Chapter 11:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Revelation 11
Concise Complete
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)
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Chapter 11:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
