Revelation 11

Chap. XI. Ver. 1—7. The temple of God measured.— The two witnesses prophesy.—We have above seen, that Christianity obtained first a legal establishment and support in the reign of Constantine; the natural consequence of which was, that many Gentiles flocked into the outward court of Christianity, who had not the seal of God either in their hearts or in their foreheads; many who were not converts in heart, neither did their outward conversation correspond with their profession. To show, therefore, that the Almighty makes a distinction between these and his faithful and true worshippers, he orders note on. verse 3.: But, who are these witnesses?—when they commenced prophesying—how long they shall continue—and, finally, what is meant by their death and resurrection!—are severally questions of great importance, and must now come successively under our consideration.

1. Who are the witnesses here intended? Certainly no two individuals, if we take the 1260 days for years; nor are we aware that they are so applied by any respectable expositor. Some have supposed two churches to be intended; and the late Mr. Reader, of Taunton, referred this to the Protestant and Greek churches; but, we conceive, the latter fall very short of the character here given, being, in general, nearly as depraved as the Roman church itself. Mr. R. states the tribute which they pay the Turkish government to have their worship tolerated; but though this may be a witnessing against the Turks, it does not appear to us witnessing on the behalf of God and his truth, nor does it at all assimilate their characters to those of Moses and Elijah.

Some modern commentators (among whom are Dr. Park and Mr. Croly) have explained these witnesses to be the Old and New Testaments; but these we consider to be but one witness, as forming but one book; if, therefore, we were as such to receive it, we should be disposed, with “the word written,” to associate “the word preached;” these, indeed, bear a harmonious testimony to divine truth, and are by Providence commonly associated in the great work of man’s salvation; and thus they become equally obnoxious to the Papal beast and his supporters. But the more general, and, we incline to think, the more correct interpretation, is thus expressed by Mr. Fuller:—“The import of these verses is, that during the long period of Papal corruption and persecution, God would have his faithful witnesses, who should bear testimony against it, though it were in sackcloth.

As in the language of prophecy, a king denotes, not an individual monarch, but a succession of kings, or a kingdom; so by two witnesses we are doubtless to understand, not two individual witnesses, but a competent succession of them. This is manifest from their continuing through the [period]; there is no doubt but the faithful witnesses would be found far more numerous. These two witnesses are compared to the “two olive trees,” and the two candlesticks, or rather lamps, exhibited to the prophet Zechariah; ((Revelation 4:2), &c.;) the object of which is, to show from whence these witnesses are to be supplied with wisdom and grace to fulfil their respective duties. What follows, with respect to their power over fire and water, must be explained in reference to the miraculous powers of Moses and Elijah; but as applied to the witnesses generally, must refer only to their “effectual fervent prayer,” which, as St.

James teaches us, could open and shut the heavens, and call down rain or lightning from above. (James 5:17, 18.) We must be guarded, however, against the supposition that any of these holy men were actuated by personal animosity or revenge. They were warmed with holy fire, and bedewed with heavenly grace. Ver. 8—19. The death and resurrection of the witnesses.— We are here told that when the witnesses shall have finished, or shall be about to finish their testimony, a certain ravenous beast from the bottomless pit (of whom we shall hear more hereafter) shall make war against them, and overcome them, and kill them. These, like all the Lord’s servants, are “immortal till their work is done;” and then they enter into rest, though it is often by the vehicle of a fiery chariot.

Not only are these witnesses slain, but their dead bodies are suffered to lie unburied, and are treated with the utmost contempt; their enemies carousing and making merry over them, until after three days (or years) and a half they obtain a triumphant resurrection, and ascend to glory. And now the scene is wonderfully reversed; many of their enemies are slain, and the rest, affrighted, repent and give glory to God. But the question which now presents itself is, Have these witnesses been already slain, and when? or, if not, When may the event be expected? Many events have been pointed out by expositors and divines which have been a partial slaying of the witnesses, and have corresponded with the period of three years and a half; but they have been partial, and not followed with that state of triumph and felicity which the prediction

Notes on the verses

Chap. XI. Ver. 1. A reed (or cane) like unto a rod—i.e., a measuring rod. —— Worship therein.—Gr. “in it.” Ver. 2. The court which is without—That is, the outer court; see (Ezekiel 43:14, 20).—Given unto the Gentiles.—{This intimates, that the greater part should be only Christians in name, but Gentiles in wickedness, idolatry, and persecution; which should continue 42 months, or 1260 prophetical days, or years, during which a succession of witnesses should be raised up to bear testimony to the truth. This refers to the idolatry and tyranny of the church of Rome; and is probably to be dated from the time the pope became universal bishop, A. D. 606, or when he was established a temporal prince, A.

D. 756.}—B. Ver. 3. A thousand two hundred and threescore days.—See (Numbers 14:33-34). “Your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years after the number of days in which ye searched the land, (even) forty days (each day for a year) shall ye bear your iniquities, (even) forty years.” So in (Ezekiel 4:5-6), the Lord says, “three hundred and ninety days, and forty days,” each typical of so many years—“each day for a year.” Thus also in Daniel, the prophecy of seventy weeks is almost universally understood to mean weeks years, (Revelation 9:25, 27); and again in (Revelation 12:11-12), days also are used for years; see also (Isaiah 20:3). So Mr. Fisher assumes, that Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks, having proved by the event to be weeks—not of days, but of years, with the other passages above referred to, are sufficient to warrant the like explication of the days before us; and we confess that we think Maitland’s late attempt to restrain those days to a literal [number of] days a forced and unnatural, and contrary to historical facts.

These mystical numbers seem also to correspond with Daniel’s “time, (two) times, and the dividing of time”—i.e. half a time.—Clothed in sackcloth.—This was the established costume of mourning and distress; (2 Samuel 3:31). (1 Kings 20:31); xxi. 27. (Job 16:15). (Psalms 30:11), &c. Ver. 5. Fire proceedeth out of their mouth.—Compare (Jeremiah 5:14). See also (Isaiah 10:16-17).—He must in this manner be killed.—Woodhouse, “Thus must he be slain.” Ver. 6. To shut heaven, &c.—Judge Hale seems to think, that this implies that the witnesses should have in them the spirit of Moses and Elijah. So John the Baptist is called by our Lord Elias, (Matthew 11:14). Ver. 7. When they shall have finished.— Woodhouse, “When they shall be finishing.”

Mr. Lowman says, “the original may mean the time of their testimony, as well as the end of it.” See (Matthew 10:19).—The beast, &c.—See (Revelation 12:1), &c. Ver. 8. The great city—i.e., Rome; “not in respect of its buildings, or its inhabitants, but as the head of the Antichristian community.” —Fuller.— Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt.—This shows that these expressions are not to be taken literally, but figuratively. The inhabitants of this city shall be as vile as Sodom for uncleanness, or Egypt for idolatry, or Jerusalem, when they crucified the Lord. Ver. 9. Shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.—In this respect they are used more cruelly than their master.