtinct place, but of the whole territory and largeneſſe of Dominion, the whole compaſſe and extent of all the Nations, and Churches, that are under the authority and command of Antichriſt: the utmoſt limits and extreme bounds of largeneſſe and greatneſſe is here intimated by the ſtreet.
In the third place, we come to a deſcription of this Citie, and that is,
Firſt, by reſemblance; firſt, to Sodome; ſecondly, to Egypt.
Secondly, by ſome carriage or action of this Citie towards Chriſt: it's the place where our Lord was crucified.
The Citie is deſcribed by a reſemblance to Sodome and Egypt, in a metaphoricall way; for here we have the word foreign, ſpiritually, which means ſomething that's ſpirituall and myſticall: not that it's ſpirituall, as oppoſed to carnall or earthly, but as oppoſed to Sodome and Aegypt literally and properly ſo called. Then it's meant of Metaphoricall Sodome, and of Myſticall Aegypt, by way of an alluſion or reſemblance.
Firſt, Sodome was a place full of filthineſs and uncleanneſs, as we have the relation in Gen. 19. And the iniquity of Sodome was ſayd to be pride, and fulneſſe of bread, and abundance of idleneſs and laſciviouſneſs, Ezek. 16. 49, 50. It was with this abominable wickedneſs that righteous Lot was ſo much vexed and perplexed in ſpirit, at the ſight and beholding thereof. Suitable unto this, is the ſpirituall uncleanneſs and filthineſs gf Antichriſt, called the mother of Harlots, full of abominations, corrupting the earth by her uncleanneſs, and intoxicating the whole world with the wine of her fornications. In a word, all the whoredome, fornication, and abomination of Sodome, are ſpiritually hatched and acted by this whoriſh woman, this great City Babylon the great, this Antichriſtian Church, this abominable Strumpet, the great Harlot of the world.
Secondly, we have a reſemblance to Aegypt. Firſt, in reſpect of Idolatry and and Superſtition, as appears, Exod. 12. 12. They were full of Idols and falſe gods, they did worſhip their Kine, and other Cattell; for it was the cuſtome of the Heathen to worſhip their Kine, and other Cattell; for it was the cuſtome of the Heathen to worſhip that for Gods, that the Iſraelites were to offer in ſacrifice unto God: Hence it was, that Moſes would not, that the children ſhould offer Sacriſice untill they were come forth of Aegypt, leſt they ſhould follow the example of the Aegyptians.
Secondly, Aegypt was full of tyranny and oppreſſion towards the children of Iſrael: their Task-maſters laid on heavy burthens on their ſhoulders, and that with much vigour and cruelty, as 'tis related in Exod. 1. 13. The taskemaſters of Aegypt, and the oppreſſion of Pharaoh, made it to be the very houſe of bondage. The ſame things are found in myſticall Aegypt, as Idolatry and ſuperſtition: all the whole bundle of Antichriſts worſhip, is but of carnall invention, and humane inſtitution, yea it is ſpirituall whoredome and Idolatry. So alſo may we finde in her all the cruelty and oppreſſion of Aegypt: here are thoſe Task-maſters, that by their civill power, and Eccleſiaſticall Laws doe continually vex, and torment the Saints. As once Pharaoh deſtroyed the male children of the Iſraelites, ſo the Dragon ſtanding before the woman, ready to devoure her children: and when the woman flyeth into the wilderneſſe for ſhelter and relief, he caſts a flood of perſecution after her, and continually maketh warre with the remnant of her ſeede, which keepe the commandement of God, & have the teſtimonie of Jeſus Chriſt, Rev. 12. 4. 16, 17. Thus you ſee how the great Citie is reſembled,
1. To Sodome, for pride and filthineſs.
2. To Aegypt, for idolatry and oppreſſion.
The ſecond deſcription of the Citie by its carriage and action; it's where our Lord was crucified. This cannot be meant literally, or according to the letter… for ſo Chriſt was cruciſied at Jeruſalem; but it is meant ſpiritually and myſtically, that Chriſt is crucified in his truth and members, in Sodome and Aegypt: it's the pride and filthineſſe of Sodome, and the curſed idolatry and cruelty of Aegypt that doth alwayes crucifie Chriſt in his lawes and ſervants, but conſider;
Firſt, though Chriſt in his perſon was put to death at Jeruſalem, yet hee was crucified by a Roman power, condemned by Pilate, a Roman Judge, and was adjudged by a Roman kinde ofIoh. 18. 31. Mat. 20. 19. death, and was executed by the Romane Souldiers, and all was done under the Roman jurisdiction, territorie, government, and dominion, which here for filthineſſe and abomination is called Sodom, and for idolatry and oppreſſion is called Aegypt. So in this reſpect Chriſt himſelfe may be ſaid to be crucied in Sodome and in Aegypt. But
Secondly, Chriſt is crucified myſtically, and that is in his truth and laws, in his members and people. Acts 9. 5. Saul, why perſecuteſt thou mee? which words do import, that Chriſt is crucified in his people. So that as Chriſt was brought in, adjoyned in teſtimony and witneſſe with his Saints; in like manner he comes in, as ſuffering with them alſo: So that here is ſome reſemblance between the ſuffering of Chriſt, and his witneſſes; For as Chriſt was put to death by a heathening Roman power: ſo by the raign and dominion of Antichriſt, the Witneſſes are put to death alſo, and Chriſt is crucified in them. It was the wickedneſſe of the Scribe… and Phariſees that accuſed Chriſt, of Judas that betrayed him, of Pilate and the high Prieſt that condemned him, of the Gentile ſouldiers that crucified him: all this wickedneſſe heightned in Antichriſt, grows into the uncleanneſſe and filthineſſe of Sodome, and into the e…ity and cruely of Aegypt, doth make Warre againſt he Witneſſes, and kill them. So that it is not ſo much meant of the place where Chriſt or his Saints are oppreſſed: … to ſhew, that the wickedneſs and impiety that put Chriſt to death, is the very ſame wickedneſſe that Antichriſt doth exeroiſe, in killing of the fai…h…ul ſe… vants and Witneſſes of Chriſt. The words being unfolded, we now come to give ſome obſervations from them.
Firſt, obſerve, That the external forms 1 Obſerv:of worſhip that Antichriſt uſeth, are but as a dead body, or carkaſs.
Such was the Temple, Prieſt-hood, and worſhip of the Jewes, when God had departed from them: ſuch alſo is all the worſhip & ſervice of Antichriſt; it's not ſo much the ſuperficies or external form that he doth oppoſe, but the ſpirit of life that breathed forth in them, by the Propheſie of the Witneſſes. As the bodie becoms a Karcaſe, when the ſpirit & life is departed, ſo is the external and formall part of worſhip, when the ſpirit of God hath departed from it. The Apoſtle tells of a forme of godlineſs, without the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3. 5. The word foreign is not put for the true forme or eſſence of godlineſs, but for an externall profeſſion and conformity thereunto by a meer reſemblance, vizard, or ſhew of holineſſe: So all the formality of Antichriſt doth conſiſt in externall geſtures, behaviours, rites, and ceremonies, without the pure efficacious, powerfull, inward worſhip of God in ſpirit and truth: ſo all their formal profeſſion is but as a dead body, a Carkaſe without the life or ſpirit of Chriſt.
Secondly, obſerve, That it is not ſo 2 Obſerv:much the outward forme or figures of worſhip, that Antichriſt ſeeks to ſuppreſſe, as it is the ſpirit and teſtimonies of the Witneſſes.
The world doth patch up their whole Religion from the externall formes or bodies of the witneſſes: theſe lye in every ſtreet of the great Citie, in all the Territories and Dominions of the Antichriſtian Church: There is not one ſtreet or part of the worldly church but hath ſtore of theſe Monuments and Images of the worſhip and ſervice of God, that they have taken up, from the Witneſſes laying of them down; when the Saints worſhip God in the inward Temple, in the Wilderneſs, then theſe Gentiles poſſeſſe themſelves of the outward Court, take it as their portion, and uſe it at their pleaſures. As Mahomet tooke part of the Jewiſh cuſtomes, and part of the Chriſtians practice, and ſo patch'd up his forme of worſhip: So Antichriſt hath taken the externall formes, that the Witneſſes had before exerciſed in; and adding his own inventions, makes up a formall R ligion that he ſets up in all the ſtree…s and territories of the great Citie, viz. the whole Antichriſtian Church. So that there is no Church, no State, part or Dominion where Antichriſt hath to do, but there we may ſee the bodies of the Witneſſes, the forms and images of the worſhip, that they have been exerciſed in, and have layd aſide.
Thirdly, from the reſemblance, obſerv,3 Obſer. That Antichriſt is full of ſpirituall uncleanneſſe, and curſed cruelty. All the pride, gluttony, fulneſſe of bread, and abundance of idleneſſe and filthineſſe of Sodome: all the wick dneſſe, idolatry, rage, envie, and malice of Aegypt, doth but ſet forth the ſinfulneſſe of the man of ſin, the ſonne of perdition; yea all that abominable wickedneſs heightned, ſpi itualized, and grown more vile and myſterious, as it is acted by Antichriſt. Here is the ſilthineſs of Sodome, the idolatry of Aegypt, the oppreſſion of Babylon in a myſterie, all under the prete…ce of piety and godlineſs. This Citie is called the greatwhore, Rev. 17. 1. becauſe of the multitudes of her ſpirituall fornications: And the mother of harlots, verſ. 5. being a teacher and nouriſher of others in her ſilthy whoredoms, bringing up children of whoredoms. Alſo ſhe hath in her hands the cup ful of abominations, a glorious cup to allure others to drink the wine of her fornicatior, and to partake with her in curſed idolatrous practices. Beſides, the enmity, rage, and cruelty of the Beaſt is alwayes vexing and tormenting the Iſrael of God. Here is the filthineſſe of Sodome, and the enmity of Aegypt practiced by Antichriſt, in the myſtery of iniquity, drawn up to the greateſt pitch, height…ed to the utmoſt extreamity, depoſing Chriſt and his truths, advancing fleſh and ſinne into Chriſts throne, and ſo becomes beaſtly and moſt abominable.
Fourthly, and laſtly, obſerve, It is 4 Obſer,the very life, ſpirit, and image of Chriſt, that Antichriſt doth chiefly oppoſe, in ſlaying the Witneſſes. It is not ſo much the perſons or bodies of theſe Witneſſes they of the world do ſo much oppoſe; but the appearance and life of Chriſt in them: it's the ſame wickedneſs that put Chriſt to death in his perſon, and it's ſtill the ſame wickedneſs that ſlayeth Chriſt in his Saints and truth. The very name of Antichriſt ſignifies one that oppoſes Chriſt; if this were not his worke and aime, he could not be Antichriſt, who indeed is one that fights againſt Chriſt, under the very forme of Chriſt. And as it's Chriſt he aimes at, ſo it's Chriſt that is ſlain and crucified: it's our Lord, his truth, his image that's ſlain in ſpiritual Sodome & Aegypt: And in as much as 'its Chriſt he crucifieth & killeth; great ſhall be the judgment of Babylon, as wee may ſee in Chap. 17. when God ſhall recompence upon the man of fin, the blood of the Prophets, and the blood of the Saints, and of all that were ſlame upon the earth, verſ. 24.
And laſt of all, the Lord will reckon with Antichriſt for the blood of Chriſt, for crucifying the Lord af glorie. Chriſt tels the Jewes, that upon that generation ſhould be brought all the blood of the Prophets, and righteous men ſlain in former times, becauſe they ſucceded the former Perſecutors, finiſhed their work, and ſo became guilty of all the blood ſhed before: ſo here Antichriſt doth contract all the guilt of Sodome, Aegypt, and Babylon, and of thoſe that crucified Chriſt; therefore upon him ſhall be recompenced the blood of all that were ſlain upon the earth. So great ſhall be the fall and ruine of Antichriſt, that a mighty Angell (of great force and power) ſhall take a great milſtone, and caſt i… into the ſea, and it ſhall be found no more, Rev. 18. 21. A great milſtone is very ponderous and weighty of it ſelfe, and falleth with great force, but much more if it be caſt down with a ſtrong hand, and being in the bottom of the Sea, it cannot be found any more, neither will it riſe again. All which ſheweth the exceeding violent and perpetuall deſtruction of Antichriſt, being guilty of the blood of all Saints, yea, and of crucifying the Lord himſelf.