The mystery of the two witnesses unvailed: Wherein wee have a description of their persons time acts death and office. manner of prophecie. sufferings. resurrection. With the consequences that follow. Together with the seaventh trumpet, and the kingdome of Christ explained. by John Robotham, preacher of the Gospel in Dover.

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 up∣on 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 where∣in 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 re∣surrection 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 ex∣pressed by three dayes and a halfe, which terme of time hath been opened alrea∣dy, and as you heard, holds proporti∣on with forty two moneths, And with 1260 dayes, and with a time, times, and halfe a time. All the time of the power∣full raigne of the beast, the witnesses prophesie in sackcloth, they are al∣waies 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 rejoy∣cing. Before the time they cannot ex∣pect 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, spirit of life; or as the Hebrews call it, the breath of life; as it's sayd, God brea∣thed into man the breath of life, Gen. 2. 7. when he made man a living soule. So when the Lord doth raise up his wit∣nesses 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 Psal∣mist 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 spi∣rit 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, where∣by 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 sack∣cloth. 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 wit∣nesses.

Thirdly, we come to the resurrecti∣on it selfe, and that is expressed in these

words; And they stood upon their feet. We cannot understand this of a resur∣rection properly so called; but as the slaying and death of the witnesses was mysticall; such also must their resur∣rection be. Then it cannot be meant of a bodily or fleshly resurrection; but of that which is mysticall and spiritu∣all; namely, a resurrection from shame and misery, from bondage and weak∣nesse, 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 expres∣sion; 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, E∣zek 37. 10. when the Prophet was com∣manded 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 Baby∣lon) 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 them∣selves, they should stand by that wis∣dome, that knowledge, light and pow∣er they should enjoy in themselves; they should stand upon their owne leggs, and not depend upon others; they should not live upon the wis∣dome, opinion, and knowledge of o∣ther men, but upon their owne light and experience in the things of God. The time was, that the Arke was car∣ried

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 dis∣coveries of truth, did much depend up∣on the judgements and opinions of o∣ther men; but now the spirit of God shall dwell so plentifully in them, that they shall live upon their owne expe∣rience of the light and life of God in themselves. The spirit of life breath∣ing in them, with much life, with much power and evidence, that they shall no longer be carried away with the con∣ceits of other men, but shall stand up∣on 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 mer∣ry,

and triumph; but now at the wit∣nesses rising, the case shall be otherwise with them, now they shall feare and tremble, now amazement and astonish∣ment shall take hold of them. When the witnesses were slaine, they thought never to heare of them more, they ho∣ped they should never arise; but behold now they rise againe, and how great∣ly 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 a∣mazement they rise againe, and stand upon their feet; this doth more af∣fright & 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* 1.1 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 mul∣tiplyed, 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 expec∣tation of a seasonable and speedy deli∣verance, 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 be∣yond

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 bright∣nesse thereof. Many things in the con∣sequent words of the Text will far∣ther manifest, that the witnesses are in rising.

Secondly, Observe, That the witnesses* 1.2 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 spiri∣tuall life. This is the true life, the spi∣rit of life; all spirituall actions flow from this life, it is Christ living and acting in the soule. Now it is the a∣bundant flowing forth of this spirit of life, that must cause the witnesses to a∣rise. It was the great and powerfull voyce of Christ, that caused the dead to rise, Joh. 5. So it must be the power∣full quickning, inlivening, filling, re∣viving 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 spi∣rit 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* 1.3 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 bo∣dies to lie in the streets of the great Ci∣tie, 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 re∣joyce; and then their enemies that re∣joyced over them shall weep and la∣ment. 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 & bright∣nesse 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 opera∣tion 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 autho∣rity, 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 know∣ledg••, 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 onely move, speake and act by that spirit of life, that hath raised them from the dead.

Fourthly, and lastly, observe, That* 1.4 the rising of the witnesses, is a most dread∣full sight to the men of the earth. The wit∣nesses now arise from shame, oppressi∣on and tyranny, and how can it be o∣therwise, 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 ser∣vants 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, ri∣sen up in the rule, dominion, and pow∣er of the kingdome of Christ. The sight and beholding of this strikes the world dead, at one blow. This sight is terri∣ble to all earthly men. When the Soul∣diers 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 trem∣bling▪ 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 dis∣quieted and troubled at that; there∣fore they were much comforted and re∣freshed 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 ex∣ceeding 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 in∣consistent one with the other. Then this amazement falls irrisistibly upon worldly men; fearfullnesse and asto∣nishment

doth surprize them all, pale∣nesse 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 rid∣dance, 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 re∣vive 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.

Notes

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  1 Obser.
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  2 Observ:
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  3 Observ:
• * 1.4

  4 Observ: