(chapter 11 is a parenthetical chapter. It includes events before and on the LORD'S day)

Revelation 11)

1: And there was given me a reed like a rod (= a scepter, as elsewhere in Rev., see 2:27; 12:5; 19:15. This measuring reed is like a scepter, and measures for destruction, not for building. See Lam. 2:8): and the Angel said, "Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and record them worshiping therein. (These sit in the Temple claiming to be God but are not. Cp. Mark 23:16)
2: But the court which is outside the Temple cast out, and measure it not (i.e. do not destroy it); for it is given to the gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.(= moons, Prophecy concerning night, Satan. 10 days short of the Solar calendar 3 1/2 years.)
3: And I will give power to My two witnesses (They are unnamed by God. Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, the only three men not buried by man. Remember the sons of thunder saw Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration. Could these be the two witnesses? This is speculation on my part but I believe it is a possibility, Moses representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets), and they shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and three score days (= Solar 1260 days. They will be here 10 days before and longer than Satan. Days = prophecy concerning God's children, children of light, God's elect), clothed in sackcloth.
4: These are the two olive trees (olive in Heb. = el-a-yah. El = God, Yah = the sacred name of God. See Zech. 4:11-14.) and the two candlesticks (See 1:20, two churches. Only Smyrna and Philadelphia remain faithful), standing before the God of the earth.
5: And if anyone will hurt them (i.e. the two witnesses), fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies (see 2 Kings 1:10. Its from their mouth because they call it down from heaven. See also Jer. 5:14.)
6: These have power to shut heaven, in order that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over the waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they shall desire. (Remember the power God gave Moses and Elijah?)
7: And when they (i.e. the two witnesses) shall have their testimony finished, the beast (= Satan playing a new role, see 17:8) that ascends out of the pit of the abyss shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (When the two witnesses are killed, we know one of the very last signs of Christ's return has been fulfilled)
8: And their dead bodies lie in the street (Gr. plateia, a broad place or way, an arena, a public meeting place, rather that "street") of the great city (i.e. Jerusalem), which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt (= vise & tyranny. Cp. Isa.1:9,10. Esek. 16.46, 53; 23:3,8,19,27. Ps. 9:9.; 10:1, and 79.), where also their Lord was crucified. (The Holy Spirit thus points to the city in the plainest way)
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.(they don't want them to resurrect like Christ did)
10: And they that dwell on the whole 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. (because they told them the truth, that they were worshiping the fake = antichrist = Satan, his ultimate role)
11: And after the three days and a half the spirit of life (= pneuma, the breath of life) from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (fell = Gr. epipipto = a paralyzing fear, because the 7th trump starts to begin. Christ returns)
12: And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up to this place." And they ascended up into the heaven in the cloud (see 10:1); and their enemies beheld them.
13: And in that same hour (= the hour of temptation) there came to be a great earthquake (Christ's feet touch the earth), and the tenth of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men of names seven thousand (= the fallen angels. See Jude 6.) and the remnant were afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14: The second woe is past;

and behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

11:15-19-. The Vision in Heaven.


D3   A  11:15-. The sounding of the seventh trumpet in heaven.
     B  a  -15-. Great voices in heaven.
         b  -15. Their utterance.
     B  a  16. The twenty-four elders.
         b  17,18. Their utterance.
    A   19-. The opening of God's Temple in heaven.

15: And the seventh angel sounded (this seventh trumpet embraces the seven vials, or last seven plagues, which make up the third woe, and reaches on to 18:24, if not 20:15.);

and there came to be great voices in heaven,

saying, "The kingdom (i.e. sovereignty) of this world is become the kingdom of our LORD, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (See Ex. 15:18. Ps. 146.10. Here and only here do we gather back to Christ the True One, in our eternal spiritual bodies.)

16: And the four and twenty elders, which sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,

17: Saying, "We give You thanks, O LORD God Almighty, Which is, and was, (now, here He has come); because You have taken Your great power, and reign.
18: And the nations were angry, and Your wrath came, and the time of the dead that they should be judged (judgment both good [rewards] and bad), to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that revere (or love) Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy them which are destroying (= corrupting, they are found in Chapters 18,19,20) the earth."

19: And the Temple of God which is in heaven was opened (it's not anywhere here on earth), and there was seen in His Temple the ark of His covenant: (foolish men can look for it all they want to here on earth and they won't find it, men could not be trusted with it):

and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and a great earthquake, and great hail. (this hail corresponds with 16:21. He's not mad at you only His enemies)

Next Chapter

Home