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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 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... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 11:1-19

In the passages of the Revelation which we are now about to approach we will on many occasions meet the figure of Antichrist. This figure has exercised a strange fascination over the minds of men and many have been the speculations and theories about him. It will, therefore, be convenient to collect the material about Antichrist at this stage and to try to piece it into a connected whole. We may lay it down as a general principle that Antichrist stands for the power in the universe which is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 11:1-19

11:1-19 A measuring rod like a stall was given to me, with the instructions: "Rise and measure the Temple of God, and the altar and those who worship there. But leave out of the reckoning the outer Court which is outside the Temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the Holy City for forty-two months. And I will give the task of prophesying to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 11:8

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city ,.... Not Jerusalem, which was destroyed when John had this vision, and which will; not be rebuilt at the time it refers to; nor is it ever called the great city, though the city of the great King; however, not in this book, though the new Jerusalem is so called, Revelation 21:10 ; but that can never be designed here; but the city of Rome, or the Roman jurisdiction, the whole empire of the Romish antichrist, which is often... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 11:8

The great city - Some say Rome, which may be spiritually called Sodom for its abominations, Egypt for its tyrannous cruelty, and the place where our Lord was crucified, because of its persecution of the members of Christ; but Jerusalem itself may be intended. All these things I must leave to others. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 11:1-14

"My two witnesses." Following on the reception of the little book from the angel's hand, the seer is directed to measure the temple of God, the altar, and the worshippers. The outer court is not to be measured; for it, with the holy city, is to be trampled underfoot forty-two months. During this period (or a like period) there are to be two witnesses for God, clothed in sackcloth, who, though they have power with God, are slighted by men; against them a great onrush is to be made. They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 11:1-19

The cause of right on earth. "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread underfoot forty and two months," etc. What does this chapter mean? Has it any intelligible meaning? Is it to be taken literally or ideally? One of our most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 11:3-13

The two witnesses. In the absolute impossibility of certainly ascertaining what definite historical events were in the mind of St. John when he penned these mysterious chapters of his Apocalypse, we are driven, as perhaps it was designed we should be driven, to take them as an inspired parable or allegory, and so gather from them lessons for our own times. We have done so in regard to the "little book" told of in Revelation 10:1-11 .; and in regard to the measuring of temple, altar, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 11:3-13

The continuous witness. The Lord calls forth his faithful witnesses, and makes promise that their voice and testimony shall not be silenced, even though the holy city be trodden underfoot. Mark— I. THE UNFAILING TESTIMONY . Throughout the entire period during which the usurping worldly power shall oppress and tread down the adherents to the truth, the voice of testimony is heard. It cannot be silenced. Forty and two months is the holy city trodden underfoot; a thousand two... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 11:8

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified ; their dead body (in the singular), according to A, B, C, Arethas, and others. The plural is read in N, P, Andreas, Primasius, and others. Omit "lie upon the highway … their Lord." "The great city" is referred to in Revelation 16:19 ; Revelation 17:18 ; Revelation 18:10-19 . Its signification is always the same, viz. the type of what is... read more

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