| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Revelation
Chapter Eleven
Revelation 11
We are here at once in the centre of prophetic
subjects-Jerusalem
the temple
the altar
and worshipers. The worshipers and
the altar are recognised and accepted of God-those worshiping in the secret of
God within. The general profesion of Judaism is rejected and disowned. It is
given up to be trodden down under the Gentiles
and that for the half-week of
sorrow. Those who held the place of priests were owned. Real worshipers
according to God's mind
were there and owned; and God gave also an adequate
testimony-two witnesses--what was required under the law; and they continue day
by day constantly to give witness the whole period
or half-week. The witnesses
were in sorrow and reproach
but with power; as Elias and Moses were when the
people were in apostacy and captivity. It was not the re-establishment of
Israel with royalty and priesthood
as it would be afterwards--the candlestick
of Zechariah with the two olive--trees-but the sufficient witness to it. Nor
could they be touched while the half-week of their prophecy lasted; their word
brought death on their adversaries. We have priesthood and prophecy in the
remnant
not of course royalty
but a testimony to it practically: suffering
marked its absence
yet none could touch them till their time were come. In
this they were like Christ in His humiliation in the midst of Israel; only He
did not slay His enemies. In the Psalms we marked it out as the remnant's
portion. Complete humiliation and the full answer of God to their prophetic
word marked their state. But when they had finished their testimony
the case
is different. They had to do with the beast out of the bottomless pit. They
stood before the God of the earth-not preachers of heavenly gospel
but
witnesses of God's title to the earth-of His love to His people in connection
with it. They bore witness to God's claim when hostile Gentiles were in
possession. The beast
now their hour is come
slays them
and their bodies are
cast into the highways of the city. Those of the nations rejoice over them and
make merry. The dwellers upon earth who would have the earth theirs and ease
upon it; were delighted: for the witnesses of the God of the earth tormented
them; but in three days and a half
quickened by the power of the Spirit of
God
they ascended to heaven in a cloud
not as Christ did
apart
but in the
sight of their enemies. A tenth of the great city of the world fell at the same
time in the convulsion that took place on the earth; and the remnant are
affrighted
and give glory to the God of heaven. But God was dealing already as
the God of the earth. The second woe was now past.
Thus we get the close of the half week indicated; the seventh trumpet
was quickly to sound
which was to finish the mystery of God. It sounds; and
there were great voices in heaven declaring that the worldly kingdom of their
Lord (Jehovah) and of His anointed (Christ) was come-the greatest woe and
terror of all to the inhabitants of the earth. Satan's woe had been specially
on Jews; man's woe
specially on the men of the Latin Empire; this is Gods woe
when the nations are angry
and Gods wrath is come
and full reckoning and
final deliverance come. We have again the elders here announcing the reason of
praise and thanksgiving. Voices in heaven announce the fact of the reign of
Jehovah and of His Christ according to Psalm 2
and that He (for
as ever
John
unites both in one thought) should reign for ever and ever; and so it will be.
But both the earthly and eternal kingdom are celebrated. Only in the eternal
kingdom the distinction of the worldly kingdom and of Christ's subordination is
omitted. In the thanksgiving of the elders
Jehovah Elohim Shaddai is also
celebrated; as the great King who takes to Him His power and reigns; for it is
God's kingdom. We have two parts in their statement: the nations angry-this
brings in the time of God's wrath; and the time of the dead to be judged. This
is the first half: man's wrath
and God's judgment. Then He gives reward to
prophets
saints
and all that fear His name
and sets aside from the earth
those who corrupted it. This is blessing. The first part is general
the time
of wrath and judgment; the second is reward and deliverance of the saints on
earth. This closes entirely the main symbolic history. The last trumpet has
sounded
and the mystery of God is closed.
In what follows we have details: the beast
and the
connection of the assembly and Jews with it; Babylon; and then the marriage of
the Lamb; judgments of beast and false prophet; binding of Satan; two
resurrections
and final judgment; and the description of the heavenly city.
But this new prophecy begins (chap 12:19)
as to earthly prophetic dealing
with special reference to the Jews. The temple of God is opened in heaven
the
ark of His covenant
which refers to Israel is seen there. But judgment
characterises it now; judgments of all kinds
those coming down from above
and
subversion and disaster below. [1]
[1]
Where the throne is set for judgment
it is characterized only by what proceeds
directly from God. There are no earth quakes and hail; here there are.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》
Revelation 11
Chapter Contents
The state of the church is represented under the figure
of a temple measured. (1
2) Two witnesses prophesy is sackcloth. (3-6) They are
slain
after which they arise and ascend to heaven. (7-13) Under the seventh
trumpet
all antichristian powers are to be destroyed and there will be a
glorious state of Christ's kingdom upon earth. (14-19)
Commentary on Revelation 11:1
2
(Read Revelation 11:1
2)
This prophetical passage about measuring the temple seems
to refer to Ezekiel's vision. The design of this measuring seems to be the
preservation of the church in times of public danger; or for its trial
or for
its reformation. The worshippers must be measured; whether they make God's
glory their end
and his word their rule
in all their acts of worship. Those
in the outer court
worship in a false manner
or with dissembling hearts
and
will be found among his enemies. God will have a temple and an altar in the
world
till the end of time. He looks strictly to his temple. The holy city
the visible church
is trodden under foot; is filled with idolaters
infidels
and hypocrites. But the desolations of the church are limited
and she shall be
delivered out of all her troubles.
Commentary on Revelation 11:3-13
(Read Revelation 11:3-13)
In the time of treading down
God kept his faithful
witnesses to attest the truth of his word and worship
and the excellence of
his ways
The number of these witnesses is small
yet enough. They prophesy in
sackcloth. It shows their afflicted
persecuted state
and deep sorrow for the
abominations against which they protested. They are supported during their
great and hard work
till it is done. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the
greatest part of 1260 years
antichrist
the great instrument of the devil
would war against them
with force and violence for a time. Determined rebels
against the light rejoice
as on some happy event
when they can silence
drive
to a distance
or destroy the faithful servants of Christ
whose doctrine and
conduct torment them. It does not appear that the term is yet expired
and the
witnesses are not a present exposed to endure such terrible outward sufferings
as in former times; but such things may again happen
and there is abundant
cause to prophesy in sackcloth
on account of the state of religion. The
depressed state of real Christianity may relate only to the western church. The
Spirit of life from God
quickens dead souls
and shall quicken the dead bodies
of his people
and his dying interest in the world. The revival 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 a cowardly
spirit. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors
both in this
world
and at the great day
that they see the faithful servants of God
honoured and advanced. The Lord's witnesses must not be weary of suffering and
service
nor hastily grasp at the reward; but must stay till their Master calls
them. The consequence of their being thus exalted was a mighty shock and
convulsion in the antichristian empire. Events alone can show the meaning of
this. But whenever God's work and witnesses revive
the devil's work and
witnesses fall before him. And that the slaying of the witnesses is future
appears to be probable.
Commentary on Revelation 11:14-19
(Read Revelation 11:14-19)
Before the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet
there is the usual demand of attention. The saints and angels in heaven know
the right of our God and Saviour to rule over all the world. But the nations
met God's wrath with their own anger. It was a time in which he was beginning
to reward his people's faithful services
and sufferings; and their enemies
fretted against God
and so increased their guilt
and hastened their
destruction. By the opening the temple of God in heaven
may be meant
that
there was a more free communication between heaven and earth; prayer and
praises more freely and frequently going up
graces and blessings plentifully
coming down. But it rather seems to refer to the church of God on earth. In the
reign of antichrist
God's law was laid aside
and made void by traditions and
decrees; the Scriptures were locked up from the people
but now they are
brought to the view of all. This
like the ark
is a token of the presence of
God returned to his people
and his favour toward them in Jesus Christ
as the
Propitiation for their sins. The great blessing of the Reformation was attended
with very awful providences; as by terrible things in righteousness God
answered the prayers presented in his holy temple now opened.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》
Revelation 11
Verse 2
[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 the court which is without the temple — The old temple had a court in the open air
for the heathens who
worshipped the God of Israel.
Cast out — Of
thy account.
And measure it not — As
not being holy In so high a degree.
And they shall tread — Inhabit.
The holy city —
Jerusalem
Matthew 4:5. So they began to do
before St.
John wrote. And it has been trodden almost ever since by the Romans
Persians
Saracens
and Turks. But that severe kind of treading which is here peculiarly
spoken of
will not be till under the trumpet of the seventh angel
and toward
the end of the troublous times. This will continue but forty-two common months
or twelve hundred and sixty common days; being but a small part of the
non-chronos.
Verse 3
[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses
and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days
clothed in sackcloth.
And I —
Christ.
Will give to my two witnesses — These seem to be two prophets; two select
eminent instruments. Some
have supposed (though without foundation) that they are Moses and Elijah
whom
they resemble in several respects.
To prophesy twelve hundred and sixty days — Common days
that is
an hundred and eighty weeks. So long will they
prophesy
(even while that last and sharp treading of the holy city continues
)
both by word and deed
witnessing that Jesus is the Son of God
the heir of all
things
and exhorting all men to repent
and fear
and glorify God.
Clothed in sackcloth — The habit of the deepest mourners
out of sorrow and concern for the
people.
Verse 4
[4]
These are the two olive trees
and the two candlesticks standing before the God
of the earth.
These are the two olive trees — That is
as Zerubbabel and Joshua
the two olive trees spoken of by
Zechariah
Zechariah 3:9; 4:10
were then the two chosen instruments in
God's hand
even so shall these. be in their season. Being themselves full of
the unction of the Holy One
they shall continually transmit the same to others
also.
And the two candlesticks — Burning and shining lights.
Standing before the Lord of the earth — Always waiting on God
without the help of man
and asserting his right
over the earth and all things therein.
Verse 5
[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.
If any would kill them — As the Israelites would have done Moses and Aaron
Numbers 16:41.
He must be killed thus — By that devouring fire.
Verse 6
[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 have power —
And they use that power. See verse 10. Revelation 11:10 To shut heaven
that it rain
not in the days of their prophesying - During those "twelve hundred and
sixty days." And have power over the waters - In and near Jerusalem.
To turn them into blood — As Moses did those in Egypt.
And to smite the earth with all plagues
as
often as they will — This is not said of Moses or Elijah
or any
mere man besides. And how is it possible to understand this otherwise than of
two individual persons?
Verse 7
[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.
And when they shall have finished their
testimony — Till then they are invincible.
The wild beast —
Hereafter to be described.
That ascendeth —
First out of the sea
Revelation 13:1
and then out of the bottomless
pit
Revelation 17:8.
Shall make war with them — It is at his last ascent
not out of the sea
but the bottomless pit
that
the beast makes war upon the two witnesses. And even hereby is fixed the time
of "treading the holy city
" and of the "two witnesses."
That time ends after the ascent of the beast out of the abyss
and yet before
the fulfilling of the mystery.
And shall conquer them — The fire no longer proceeding out of their mouth when they have finished
their work.
And kill them —
These will be among the last martyrs
though not the last of all.
Verse 8
[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 their bodies shall be — Perhaps hanging on a cross.
In the street of the great city — Of Jerusalem
a far greater city
than any other in those parts. This is
described both spiritually and historically: spiritually
as it is called Sodom
Isaiah 1:9 etc. and Egypt; on account of the
same abominations abounding there
at the time of the witnesses
as did once in
Egypt and Sodom. Historically: Where also their Lord was crucified - This
possibly refers to the very ground where his cross stood. Constantine the Great
inclosed this within the walls of the city. Perhaps on that very spot will
their bodies be exposed.
Verse 9
[9] And
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.
Three days and a half — So exactly are the times set down in this prophecy. If we suppose this
time began in the evening
and ended in the morning
and included (which is no
way impossible) Friday
Saturday
and Sunday
the weekly festival of the
Turkish people
the Jewish tribes
and the Christian tongues; then all these
together
with the heathen nations
would have full leisure to gaze upon and
rejoice over them.
Verse 10
[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.
And they that dwell upon the earth — Perhaps this expression may peculiarly denote earthly-minded men.
Shall make merry — As
did the Philistines over Samson.
And send gifts to one another — Both Turks
and Jews
and heathens
and false Christians.
Verse 11
[11] And
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.
And great fear fell upon them that saw them — And now knew that God was on their side.
Verse 12
[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.
And I heard a great voice — Designed for all to hear.
And they went up to heaven
and their enemies
beheld them — who had not taken notice of their rising
again; by which some had been convinced before.
Verse 13
[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 there was a great earthquake and the
tenth part of the city fell — We have here an unanswerable proof that
this city is not Babylon or Rome
but Jerusalem. For Babylon shall be wholly
burned before the fulfilling of the mystery of God. But this city is not burned
at all; on the contrary
at the fulfilling of that mystery
a tenth part of it
is destroyed by an earthquake
and the other nine parts converted.
And there were slain in the earthquake seven
thousand men — Being a tenth part of the inhabitants
who
therefore were seventy thousand in all.
And the rest —
The remaining sixty-three thousand were converted: a grand step toward the
fulfilling of the mystery of God. Such a conversion we no where else read of.
So there shall be a larger as well as holier church at Jerusalem than ever was
yet.
Were terrified —
Blessed terror! And gave glory - The character of true conversion
Jeremiah 13:16.
To the God of heaven — He is styled
"The Lord of the earth
" verse 4
Revelation 11:4 when he declares his right over
the earth by the two witnesses; but the God of heaven
when he not only gives
rain from heaven after the most afflicting drought
but also declares his
majesty from heaven
by taking his witnesses up into it. When the whole
multitude gives glory to the God of heaven
then that "treading of the
holy city" ceases. This is the point so long aimed at
the desired
"fulfilling of the mystery of God
" when the divine promises are so
richly fulfilled on those who have gone through so great afflictions. All this
is here related together
that whereas the first and second woe went forth in
the east
the rest of the eastern affairs being added at once
the description
of the western might afterwards remain unbroken. It may be useful here to see
how the things here spoken of
and those hereafter described
follow each other
in their order. 1. The angel swears; the non-chronos begins; John eats the
book; the many kings arise. 2. The non-chronos and the "many kings"
being on the decline
that treading" begins
and the "two
witnesses" appear. 3. The beast
after he has with the ten kings destroyed
Babylon
wars with them and kills them. After three days and an half they
revive and ascend to heaven. There is a great earthquake in the holy city:
seven thousand perish
and the rest are converted. The "treading" of
the city by the gentiles ends. 4. The beast
and the kings of the earth
and
their armies are assembled to fight against the Great King. 5. Multitudes of
his enemies are killed
and the beast and the false prophet cast alive into the
lake of fire. 6. while John measures the temple of God and the altar with the
worshippers
the true worship of God is set up. The nations who had trodden the
holy city are converted. Hereby the mystery of God is fulfilled. 7. Satan is imprisoned.
Being released for a time
he
with Gog and Magog
makes his last assault upon
Jerusalem.
Verse 14
[14] The
second woe is past; and
behold
the third woe cometh quickly.
The second woe is past — The butchery made by the Saracens ceased about the year 847
when their
power was so broken by Charles the Great that they never recovered it.
Behold
the third woe cometh quickly — Its prelude came while the Roman see took all opportunities of laying
claim to its beloved universality
and enlarging its power and grandeur. And in
the year 755 the bishop of Rome became a secular prince
by king Pepin's giving
him the exarchate of Lombardy. The beginning of the third woe itself stands
Revelation 12:12.
Verse 15
[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 sounded — This trumpet contains the most important and joyful events
and renders
all the former trumpets matter of joy to all the inhabitants of heaven. The
allusion therefore in this and all the trumpets is to those used in festal
solemnities. All these seven trumpets were heard in heaven: perhaps the seventh
shall once be heard on earth also
1 Thessalonians 4:16.
And there were great voices — From the several citizens of heaven. At the opening of the seventh seal
"there was silence in heaven;" at the sounding of the seventh
trumpet
great voices. This alone is sufficient to show that the seven seals
and seven trumpets do not run parallel to each other. As soon as the seventh
angel sounds
the kingdom falls to God and his Christ. This immediately appears
in heaven
and is there celebrated with joyful praise. But on earth several
dreadful occurrences are to appear first. This trumpet comprises all that
follows from these voices to Revelation 22:5.
The kingdom of the world — That is
the royal government over the whole world
and all its
kingdoms
Zechariah 14:9.
Is become the kingdom of the Lord — This province has been in the enemy's hands: it now returns to its
rightful Master. In the Old Testament
from Moses to Samuel
God himself was
the King of his own people. And the same will be in the New Testament: he will
himself reign over the Israel of God.
And of his Christ —
This appellation is now first given him
since the introduction of the book
on
the mention of the kingdom devolving upon him
under the seventh trumpet.
Prophets and priests were anointed
but more especially kings: whence that
term
the anointed
is applied only to a king. Accordingly
whenever the
Messiah is mentioned in scripture
his kingdom is implied.
Is become — In
reality
all things (and so the kingdom of the world) are God's in all ages:
yet Satan and the present world
with its kings and lords
are risen against
the Lord and against his Anointed. God now puts an end to this monstrous
rebellion
and maintains his right to all things. And this appears in an entirely
new manner
as soon as the seventh angel sounds.
Verse 16
[16] And
the four and twenty elders
which sat before God on their seats
fell upon
their faces
and worshipped God
And the four and twenty elders — These shall reign over the earth
Revelation 5:10.
Who sit before God on their thrones — which we do not read of any angel.
Verse 17
[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.
The Almighty — He
who hath all things in his power as the only Governor of them.
Who is
and who was —
God is frequently styled
"He who is
and who was
and who is to
come." but now he is actually come
the words
"who is to come
"
are
as it were
swallowed up. When it is said
We thank thee that thou hast
taken thy great power
it is all one as
"We thank thee that thou art
come." This whole thanksgiving is partly an enlargement on the two great
points mentioned in the fifteenth verse; Revelation 11:15 partly a summary of what is
hereafter more distinctly related. Here it is mentioned
how the kingdom is the
Lord's; afterwards
how it is the kingdom of his Christ.
Thou hast taken thy great power — This is the beginning of what is done under the trumpet of the seventh
angel. God has never ceased to use his power; but he has suffered his enemies
to oppose it
which he will now suffer no more.
Verse 18
[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.
And the heathen nations were wroth - At the
breaking out of the power and kingdom of God. This wrath of the heathens now
rises to the highest pitch; but it meets the wrath of the Almighty
and melts
away. In this verse is described both the going forth and the end of God's
wrath
which together take up several ages.
And the time of the dead is come — Both of the quick and dead
of whom those already dead are far the more
numerous part.
That they be judged —
This
being infallibly certain
they speak of as already present.
And to give a reward — At the coming of Christ
Revelation 22:12; but of free grace
not of
debt
1. To his servants the prophets: 2. To his saints: to them who were
eminently holy: 3. To them that fear his name: these are the lowest class.
Those who do not even fear God will have no reward from him.
Small and great —
All universally
young and old
high and low
rich and poor.
And to destroy them that destroyed the earth — The earth was destroyed by the "great whore" in particular
Revelation 19:2; 17:2
5; but likewise in general
by the open
rage and hate of wicked men against all that is good; by wars
and the various
destruction and desolation naturally flowing therefrom; by such laws and
constitutions as hinder much good
and occasion many offences and calamities;
by public scandals
whereby a door is opened for all dissoluteness and
unrighteousness; by abuse of secular and spiritual powers; by evil doctrines
maxims
and counsels; by open violence and persecution; and by sins crying to
God to send plagues upon the earth. This great work of God
destroying the
destroyers
under the trumpet of the seventh angel
is not the third woe
but
matter of joy
for which the elders solemnly give thanks. All the woes
and
particularly the third
go forth over those "who dwell upon the
earth;" but this destruction
over those "who destroy the
earth
" and were also instruments of that woe.
Verse 19
[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.
And the temple of God-The inmost part of it.
Was opened in heaven - And hereby is opened a new scene of the most momentous
things
that we may see how the contents of the seventh trumpet are executed;
and
notwithstanding the greatest opposition
(particularly by the third woe
)
brought to a glorious conclusion.
And the ark of the covenant was seen in his
temple — The ark of the covenant which was made by
Moses was not in the second temple
being probably burnt with the first temple
by the Chaldeans. But here is the heavenly ark of the everlasting covenant
the
shadow of which was under the Old Testament
Hebrews 9:4. The inhabitants of heaven saw the
ark before: St. John also saw it now; for a testimony
that what God had
promised
should be fulfilled to the uttermost.
And there were lightnings
and voices
and thunders
and an earthquake
and great hail — The very same there
are
and in the same order
when the seventh angel has poured out his phial; Revelation 16:17-21: one place answers the
other. What the trumpet here denounces in heaven
is there executed by the
phial upon earth. First it is shown what will be done; and afterwards it is
done.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》
Chapter 11. Two Witnesses
Turn the Waters
into Blood
Shut Up the Sky from Raining
I. Trample on
the Holy City
II. Preaching
of the Two Prophets
III. The Third
Woe of the Seventh Trumpet
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Eleven General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To examine the remaining visions in the interlude between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets
and what happens when the seventh trumpet sounds 2) To offer explanations concerning the significance of these visions
and to summarize what we have seen in the first half of the book of Revelation SUMMARY
As the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets continues
twomore visions are seen. The first involves John himself as he is givena reed and told to measure the temple of God worshipping there. He is instructed
however
not to measure the courtoutside the temple
for it has been given to the Gentiles who willtread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months (1-2). This visionmay illustrate that while the church will undergo great persecution
and outwardly appear to be trodden underfoot
its inner spirit will notbe harmed. Then there is the vision of the two witnesses
which falls into threesections. With power they prophesy 1
260 days
clothed in sackcloth.Identified as the two olive trees and the two lampstands standingbefore the throne of God
they have the power to devour with fire fromtheir mouths those who wish to harm them. They also have power to stopthe rain during the days of their prophesying
to turn water to blood
and to strike the earth with plagues (3-6). But when their testimonyis completed
the beast from the bottomless pit makes war with them andkills them. For three and half days their bodies lies in the street ofthe great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt was crucified). Those who had been tormented by the two prophetsrejoice
make merry and exchange gifts (7-10). However
after threeand a half days they are raised to life and ascend into heaven
bringing great fear on those who saw them. In the same hour a greatearthquake occurs in which a tenth of the city fell and 7000 men werekilled. The rest were afraid and gave glory to God (11-13). The two witnesses are certainly reminiscent of Moses and Elijah
but Ido not believe they portend two literal persons. Rather
they represent the witness of the church
with the number two signifying thestrength of their witness (e.g.
"two or more witnesses"). As suggested by Hailey
the first period may be the apostolic age duringwhich the witnesses could not be destroyed. When their testimony iscompleted
there will be a time of persecution by "the beast" and thoseof "the great city" (who will be identified later). Ultimately
however
the witnesses (i.e.
the church) will be victorious
symbolized by their resurrection and ascension to heaven. The interlude ended
it is time for the third woe
and the finaltrumpet. As the seventh angel sounded
loud voices in heavenproclaimed "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of ourLord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!" The
twenty-four elders then fell on their faces and worshiped God
giving thanks to Him for having taken His great power and reigned. While thenations were angry
His wrath has come. So has the time for the dead tobe judged
for His servants the prophets and the saints to be rewarded
and for the destruction of those who destroy the earth. Then the