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Revelation 11:1-19 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 there was given G1325 me G3427 a reed G2563 like G3664 unto a rod: G4464 and G2532 the angel G32 stood, G2476 saying, G3004 Rise, G1453 and G2532 measure G3354 the temple G3485 of God, G2316 and G2532 the altar, G2379 and G2532 them that worship G4352 therein. G1722 G846

2 But G2532 the court G833 which G3588 is without G1855 G2081 the temple G3485 leave G1544 out, G1854 and G2532 measure G3354 it G846 not; G3361 for G3754 it is given G1325 unto the Gentiles: G1484 and G2532 the holy G40 city G4172 shall they tread under foot G3961 forty G5062 and two G1417 months. G3376

3 And G2532 I will give G1325 power unto my G3450 two G1417 witnesses, G3144 and G2532 they shall prophesy G4395 a thousand G5507 two hundred G1250 and threescore G1835 days, G2250 clothed in G4016 sackcloth. G4526

4 These G3778 are G1526 the two G1417 olive G1636 trees, and G2532 the two G1417 candlesticks G3087 standing G2476 before G1799 the God G2316 of the earth. G1093

5 And G2532 if any man G1536 G846 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 fire G4442 proceedeth G1607 out of G1537 their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 devoureth G2719 their G846 enemies: G2190 and G2532 if any man G1536 will G2309 hurt G91 them, G846 he must G1163 in this manner G3779 be killed. G615

6 These G3778 have G2192 power G1849 to shut G2808 heaven, G3772 that G3363 it rain G1026 G5205 not G3363 in G1722 the days G2250 of their G846 prophecy: G4394 and G2532 have G2192 power G1849 over G1909 waters G5204 to turn G4762 them G846 to G1519 blood, G129 and G2532 to smite G3960 the earth G1093 with all G3956 plagues, G4127 as often G3740 as G1437 they will. G2309

7 And G2532 when G3752 they shall have finished G5055 their G846 testimony, G3141 the beast G2342 that ascendeth G305 out of G1537 the bottomless pit G12 shall make G4160 war G4171 against G3326 them, G846 and G2532 shall overcome G3528 them, G846 and G2532 kill G615 them. G846

8 And G2532 their G846 dead bodies G4430 shall lie in G1909 the street G4113 of the great G3173 city, G4172 which G3748 spiritually G4153 is called G2564 Sodom G4670 and G2532 Egypt, G125 where G3699 also G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 was crucified. G4717

9 And G2532 they G991 of G1537 the people G2992 and G2532 kindreds G5443 and G2532 tongues G1100 and G2532 nations G1484 shall see G991 their G846 dead bodies G4430 three G5140 days G2250 and G2532 an half, G2255 and G2532 shall G863 not G3756 suffer G863 their G846 dead bodies G4430 to be put G5087 in G1519 graves. G3418

10 And G2532 they that dwell G2730 upon G1909 the earth G1093 shall rejoice G5463 over G1909 them, G846 and G2532 make merry, G2165 and G2532 shall send G3992 gifts G1435 one to another; G240 because G3754 these G3778 two G1417 prophets G4396 tormented G928 them that dwelt G2730 on G1909 the earth. G1093

11 And G2532 after G3326 three G5140 days G2250 and G2532 an half G2255 the Spirit G4151 of life G2222 from G1537 God G2316 entered G1525 into G1909 them, G846 and G2532 they stood G2476 upon G1909 their G846 feet; G4228 and G2532 great G3173 fear G5401 fell G4098 upon G1909 them which saw G2334 them. G846

12 And G2532 they heard G191 a great G3173 voice G5456 from G1537 heaven G3772 saying G3004 unto them, G846 Come up G305 hither. G5602 And G2532 they ascended up G305 to G1519 heaven G3772 in G1722 a cloud; G3507 and G2532 their G846 enemies G2190 beheld G2334 them. G846

13 And G2532 the same G1722 G1565 hour G5610 was there G1096 a great G3173 earthquake, G4578 and G2532 the tenth part G1182 of the city G4172 fell, G4098 and G2532 in G1722 the earthquake G4578 were slain G615 G3686 of men G444 seven G2033 thousand: G5505 and G2532 the remnant G3062 were G1096 affrighted, G1719 and G2532 gave G1325 glory G1391 to the God G2316 of heaven. G3772

14 The second G1208 woe G3759 is past; G565 and, G2532 behold, G2400 the third G5154 woe G3759 cometh G2064 quickly. G5035

15 And G2532 the seventh G1442 angel G32 sounded; G4537 and G2532 there were G1096 great G3173 voices G5456 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 The kingdoms G932 of this world G2889 are become G1096 the kingdoms of our G2257 Lord, G2962 and G2532 of his G846 Christ; G5547 and G2532 he shall reign G936 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165

16 And G2532 the four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 elders, G4245 which G3588 sat G2521 before G1799 God G2316 on G1909 their G846 seats, G2362 fell G4098 upon G1909 their G846 faces, G4383 and G2532 worshipped G4352 God, G2316

17 Saying, G3004 We give G2168 thee G4671 thanks, G2168 O Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty, G3841 which G3588 art, G5607 and G2532 wast, G2258 and G2532 art to come; G2064 G3801 because G3754 thou hast taken to thee G2983 thy G4675 great G3173 power, G1411 and G2532 hast reigned. G936

18 And G2532 the nations G1484 were angry, G3710 and G2532 thy G4675 wrath G3709 is come, G2064 and G2532 the time G2540 of the dead, G3498 that they should be judged, G2919 and G2532 that thou shouldest give G1325 reward G3408 unto thy G4675 servants G1401 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 to the saints, G40 and G2532 them that fear G5399 thy G4675 name, G3686 small G3398 and G2532 great; G3173 and G2532 shouldest destroy G1311 them which destroy G1311 the earth. G1093

19 And G2532 the temple G3485 of God G2316 was opened G455 in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 there was seen G3700 in G1722 his G846 temple G3485 the ark G2787 of his G846 testament: G1242 and G2532 there were G1096 lightnings, G796 and G2532 voices, G5456 and G2532 thunderings, G1027 and G2532 an earthquake, G4578 and G2532 great G3173 hail. G5464

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 11

Commentary on Revelation 11 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 11

In this chapter we have an account,

  • I. Of the measuring-reed given to the apostle, to take the dimensions of the temple (v. 1, 2).
  • II. Of the two witnesses of God (v. 3-13).
  • III. Of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and what followed upon it (v. 14-19).

Rev 11:1-2

This prophetical passage about measuring the temple is a plain reference to what we find in Ezekiel's vision, Eze. 40:3, etc. But how to understand either the one or the other is not so easy. It should seem the design of measuring the temple in the former case was in order to the rebuilding of it, and that with advantage; the design of this measurement seems to be either,

  • 1. For the preservation of it in those times of public danger and calamity that are here foretold; or,
  • 2. For its trial; that it may be seen how far it agrees with the standard, or pattern, in the mount; or,
  • 3. For its reformation; that what is redundant, deficient, or changed, may be regulated according to the true model. Observe,
    • I. How much was to be measured.
      • 1. The temple; the gospel church in general, whether it be so built, so constituted, as the gospel rule directs, whether it be too narrow or too large, the door too wide or too strait.
      • 2. The altar. That which was the place of the most solemn acts of worship may be put for religious worship in general; whether the church has the true altars, both as to substance and situation: as to substance, whether they take Christ for their altar, and lay down all their offerings there; and in situation, whether the altar be in the holiest; that is, whether they worship God in the Spirit and in truth.
      • 3. The worshippers too must be measured, whether they make God's glory their end and his word their rule, in all their acts of worship; and whether they come to God with suitable affections, and whether their conversation be as becomes the gospel.
    • II. What was not to be measured (v. 2), and why it should be left out.
      • 1. What was not to be measured: The court which is without the temple measure it not. Some say that Herod, in the additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it the court of the Gentiles. Some tell us that Adrian built the city and an outer court, and called it Aelia, and gave it to the Gentiles.
      • 2. Why was not the outer court measured? This was no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would not mark it out for preservation; but as it was designed for the Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot for a certain time-forty and two months, which some would have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God, and will be found among his enemies.
      • 3. From the whole observe,
        • (1.) God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time.
        • (2.) He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes how every thing is managed in it.
        • (3.) Those who worship in the outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the veil accepted.
        • (4.) The holy city, the visible church, is very much trampled upon in the world. But,
        • (5.) The desolations of the church are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.

Rev 11:3-13

In this time of treading down, God has reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellency of his ways. Here observe,

  • I. The number of these witnesses: it is but a small number and yet it is sufficient.
    • 1. It is but small. Many will own and acknowledge Christ in times of prosperity who will desert and deny him in times of persecution; one witness, when the cause is upon trial, is worth many at other times.
    • 2. It is a sufficient number; for in the mouth of two witnesses every cause shall be established. Christ sent out his disciples two by two, to preach the gospel. Some think these two witnesses are Enoch and Elias, who are to return to the earth for a time: others, the church of the believing Jews and that of the Gentiles: it should rather seem that they are God's eminent faithful ministers, who shall not only continue to profess the Christian religion, but to preach it, in the worst of times.
  • II. The time of their prophesying, or bearing their testimony for Christ. A thousand two hundred and threescore days; that is (as many think), to the period of the reign of antichrist; and, if the beginning of that interval could be ascertained, this number of prophetic days, taking a day for a year, would give us a prospect when the end shall be.
  • III. Their habit, and posture: they prophesy in sackcloth, as those that are deeply affected with the low and distressed state of the churches and interest of Christ in the world.
  • IV. How they were supported and supplied during the discharge of their great and hard work: they stood before the God of the whole earth, and he gave them power to prophesy. He made them to be like Zerubbabel and Joshua, the two olive-trees and candlestick in the vision of Zechariah, ch. 4:2, etc. God gave them the oil of holy zeal, and courage, and strength, and comfort; he made them olive-trees, and their lamps of profession were kept burning by the oil of inward gracious principles, which they received from God. They had oil not only in their lamps, but in their vessels-habits of spiritual life, light, and zeal.
  • V. Their security and defence during the time of their prophesying: If any attempted to hurt them, fire proceeded out of their mouths, and devoured them, v. 5. Some think this alludes to Elias's calling for the fire from heaven, to consume the captains and their companies that came to seize him, 2 Ki. 1:12. God promised the prophet Jeremiah (ch. 5:14), Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people shall be wood, and it shall devour them. By their praying and preaching, and courage in suffering, they shall gall and wound the very hearts and consciences of many of their persecutors, who shall go away self-condemned, and be even terrors to themselves; like Pashur, at the words of the prophet Jeremiah, ch. 20:4. They shall have that free access to God, and that interest in him, that, at their prayers, God will inflict plagues and judgments upon their enemies, as he did on Pharaoh, turning their rivers into blood, and restraining the dews of heaven, shutting heaven up, that no rain shall fall for many days, as he did at the prayers of Elias, 1 Ki. 17:1. God has ordained his arrows for the persecutors, and is often plaguing them while they are persecuting his people; they find it hard work to kick against the pricks.
  • VI. The slaying of the witnesses. To make their testimony more strong, they must seal it with their blood. Here observe,
    • 1. The time when they should be killed: When they have finished their testimony. They are immortal, they are invulnerable, till their work be done. Some think it ought to be rendered, when they were about to finish their testimony. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of the 1260 years, then they should feel the last effect of antichristian malice.
    • 2. The enemy that should overcome and slay them-the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit. Antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, should make war against them, not only with the arms of subtle and sophistical learning, but chiefly with open force and violence; and God would permit his enemies to prevail against his witnesses for a time.
    • 3. The barbarous usage of these slain witnesses; the malice of their enemies was not satiated with their blood and death, but pursued even their dead bodies.
      • (1.) They would not allow them a quiet grave; their bodies were cast out in the open street, the high street of Babylon, or in the high road leading to the city. This city is spiritually called Sodom for monstrous wickedness, and Egypt for idolatry and tyranny; and here Christ in his mystical body has suffered more than in any place in the world.
      • (2.) Their dead bodies were insulted by the inhabitants of the earth, and their death was a matter of mirth and joy to the antichristian world, v. 10. They were glad to be rid of these witnesses, who by their doctrine and example had teased, terrified, and tormented the consciences of their enemies; these spiritual weapons cut wicked men to the heart, and fill them with the greatest rage and malice against the faithful.
  • VII. The resurrection of these witnesses, and the consequences thereof. Observe,
    • 1. The time of their rising again; after they had lain dead three days and a half (v. 11), a short time in comparison of that in which they had prophesied. Here may be a reference to the resurrection of Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Or there may be a reference to the resurrection of Lazarus on the fourth day, when they thought it impossible. God's witnesses may be slain, but they shall rise again: not in their persons, till the general resurrection, but in their successors. God will revive his work, when it seems to be dead in the world.
    • 2. The power by which they were raised: The spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet. God put not only life, but courage into them. God can make the dry bones to life; it is the Spirit of life from God that quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dying interest in the world.
    • 3. The effect of their resurrection upon their enemies: Great fear fell upon them. The reviving 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 not a courageous, but a cowardly spirit. Herod feared John the Baptist.
  • VIII. The ascension of the witnesses into heaven and the consequences thereof, v. 12, 13. Observe,
    • 1. Their ascension. By heaven we may understand either some more eminent station in the church, the kingdom of grace in this world, or a high place in the kingdom of glory above. The former seems to be the meaning: They ascended to heaven in a cloud (in a figurative, not in a literal sense) and their enemies saw them. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this world and at the great day, that they shall see the faithful servants of God greatly honoured and advanced. To this honour they did not attempt to ascend, till God called them, and said, Come up hither. The Lord's witnesses must wait for their advancement, both in the church and in heaven, till God calls them; they must not be weary of suffering and service, nor too hastily grasp at the reward; but stay till their Master calls them, and then they may gladly ascend to him.
    • 2. The consequences of their ascension-a mighty shock and convulsion in the antichristian empire and the fall of a tenth part of the city. Some refer this to the beginning of the reformation from popery, when many princes and states fell off from their subjection to Rome. This great work met with great opposition; all the western world felt a great concussion, and the antichristian interest received a great blow, and lost a great deal of ground and interest,
      • (1.) By the sword of war, which was then drawn; and many of those who fought under the banner of antichrist were slain by it.
      • (2.) By the sword of the Spirit: The fear of God fell upon many. They were convinced of their errors, superstition, and idolatry; and by true repentance, and embracing the truth, they gave glory to the God of heaven. Thus, when God's work and witnesses revive, the devil's work and witnesses fall before him.

Rev 11:14-19

We have here the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, which is ushered in by the usual warning and demand of attention: The second woe is past, and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded. This had been suspended for some time, till the apostle had been made acquainted with some intervening occurrences of very great moment, and worthy of his notice and observation. But what he before expected he now heard-the seventh angel sounding. Here observe the effects and consequences of this trumpet, thus sounded.

  • I. Here were loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven. Observe,
    • 1. The manner of their adorations: they rose from their seats, and fell upon their faces, and worshipped God; they did it with reverence and humility.
    • 2. The matter of their adorations.
      • (1.) They thankfully recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, v. 15. They were always so in title, both by creation and purchase.
      • (2.) They thankfully observe his actual possession of them, and reign over them; they give him thanks because he had taken to him his great power, asserted his rights, exerted his power, and so turned title into possession.
      • (3.) They rejoice that this his reign shall never end: He shall reign for ever and ever, till all enemies be put under his feet; none shall ever wrest the sceptre out of his hand.
  • II. Here were angry resentments in the world at these just appearances and actings of the power of God (v. 18): The nations were angry; not only had been so, but were so still: their hearts rose up against God; they met his wrath with their own anger. It was a time when God was taking a just revenge upon the enemies of his people, recompensing tribulation to those who had troubled them. It was a time in which he was beginning to reward his people's faithful services and sufferings; and their enemies could not bear it, they fretted against God, and so increased their guilt and hastened their destruction.
  • III. Another consequence was the opening of the temple of God in heaven. By this may be meant that here is now a more free communication between heaven and earth, prayer and praises more freely and frequently ascending and graces and blessings plentifully descending. But it rather seems to intend the church of God on earth, a heavenly temple. It is an allusion to the various circumstances of things in the time of the first temple. Under idolatrous and wicked princes, it was shut up and neglected; but, under religious and reforming princes, it was opened and frequented. So, during the power of antichrist, the temple of God seemed to be shut up, and was so in a great degree; but now it was opened again. At this opening of it observe,
    • 1. What was seen there: the ark of God's testament. This was in the holy of holies; in this ark the tables of the law were kept. As before Josiah's time the law of God had been lost, but was then found, so in the reign of antichrist God's law was laid aside, and made void by their traditions and decrees; the scriptures were locked up from the people, and they must not look into these divine oracles; now they are opened, now they are brought to the view of all. This was an unspeakable and invaluable privilege; and this, like the ark of the testament, was a token of the presence of God returned to his people, and his favour towards them in Jesus Christ the propitiation.
    • 2. What was heard and felt there: Lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. The great blessing of the reformation was attended with very awful providences; and by terrible things in righteousness God would answer those prayers that were presented in his holy temple, now opened. All the great revolutions of the world are concerted in heaven, and are the answers of the prayers of the saints.