Bible Commentaries
Revelation 11

Verse 1

A rod. See on ch. Revelation 2:27.

And the angel stood. Omit. The insertion of these words furnishes a subject for the agreement of the participle legwn, which is irregular an construction. Literally the correct text reads, " there was given me a reed, saying. ". Accordingly Wordsworth refers the speech to the reed as an inspired medium of speech. Rev., better, and one said.

The temple [τον ναον] . See on Matthew 4:5.

The altar. Of incense, as that alone stood in the sacred place. Them that worship. Note the peculiar expressed, measuring the worshippers with a reed.

Verse 2

The court which is without the temple. Not merely the outer court, or Court of the Gentiles, but including all that is not within the naov, the Holy and Most Holy places.

Leave out [εκβαλε εξω] . Lit., throw out, i e., of the measurement. Unto the Gentiles [τοις εθνεσιν] . See on Luke 2:32. Rev., nations. Forty and two months. A period which appears in three forms in Revelation : forty - two months (ch. 13 5); twelve hundred and sixty days (ver. 3, ch. 12 6); a time, times and half a time, or three years and a half (12, 14, compare Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7)

Verse 3

Power. Omit.

Two witnesses. The reader may profitably consult on this point the lectures of Professor Milligan on the Revelation of St. John. He maintains that the conception of the Apocalypse is powerfully molded by John's recollections of the life of Jesus; that there is a close parallelism between the Apocalypse and the delineation of the life of Christ contained in the fourth Gospel; and that the Apocalypse is, in the deeper conceptions which pervade it, a repetition of the Gospel. See pp. 59 - 69.

They shall prophesy [προφητευσουσιν] . See on prophet, Luke 7:26. Commonly explained of preaching repentance, though some take it in the later sense of foretelling future events.

Clothed in sackcloth. The garb of preachers of repentance. Compare Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 4:8; Jonah 3:5; Matthew 3:4. For sackcloth see on Luke 10:13.

Verse 4

Two olive trees. See Zechariah 4:0.

Candlesticks. See Zechariah 4:0, and note on Matthew 10:15.

The God. Read kuriou the Lord. Compare Zechariah 4:14.

Verse 5

Fire proceedeth. Compare 2 Kings 1:10; Jeremiah 5:14.

Verse 6

To shut up the heaven. As Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1; Luke 4:25; James 5:17.

That it rain not [ινα μη βρεχη υετος] . Lit., that the rain may not wet. To turn them into blood. Compare Exodus 7:19.

To smite [παταξαι] . Used by John only in Revelation, here and Revelation 19:15. Compare Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27; Luke 22:49, Luke 22:50; Acts 12:7, Acts 12:23. With all plagues [παση πληγη] . Singular number. Rev., correctly, with every plague. See on Mark 3:10. Not merely with the plagues with which Moses smote Egypt.

Verse 7

The beast [θηριον] . Wild beast See on ch. Revelation 4:6. A different word from that wrongly translated beast, ch. Revelation 4:6, Revelation 4:7; Revelation 5:6, etc. Compare ch. 13 1; Revelation 17:8, and see Daniel 7:0.

Bottomless pit [αβυσσου] . See on ch. Revelation 9:1.

Verse 8

Dead bodies [πτωματα] . Read ptwma carcass. See on Matthew 24:28; Mark 14:45.

In the street [επι της πλατειας] . Lit., "Upon the street." See on Luke 14:21.

The great city. Jerusalem is never called by this name. Different expositors refer it to Rome or Babylon. Milligan to Jerusalem.

Spiritually [πνευματικως] . Typically or allegorically. (compare 1 Corinthians 10:3, 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Our Lord. Read aujtwn their for hJmwn our.

Verse 9

Shall see [βλεψουσιν] . Read, blepousin do men look (Rev.), and see on John 1:29.

Shall not suffer [ουκ αφησουσιν] . Read ajfiousin do not suffer. To be put in graves [τεθηναι εις μνηματα] . Read mnhma a tomb, as Rev. Compare Genesis 23:4; Isaiah 14:19, Isaiah 14:20.

Verse 10

Shall rejoice (carousin). Read cairousin, present tense, rejoice. Shall make merry [ευφρανθησονται] . Read eujfrainontai, present tense, make merry; and for the word see note on fared sumptuously, Luke 16:19.

Shall send gifts. As on a day of festival. See Nehemiah 8:10, Nehemiah 8:12. Tormented (ejbasanisan). See on vexed, 2 Peter 2:8, and on Matthew 4:23, Matthew 4:24.

Verse 11

Spirit of life [πνευμα ζωης] . Rev., breath. See on John 3:8.

Entered into them. Compare Ezekiel 37:1-10.

Saw [θεωρουντας] . See on John 1:18.

Verse 13

Earthquake. See on ch. Revelation 6:12.

Of men [ονοματα ανθρωπων] . Lit., names of men See on ch. Revelation 3:4. Gave glory to the God of heaven. The phrase signifies not conversion, nor repentance, nor thanksgiving, but recognition, which is its usual sense in scripture. Compare Joshua 7:19 (Sept.). John 9:24; Acts 12:23; Romans 4:20.

Verse 15

The kingdoms - are become [εγενοντο αι βασιλειαι] . Read ejgeneto hJ basileia, the kingdom - is become.

Of our Lord, etc. Compare Psalms 2:2-9.

Verse 17

O Lord God, etc. See on ch. Revelation 4:8.

And art to come. Omit.

Hast taken to Thee. Omit to thee.

Verse 18

Were angry [οργισθησαν] . See on wrath, John 3:36 Compare Psalms 2:1.

The time [ο καιρος] . See on Matthew 12:1.

Reward [μισθον] . See on 2 Peter 2:13.

Destroy [διαφθειραι] . Also to corrupt.

Which destroy [τους διαφθειροντας] . Or, the destroyers.

Verse 19

The temple [ο ναος] . The sanctuary. Compare ver. 1 and see on Matthew 4:5.

In heaven. Join with temple of God, as Rev., instead of with opened, as A. V.

The ark of His covenant [η κιβωτος της διαθηκης αυτου] . Kibwtov ark, meaning generally any wooden box or chest used of the ark in the tabernacle only here and Hebrews 9:4 Elsewhere of Noah 's ark. See Matthew 24:38; Luke 17:27; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20. For covenant, see note on testament, Matthew 26:28. This is the last mention in scripture of the ark of the covenant. It was lost when the temple was destroyed by the Chaldeans (2 Kings 25:10), and was wanting in the second temple. Tacitus says that Pompey "by right of conquest entered the temple. Thenceforward it became generally known that the habitation was empty and the sanctuary unoccupied do representation of the deity being found within it" (" History, "5, 9). According to Jewish tradition Jeremiah had taken the ark and all that the Most Holy Place contained, and concealed them, before the destruction of the temple, in a cave at Mount Sinai, whence they are to be restored to the temple in the days of Messiah. Lightnings and voices, etc." The solemn salvos. so to speak, of the artillery of heaven, with which each series of visions is concluded. "