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Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 11:3

Revelation 11:3. I will give power unto my two witnesses, &c.— The sacred writer assures us that God would raise up some true and faithful witnesses, to preach and protest against the innovations mentioned in the preceding verse: and there were Protestants long before ever the name came into use. Of these witnesses there should be, though but a small, yet a competent number; and it was a sufficient reason for making them two witnesses, because that number is required by the law, Deu 19:15... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 11:2

2. But—Greek, "And." the court . . . without—all outside the Holy Place ( :-). leave out—of thy measurement, literally, "cast out"; reckon as unhallowed. it—emphatic. It is not to be measured; whereas the Holy Place is. given—by God's appointment. unto the Gentiles—In the wider sense, there are meant here "the times of the Gentiles," wherein Jerusalem is "trodden down of the Gentiles," as the parallel, :-, proves; for the same word is used here [Greek, "patein"], "tread under foot." Compare... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 11:3

3. I will give power —There is no "power" in the Greek, so that "give" must mean "give commission," or some such word. my two witnesses—Greek, "the two witnesses of me." The article implies that the two were well known at least to John. prophesy—preach under the inspiration of the Spirit, denouncing judgments against the apostate. They are described by symbol as "the two olive trees" and "the two candlesticks," or lamp-stands, "standing before the God of the earth." The reference is to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 11:4

4. standing before the God of the earth—A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read "Lord" for "God": so :-. Ministering to (Luke 1:19), and as in the sight of Him, who, though now so widely disowned on "earth," is its rightful King, and shall at last be openly recognized as such (Revelation 11:15). The phrase alludes to Zechariah 4:10; Zechariah 4:14, "the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." The article "the" marks this allusion. They are "the two... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:1-14

F. Supplementary revelation of the two witnesses in the Great Tribulation 11:1-14John recorded the revelation dealing with the two witnesses to inform his readers of the ministries of these important individuals during the Great Tribulation. This section continues the parenthetical revelation begun in Revelation 10:1. It is one of the more difficult chapters to interpret, and students of the book have proposed many different explanations. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:2

"Leave out" (Gr. ekballo, lit. cast out) implies removal from divine favor (cf. Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30; 3 John 1:10). The court outside the temple corresponds to the court to which Gentiles had access in the first century, which lay outside the court into which only Jews could come. The Tribulation temple will evidently have similar courtyards. Not measuring amounts to exclusion from God’s favor as measuring amounts to enjoying His favor (Revelation 11:1). The nations are the Gentiles,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:3

Who is speaking in this verse? The speaker seems to be the angel who spoke in Revelation 11:1-2, who here speaks for God (cf. Revelation 11:8).God did not reveal the identity of the two witnesses. Many commentators believe they will be Moses and Elijah since these men were prophets and performed the kinds of miracles these witnesses will perform (Revelation 11:6). [Note: E.g., Smith, A Revelation . . ., p. 169; Tenney, p. 191; and Barclay, The Revelation . . ., 2:87.] Others believe they will... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:3-6

2. The ministry of the two witnesses 11:3-6Even though believing Jews will suffer persecution at this time, God will still get His message out. Two witnesses will be especially significant at this time. Valid testimony required two witnesses under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 19:15), and both Jesus and the early church sent out emissaries in pairs (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:2; Acts 13:2; Acts 15:39-40). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:4

The ministry of these two witnesses resembles that of Zerubbabel and Joshua who sought to restore Israel after a previous exile (Zechariah 4:2-3; Zechariah 4:11-14). There is only one lampstand in the Zechariah passage, but there are two here representing each of the two witnesses. In the Zechariah passage it is the Holy Spirit who empowered Zerubbabel and Joshua (Zechariah 4:14), and the comparison strongly suggests that these latter-day witnesses will also receive power from Him (cf.... read more

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