THE TWO WITNESSES. The following declaration of our Lord, is suffici ent to prove who are meant by his witnesses. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.' John, Ch. 5. V. 30. The accordance of these symbols, in every particular may also be adduced in confirmation of their alluding to the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, and will furnish ample testimony in favour of this interpretation. Our Lord's declaration indeed at that time could only refer to the scriptures of the Old Testament, as the New was not then written; but it will hardly be questioned, that to the Christian at least, though not to the Jew, the testimony of the latter is equally convincing. THE SEALS, TRUMPETS, AND VIALS. The three septenaries of these, into which the prophecy is subdivided, have also a symbolical signification, that deserves to be noticed. Thus, the Seats appear to intimate that their contents should for a time be hidden, or kept secret. The Trumpets being implements of war, seem to declare that the subjects which they communicate are of a warlike nature; not indeed in the political sense, but spiritually at war with, or hostile to Christianity. And the pouring out of the Vials, or as the word quan may be more properly rendered the Cup, is clearly the pouring out of the Cup of wrath,' or the judgment of Heaven upon a sinful world. Besides these which have been enumerated, other symbols will be met with in the prophecy, which it is not necessary to enlarge upon here. These being sufficient to establish and illustrate the true principles of interpretation, the others will be explained as they occur. |