Chapter V
The exposition of the llth chapter continued. The description of
tht>
sy ver. 3-6.
SECTION I.
Some things in general premised. The division of the particular acts ascribed to them: with the order and time of each. Now I come to the angel s discourse concerning the two witnesses; who are the holy people, whose power is at last to be scattered. The description of whom is set down, to make way for the relation of that their scattering. Two things, as was said, are here related about them :
1. The description of their condition and of their power, ver. 3-6.
2. The last scattering of them, and of this their power. I. For their description, which the angel makes, to the end that John might know whom he spake of, who were at last to be thus killed; he de scribes them as throughout all ages they had opposed Antichrist : which he doth upon that occasion that he had for to mention their whole time. But
especially he sets them out by what in their latter times, the age immedi
ately foregoing this their killing, they should have power to oppose the beast
in; and yet, how that after all he should prevail against them. So that there is this use and end of this so large a description of them, ver. 3-6, that the time of this their last killing might be more evidently discerned, when it was to come ; namely, after they should have done thus and thus
against the beast and his company, to wit, set up a temple, and poured out four vials, and when they should be come to one of the highest plagues, even
( to devour them with fire, which is the fourth vial, that then their enemies should prevail against them.
Now this description of them is absolved many and several ways
: as
1. By their office; they are witnesses and prophets.
(1.) Witnesses, as being in all ages to testify against Antichrist; but espe cially now at last.
(2.) Prophets, as being to prophesy, and thereby to feed the church, whilst in the wilderness, the same term of 1260 years; as you have it chap. xii. 6, where it is said that they that is, these prophets and witnesses shall feed her, &c.
2. They are set out by their condition, which is in sackcloth and mourn
ing; whilst the Pope and his clergy are in their silk triumphing. 3. By their number; they are two. For
1(1.) By the mouth of two witnesses (at least) every word is to be established. And
(2.) They are two, in allusion to those famous pairs or couples, for by couples they have still gone, in the Old Testament, living in the like times;
CHAP. V.] AN EXPOSITION OF THE EEVELATION. 143
and which were fit types of these times of Antichrist, and the church s state
therein, in the various progress of it throughout all ages of Antichrist s
reign.
The couples were these :
1. Moses and Aaron, prophets to the church in Egypt, and in the wilder
ness.
2. Elias and Elisha, prophets to Israel in Ahab s time, wherein idolatry
prevailed, and no face of a church was seen, and but seven thousand hid in corners that were godly.
3. Zerubbabel and Joshua, prophets in the days of the finishing the
temple, after the people were come forth from Babylon s captivity.
And that to these three pairs the allusion is here made, is manifest.
1. To Moses and Aaron : for
These execute Egypt s plagues, ver. 6, like as they did.
2.) They devour men with fire, ver. 5 ; as Moses did twice by his gainsayers in the wilderness.
!1.^
2. To Elias and Elisha ; for as they shut up heaven, that it rained not, so these here do the like, ver. 6.
3. To Joshua and Zerubbabel ; for therefore, in ver. 4, these are called the two olive-trees, and candlesticks, that began and finished the temple after the captivity.
Now, out of this allusion made to such persons, you may in the general observe, that they are eminent both as ministers and magistrates, for such were all these types in their times, who especially are here intended, under the notion of two witnesses. And thus we have had the description of their
quality, office, condition, and number. Then further, they are set forth to us by their several exploits, which they are to perform and execute during the whole time of their prophecy. And these are particularly related in each verse following. Which before I ex
plain particularly, let me premise this in the general to your notice about them : That the angel doth enumerate them, and order his recital of them, so as to draw our eyes unto two of these exploits or facts especially, as being the more eminent, and as those which were nearest to the times of this last
age, wherein John measured the temple. And these are
1. Their devouring their enemies with fire, which is mentioned, ver. 5. And
2. Their being two olive-trees, &c., ver. 4. Which two are first mentioned, and set in the first view, as being such as did set forth these witnesses according to what they should be in this latter
age. And to confirm this, you may observe
1. That those words in the 5th verse, If any man hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths, &c., have indeed a direct reference to those words, ver.
3, And I will give to my two witnesses, &c. ; so that it is as if he had said,
* I will give to my two witnesses power, that if any man hurt them, fire
shall come out of their mouths, &c. And the particle xa/ and I will give, &c. is there, ver. 3, adversatively put for but ; as noting out that special
opposition that these witnesses should have power to make against the
Gentiles that should enter upon their outward court. But, says he, I
will give to my two witnesses power, that if any man hurt them, &c. To
this I say, do these words, and I will give, ver. 3, refer, as well as to those other words, they shall prophesy, &c., which follow in the 3d verse, as Piscator also observes. That whereas he had said three things in the 1st and 3d verses : as
144 AN EXPOSITION OF THE KEVELATION. [PART II.
(1.) That the temple was to be measured and finished in this latter age, by the godly in it, whose person John sustains ;
(2.) That their outward court, which fenced the temple and witnesses, was
to be regained by the Papists, and trodden down ; and
(3.) That the Gentiles whole time of reigning, upon this occasion mentioned, was to expire
Answerably and oppositely, as xat is taken, he says three things of these
witnesses : as
(1.) That the same space of time that the Gentiles are to have to reign
in, the same these have, even as many, to prophesy in, and shall be enabled
to oppose them all that while. The witnesses are to have their twelve hun dred and sixty days, for the Gentiles forty-two months ; so ver. 3. And
(2.) Whereas this temple was in his latter age to be begun to be mea
sured, but that work is interrupted and hindered by this assault and inva
sion made by these Gentiles upon this outward court and temple ; yet these witnesses shall be as those two olive-trees, ver. 4, that minister
before the Lord of the whole earth, whose power is engaged in that work. And thus they are called, to signify that as Joshua and Zerubbabel then, who were called two olive-trees in that vision, Zech. iv., in respect that they were to perform the like work of finishing the temple, against all opposition made, so should these two witnesses now complete the finishing of this
temple measured, notwithstanding this interruption by the Gentiles invasion
of the temple and outward court. And so this is oppositely spoken to that second thing said of the Gentiles. And
(3.) Although these Gentiles in their subduing the outward court do much hurt to the witnesses, who shall oppose them in this their assault
upon it and the temple, yet they again shall be able to avenge all the hurt done to themselves, by fire returned upon their enemies, and spit out of
their mouths against them, whilst they are thus endeavouring to regain the outward court from them. And this is the first thing in general to be ob
served. Now
2. To the same purpose you may observe, that this power given them to
hurt their enemies is spoken of as a matter of fact, done at that present
time, and in the age wherein John in the vision stands, bearing the persons of the godly who were to measure this temple. Yea, and that this is spoken of as an encouragement to that work, that if any man will hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths. But now
3. On the other side, it may be observed, that whatever else is said of
their power in the 6th verse, besides these two things in the 4th and 5th
verses, is brought in merely as a tiling added for illustration s sake, to shew what power besides this they have in their days formerly exercised. As
thus, These have power in the days of their prophecy, &c., ver. 6. But the
prime and eminent thing which is first mentioned is that their devouring their enemies with fire ; which is plainly the fourth vial, mentioned next the
measuring the temple, as conjunct with it. And again
4. This exploit of theirs hath an emphasis set upon it also, ver. 5, In
this manner he, speaking of him that shall hurt them, must be killed, as
noting the greatest plague which these witnesses could execute, and that which so vexeth and tormenteth their enemies, as ver. 10 hath it, and so
scorcheth them, as the fourth vial expresseth it, that they are thereby pro voked to kill them for it, and so to rejoice over them chiefly in this very
respect, as ver. 10 tells us. Yea
5. These four plagues being plainly the four first vials, you may observe,
CHAP. V,] AN EXPOSITION OF THE EEVELA TION. H5
that they are here mentioned ordine inverso, in a clean contrary order from what they are ranked in, chap. xvi. For the fourth vial of fire, which in
chap. xvi. is made last in execution, is yet here ranked first ; and that vial on the earth which is first there, is mentioned last here ; merely to shew
that this of fire was that which belonged to the present times of this chapter, and the visions of it, namely, when the temple is measured, and also as
that which was mainly intended, and the other to come in only for illustra
tion s sake, to shew more fully who these witnesses were, even the same that
the pourers forth of those vials.
SECTION II.
The acts of the witnesses : first, in the darkest times of Popery, withholding the rain, what ? next, in the times of separation from Popery, in the
three first vials, ver. 6.
This being premised, to the end that you might know what times to refer
these unto, I come now particularly to explain these several exploits here
against their enemies, and that great service they do for God all this long time of their prophecy. Which serviceable acts of theirs have a double
aspect
1. Towards their enemies.
2. Towards the temple, the church of God. Or they may be divided, according to the several times in which these
services were performed. As
1. What in this last age they were to do before their killing, and now when the temple is measured, and the outward court to be trodden down ; and this in the 4th and 5th verses. And
2. What in the former ages of their prophecy they had also done ; which
is laid down ver. 6. And this division you will here see to fall in according to that division which I made of these times, chap, xiv., and in the vials.
For the first, what they did to their enemies. And
I. What they did against them in the days foregoing this latter age, wherein John is supposed to stand. Which acts of theirs are set forth in the sixth verse.
(1.) And those were either done in those first times of all, even in the darkest times of Popery, when the hundred and forty-four thousand stood on Mount Zion without a temple, and when idolatry overspread the world,
chap. xiv. 1-6. Then these witnesses did shut heaven, that it rained not ; which in the allusion refers to the times of Ahab, as the fittest type of these first times. For that exploit carries us unto what Elias then in
like manner did, when he brought that curse on the land for their idolatry, that it rained not. When also the church was so small, that Elias thought himself alone ; and when Ahab and his priests of Baal that is, the Pope and his mass-priests ruled all the world. But hereby is signified, that then
these prophets had this privilege, to have true grace only, and the dews and
influence of heaven to come down upon themselves, to have a truth of doc
trine among them to save them ; which fell not into the knowledge and hearts of these priests of Baal. You heard, chap. xiv. 3, that they had a
peculiar song unto themselves, which none else could learn. Now all these dews of grace and saving doctrine were restrained and withheld from those
idolaters, as a just curse upon them for their apostasy. Or
(2.) In the times succeeding next to these first times ; that is, from and VOL. III. K
146 AN EXPOSITION OF THE REVELATION. [PART II.
after the times of their separation from Popery, and upon their coming out
of that Egypt. Then, as Moses and Aaron, they execute the like plagues to
those of theirs on Egypt, even the three first vials, which are therefore also mentioned in this 6th verse ; for which I refer you to the 16th chapter. And these ,are the days of that separation of churches from Antichrist, and
first reformation, set forth in the 14th chapter.
SECTION HI.
The acts of the witnesses in this their last age of prophecy. And, first, their
devouring ivitli fire, ver. 5, what ? The allusion thereof unto Moses s
destroying Nadab and Korah s company with fire, applied.
But then
2. In their last days of all, towards the time of this new reformation
of the temple, and before this their killing to come, they pour out the
fourth vial in scorching and devouring their enemies with fire, as ver. 5 shews us. Even as Moses and Aaron, when the church was come out of
Egypt, and in the wilderness, devoured Nadab with fire, Lev. x. 1, 2, and two hundred and fifty princes in the rebellion of Korah, Num. xvi. 3-5. And
this devouring their enemies with fire holds not only to those that profess
Popery, but of any man that shall hurt them/ though living among them ; as you have it ver. 5. Now observe how this type agrees with the face of things in this latter
age. For as when this fell out, Moses had then brought the people out of
Egypt, and had long before begun to set up the tabernacle and other ordi nances of worship ; so when falls out the rebellion of these men here de voured with fire 1 It is after the church has come -out of that spiritual Egypt where these former plagues were executed, and after that public wor
ship is erected and set up according to God s appointment in many things ; that is, after the first great reformation made by Luther, &c. But here
is a company of rebels that rise up against Moses for his endeavouring to
keep to the word in his temple s frame and fabric, .and for his calling for this
at the builders hands.
Observe the quarrel of both those companies then, and of these now. The first quarrel then was about introducing human inventions in God s
worship, which himself commanded not.
The second was, not only a renewing and continuing that quarrel, but
further, to take away all distinction of persons in worshipping.
For the first; (1.) Nadab and Abihu, they offer strange fire namely, the common culinary fire, which in God
?s worship was strange fire before the Lord ; which God commanded them not. For by his command, only fire from
the altar should have been offered which originally came down from heaven. And so the sin for which they were devoured with fire, it was a transgression in bringing in, or continuing to use, such human inventions in worship as God had not commanded, and a justifying such to be warrantable. And
(2.) That other company that clave to Korah, their sin was as their offer
ing incense, not being true priests, so their quarrelling Moses and Aaron for
putting such a difference between the people, as making some to be priests,
f all the people are holy ; and therefore ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi, &c.
(of the tribe of Levi,) and others not. Whenas, say they,
Seeing every one throughout the whole congregation is holy, and so is as fit
to worship and draw near to God as you, wherefore then lift you up your selves above the congregation of the Lord ? who, they thought, were God s
CHAP. V.] AN EXPOSITION OF THE KEVELATION. 147
people, and whom he had chosen to draw near unto him. This was the quarrel, as Moses states it, ver. 5, and unto this sin they added rebellion, ver. 14. Now, what has been the quarrel, that in England, which I instance most
in, as being best known to us, and in some other reformed churches, which hath since the first Reformation been continued, of the latter days of which times, this is especially here understood, for it is the fourth vial, but about human inventions ? Which are as that strange fire then which God com manded not, which yet are introduced and continued in worship, and by the most justified against the few witnesses, the pleaders for the commands of God to be the only rule of worship. And again Secondly, for that other, the putting such a difference between men and anen, by the faithful witnesses and prophets, between the holy and the profane; this hath been another and a greater ground of hot and violent opposition against these witnesses. And for this, the latter of the two, as then also it was, these witnesses have all generally still preached that only those who have such or such a work of grace upon their hearts, and that do endeavour to walk thus and thus holily in their lives ; that such only are saints, and the chil dren of God. The stream of their ministry in England hath still run in this channel, thus to distinguish men from men, and to separate the precious from the vile, and this occasioned from that promiscuous mixture of all sorts. The chief work and bent of their ministry hath been to mark out whom God hath chosen, and who only are true priests and worshippers of him in spirit and truth. And for this, whatever hath otherwise been pretended, have those of the other side quarrelled, opposed, and silenced them, saying, as .Koran s company, Are not all the people holy? Have they not all been baptized? You take too much upon you, you precise ones, out of the pride of your spirits, to lift up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord.
Or else the quarrel hath been about God s own election of a few to be priests unto him, even as then, that God chose the tribe of Levi from the rcrowd of common Israelites, who are his, and whom he hath chosen; as ver. 5 of Num. xvi. This was the quarrel then ; and these now plead the cause of all mankind in universal grace and redemption.
All the quarrels between the Popish party, the number of the beast s name, and the witnesses, are reducible to these two heads :
(1.) True purity of worship; and, (2.) true holiness, and peculiar election of worshippers.
And the light in both these things hath in our days grown up so high and clear, as that many of those who oppose either or both of these do sin ven out of rebellion and presumption in opposing that the truth of which 4hey are convinced of, as Koran s company did. And so their punishment riseth to be like to that of Nadab, and those two hundred and fifty of Korah s
.conspiracy, even fire from the Lord devouring them; which is, as was said in the fourth vial, a spiritual punishment on their souls ; and this is the effect of the powerful conviction of the word out of the mouths of the wit
nesses, who spit fire into their consciences, and begin hell-fire beforehand. And this very allusion is thus interpreted and applied to that fearful expec tation of wrath* which those have in their consciences who sin wilfully against the knowledge of the truth, and so against the Holy Ghost, Heb. x. 26, 27.
And, indeed, bring but Paul s exposition there of this very type and ex ample of those Israelites then, unto this allusion here made unto it by the angel; and that of Paul may clearly expound this of John. The allusion
148 AN EXPOSITION OF THE EEVELATION. [-PART II.
there is to those who died by Moses s hand, arid that without mercy, for
despising the law which he brought from God to them, and more particu
larly tothose who died by fire, as that phrase, the expectation of fiery
indignation to devour the adversaries, doth shew ; who therein were true
types of those that sin wilfully under the gospel, and despise it. They were
types of these, both in their sin and punishment ; for
1. Their sin is rebellion, as the others also was. Korah s company, after
Moses s conviction of them, came to a despiteful scorning of Moses, and
doing opprobrium to him for bringing them out of Egypt; as you may read, Num. xvi. 13, 14. And such is their sin mentioned, Heb. x. 26, even a
sinning wilfully, after the receiving of the truth. And so here in this llth
of the Revelation, the emphasis of their sin is put upon their wills, if any man will hurt them/ and again it is repeated, if any man will hurt them,
ver. 5. And
2. As they then were struck dead by God, upon their despising Moses s
law, and conviction of it under two or three witnesses, as Paul inter
prets it, Heb. x., Moses and Aaron themselves testifying against them, and
convincing them; so here, the angel adjudgeth them to this notorious
death, for despising the testimony of these two witnesses, and the light of
the gospel in their mouths. Thus in their sinning they were true types of
these.
And then, secondly, in their punishment they were their true types also ;
1. A punishment they there have executed on them, of all the sorest,
which Paul calls a dying without mercy. So in that 10th to the Hebrews, How much sorer punishment, says Paul, shall he be thought worthy of ?
&c., sorer than that of Nadab and Korah s company there being devoured
with elementary fire ; and indeed so sore, as he knows not how to express
it, but utters it by an imperfect indefinite speech, how much sorer ? rather
leaving it to us, from comparing their sins together, to conceive it, than that
he was able to express it. And in like manner here also, their punishment,
you see, hath this emphasis put upon it, in this manner he must be killed ;
as noting out the extremest punishment that could be.
2. A punishment it is, not so much killing their bodies as their souls.
So in the type, the fire that came forth rather blasted than burned them.
Their bodies and clothes were left whole, Lev. x. 5. It burned and scorched
their souls, not their bodies, say the Hebrew doctors ; and so it was the
liveliest type that could be, to lay a punishment upon their souls. Now
unto such sinners under the gospel doth God answerably become a con
suming fire. Again
3. That which here in the Revelation is called fire, is there by Paul
expounded, fiery indignation, and a fearful looking for of judgment,
namely, in the consciences of those men who sin this sin, fofitgb hdoffl
yigiffws, a fearful and certain expectation of judgment, as it is in the origi
nal : God sealing up, by some flashes of his wrath, these men s eternal dam
nation, who do sin this sin. And this fiery indignation sparkles forth upon
all occasions, from the writings and lives, and from the preachings and testi
monies of these witnesses mouths, as this place implies. And
4. As Paul here useth the word, devouring the adversaries ; so the same
is used of them, Lev. x. 2. And so also here you see the same phrase used,
devouring their enemies. In the original the same verb is used in one
place that is in the other ; and the word for enemies used Heb. x. 27 is
t, subcontrarios, underhand adversaries : shewing that not always
CHAP. V.] AN EXPOSITION OP THE REVELATION. 149
those that thus sin do presently renounce all profession of God, as the Pharisees did not ; for then they should not have place and opportunity to hurt the witnesses. So that they profess God still, but do underhand, and by pretences, oppose his people. The like to this, we read the effect of the powerful light of the ministry o John Baptist and of Christ to have been : whose crucifying as it is manifestly alluded unto here, in killing the two witnesses, front ver 7 to ver. 14; so also this effect of his ministry on those Pharisees in those his times, who were tormented with it, is in the like manner alluded unto here in those that were tormented with the light and heat of these witnesses prophecy, as ver. 10 of chap. xi. expresseth it, which, chap. xvi. 9 is called a
scorching men with great heat and pain/ Now John, and after him Christ were
<
burning and shining lights, as Christ spake of John, which the Pharisees despising, the effect of their ministry upon many of these was this very sin, and so a tormenting of their consciences with this fiery in dignation.
<
And accordingly, in the prophet Malachi, we have the times of Christ s ministry, in this respect, called a terrible day that shall bum as an oven those Pharisees consciences; so Mai. iv. 1. And as it was the torment from Christ s ministry that made these Pharisees crucify him, though know ing him to be the Son of God ; so it is the torment of these witnesses ministry here, increasing so in light and power under the fourth vial, that causeth their adversaries to kill them; as, ver, 10 of this llth chapter is expressed.
And thus you have seen the power which they have against and over their enemies.
SECTION IV.
Secondly, their temple-work in their last days, in being two olive-trees, explained; from the allusion to Joshua s and Zerubbabel s finishing the temple.
But, secondly, their power is also further set out in that temple -work which they do for Christ and his church in these latter days, especially in that measuring, building, and finishing the temple, spoken of ver. 1. To
| represent which to us, the Holy Ghost hath called and singled out the most
proper and choice type, and the most lively allusion that the Old Testa ment doth afford us.
< These, says he,
< are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks, that minister before the God of the earth.
Now, where in the Scriptures do we find this spoken, and of whom, and upon what occasion ? Find but this, and by having recourse thereto, you will see all things suit and conspire to make up a full type of that work of this age. You have this vision of two olive-trees and a candlestick made unto Zechariah, as you may read in the 4th chapter of his prophecy, and the interpretation thereof. And it is made unto him on this occasion. The people coming out of Babylon s captivity, Joshua and Zerubbabel had from their first coming forth begun to sacrifice, and to set up public worship; and after two years began the erection of the temple, laid the foundation of it,
I md set up the altar, as you may read in the 3d of Ezra; but left the work
imperfect, without the roof covered, or the temple as then adorned with ill those holy utensils and ornaments of it which yet were ordinances that,
I to the complement and perfection of his worship then, God had appointed/ And you may further find, that they had then left the temple so incom-
150 AN EXPOSITION OF THE KEVELATION. [PART IL
plete, through the opposition of a Samaritan faction, that pretended to be
for God as well as they. So, Ezra iv. 2, We seek your God, say they, as jou do. Who yet were of a mongrel religion, between the Jews and Gentiles ;
as, 2 Kings xvii. 41, you may read. And being not taken into this work of building the temple, nor owned by the true Jews, they therefore, hindered the people in building, ver. 4, and raised up the opposition of the Persian monarchy to frustrate their purpose, ver. 5, and made them to cease by force, ver. 24, 25, and so the work lay imperfect for years, and yet, notwith
standing, it was a true temple and place of God s worship,^ until God
stirred up the prophets Zechariah and Haggai, by their prophecy, to move Joshua and Zerubbabel unto the finishing of this work, Ezra, v. 1. Now, among other visions which, to excite them to finish the work, the
prophet Zechariah had had, this, in his 4th chapter, of two olive-trees and a
candlestick, into which the olive-trees did empty their oil, was one. The
meaning of which vision was this. The two olive-trees were Joshua and
Zerubbabel, sons of oil, as in ver. 14 they are called. Which phrase notes out their being full of oil; as being those two who should lay out their
grace, gifts, and estates, which was their oil, and spend their fatness, and use their heartiest endeavours in and for the repairing and finishing the
temple. Which finishing of it is there represented by the candlestick, the: candlestick being one of the most necessary utensils that went to make
complete the glory of the temple; and so, by a synecdoche, is put for all the
rest. And it being one of the last to be brought into the temple when once fully finished, and when the roof is covered, therefore it fitly served to resemble the finishing of that temple, and the adorning of it with all those accoutrements and ordinances which God had appointed for the perfection of it. And hence, in the exposition of this vision in that chapter, is Zerub babel presented with a
t plummet in his hand, and a measuring line, to measure this temple to be now fully finished, even as here John is presented with a reed; and this promise is annexed, that in despite of that mountain of opposition raised by that Samaritan faction, ver. 7, Zerubbabel s hands, which
* had laid the foundatian of this house, even his hands shall also
finish it; as you have it, ver. 9. And all this is made the meaning of that hieroglyphic, there represented, in a vision of two olive-trees and a candlestick : for, ver. 5, when the angel said to Zechariah,
* Knowest thou what these be ? that is, Knowest thoii: the meaning of this vision? and he said, No; the angel answers, Thi&
is the word of the Lord, namely, his mind in this vision, unto Zerub
babel, &c. namely, this which I before recited, about Zerubbabel s and Joshua s finishing the temple, as you may there read it interpreted by the
angel. Now this is the very type alluded unto here. And how fully suits it all our former interpretations given of measuring the temple 1 The churcfc
having been long since come out of mystical Babylon, hath set up public: worship, and by the authority of princes hath begun the foundation of the
temple ; but hath been hindered from going on to full perfection of discir-
pline intended and endeavoured, through the mixture of a Samaritan party,, by whom they have been still interrupted from attaining that perfection which many have contended for. But in the end God stirs up many of the
English spirits, like Joshua and Zerubbabel^ to finish what was before left,
incomplete, and to begin to make a further and purer edition of churches
according to the pattern. And so they stand in this age with a measuring
line,, as Zerubbabel, or a reed, as John here, in their hands; and, like these
CHAP. V.] AN EXPOSITION OF THE REVELATION. 151
two olive-trees,, do empty oil out of themselves unto this work, endeavouring to add unto this temple such ordinances as, though to the being of a church not absolutely necessary, for they were temples before, yet are institutions of God, and do tend, as the candlestick then did, unto the perfection, beauty, complement, and glory of it. And though the foundation of this temple, laid in the first reformation, is in this allusion included, yet the allusion
1 this finishing of it. For that is the most proper and
principally falls upon.
peculiar aim of the vision of the olive-trees, as in Zechariah it is presented, unto which the allusion here is ; the end of Zechariah s prophecy being to
excite unto the finishing of the temple.
These two witnesses the Holy Ghost here calls the olive-trees and the
candlesticks, which are the churches themselves, as chap. i. 20. So that both eminent persons, and likewise churches themselves, the purest of them, are the witnesses against the false church that are here spoken of. But some would carry it thus : that the witnesses are the olive-trees unto the two candlesticks, the churches; for so in the vision of Zechariah they are mentioned as pouring oil into the candlesticks. And besides, the copulative and being in the Hebrew sometimes put for the preposition unto, accord
ing to this Hebraism, xai here should be so taken. And the churches now under the New Testament are called two candlesticks, whereas there in Zechariah is mention but of one candlestick, because now there is not one church only, as the Jews then had, but they are multiplied by particular congregations. There are sister churches now, and not one mother church
only. And you shall sometimes, in the allusions to the temple, find in this book the proportion doubled to what it then was; to shew the increase of the gospel, as we observed out of the 4th chapter. Now this new reformation of the church here typified out, though it be as
yet but as their first attempts to finish the temple then were, even a day of small things/ (which who, almost, despiseth not ?) yet it shall go on and
spread, and at length be perfected, as that work then was. For it is of God, the God of the whole earth; which attribute of his is here mentioned to shew the power that backs these builders, and to shew that now the work is not to be effected so much by power and might, as that finishing the temple then is said to have been, but by the Spirit, causing the hearts of the godly to fall to it. And that Samaritan mountain of opposition, even Rome itself, that hath stood in the way of it, shall in the end
* become a plain before
it; as there, Zech. iv. 5-7, that Samaritan faction did before Zerubbabel. And out of this temple are the vials to come, and to pour out their plagues upon this false church, as you may read chap. xvi. 1. So that the true church is still ordained to be the ruin of the false. And when that which
is more perfect comes, that which is imperfect will be done away. And however the beginning of this work may seem small and contemp
tible, yet the work itself is of such moment and concernment for God and his glory, and shall so far go on and prosper, as he is pleased in this book to take notice of it ; as of any further progress of his church unto purity he still
doth, as in the 14th chapter we have seen. And yet I fear these olive-trees and candlesticks among us will, as the rest of the churches in Europe, have their power scattered ere this building be fully finished. But after this, they shall revive again, and grow up into an holy temple unto the Lord, from the times of the witnesses rising, after their being killed, until the New
Jerusalem, as chap. xix. will shew.
Now, to make the allusion to the condition of Joshua more full, I will
only add this, that as these witnesses are here presented in sackcloth, so is
152 AN EXPOSITION OF THE REVELATION. [PART II.
Joshua there, in filthy apparel, Zech. iii. 4. And as there he had change of raiment given him, so after a few years will these witnesses also have the
garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness, as Isaiah speaks ; and their
testimony being ended, they shall put off their sackcloth, and put on fine
linen, the wedding apparel of the Lamb s bride, as chap. xix. you have it. And so in the end, the glory of this temple, set up after Antichrist s demolish-
ment, will yet be rendered more glorious, as that of Zerubbabel s also was, by Christ s coming into it. And a holy of holies shall be added unto it, or rather swallow this up, in which the ark shall be seen, as it is in the last
verse of this llth chapter. But these witnesses must be killed first; which
is the last thing I am to speak of in this chapter.
CHAP. VI.] AN EXPOSITION OF THE REVELATION. 153