An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…

I shall not pretend to explain the Mystery of the three Days and half of the Witnesses lying dead, or to determine the precise Duration signified by that mystical Representation. Possibly no particular Measure of Time may be intended by it; and yet it not be without Significancy. ^†As no particular Number of Persons ⟨p. 122⟩is intended by the two Witnesses; but in general, it intends a small Number, and yet a sufficient Number; and as small as might be, and yet be sufficient; as, less than two Witnesses was not sufficient: So perhaps no particular Duration of that low State that the Church was in before the Reformation, may be intended by three Days and half; but in general it may be hereby signified, that this Time of the triumphing of the Wicked, and Extremity of God's Church, should be but short. And possibly three Days and half may be mentioned, because that is the utmost Space of Time that a dead Body can be ordinarily supposed to lie without Putrefaction; signifying that at this Time the Church should be brought to the very Brink of utter Ruin, and yet should be preserved and revive again. And half a Day may be mentioned to signify the particular Care of Providence in exactly determining this Time of his Church's Extremity. And probably there may be some Reference to the three Times (or three Years) and an Half of the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth; the more apparently to show the Disproportion between the Time of the Church's Welfare, ⟨p. 123⟩and the Time of her Enemies Victory and Triumph: The Time of the Church's Affliction and Conflict may be long; and in the Issue she may be overcome; but the Time of this Victory shall be but short; in Comparison with the other, but as a Day to a Year: She may as it were be killed, and lie dead, 'till she comes to the very Brink of utter and hopeless Ruin, but yet God will not suffer her to see Corruption; but at that very Time, when her Enemies expected that she should putrefy, she shall rise; and be set on high, out of their Reach, greatly to their Astonishment.

I shall not pretend to explain the Mystery of the three Days and half of the Witnesses lying dead, or to determine the precise Duration signified by that mystical Representation. Possibly no particular Measure of Time may be intended by it; and yet it not be without Significancy.