1.
And 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.
2.
But 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.
Verse 2
Forty and two months; equal to three years and a half--a period not unfrequently occurring in the Scriptures, and supposed by some commentators to be used here for an indefinite period. The mention of the same period in days occurs in Revelation 11:3, and appears to indicate that a specific time is intended.
3.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Verse 3
Two. This number seems intended simply to represent plurality. The witnesses are the advocates and defenders of Christianity.--Prophesy; promulgate the gospel.--Clothed in sackcloth; exposed to sorrow and suffering.
4.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5.
And 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.
Verse 5
The meaning is, that those who injure them shall suffer a terrible retribution. The image of fire from their mouth--that is, fire coming at their call--may have been suggested by the case of Elijah, (2 Kings 1:10-14,) a supposition which is confirmed by the language of the Revelation 11:6, which also corresponds with events in the history of Elijah. (1 Kings 17:1-46:)
6.
These 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.
Verse 6
These expressions seem intended to denote the power and prevailing efficacy of the Christian's prayer.
7.
And 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.
8.
And 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.
9.
And 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.
10.
And 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.
11.
And 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.
12.
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.
13.
And 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.
14.
The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Verse 14
The second woe; that is, the second of the three woes referred to, Revelation 9:12, and represented by the sounding of the three last trumpets. The account of the first is contained Revelation 9:1-11, and of the second from Revelation 9:13-13. Some commentators refer the announcements made under the three woe trumpets, as they are called, viz., the last three of the seven, to events connected with the destruction of Jerusalem; while, on the other hand, most Protestant writers consider them as referring to the history of the Roman church. On this latter supposition, the witnesses represent the succession of the true servants of God, supposed to have continued in an unbroken line through the ages of superstition, preserving the image of true piety in the world; and that the slaying of the witnesses denotes some temporary triumph of the Roman power over the interests of true Christianity, which is yet to come. The time when it is to be expected, they infer from Revelation 11:2,Revelation 11:3, will be in twelve hundred and sixty years from the time when the Roman church fairly entered upon its career; which epoch they place variously between A. D. 600 and 750. This would bring the events denoted by the slaying of the witnesses, between A. D. 1860 and 2010.
15.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17.
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.