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Revelation 11:1-13 Witnesses resurrected 1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12And 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. 13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. |
Margin notes: "There was given me a reed unto a rod." (11:1) - "I was given a reed to use as a yardstick." Reeds were used for measuring (Ezekiel 40:3; 40:5). "Measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." (11:1) - "Measure God's temple and count the number of believers." "The court which is without the temple leave out." (11:2) - "Don't count those in the courtyard outside the temple." These are false believers. "And the holy city shall they tread under foot." (11:2) - As prophesied in Daniel 8:13 700 hundred years before John wrote these words. "Forty and two months." (11:2) - "Three and a half years." "Two witnesses." (11:3) - Many scholars believe the two witnesses are devout believers. However, some Christians believe they are Moses and Elijah. There is even a school of thought that feels the reference is to two churches. Whoever they are, they will preach during the tribulation. Why does God choose two witnesses? According to Mosaic Law. at least two witnesses are required to establish a truth (Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:17). "Sackcloth." (11:3) - Simple clothing, made from the type of coarse cloth used to make sacks, usually worn during a time of mourning or repentance (Joel 1:13; Jonah 3:4-6; Matthew 11:20-21). Are the witnesses mourning or repenting? "They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days." (11:3) - "They will preach (about Jesus Christ) for 1,260 days (three and a half years)." "Two olive trees." (11:4) - This verse is reminiscent of Zechariah 4:1-14, which described two religious leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua, selected by God to teach. "Fire proceedeth out of their mouth." (11:5) - Some scholars believe this is literal fire while others feel it is a metaphor for the truth and power of the two witnesses' words (Jeremiah 5:14). "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not." (11:6) - The two witnesses will have strong powers. Remember, in the Old Testament the prophet Elijah was also given the power to create droughts (1 Kings 17:1). "Have the power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues." (11:6) - During the struggle to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage God gave Moses the power to turn water into blood (Exodus 7:20-21) and to create all sorts of plagues (Exodus 8:1-4; 8:20-24). Both Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus during the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-7; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36). "The beast." (11:7) - Futurists believe this is the antichrist, the enemy of God and all humanity. Some say it is Satan himself or one of his demons. However, Preterist's believe the beast was one of the Roman emperor's (possibly Nero) who initiated an era of Christian persecution during the early years of the church. "Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt." (11:8) - "Which figuratively is called Sodom (because of its sinful nature) and Egypt (because it was repressive). "Where also our Lord was crucified." (11:8) - A reference to Jerusalem. "Shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." (11:9) - "Will not allow the dead (witnesses) to be buried." "They that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them." (11:10) - "Unbelievers will rejoice over their deaths." "These two prophets tormented them." (11:10) - They tormented unbelievers with the truth and their need to repent. "The remnant were affrighted." (11:13) - "The rest were afraid." |
