Revelation 11

Revelation 11:1

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.

And now, to express the state of the Church under the first opening of those Seven Seals, there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod, wherewith to measure the temple and the altar; signifying in effect, that I was enjoined to take full notice of the condition of the Church of God under the Gospel, and those that did faithfully and truly make profession thereof.

Revelation 11:2

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.

But I was commanded to neglect and pass over the measure of the outer court; in token, that I should make no reckoning of those that did falsely and unjustly challenge to themselves the title of a Christian profession; for that they should, in God’s just judgment, be given over to heretics and mis-believers in opinion, and men superstitious and profane in practice; who should prevail against the more sincere and sound part of the Church, and hold them under their tyranny, for the space of one thousand, two hundred, and sixty years.

Revelation 11:3

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.

Yet, in the mean time, I will raise up some few faithful witnesses against them, and for my oppressed truth; and they shall, in their several successions, continue to speak against the errors and corruptions of the times, for that whole space of a thousand, two hundred, and threescore years; howsoever with much opposition on the part of their enemies, and trouble and sorrow on their part.

Revelation 11:4

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

These are they, whom I will raise up, as the noble and profitable instruments and means of much grace, illumination, holiness to my Church; in a continued succession of times.

Revelation 11:6

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.

These holy men shall prevail so far with God, as that, upon their prayers, so as it was in the case of Elijah, the heavens shall be shut up, that no rain shall fall upon the earth during the time of their interdiction: and, according to the power given unto Moses, they shall be able to turn the waters into blood, and to bring much variety of plagues upon the earth; and God shall shew, that he bears great respect unto them.

Revelation 11:7

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

And when they have finished their testimony, which is after a thousand, two hundred, and sixty years, the Antichristian power shall be more vehemently bent against them; and shall strongly labour to suppress them, by putting some of them to death.

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.

And that great and wicked city; which is spiritually resembled by Sodom for uncleanness, and by Egypt for cruelty, oppression, and superstition; even that, under whose power and jurisdiction the Lord was crucified, shall be notoriously known for her guiltiness of their innocent blood shed.

Revelation 11:9

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And those, that are favourers of error and superstition, in all the kingdoms and the countries of the world, shall gladly hear and see the cruelty, which shall be offered to these faithful messengers of God; and shall partake in persecuting them, both alive and dead; denying them the rights of Christian burial, and suffering their carcasses to lie openly in their streets, so long as till there might be danger of their own annoyance.

Revelation 11:10

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 dwell on the earth.

And all carnal men, which are superstitiously affected, and who were troubled with their bold and conscionable reproofs, shall rejoice and be glad at the death of these holy men; and, in a congratulation of their riddance, shall send presents to each other: for these are they, who, by preaching down their wicked courses and erroneous doctrines, did much vex and disquiet those favourers of idolatry and error.

Revelation 11:11

And after three days and a 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.

But, after they have been for a short time thus suppressed, persecuted, and slain, the Spirit of God, who is the Author of Life, shall raise up like minded successors unto them; who, as if they had been animated with the same soul, shall maintain the same holy quarrel: and their insulting enemies shall be much dismayed and affrighted therewith.

Revelation 11:12

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.

But, as for them, who have been thus persecuted and martyred, they shall be received triumphantly into heaven; and shall hear the gracious invitation of God, calling them up to their crown and glory; and their very enemies shall be witnesses of their blessed exaltation.

Revelation 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.

And, at the same time, when these revived abettors of God’s truth shall bestir themselves, there shall be very great commotions and stirs in the Church; and a great part of the Roman adherency shall fall off from her; and many thousands of them, who have, against the light of their own consciences, upheld the errors and abuses of the times, shall be swept away, with the just judgments of God: and the remnant shall be afraid of the like measure, and shall give glory to the God of Heaven, and embrace his holy truth.

Revelation 11:14

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

The Fifth and Sixth Trumpet have their several sounds of fearful plagues that shall befall to the Christian world: the Second of those Woes, denounced by the sixth angel, is now so past, as that the main force of it is abated; and now the Third Woe, which the Seventh Trumpet shall proclaim, is near at hand.

Revelation 11:15

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.

And the Seventh Angel, who sounds an utter and final destruction to all the enemies of God and his Church, blew the

Revelation 11:16

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God.

Then those four and twenty Elders, which represented the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Ancient Church of God, sitting before the throne of God in glorious seats, fell down upon their faces, and worshipped God: Saying, &c. verse 17.

Revelation 11:18

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth.

And those profane enemies of thine, which were exasperated against thy Church, and offered all manner of affronts and violences unto it, shall now find, that the time of thy wrath is come; and the season of thy last judgment, wherein all that were formerly dead shall appear before thee, and receive their retribution, according to their works: wherein thy servants the Prophets, and thy Saints, and those that fear thy name, both small and great, shall receive a happy reward of life and glory; and the persecutors of thy Church shall be recompensed with everlasting destruction.

Revelation 11:19

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.

Then was an open way set forth (to the world) not only to the true Evangelical Church, figured by the Temple; but also to the very Holy of Holies, and therein to Christ the Saviour, figured by the Ark of the New Testament: and, withal, there was thereupon a terrible execution of judgment upon those wicked enemies of the Church and Gospel of Christ, in all variety of plagues and punishments.