‏ Revelation of John 11

* 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)

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. 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. 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.