Page:Mahometanism in its relation to prophecy - or, an inquiry into the prophecies concerning antichrist, with some reference to their bearing on the events of the present day (IA mahometanisminit00philrich).pdf/252

 ment of the Mahometan religion within its sacred precincts. But St. John tells us, that from that time the two witnesses of Jesus Christ should prophesy in sackcloth, and that they should so continue for 1260 prophetic days.

Now who are these two witnesses? That great commentator on Holy Scripture, and great light of the society of Jesus, Cornelius à Lapide, in his "Commentary on the Apocalypse" (chap. xi. 3), answers the question thus: "Some understand by these two witnesses not any two persons in particular, but two classes of witnesses. Hence Pannonius affirms that these two witnesses are the whole body of doctors and preachers in the Church who expound and preach the two Testaments, that is to say, the Old and New Testaments; while Arias Montanus thinks that these two witnesses represent the law and the prophets." A little further on he tells us that another commentator, Alcazar, understood by these witnesses "the great wisdom and the great sanctity of the Primitive Church," and that the Apostle alluded to Enoch and Elias, concerning whom it is an ancient and venerable tradition that they will appear on earth and suffer martyrdom in the final persecution of the anti-Christian power. He also informs us that some have