in the cloudy and dark day” (Ezek. 34:12) and to take up their abode in the one true church of Jesus Christ, his body, independent of all sectarianism and the creeds and disciplines of men.  In this assembly of the faithful, gathered out of all nations, no man nor set of men attempts to form laws or regulations for the supervision of spiritual affairs; but with one consent they humbly bow before the only true Lawgiver (Jas. 4:12), and say, “The government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isa. 9:6); and the Word and Spirit of God have perfect control of his saints.  Halleluiah!  They can preach, teach, and believe every word of truth placed in the Sacred Volume, without a conference or discipline of men forbidding.  Standing upon this apostolic platform of eternal truth, they hurl the thunders of divine judgment against the hidden works of darkness, causing the graceless devotees of fallen Babylon to quake with fear and to “gnaw their tongues for pain.”

After the resurrection of these witnesses, a voice from heaven is heard, saying, “Come up hither.  And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”  This ascension to heaven in the presence of their enemies, which according to this chapter occurred before the end of time, has reference undoubtedly to their great exaltation.  “Thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven.”  Dan. 4:22.  We see that in this text a similar expression signifies great exaltation.  So this work is destined to assume such proportions that the people of earth may have the privilege of seeing the truth.  In the preceding chapter John, as a symbol of the church at this time, under the living ministry symbolized by the rain-bow angel, was told that he “must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”  Verse 11.

The signification of the time-period of three days and a half claims our attention next.  According to the foregoing explanation, it will be seen that the writer applies it as three centuries and a half, or three hundred and fifty years—­from A.D. 1530 to A.D. 1880.  It will be necessary to adduce strong reasons for thus applying it.  In the first place, the time-prophecies of the Bible are by no means confined to the year-day manner of interpretation.  Many times in the Old Testament the expression occurs, “And it shall come to pass in that day,” which expression is admitted by all to have reference to the gospel day, or the entire gospel dispensation.  When the church of Philadelphia was promised deliverance from the hour of temptation which was to come upon all the world (chap. 3:10), no one supposes that a short period of only one week is specified.  The rulers of the ten kingdoms were to “receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (chap. 17:12), which expression will be shown later to really cover many years.  We might point out many such exceptions were it necessary.