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. 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie, which spi∣ritually is called Sodome and E∣gypt, where also our Lord was cru∣cified.

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 follow∣ing 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 Ci∣tie.

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 un∣derstood 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 wit∣nesses were exercised, and through which they did sometimes give forth their testimony. When the Church was driven into the Wildernesse, to wor∣ship God in the secret Temple, the out∣ward 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 wor∣ship, 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 com∣parison, to liken Christ to a dead stink∣ing carkase: The like comparison of Christ we finde not in Scripture. Se∣condly, it would also be as much un∣savoury 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 o∣ther then a full and ample declaration, or rather a prediction of the destructi∣on of Jerusalem, the Temple, the Nati∣on, and Church of the Jewes, as ap∣peares 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 shin∣eth even unto the West, so shall also the com∣ing 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 light∣somenesse and brightnesse: so Christ shall be eminently manifested, and de∣clared to be the Messiah, by the destruc∣tion 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 manifest∣ed, coming as lightning, shining from the East to the West: saith; For where∣soever 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 spi∣rit in it; they onely upheld the super∣ficiall part of their forme and service, when there was no breath of life, no∣thing 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 de∣stroyed 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 the* 1.1 Church was driven into the Wilder∣ness, to worship God in his secret Tem∣ple; then the Gentiles possessed them∣selves of the outward Court, of the ex∣ternall formes and figures of worship; but without the presence or spirit of Christ. These are the bodies of the wit∣nesses, 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, life∣lesse, and spirit-lesse. The Jewes kept up all their formes of worship after the Messiah was come, and had aboli∣shed them all; and therefore it was, that when the Apostle was asked, why he would revile Gods high Priest? he an∣swereth, 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 be∣leeve that the Apostle knew well e∣nough 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; be∣cause 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 man∣ner 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 onely slay the testimony & spirit of the wit∣nesses, 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 abomina∣tions: It is an allusion to old Babylon, called great, Dan. 4. 30. which was e∣minent for tyranny and oppression. Antichrist is called the mother of har∣lots, and the great whore, because as a strumpet, shee doth not onely 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 wo∣man is described to be this great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the earth, vers. 18. I confesse, that Rome hath my∣stically ruled the Nations, and hath been as the well-bead of the filthinesse and abomination of the world. But more especially this woman, here cal∣led the great Citie, is the carnall, world∣ly, Antichristian Church; which hath as a whore departed from God, and

hath been led by a lying spirit, and hath followed after whorish inventi∣ons of her owne braine, hath gathered the nations of the world into a Church, and called them by the name of Chri∣stians, and all this hath been by a my∣stery of iniquity, a very babell and con∣fusion. 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 clo∣thed in gay cloathing of humane or∣dinances and formall professions, pre∣tending 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 wo∣man 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 ex∣tent of the Dominion and rule of the Antichristian church and government. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being of the singular number, is put for the plurall, and sig∣nifies all the streets, territories and pla∣ces of Antichrist's rule and dominati∣on.

It cannot properly be taken for one street; for thero is no great Ci∣tie made of one street: but indeed the word, as rendred by the Septua∣gint, 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 large∣nesse of Dominion, the whole com∣passe and extent of all the Nations, and Churches, that are under the authori∣ty and command of Antichrist: the ut∣most limits and extreme bounds of largenesse and greatnesse is here inti∣mated by the street.

In the third place, we come to a description of this Citie, and that is,

First, by resemblance; first, to So∣dome; secondly, to Egypt.

Secondly, by some carriage or acti∣on of this Citie towards Christ: it's the place where our Lord was crucified.

The Citie is described by a resem∣blance to Sodome and Egypt, in a meta∣phoricall way; for here we have the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 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 fil∣thiness and uncleanness, as we have the relation in Gen. 19. And the iniqui∣ty of Sodome was sayd to be pride, and fulnesse of bread, and abundance of idle∣ness and lasciviousness, Ezek. 16. 49, 50. It was with this abominable wick∣edness 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 abominati∣ons, corrupting the earth by her un∣cleanness, and intoxicating the whole world with the wine of her fornicati∣ons. In a word, all the whoredome, fornication, and abomination of So∣dome, 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 sa∣crifice 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 tyran∣ny 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 taske∣masters 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 su∣perstition: all the whole bundle of An∣tichrists worship, is but of carnall in∣vention, and humane institution, yea it is spirituall whoredome and Idola∣try. 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, rea∣dy 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 oppres∣sion.

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 mysti∣cally, that Christ is crucified in his truth and members, in Sodome and Aegypt: it's the pride and filthinesse of So∣dome, and the cursed idolatry and cru∣elty

of Aegypt that doth alwayes cruci∣fie 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, con∣demned by Pilate, a Roman Judge, and was adjudged by a Roman kinde of* 1.2 death, and was executed by the Romane Souldiers, and all was done under the Roman jurisdiction, territorie, govern∣ment, 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 cruci∣ed in Sodome and in Aegypt. But

Secondly, Christ is crucified mysti∣cally, 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 cruci∣fied 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 resem∣blance 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 condem∣ned 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 Wit∣nesses, 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 impi∣ety 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* 1.3 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 spi∣rit of God hath departed from it. The Apostle tells of a forme of godliness, without the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3. 5. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is not put for the true forme or essence of godliness, but for an externall profession and confor∣mity 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 effi∣cacious, 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* 1.4 much the outward forme or figures of wor∣ship, 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 out∣ward Court, take it as their portion, and use it at their pleasures. As Maho∣met 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 in∣ventions, makes up a formall R ligion that he sets up in all the stree••s and ter∣ritories 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, ob∣serv,* 1.5 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 height∣ned, spi itualized, and grown more vile and mysterious, as it is acted by Antichrist. Here is the silthiness of So∣dome, the idolatry of Aegypt, the op∣pression of Babylon in a mysterie, all un∣der 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 whore∣doms, bringing up children of whore∣doms. 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 torment∣ing the Israel of God. Here is the filth∣inesse of Sodome, and the enmity of Aegypt practiced by Antichrist, in the my∣stery of iniquity, drawn up to the grea∣test pitch, height••ed to the utmost ex∣treamity, 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* 1.6 the very life, spirit, and image of Christ, that Antichrist doth chiefly oppose, in slaying the Witnesses. It is not so much the per∣sons 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 ve∣ry name of Antichrist signifies one that opposes Christ; if this were not his worke and aime, he could not be Anti∣christ, who indeed is one that fights a∣gainst 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 genera∣tion should be brought all the blood of the Prophets, and righteous men slain in former times, because they succed∣ed 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, nei∣ther will it rise again. All which shew∣eth the exceeding violent and perpetu∣all destruction of Antichrist, being guil∣ty of the blood of all Saints, yea, and of crucifying the Lord himself.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hab. 1. 8. The enemy is compared to an Eagle.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 18. 31. Mat. 20. 19.
• * 1.3

  1 Observ:
• * 1.4

  2 Observ:
• * 1.5

  3 Obser.
• * 1.6

  4 Obser,