Revelation 11
DOYLY— clothed with the sun, &c.] She was clothed with the sun, to denote the blessing of light and knowledge this church enjoys from Jesus Christ the Son of righteousness. “The moon was under her feet,” signifying perhaps, that the lesser lights of religion, namely, the Jewish ceremonial laws, were now put down and laid aside. And the “crown of twelve stars” may be an emblem of her being illuminated by the doctrine, and governed by the discipline, of the twelve Apostles. Pyle.
The particular allusion of these symbols has been variously conjectured by learned men; but the general meaning is certain, that the blessings of true religion in the revelation of Jesus Christ, as taught by His Apostles, that is, of the true Christian religion, deserve the highest esteem and honour, however they may be despised by the world. Lowman.
Revelation 11:2
- — the holy city shall they tread under foot] That is, they shall trample upon, and tyrannize over, the church of Christ, for the space of “forty and two months.” This is the same space of time with the thousand two hundred and threescore days, mentioned in the next verse. For forty-two months, consisting each of thirty days, are equal to 1260 days, or years in the prophetic style: and this, as we have seen in the book of Daniel, Dan. vii. 25, and shall see hereafter in this book of Revelation, is the period assigned for the tyranny and idolatry of the church of Rome. Bp. Newton.
Revelation 11:3
- And I will give power unto my two witnesses, &c.] Meaning that God would raise up some true and faithful witnesses to preach and protest against these innovations and corruptions of religion; for there were Protestants long before that name came into use. Of these witnesses there should be, though but a small, yet a competent number; and it was a sufficient reason for calling them two witnesses, that this was the number required by the law and approved by the Gospel, Deut. xix. 15; Matt. xviii. 16. Also, upon former occasions two have often been joined in commission, as Moses and Aaron in Egypt, Elijah and Elisha in the apostasy of the ten tribes, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua after the Babylonish captivity, to whom these witnesses are particularly compared. Our Saviour sent forth His disciples, Luke x. 1, “two and two;” and it has also been observed, that the principal reformers have usually appeared as it were in pairs, as the Waldenes and Albigenses, John Huss and Jerome of Prague, Luther and Calvin, Cranmer and Ridley, and their followers. Not that it is to be thought that any two particular men or churches were intended by this prophecy, but only that, in general, there should be some in every age, though but few in number, who should bear witness to the truth, and declare against the iniquity and idolatry of their times. Bp. Newton.
As this testimony of the witnesses is to be of equal duration with the apostasy itself, it cannot be meant of any two particular persons, nor does there appear any sufficient reason to understand it of any two particular churches, or bodies of men, in perpetual succession. The representation shews, in general, that as God
raised up prophets in the ancient church, to witness against the idolatrous corruptions of religion, and denounce His judgments against the guilty, so it should be in this corrupt state of the Christian church. Lowman.
— a thousand two hundred and threescore days.] The same period which is called forty-two months at ver. 2, and which Daniel (vii. 25) calls “a time and times and dividing of times.” See note at ver. 2.
— clothed in sackcloth.] Which represents their mournfully deploring the devastation of the holy city by the introduction of Gentile worship, their bearing testimony to Divine truths, and exhorting to repentance. Jos. Mede.
Revelation 11:4
- These are the two olive trees, &c.] The two olive trees that fed the lamp of the temple, Zech. iv. 3, 11, 14, the lights and ornaments of the Christian church Pyle. This representation seems taken from the prophecy of Zechariah, chap. iv., in which Zerubbabel and Jeshua are represented by two olive trees on each side of the candlestick, which afford oil out of themselves; to express that those persons should be supported by Divine Providence and grace in all the difficulties which they had to encounter. Lowman.
Revelation 11:5
- — fire proceedeth out of their mouth.] That is, they strike down their enemies by the weapons of the mouth, denouncing the judgments of God against them; see Jer. v. 14. Jos. Mede.
Revelation 11:6
- These have power to shut heaven, &c.] This alludes to the history of Elijah, 1 Kings xvii. 1, as does the next expression of turning water into blood, to the miracles of Moses and Aaron, Exod. iv. 9; vii. 17—20. The meaning is, that as miracles were formerly wrongful in defence of the old Prophets, and for the punishment of their malicious persecutors, so will God in His due time verify the words, and vindicate the cause of the Christian reformers; and by exemplary punishment on the antichristian powers, will make way for the establishment of His kingdom of righteousness upon earth. Pyle.
Revelation 11:7
- And when they shall have finished &c.] The conjectures of interpreters have been extremely various in applying this prophecy of the death and resurrection of the witnesses to events which are now past; but, though the instances adduced may correspond with the prophecy in some points, they are deficient in others. It appears then that this prophecy relating to the witnesses remains yet to be fulfilled. Bp. Newton.
— the beast] See note at chap. xiii. 1. The seventh trumpet soundeth. The elders celebrate God’s glories. Anno DOMINI 96.
days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Revelation 11:13
- — the tenth part of the city fell.] Signifying that the tenth part of the idolatrous church should lose its power. Dandus. The “tenth,” meaning a very considerable part of its powers shall be taken away. Lowman.
Revelation 11:14
- The second woe is past; &c.] Let not any person imagine, he adds, that the church will be free in this third period from opposition and persecution, to try their faith and patience, any more than in the two former periods: for a third woe is to follow upon the second, to try those that dwell in the earth. Lowman.
Revelation 11:15
- And the seventh angel sounded.] We are now come to the seventh and last trumpet, or the third woe trumpet. At the sounding of this trumpet the third woe commences, which is rather implied than expressed, as it will be described more fully hereafter. The third woe, brought on the inhabitants of the earth, is the ruin and downfall of the antichristian kingdom; and then, and not till then, according to the heavenly chorus, “the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever.” St. John is rapt, and, as it were, hurried away to a view of the happy period, without considering the steps preceding and conducting to it. At the same time, “the four and twenty elders,” or the ministers of the church, ver. 16—18, are represented as praising and glorifying God for manifesting His power and kingdom more than He had done before; and give likewise an intimation of some succeeding events, as the anger
which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:19
- And the temple of God was opened] This verse would perhaps more properly form the first verse of the twelfth chapter; for it appears to be the beginning of a new subject. “The temple—was opened,” that is, more open discoveries were now made, and the mystery of God was revealed to the Prophet. “Lightnings and voices,” &c. are the usual concomitants and attendants of the Divine presence, and especially at the giving of new laws and new revelations, Exod. xx. 18; chap. iv. 5; viii. 5. Bp. Newton.
Chap. XII. ver. 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman &c.] St. John here resumes his subject from the beginning, and represents the church as a woman, and a mother bearing children unto Christ. Bp. Newton.
A woman, in figurative language, is used to signify a city, a state, a body politick. Such is the daughter of Tyre, of Babylon, of Jerusalem; the latter of which, when virtuous, is honoured with the high appellation of the espoused of God; when wicked and idolatrous, she