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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B03979	Apocalyptical mysteries, touching the two witnesses, the seven vials, and the two kingdoms, to wit, of Christ, and of Antichrist, expounded. Wherein is contained some things necessary for the saints in this present generation to know ... By H.K. a servant of Jesus Christ.	Knollys, Hanserd, 1599?-1691.	1667 (1667)	Wing K704; ESTC R225382	40,331	114

Prophesying 3. Who the Beast is and how he kills them 4. What is the street of the great City in which their dead bodies lie 5. VVhat Time is to be understood by the three dayes and an half 6. How they shall be raised again and what are the Effects thereof As touching the first viz. VVho are the two VVitnesses and what is their Testimony The two VVitnesses vers 3. are described Metaphorically by two Olive Trees and two Candlesticks vers 4. These are the two Olive Trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the Earth By which Description it appears that the two Witnesses are not any two individual Persons as Moses and Elias nor is thereby meant any two particular Testimonies as the Old and New Testament or two distinct Callings as Magistracy and Ministry for none of these Interpretations will agree with this Description of the two Witnesses as will plainly appear in the Exposition of this fourth verse By the two Olive Trees are mystically signified the Lords Ministers and Prophets who are here called Sons of Oyl which is an Hebraism and a Metaphorical Expression borrowed from Zech. 4.11 14. These are the two Anointed Ones that stand by the LORD of the whole Earth Such were the Priests and Prophets of the LORD who were Anointed Exod. 28.41 1 Kings 19.16 Yea and all the Saints who are a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 have an Unction from the Holy One 1 John 2.20 27. but especially the Lord's Ministers and Prophets who being anointed with the Spirit above their fellow-Brethren the Saints do empty the golden Oyl out of themselves into the seven Lamps of the golden Candlesticks By the two Candlesticks are figured forth the visible true constituted Churches of Jesus Christ as plainly appears by his own interpretation Chap. 1.20 And the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches As one Candlestick in the Prophets Vision usystically signified that National Church of God which was but One Zach. 4.2 So two Candlesticks in the Apostles Vision Metaphorically representeth those Congregational Churches of Jesus Christ which are many Nor is my distinguishing between the Lords Ministers and Prophets and his Churches unwarrantable for they are distinguished in other Scriptures Acts 15.4.22 23. The Apostles and Elders with the whole Church Acts 20.17 18. also Phil. 1.1 1 Pet. 5.1 2. and 1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers The Testimony which these two Witnesses bear whilst they prophesie in Sackcloath is not that general Testimony which the Ministers and Churches of God in all Ages of the Gospel have born against Sin Satan and the World of ungodly men though that may turn unto them for a Testimony but it is a Generation Confession of those Truths which do properly belong unto that Age wherein they live and unto which they are called as was John the Baptist John 1.19 20 23. the Apostles Acts 1.8 4.18 19. 20. Paul Acts 18.5 and 23.11 Timothy 1 Tim. 6.12 And the Martyrs of Jesus Christ Rev. 6.9 in their DAY So that this Testimony is that confession of Truth which the Churches of God and the Ministers and Prophets of the Lord have made and the Witnesse which they have born in their own Generation for Christ his Magistracy Ministry Churches Ordinances Worship and Government or Discipline c. and against Antichrist or the Beast his Magistracy Ministry Churches Ordinances Worship and Government or Discipline c. Hereby the Saints in this present Generation may understand three things which are necessary for them to know and to do viz. 1. The Churches Ministers and Prophets of the LORD are to bear their Testimony not onely against the Power Throne and great Authority which the Dragon who is the Devil Chap. 20.2 gave unto the Beast Chap. 13.2 but also against all the Kings of the Earth who have received their power at the same time with the Beast and give their power and strength unto the Beast Chap. 17.12 13. to wit those ten Kings of the fourth Monarchy who received a Political and Ecclesiastica● Power one hour or at the same time with the Beast and have given their moral power and natural strength unto the Beast and principally against the Politick and Ecclesiastick power of the eighth Beast who is also one of the seven Kings who goeth into perdition 2. The Churches Ministers and Prophets of the LORD are to bear their Testimony not only against the most gross Idolaters of the great VVHORE Mystery Babylon and her Sorcerers but also against the superstitious Abominations of all other Harlots to wit false Churches and false VVorshippers who are her Daughters Chap. 17.5 Yea though they be well-favoured Harlots Nahum 3.4 called the Cities of the Nations that is to say National Churches who shall fall in the utter destruction of great Babylon when she comes in remembrance before God Chap. 16.19 3. The Churches Ministers and Prophets of the LORD are to beat their Testimony unto the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here on Earth not onely as he is King of Saints Chap. 15.3 and King of Zion Psal 149.1 2. but also as he is King of Nations Jer. 10.7 For this confession of the Kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ is properly the Truth of this present Age and Generation the glad tydings whereof is to be preached in all the WORLD for a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the END of the WORLD come Mat. 24.14 And I may say in the Apostles words 1 Cor. 10.11 This is written for our Admonition upon whom the Ends of the VVorld are come As touching the second viz. VVhat is the Power of these two VVitnesses and the time of their Prophesying The Power which the Lord hath given unto his two VVitnesses is not a Magisterial Authority or Dominion but a Prophetical Power to wit the Power of the VVORD not the Power of the Sword which is another Reason why I cannot be of their Opinion who say That these two VVitnesses are the Magistracy and Ministry of Christ This Prophetical Power is declared by several Acts such as were done by the Prophets of the LORD of old vers 5 6. to wit first Power over Fire as Eliah had 2 Kings 1.10 and Jer. 5.14 Behold I will make my words in thy mouth Fire Secondly Power over VVaters both the VVaters that are above the Firmament verse 6. These have power to shut Heaven that it rain not in the dayes of their Prophesie And such a prophetical Power Elijah or Elias had 1 Kings 17.1 There shall be no dew nor rain but according to my VVord which the Prophet effected by earnest prayer Jam. 5.17 And also over the VVaters which are under the Firmament to turn them into Blood verse 6. As Moses the LORD'S Prophet did Exod. 7.19 20 21. Thirdly Power to smite the Earth with all Plagues which Plagues are to be understood Metaphorically of Spiritual Judgements For although the Prophetical Power

the 13 14 15 16 verses of this Chapter is not any proper effect of this Vial nor any part thereof but rather an interval of time betwixt the sixth and seventh Vials wherein some remarkable things are to be transacted in order to the pouring forth of the seventh Vial and therefore contain a praeparatory Vision thereunto In which Vision John saw three Embassadors or Agents sent from the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet to the Kings of the Earth The Dragon is that old Serpent called Satan which is the Devil chap. 20.2 The Beast is the civil State or political Powers which Beast rose out of the Sea chap. 13.1 The false Prophet is the Ecclesiastical State which is the Beast that rose out of the Earth chap. 13.11 He is here called the false Prophet because now he is unmasked and his Vizard pluck't off to wit his pretended likeness unto the Lamb chap. 13.11 And now he is discovered to be that Deceiver and false Prophet which was to come The three unclean Spirits like Frogs vers 13. are their Embassadors or Agents called Spirits for their subtilty and activity and pretending to be spiritual men and imployed principally about Religious and Spiritual Affairs like Ahabs false Prophets 1 King 22.21 22. who deceived the Kings of Israel and Judah in perswading them to go up to Ramoth Gilead to Battel and therefore are said to be Spirits of Devils vers 14. working Miracles as the Devil raised up false Christ's and false Apostles so he doth false Prophets purposely to deceive the Kings of the Earth and the Inhabitants of the Earth that they may not receive the true Christ believe the true Apostles nor regard the Testimony of the true Prophets of the Lord. Before John sets down the success of this their Negotiation he writes a word of warning as it were a Parenthesis vers 15. Behold I come as a Thief c. that is to say suddenly and unexpectedly as Mat. 24.43 44. and 2 Pet. 3.10 Blessed is he that watcheth for my coming and keepeth his Garments white and clean and fast girded unto him lest he walk naked and they see his shame 1 Tim. 5.22 Jam. 1.27 The succss of their Negotiation followeth vers 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew Tongue Armageddon He gathered them together that is to say the Dragon which is the Devil by his Frogs those unclean spirits gathered them together viz. the Kings of the Earth By Armageddon we are to understand the name of a place which the Jews shall give after they have gotten some considerable victory over the Turks and therefore called it Armageddon the place of destruction of an Army which happily may have an ●llusion unto that great destruction of the Ca●aanites at the Waters of Megiddo Judg. ● 19 when Sisera the chief Captain of Jabin with all his Hosts fell by the hand of Deborah and Barack where was made ●uch a total destruction that it is said Judg. ● 16 And the Host of Sisera fell upon the ●dge of the Sword and there was not a man ●eft And such an universal destruction will be the effect of this Battel at Armageddon chap. 19.20 21. And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Air c. vers 17. The Object of this Vial is the Air which notes the universality of the Subjects upon whom the wrath of God is poured out of this seventh Vial. The Air fills all places no Subject can be more general then the Air. By the Air here we are to understand all Nations Kingdoms and People all Places Persons and Things that oppose the Kingdom Worship and Government of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Sion Isa 60.12 The Earth Sea Rivers Sun and Seat of the Beast's Kingdom is destroyed by the former Vials And by this seventh Vial shall be destroyed all things whatsoever remains of Sathans Kingdom Who is called Ephes 2.2 The Prince of the power of the Air. The other six Vials were poured out upon their particular Objects but this sevent● Vial is poured out into its Subject which notes the spreading and dilating of it se● into every part of Satan's and the Beast'● Kingdom for the utter destruction o● every thing therein that remained So then the wrath of God poured out of this Vial will diffuse and spread over First The whole Kingdom of Antichrist or the Beast Secondly The remaining Dominion and Kingdom of the Turks And thirdly The whole Kingdom of the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil And when all these Enemies against Christ and his Kingdom shall be destroyed by the pouring out of this seventh Vial then comes a great Voice out of the Temple of Heaven to wit the Visible Church of God on Earth restored unto her primitive Purity and made glorious Isa 60.7 12 13 14. saying It is DONE chap. 10.6 7. viz. The Mystery of God is finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets This Voice is Christ 's chap. 21.5 6. He that sat upon the Throne said unto me It is DONE This Voice is said to come from the Throne in the Temple of Heaven in this 17. verse that is to say It came from Christ who sat upon the Throne chap. 21.5 6. and implies now Christs Kingdom shall be set up and he himself shall sit upon the Throne chap. 3.21 and all his Saints with him And there were Voices and Thundrings and Lightnings and there was a great Earth-quake c. vers 18. The like to this was the effect of the Witnesses rising chap. 11.13 upon which Commotions the tenth part of the City fell so here by this great Earth-quake the great City is divided into three parts vers 19. Fractions or Divisions note the utter ruine of the Roman-Antichristian-Politick-and-Ecclesiastick-State Power Dominion and Kingdom of the Beast For a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand And the Cities of the Nations fell verse 19. litterally such Nations as come to help the Beast and the Turk against the Lord and his People Mystically by the Cities of the Nations we may understand National Churches The great Whore is called the great City so the Harlots who are her Daughters chap. 17.5 are here called the Cities of the Nations If the Catholick Church of Rome be the great City then the National Romish Churches may also be called the Cities of the Nations which shall fall in the Day of the Lords controversie with all Nations Hag. 2.22 and Jer. 25.30 31 32 33. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God vers 19. By great Babylon here is primarily meant Constantinople the royal City of the great Turk And Secondarily All his Principalities Domininions and Kingdom prophesied of Isa 14.4 5 24 25 32. Neither am I alone in this my Opinion for Mr. Brightman and others are of the same Jugement And my Reasons are 1. Because the great City and great Babylon are contradistinguished one from the other in this 19

to note that the Church of God on Earth at this time of the pouring out of the seven Vials is not so glorious nor so fixed as the Temple was in Solomons time but rather doth resemble the Tabernacle of the Congregation of the LORD which had been in the Wilderness and was come into the promised Land in which Tabernacle of the Congregation of Israel there was a signal Testimony of the presence of God Num. 9.15 16. where was also the Ark of his Covenant and wherein was the Service of God performed and all his holy Sacrifices offered 1 Chron. 16.17 37 40. And so when this Temple of the Tabernacle was opened Rev. 11.19 There was see● in his Temple the Ark of his Covenant and those who had washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb that did serve him day and night in his Temple chap. 7.14 15. The seven Angels which had command to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God are them same seven who had the seven last Plagues chap. 15.1 the same seven Angels came out of the Temple vers 6. and the same seven Angels had given unto them seven golden Vials full of the wrath of God vers 7. Seven is a Prophetical Number signifying both variety of Instruments and perfection of the Judgements of God in this Prophesie as the seven Trumpets chap. 8.1 6 3. Some denouncing and others executing these last Plagues These Angels are cloathed with pure and white Linnen and girded with golden Girdles chap. 15.6 Their Cloathing declares some of them to be the Priests of God for so were the Priests of the Temple cloathed Levit. 6.10 16.4 1 Sam. 2.18 And this was the Lords Institution Exod. 39.27 28 29. Their being girded with golden Girdles shews that others of them are the Magistrates of the LORD into whose hand God will commit the Government of the Kingdom of Christ Isa 22.21 22 23. The Ministers of the Churches are called Angels chap. 1.20 The Angels of the seven Churches And Kings also are compared unto Angels 1 Sam. 29.9 2 Sam. 14.7 As an Angel of God so is my Lord the King The whole Description testifies these Angels to be Kings and Priests unto God whom Christ hath made such Rev. 5.9 10. who was so cloathed and girded himself chap. 1.13 And in the midst of the seven Can●lesticks was one like unto the Son of Man ●loathed with a Garment down to the foot and ●irt about the Paps with a golden Girdle A Description of our Lord Jesus Christ as ●riest and King in his Church Objection But how can the pouring out 〈◊〉 the Vials of the Plagues of Almighty God full of his great wrath be applyed unto the Ministers of the Gospel who an to preach the most precious sweet sou● saving Truths of Jesus Christ especiall considering that by these Vials and Plague● are meant the real and external Judgment and Plagues which God will have execute● by those Angels upon the Whore as appears chap. 18.8 Therefore shall her Plagues co●● in one day Death Famine c. Answer The Ministers of the Gospe● may be said to pour out the Vials of God great wrath even his real and materi● Plagues and most righteous Judgments up on the great City Babylon as the Prophe● of old are said to root out and pull dow● and to destroy and to throw down Jer. 〈◊〉 10 16. and to take the Wine-Cup of th● Lords fury at his hand and to make a● Nations to whom God sends them to drin● of it Jer. 25.15 16 17 28. A● this they did by pronouncing those Judgements of God against them which the Lo●● commanded them Jer. 1.16 Even 〈◊〉 the Ministers of the Gospel pour out th● Vials of the wrath of God real Plague● upon Mystical Babylon by pronounci● those last Plagues of the wrath of God ●gainst her 3. These Angels come out of the Te●ple chap. 15.6 after it was opened This doth declare them to be the raised Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Temple was not opened in the Vision unto John un●il the slain Witnesses were risen and had ●scended the Throne chap. 11.7 11 15 17 19. So their coming out of the Tem●le signifies their Saint-ship and that these Angels are fellow Citizens with the Saints ●nd of the Houshold of God built upon the ●oundation of the Apostles and Prophets Je●us Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed ●ogether groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2.19 22. And who are more fit to declare the ●engeance of the Lord even the vengeance ●f his Temple Jer. 50.28 then the Mi●isters of God in Zion Or who are more ●eet to execute the Righteous Judgments ●f God upon Babylon then those Magistrates ●nto whose hand the LORD will commit ●he Government of Christs Kingdom here ●n Earth called The People of the Saints ●f the most High Dan. 7.27 whom the ●ORD of Hosts will make his Battle Ax ●nd Weapons of War and with whom he ●ill break in pieces the Nations and de●●oy Kingdoms and render unto Babylon all the evil that she hath done in Zion Jer. 51.20 24. Lest it might be dubious how the Saint or true Worshippers in the Churches Ministers or Magistrates should execute th● fierceness of Gods wrath upon Babylon an● upon the Kingdom of the Beast consider th● some of the Angels which came out of th● Temple may be also the holy Angels of God who are said to be about the Throne in th● Temple chap. 5.11 worshipping God wit● the four living Creatures and twenty for Elders chap. 7.11 and who are said to a●● company the Saints that were cloathe● with white Robes and Palmes in the● hands chap. 7.9 10 15. an Emble● of the victory they had gotten over the Be●● and his Image chap. 15.2 For the ho● Angels of God are present in the Asse●blies of the Saints 1 Cor. 11.10 1 Pe● 1.12 1 Tim. 5.21 And they are se● forth to minister for them and therefor● may be said also to come out of the Te●ple as well as the Saints to execute th● righteous Judgements of God upon Babylon chap. 18.1 2. And Christ also w●● is the Angel of the Covenant By the Earth here we are to understan● the earthly State of Babylon as it is contr● distinguished from the Heavenly State of Zion which is the true Church of God Rev. 9.1 I saw a Star fall from Heaven to the Earth which was the visible Apostacy of the Clergy from the Heavenly State of the True Church of God for soundness of Doctrine purity of Worship and power of Discipline to an earthly State of a false Church with respect unto corrupt Doctrine superstitious Worship and tyrannical Discipline after the Inventions and precepts of Men. And as the Earth Gen. 1.2 is a genetal ●earm which comprehended the Land the Seas the Firmament with the Sun Moon and Stars the Air and all Men Beasts