The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

Do we in these days value the right to exercise individual judgment and that Christian
liberty established in the Scriptures, and for which these faithful men of God in the past
devoted their lives and suffered and endured so much to maintain? or do we esteem them
lightly, and ignominiously yield these sacred privileges to some who seek to lord it over
God's heritage? It has been truly said that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," and the
Lord's people must ever be on guard that freedom of conscience and judgment may be
preserved.
"And great fear fell upon them which saw them." (Verse 11.) In order to understand the
symbolical significance of these words, it will be necessary to consider the vision as
though it were a death and an awakening of two literal human witnesses. Considering it in
this way we can easily imagine how rejoiced would the murderers of these witnesses be as
they beheld those who had troubled and tormented them lie dead in their sight. No more
would they hear their disturbing testimonies against their false and impious doctrines.
What amazement and consternation would come upon them when, after three and a half
days, they would see them rise from death and stand again upon their feet! Indeed this is
the symbol. It is designed to show the amazement, fear, and consternation of the Papal
hierarchy and its followers as they heard again the voices proclaiming the truths of the
Word of God, and unfolding the prophecies that describe the Papacy as the Antichrist. It
would not only cause them to experience a renewal of their former troubles, but it would
indicate to them that Divine favor was being shown to the witnesses, and possibly indicate
the vengeance of God about to come upon themselves. The historian informs us that this
was the effect produced upon the Papacy and its supporters when a testimony to the truth
and against the Apostasy was first given by Martin Luther and his associates.
The witnesses ascend to heaven
"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they
ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."--Rev. 11:12.
We urge the reader to bear in mind that this language, like that used elsewhere by the
Revelator, is to be understood symbolically. The symbol of the ascension of the witnesses
to heaven will be seen to be greatly elucidated if we consider the words of Christ when
speaking to the people of Capernaum who were privileged to witness His miracles, and to
hear the words of Him who spake as never man spake: "And thou, Capernaum, which art
exalted unto heaven." (Matt. 11:23.) This expression is very evidently figurative, and
signifies that the people of Capernaum were "exalted unto heaven" in the sense of having
great favor shown to them at the time and of having exalted privileges. A similar thought
is contained in the vision we are considering--that whereas, before the great Reformation
movement began, God's consecrated ones, the little gatherings of God's people, who held
to the Scriptures, had been out of favor altogether with the nations, the civil powers, they
would now be brought gradually but surely into favor with them. The enlightening
influences of the truths proclaimed by Christ's true followers after their revivification
would materially affect nations, to the end of liberating them from Papal bondage and