Revelation 11

Notes

Ver. 1. The measuring of the temple, altar, and worshippers, with a reed, denotes that everything in the gospel church ought to be precisely conformed to God's Word, without any mixture of human inventions; and that preservation and reformation from Popery must be by a careful search, experience, and observance of God's Word. 2. The giving of the outer court to the Gentiles denotes that formal professors would be left to fall under the power of the idolatrous and wicked Papists. The forty-two months, or one thousand two hundred and sixty days, time, times, and half a time, ver. 3; ch. 12. 6-14; 13. 5, denote the 1260 years' continuance of the antichristian power; i.e. from A.D. 606, when the Pope of Rome was by Phocas the emperor constituted the universal bishop of the Christian church, to A.D. 1866; or, from 756, when the Pope became a temporal prince, to 2016. 3. Christ's two witnesses denote the small but sufficient succession of faithful ministers who, from age to age, amidst grief and persecution, bear witness against the abominations of Popery. 4. They, like olive-trees before God, are remarkably furnished with gifts and graces; and being protected and delighted in by him, do minister as in his presence, and depending on his grace. 5, 6. God shall fearfully resent the injuries done them, fulfil the threatenings they denounce in his name, and grant their requests. 7-10. Whatever murder of Christ's witnesses may have been effected during the whole reign of Antichrist, or whatever particular persecutions of about three years and a half continuance have taken place, I suppose the general slaughter here intended is yet future—in which I fear the Papists, who are like Sodomites in uncleanness, and Egyptians in cruel oppression of God's people, will, partly by drawing men off from the doctrines of the gospel, and partly by murderous wars and persecutions, leave scarcely any shadow of proper opposition to their abominations in Europe, or the countries thereto belonging. 11-13. But scarcely shall the antichristians, to their great joy, have apparently effected the ruin of Christ's witnesses, when God, by his Word and Spirit, shall strangely revive, animate, and encourage them, and, under his special protection, exalt them to eminent dignity, power, and prosperity; while, about the very time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the Popish state shall be thrown into terrible convulsions and ruin; many Papists miserably destroyed, and others alarmed; and by the gospel converted to Christ, more marvellously than at the Reformation. 15-19. All the nations of the world shall be generally converted to the Christian faith, and made members of the gospel church; and great shall be her light, glory, and liberty, and abundant the access into her; but fearful and destructive the judgments which shall overtake her enemies.

Ver. 3. Two witnesses. The following is an abstract of interpretation:—(1) The Scriptures and assemblies of believers. (2) Unpolluted priests and faithful magistrates. (3) The Waldenses and Albigenses. (4) The Old and the New Testament. (5) The Protestant and Greek churches. (6) The Word and Spirit of God. (7) A sufficiency of witnesses—in allusion to the Mosaic requirement of 'two or three witnesses.' (8) A succession of faithful ministers of the Word, inasmuch as they prophesy 1260 years. (9) An allusion to the general fact of two cognate witnesses being usually commissioned by the Spirit—as, Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, Zerubbabel and Joshua, Ezra and Nehemiah, the seventy disciples sent two by two, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Timothy, Luther and Calvin, Knox and Melville, Latimer and Ridley, &c. But inasmuch as the 'two witnesses' are identified with 'two candlesticks,' and as a 'candlestick' is the apocalyptic emblem of a church, Re. 1.20, may not the 'two witnesses' represent believers and reformers in the Jewish and Christian churches who are from time to time raised up in uninterrupted succession as witnesses for God, in opposition to heathenism, Romanism, and infidelity?—Clothed in sackcloth—the dress of mourners, 2 Sa. 3. 31; 1 Ki. 20. 31; 21. 27; Job 16. 15; Ps. 30. 11. C.

Ver. 11. These 'three days and a half' are most probably an allusion to the three years and a half during which Antiochus Epiphanes held possession of Jerusalem, profaned the temple, and abolished religious services. Here they foretell three years and a half during which so many of the faithful witnesses of the gospel will be so persecuted and slain, and the preaching of the gospel so effectually suppressed, that the powers of superstition, idolatry, and infidelity, who had united in the war, shall now combine in a short-lived triumph over the victims of their persecution.—Note, A partial exemplification of this imaginary triumph is recorded in the Te Deum being sung at Rome on occasion of the most horrible event in modern history—the murdering of the Huguenots! and a similar exemplification of its duration in the three years and a half during which Christianity was suppressed throughout France subsequent to the revolution of 1793. And such partial fulfilments seem agreeable to the genius of prophecy, as calling the attention of believers to the more awful completion. C.

Reflections.—In the very worst of times God will preserve for himself a church answerable to the promises and in some measure conformed to the rules of his Word. And in separating the precious from the vile, he makes no account of mere nominal and carnal professors, but leaves them to the power of antichristian or other deceivers. In evil times Christ's faithful ministers are often extremely few, but still sufficient to bear witness to his truths; and however afflicted and mournful their outward condition may be, and however grieved their hearts, God will honour them to be instrumental in conveying his light and influence to his church, and will resent the injuries done them, and conform his providence in a great measure to their warnings and prayers. Pretended Christians, oppressive idolaters, unclean monsters, and unreasonable and malicious murderers, tormented by their holy doctrines, exemplary lives, and faithful admonitions, may long oppress, and at last silence and slay them; but their extremity of trouble shall usher in their glorious deliverance. The triumphing of their wicked enemies shall be short, and divine vengeance, redoubled, shall overtake them in an hour that they think not. For let enemies rage as they will, Jesus will at last vindicate his righteous cause and his suffering servants, and will bountifully reward them with the smiles of his providence and grace, reign before them gloriously, and cause them for ever to triumph in his praise. But by what fearful shakings of nations he ushers in the noted reformations of his church! Happy are they who, when his judgments are abroad in the earth, share his converting spirit, submit to his salvation and government, learn righteousness, and glorify his name!