Revelation 11:9-12

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 11:9

And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations ,.... These are either the enemies of the witnesses, who consisted of the people, kindred, tongues, and nations, out from among whom they were chosen, redeemed, and called; and before or against whom John, representing these witnesses, prophesied; and over whom the Romish antichrist sits and rules, Revelation 5:9 ; or else their friends, either real or pretended; since it is not said "the people", nor "all the people, kindred,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 11:10

And they that dwell upon the earth ,.... Out of which the beast arose, and over which he reigns, even the inhabitants of the Roman empire, often in this book called the earth, the followers of antichrist, men that mind nothing but earth, and earthly things: shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another ; as is usual with persons, and was with the Jews, to do in times of public rejoicing; see Esther 9:18 . Because these two prophets tormented them that... read more

John Gill

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

And after three days and a half ,.... When it was certain they were dead, and all hope of reviving was over; see John 11:39 ; that is, three years and a half: the spirit of life from God entered into them ; this phrase is expressive of a resurrection the Jews frequently call the general resurrection תחייה , "a quickening", and have the very phrase here used; for, speaking of the resurrection, they say F21 Zohar in Gen. fol. 79. 3. , רוחא דחיי , "the spirit of life" does not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 11:12

And they heard a great voice from heaven ,.... The Complutensian edition reads, "I heard", i.e. "John"; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; but the copies in general read "they"; not the enemies, but the witnesses: and this seems not to come from any Christian civil magistrate in the church, but from Christ himself; not but that Christ may make use of, such for the bringing of his people into a more glorious and comfortable state in this world: saying unto them, come up hither ; as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 11:9

Shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves - They shall be treated with the greatest barbarity. Refusal of burial to the dead was allowed to be the sum of brutality and cruelty. In popish lands they will not suffer a Protestant to have Christian burial, or to have a grave in a churchyard! Contemptible wretches! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 11:10

Shall send gifts - This was a custom in days of public rejoicing. They sent gifts to each other, and gave portions to the poor. See Esther 9:19 , Esther 9:22 . read more

Adam Clarke

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

They stood upon their feet - Were restored to their primitive state. read more

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