Revelation
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Revelation 11
Revelation 11
Commentary · verses 1-19
1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
1And 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.
Commentary · verse 1
The angel gave John a measuring rod to measure the temple of God.
2And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
2But 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.
Commentary · verse 2
Unbelievers will tread over the holy city for forty-two months. This was the second half of the tribulation: three and a half years.
3And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Commentary · verse 3
The Two Witnesses clothed in sackcloth will have power and will prophesy for three and a half years which is also during the second half of the Tribulation.
4These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.
4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Commentary · verse 4
Zechariah 4 gave an explanation of two olive trees and lampstands that stand before the Lord. In that passage, they represented the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord. The Two Witnesses are anointed to stand for God and witness during the second half of the Tribulation.
5And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.
5And 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.
Commentary · verse 5
If any man tries to hurt the witnesses, he will be killed by fire out of their mouths.
6These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.
7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
6These 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.
7And 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.
Commentary · verses 6-7
They will have power over the physical realm. Examples were given that reminded people of Elijah and Moses/Aaron. Consequently, some people believe the Two Witnesses will be Elijah and Moses. The Jews know that Elijah needs to physically return before the Messiah can physically return in His Kingdom, and Elijah did not die. We see that the Two Witnesses eventually die, so if the Two Witnesses were people who had already died, then the scripture (Hebrews 9:27) that stated it's "given once for man to die" would be wrong. The only other person who left the earth without dying was Enoch. It would appear that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses who testify for God and if anyone tries to hurt them, they will be killed with fire coming from the witnesses' mouths. However, when their work is finished, the beast that comes from the bottomless pit will make war against them and kill them.
8And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
8And 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.
Commentary · verse 8
The witnesses' bodies will lie in the street of Jerusalem.
9And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Commentary · verse 9
They will lay there for three and a half days.
10And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.
10And 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.
Commentary · verse 10
Those on earth will rejoice over their dead bodies because the testimony of the Two Witnesses tormented them, caused them to doubt whom they were following: the Antichrist.
11And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them.
11And after three days and an 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.
Commentary · verse 11
After the three and a half days they will be raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit and all that see it will fear.
12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they went up into heaven in the cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
12And 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.
Commentary · verse 12
Remember, these events will take place during the end of the Tribulation. A voice from heaven will say "come up hither." This was a rapture which will occur near the end of the Tribulation. The Two Witnesses will be resurrected and raptured in the "Post-Tribulation Rapture."
Now we have seen evidence for three separate raptures: Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Tribulation. Again, this is why people who believe in each of these raptures are correct, and why they are incorrect when they claim there will only be one rapture. Nowhere in God's Word did it state there would only be one rapture.
13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.
13And 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.
14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Commentary · verses 13-14
The second woe (which coincided with the sixth trumpet) was past (Revelation 9:13-21). The third woe would be the end of the Tribulation and it came quickly after the second woe which came within an hour of the death of the Two Witnesses.
15And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.
15And 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.
Commentary · verse 15
When the seventh trumpet sounded a voice from heaven announced that the kingdoms of this world are God's and Christ's and Christ will reign forever. This was the third woe and the end of the Tribulation.
16And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, 17saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17Saying, 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.
Commentary · verses 16-17
The twenty-four elders (Church) worshipped God.
Doctrines on this passage
18And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.
19And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.
18And 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.
19And 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.
Commentary · verses 18-19
Verse 18 mentioned judgment, which showed this was the end of the Tribulation. In verse 19, the Ark of the Covenant was seen in heaven. This chapter covered events from the midpoint of the Tribulation up to near the end of the Tribulation.
This chapter was informational looking at the last half of the Tribulation from the perspective of the Two Witnesses.