mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 11.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xii" n="xii" next="Rev.xiii" prev="Rev.xi" progress="97.38%" title="Chapter XI">
<h2 id="Rev.xii-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xii-p0.2">CHAP. XI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xii-p1">In this chapter we have an account, I. Of the
measuring—reed given to the apostle, to take the dimensions of the
temple, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.1-Rev.11.2" parsed="|Rev|11|1|11|2" passage="Re 11:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. Of
the two witnesses of God, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.3-Rev.11.13" parsed="|Rev|11|3|11|13" passage="Re 11:3-13">ver.
3-13</scripRef>. III. Of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and
what followed upon it, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.14-Rev.11.19" parsed="|Rev|11|14|11|19" passage="Re 11:14-19">ver.
14</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11" parsed="|Rev|11|0|0|0" passage="Re 11" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.1-Rev.11.2" parsed="|Rev|11|1|11|2" passage="Re 11:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.11.1-Rev.11.2">
<h4 id="Rev.xii-p1.6">The Measuring of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xii-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xii-p2">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 <i>and</i> two months.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p3">This prophetical passage about measuring
the temple is a plain reference to what we find in Ezekiel's
vision, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.40.3" parsed="|Ezek|40|3|0|0" passage="Eze 40:3">Ezek. xl. 3</scripRef>,
&amp;c. But how to understand either the one or the other is not so
easy. It should seem the design of measuring the temple in the
former case was in order to the rebuilding of it, and that with
advantage; the design of this measurement seems to be either, 1.
For the preservation of it in those times of public danger and
calamity that are here foretold; or, 2. For its trial; that it may
be seen how far it agrees with the standard, or pattern, in the
mount; or, 3. For its reformation; that what is redundant,
deficient, or changed, may be regulated according to the true
model. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p4">I. How much was to be measured. 1. <i>The
temple;</i> the gospel church in general, whether it be so built,
so constituted, as the gospel rule directs, whether it be too
narrow or too large, the door too wide or too strait. 2. <i>The
altar.</i> That which was the place of the most solemn acts of
worship may be put for religious worship in general; whether the
church has the true altars, both as to substance and situation: as
to substance, whether they take Christ for their altar, and lay
down all their offerings there; and in situation, whether the altar
be in the holiest; that is, whether they worship God in the Spirit
and in truth. 3. The worshippers too must be measured, whether they
make God's glory their end and his word their rule, in all their
acts of worship; and whether they come to God with suitable
affections, and whether their <i>conversation be as becomes the
gospel.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p5">II. What was not to be measured (<scripRef id="Rev.xii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.2" parsed="|Rev|11|2|0|0" passage="Re 11:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), and why it should be
left out. 1. What was not to be measured: <i>The court which is
without the temple measure it not.</i> Some say that Herod, in the
additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it
<i>the court of the Gentiles.</i> Some tell us that Adrian built
the city and an outer court, and called it <i>Ælia,</i> and gave it
to the Gentiles. 2. Why was not the outer court measured? This was
no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or
Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would
not mark it out for preservation; but as it was designed for the
Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them
to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used
as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot
for a certain time—<i>forty and two months,</i> which some would
have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who
worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false
manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God,
and will be found among his enemies. 3. From the whole observe,
(1.) God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end
of time. (2.) He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes
how every thing is managed in it. (3.) Those who worship in the
outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the
veil accepted. (4.) The holy city, the visible church, is very much
trampled upon in the world. But, (5.) The desolations of the church
are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be
delivered out of all her troubles.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.3-Rev.11.13" parsed="|Rev|11|3|11|13" passage="Re 11:3-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.11.3-Rev.11.13">
<h4 id="Rev.xii-p5.3">The Two Witnesses. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xii-p5.4">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xii-p6">3 And I will give <i>power</i> unto my two
witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred
<i>and</i> threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.   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.   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.
  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 <i>shall lie</i> 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 a
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 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.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p7">In this time of treading down, God has
reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to
attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellency of his
ways. Here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p8">I. The number of these witnesses: it is but
a small number and yet it is sufficient. 1. It is but small. Many
will own and acknowledge Christ in times of prosperity who will
desert and deny him in times of persecution; one witness, when the
cause is upon trial, is worth many at other times. 2. It is a
sufficient number; for in the mouth of two witnesses every cause
shall be established. Christ sent out his disciples two by two, to
preach the gospel. Some think these two witnesses are Enoch and
Elias, who are to return to the earth for a time: others, the
church of the believing Jews and that of the Gentiles: it should
rather seem that they are God's eminent faithful ministers, who
shall not only continue to profess the Christian religion, but to
preach it, in the worst of times.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p9">II. The time of their prophesying, or
bearing their testimony for Christ. <i>A thousand two hundred and
threescore days;</i> that is (as many think), to the period of the
reign of antichrist; and, if the beginning of that interval could
be ascertained, this number of prophetic days, taking a day for a
year, would give us a prospect when the end shall be.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p10">III. Their habit, and posture: they
prophesy in sackcloth, as those that are deeply affected with the
low and distressed state of the churches and interest of Christ in
the world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p11">IV. How they were supported and supplied
during the discharge of their great and hard work: they stood
before the God of the whole earth, and he gave them power to
prophesy. He made them to be like Zerubbabel and Joshua, the two
olive-trees and candlestick in the vision of Zechariah, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.4.2" parsed="|Zech|4|2|0|0" passage="Zec 4:2"><i>ch.</i> iv. 2</scripRef>, &amp;c. God gave
them the oil of holy zeal, and courage, and strength, and comfort;
he made them olive-trees, and their lamps of profession were kept
burning by the oil of inward gracious principles, which they
received from God. They had oil not only in their lamps, but in
their vessels—habits of spiritual life, light, and zeal.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p12">V. Their security and defence during the
time of their prophesying: <i>If any attempted to hurt them, fire
proceeded out of their mouths, and devoured them,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.5" parsed="|Rev|11|5|0|0" passage="Re 11:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Some think this alludes
to Elias's calling for the fire from heaven, to consume the
captains and their companies that came to seize him, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.1.12" parsed="|2Kgs|1|12|0|0" passage="2Ki 1:12">2 Kings i. 12</scripRef>. God promised the
prophet Jeremiah (<scripRef id="Rev.xii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.5.14" parsed="|Jer|5|14|0|0" passage="Jer 5:14"><i>ch.</i> v.
14</scripRef>), <i>Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire,
and this people shall be wood, and it shall devour them.</i> By
their praying and preaching, and courage in suffering, they shall
gall and wound the very hearts and consciences of many of their
persecutors, who shall go away self-condemned, and be even terrors
to themselves; like Pashur, at the words of the prophet Jeremiah,
<scripRef id="Rev.xii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.20.4" parsed="|Jer|20|4|0|0" passage="Jer 20:4"><i>ch.</i> xx. 4</scripRef>. They
shall have that free access to God, and that interest in him, that,
at their prayers, God will inflict plagues and judgments upon their
enemies, as he did on Pharaoh, <i>turning their rivers into
blood,</i> and restraining the dews of heaven, shutting heaven up,
that no rain shall fall for many days, as he did at the prayers of
Elias, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.17.1" parsed="|1Kgs|17|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 17:1">1 Kings xvii. 1</scripRef>. God
has ordained his arrows for the persecutors, and is often plaguing
them while they are persecuting his people; they find it hard work
to <i>kick against the pricks.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p13">VI. The slaying of the witnesses. To make
their testimony more strong, they must seal it with their blood.
Here observe, 1. The time when they should be killed: <i>When they
have finished their testimony.</i> They are immortal, they are
invulnerable, till their work be done. Some think it ought to be
rendered, <i>when they were about to finish their testimony.</i>
When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of the 1260
years, then they should feel the last effect of antichristian
malice. 2. The enemy that should overcome and slay them—<i>the
beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit.</i> Antichrist, the
great instrument of the devil, should make war against them, not
only with the arms of subtle and sophistical learning, but chiefly
with open force and violence; and God would permit his enemies to
prevail against his witnesses for a time. 3. The barbarous usage of
these slain witnesses; the malice of their enemies was not satiated
with their blood and death, but pursued even their dead bodies.
(1.) They would not allow them a quiet grave; their bodies were
cast out in the open street, the high street of Babylon, or in the
high road leading to the city. This city is spiritually called
Sodom for monstrous wickedness, and Egypt for idolatry and tyranny;
and here Christ in his mystical body has suffered more than in any
place in the world. (2.) Their dead bodies were insulted by the
inhabitants of the earth, and their death was a matter of mirth and
joy to the antichristian world, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.10" parsed="|Rev|11|10|0|0" passage="Re 11:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. They were glad to be rid of
these witnesses, who by their doctrine and example had teased,
terrified, and tormented the consciences of their enemies; these
spiritual weapons cut wicked men to the heart, and fill them with
the greatest rage and malice against the faithful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p14">VII. The resurrection of these witnesses,
and the consequences thereof. Observe, 1. The time of their rising
again; after they had lain dead <i>three days and a half</i>
(<scripRef id="Rev.xii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.11" parsed="|Rev|11|11|0|0" passage="Re 11:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), a short
time in comparison of that in which they had prophesied. Here may
be a reference to the resurrection of Christ, who is <i>the
resurrection and the life. Thy dead men shall live, together with
my dead body shall they arise.</i> Or there may be a reference to
the resurrection of Lazarus on the fourth day, when they thought it
impossible. God's witnesses may be slain, but they shall rise
again: not in their persons, till the general resurrection, but in
their successors. God will revive his work, when it seems to be
dead in the world. 2. The power by which they were raised: <i>The
spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon
their feet.</i> God put not only life, but courage into them. God
can make the dry bones to life; it is the Spirit of life from God
that quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his
people, and his dying interest in the world. 3. The effect of their
resurrection upon their enemies: <i>Great fear fell upon them.</i>
The reviving of God's work and witnesses will strike terror into
the souls of his enemies. Where there is guilt, there is fear; and
a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is not a courageous, but a
cowardly spirit. Herod feared John the Baptist.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p15">VIII. The ascension of the witnesses into
heaven and the consequences thereof, <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.12-Rev.11.13" parsed="|Rev|11|12|11|13" passage="Re 11:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. Observe, 1. Their
ascension. By heaven we may understand either some more eminent
station in the church, the kingdom of grace in this world, or a
high place in the kingdom of glory above. The former seems to be
the meaning: <i>They ascended to heaven in a cloud</i> (in a
figurative, not in a literal sense) <i>and their enemies saw
them.</i> It will be no small part of the punishment of
persecutors, both in this world and at the great day, that they
shall see the faithful servants of God greatly honoured and
advanced. To this honour they did not attempt to ascend, till God
called them, and said, <i>Come up hither.</i> The Lord's witnesses
must wait for their advancement, both in the church and in heaven,
till God calls them; they must not be weary of suffering and
service, nor too hastily grasp at the reward; but stay till their
Master calls them, and then they may gladly ascend to him. 2. The
consequences of their ascension—a mighty shock and convulsion in
the antichristian empire and the fall of <i>a tenth part of the
city.</i> Some refer this to the beginning of the reformation from
popery, when many princes and states fell off from their subjection
to Rome. This great work met with great opposition; all the western
world felt a great concussion, and the antichristian interest
received a great blow, and lost a great deal of ground and
interest, (1.) By the sword of war, which was then drawn; and many
of those who fought under the banner of antichrist were slain by
it. (2.) By the sword of the Spirit: <i>The fear of God fell upon
many.</i> They were convinced of their errors, superstition, and
idolatry; and by true repentance, and embracing the truth, <i>they
gave glory to the God of heaven.</i> Thus, when God's work and
witnesses revive, the devil's work and witnesses fall before
him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.14-Rev.11.19" parsed="|Rev|11|14|11|19" passage="Re 11:14-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.11.14-Rev.11.19">
<h4 id="Rev.xii-p15.3">The Seventh Trumpet. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xii-p15.4">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xii-p16">14 The second woe is past; <i>and,</i> behold,
the third woe cometh quickly.   15 And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become <i>the kingdoms</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p17">We have here the sounding of the seventh
and last trumpet, which is ushered in by the usual warning and
demand of attention: <i>The second woe is past, and, behold, the
third woe cometh quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded.</i> This
had been suspended for some time, till the apostle had been made
acquainted with some intervening occurrences of very great moment,
and worthy of his notice and observation. But what he before
expected he now heard—the seventh angel sounding. Here observe the
effects and consequences of this trumpet, thus sounded.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p18">I. Here were loud and joyful acclamations
of the saints and angels in heaven. Observe, 1. The manner of their
adorations: they rose from their seats, <i>and fell upon their
faces, and worshipped God;</i> they did it with reverence and
humility. 2. The matter of their adorations. (1.) They thankfully
recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over
all the world: <i>The kingdoms of this world have become the
kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.15" parsed="|Rev|11|15|0|0" passage="Re 11:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. They were always so in title,
both by creation and purchase. (2.) They thankfully observe his
actual possession of them, and reign over them; they give him
thanks because he had taken to him his great power, asserted his
rights, exerted his power, and so turned title into possession.
(3.) They rejoice that this his reign shall never end: <i>He shall
reign for ever and ever,</i> till all enemies be put under his
feet; none shall ever wrest the sceptre out of his hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p19">II. Here were angry resentments in the
world at these just appearances and actings of the power of God
(<scripRef id="Rev.xii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.18" parsed="|Rev|11|18|0|0" passage="Re 11:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>The
nations were angry;</i> not only had been so, but were so still:
their hearts rose up against God; they met his wrath with their own
anger. It was a time when God was taking a just revenge upon the
enemies of his people, recompensing tribulation to those who had
troubled them. It was a time in which he was beginning to reward
his people's faithful services and sufferings; and their enemies
could not bear it, they fretted against God, and so increased their
guilt and hastened their destruction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xii-p20">III. Another consequence was the opening of
the temple of God in heaven. By this may be meant that here is now
a more free communication between heaven and earth, prayer and
praises more freely and frequently ascending and graces and
blessings plentifully descending. But it rather seems to intend the
church of God on earth, a heavenly temple. It is an allusion to the
various circumstances of things in the time of the first temple.
Under idolatrous and wicked princes, it was shut up and neglected;
but, under religious and reforming princes, it was opened and
frequented. So, during the power of antichrist, the temple of God
seemed to be shut up, and was so in a great degree; but now it was
opened again. At this opening of it observe, 1. What was seen
there: <i>the ark of God's testament.</i> This was in the holy of
holies; in this ark the tables of the law were kept. As before
Josiah's time the law of God had been lost, but was then found, so
in the reign of antichrist God's law was laid aside, and made void
by their traditions and decrees; the scriptures were locked up from
the people, and they must not look into these divine oracles; now
they are opened, now they are brought to the view of all. This was
an unspeakable and invaluable privilege; and this, like the ark of
the testament, was a token of the presence of God returned to his
people, and his favour towards them in Jesus Christ the
propitiation. 2. What was heard and felt there: <i>Lightnings,
voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.</i> The great
blessing of the reformation was attended with very awful
providences; and by terrible things in righteousness God would
answer those prayers that were presented in his holy temple, now
opened. All the great revolutions of the world are concerted in
heaven, and are the answers of the prayers of the saints.</p>
</div></div2>