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.
reed. Greek. kalamos. Elsewhere (in Rev.) Revelation 21:15 , Revelation 21:16 . See App-88 , first note.
unto = to.
rod = sceptre, as elsewhere in Rev. See Revelation 2:27 ; Revelation 12:5 ; Revelation 19:15 . This measuring reed is like a sceptre, and measures for destruction, not for building. See Lamentations 2:8 .
and . . . stood. The texts omit.
saying. i.e. (the giver) saying.
Rise. App-178 . Only here in Rev.
Temple. Greek. naos. See Revelation 3:12 .Matthew 23:16 .
God App-98 .
altar. See Revelation 8:3 , &c.
and them. Read "and (record) them". Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .
Worship. App-137 .
therein = in (Greek. en) it.
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.
without, out. Greek. exothen, meaning outside.
leave = east out. Greek. ekballo, a strong term.
is = was.
Gentiles. Greek. ethnos. Occurs twenty-three times in Rev., invariably translated "nations", except here. See App-197 .
holy city. See Matthew 4:5 .
tread . . . foot. Greek. paleo . Only here; Revelation 14:20 ; Revelation 19:15 .Luke 10:19 ; Luke 21:24 , where see note. All these particulars refer to an actual Temple. The church of God knows nothing of an altar here, of a naos, of a court of the Gentiles. All point to the Temple yet to he built in the holy city, i.e. Jerusalem. This Temple will be on earth (see Structure 1894).
forty and two months = 1,260 days = 3 years and a half. A specific period stated in literal language. Compare Revelation 11:3 ; Revelation 12:6 , Revelation 12:14 ; Revelation 13:5 .Daniel 7:25 ; Daniel 12:7 . Luke 4:25 .James 5:17 .
3.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
give. Add " power ". Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .
My two witnesses. God has not specified their names. We know that two men are to be raised up "in that day", endowed with wondrous powers to execute a special mission. They are called emphatically "MY two witnesses "(See Revelation 1:5 ).
prophesy. See Revelation 10:11 and App-189 .
a thousand . . . days = forty-two months, Revelation 11:2 . The periods are probably synchronous.
thousand. See Revelation 14:20 and App-197 .
4.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
are. i.e. represent.
two olive trees. Compare Zechariah 4:3 , Zechariah 4:11 , Zechariah 4:14 , where by the same Figure of speech ( Metaphor ) two persons are represented.
standing. The texts read "which stand".
God. The texts read "Lord".
of the earth. App-129 . See Joshua 3:11 , Joshua 3:13 .Zechariah 6:6 , and compare Psalms 115:18 .
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.
if. App-118 . a, with the texts.
any man = any one. App-123 .
will. App-102 .
fire. Compare Jeremiah 5:14 .
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.
power. App-172 .
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
not. App-105 .
in. Greek. en . but the texts omit.
prophecy. See App-189 .
waters = the waters.
to = into.
plagues. See App-197 .
will = shall desire. App-102 .
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.
finished. See Revelation 10:7 .
testimony. As in Revelation 1:2 , &c. Their testimony ended, they are at the mercy of their enemies.
beast = wild beast, See Revelation 6:8 . First mention of this terrible being, whose rise is depicted in Revelation 13 .
bottomless pit. See Revelation 9:1 .
against. Greek. meta. App-104 .
overcome. As in Rev 2 and Revelation 3 . See App-197 .
kill. The two witnesses are on earth during Revelation 13 , and the beast is on earth in Revelation 11 .
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.
dead bodies = corpse (singular, with all texts). Greek. ptoma. Only here, Revelation 11:9 (plural) Matthew 24:28 . Mark 6:29 .
shall lie. Read "lie".
in. Greek. epi . App-104 .
street. Greek. plateia, a broad place or way, rather than "street". See Revelation 21:21 ; Revelation 22:2 .
the great city. See Jeremiah 22:8 . Jerusalem will have been rebuilt only to be again destroyed. See Isaiah 25:2-9 .
spiritually. See 1 Corinthians 2:14 .
Sodom and Egypt. Compare Isaiah 1:9 , Isaiah 1:10 . Ezekiel 16:46 , Ezekiel 16:53 ; Ezekiel 23:3 , Ezekiel 23:8 , Ezekiel 23:19 , Ezekiel 23:27 . See Psalms 9:9 ; Psalms 10:1 .
our. The texts read "their", The Holy Spirit thus points to the city in the plainest way.
crucified. Only here in Rev.
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.
of. App-104 .
people = peoples.
kindreds = tribes. as Revelation 1:7 .
shall see = see, with texts. App-133 .
shall. Omit.
three days and an half. A literal period.
shall not suffer = suffer not.
graves = a tomb, a word destructive of interpretations of the two witnesses as the O.T. and N.T.
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.
upon, on. App-104 .
shall. Omit.
over. Greek. epi . App-104 .
send. App-174 .
prophets. App-189 .
tormented. See Revelation 9:5 .
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.
after. App-104 .
three = the three.
spirit of life = breath of life. Greek. pneuma (compare App-101 .) zoes ( App-170 .) Compare Septuagint of Genesis 6:17 ; Genesis 7:15 . See also Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 7:22 ( pnoe ).
from. Greek. ek. App-104 .
into. Greek. en. App-104 .
fell. Greek. pipto . The texts read the strong word epipipto, indicating a paralyzing fear.
saw. App-133 .
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.
to heaven = into (Greek. eis) the heaven (See Revelation 3:12 ).
a = the cloud. See Acts 1:9 .
beheld. Same as "saw", Revelation 11:11 .
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.
the same = in (Greek. en) that.
was there = there came to be.
tenth part = tenth. ( App-10 and App-197 ).
of men. Literally names of men ( App-123 .)
seven thousand. See App-197 .
remnant. App-124 .
were = became.
glory. See p. 1511 and App-197 .
14.
The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
second. One of the three in Revelation 8:13 .
and. Omit.
behold. App-133 .
cometh = is coming.
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.
seventh angel. This seventh trumpet embraces the seven vials, or last seven plagues, which make up the third woe, and reaches on to Revelation 18:24 , if not Revelation 20:15 .
were. Literally came to be.
kingdoms. The texts read "kingdom", i.e. sovereignty.
world. App-129 .
are = is.
Christ. App-98 .
He . . . ever. See Exodus 15:18 . Psalms 146:10 .
for . . . ever. See Revelation 1:6 .
16.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
sat = sit.
on. App-104 .
seats = thrones.
fell, &c. See Revelation 4:10 .
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.
Almighty = the Almighty. See Revelation 1:8 .
and . . . come. The texts omit. Now, here, He h as come. See Revelation 1:4 .
to Thee. Omit.
power. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .
hast reigned = reignedst.
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.
is come = came. See Isaiah 26:20 , Isaiah 26:21 .
time. Greek. kairos. See App-195 .
dead. App-139 .
judged. App-122 . See Revelation 20:12-15 .John 5:24 .Romans 8:1 .
that Thou shouldest = to.
reward = the reward.
servants. App-190 .
prophets. App-189 . See Hebrews 11:32 .
saints. See Revelation 13:7 , Revelation 13:10 ; Revelation 14:12 ; Revelation 16:6 . This special term for O.T. saints is found in Daniel 7:18 , &c. See Acts 9:13 .
small . . . great = the small . . . the great.
shouldest = to.
destroy = are destroying. They are found in Ch. Revelation 18:19 , Revelation 18:20 .
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.
was . . . heaven. The texts read "which is in heaven was opened".
seen. App-133 .
testament = covenant. Greek. diatheke. Only occurrence in Rev.
great hail. Corresponds with Revelation 16:21 .