‘And there was given to me a reed like a rod with one saying, “Rise, and measure the sanctuary (naos) of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. And the court which is outside the sanctuary leave out and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations, and they will tread the holy c... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEASURING OF THE SANCTUARY AND THE TWO WITNESSES (REVELATION 11:1). It is significant that these events take place within the second ‘woe' when wholesale death pervades the Middle East (Revelation 11:14). They describe God's final plea to both physical Israel and those of the nations in Jerusal... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And I will give to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Lord of the earth.' Over the period (three and a half years) when the Holy City is trodden down by... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And if anyone desires to hurt them fire comes from their mouth and devours their enemies, and if any man will desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.' This is not to be taken literally. The fire that comes from their mouths is like the two-edged sword coming from the mouth of the Son... [ Continue Reading ]
‘These have the power to shut the heaven so that it will not rain during the days of their prophecy, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to smite the earth with every plague as often as they will desire.' It is not said that they do this. These examples are given to demo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when they will have finished their testimony the Beast that comes from the abyss will make war against them, and overcome them, and kill them.' In Revelation there are two contrasting Beasts, the one who arises from the sea (Revelation 13:1), an earthly empire arising from the nations, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.' Here the city in mind is clearly identified as Jerusalem. It is the place where the Lord was crucified. John could not have made it plainer. It is a clear in... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And from among the peoples and tribes and languages and nations do men look on their dead bodies for three days and a half, and do not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.' These ‘peoples and tribes and languages and nations' are in direct and deliberate contrast with the redeemed from eve... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them and make merry, and they will send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on earth.' Those whose hearts are on earthly things, the earth dwellers, throw parties and celebrate. At last they are free of these men wh... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them, and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying to them, “Come up here!”. And they went up into Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And in that hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the city fell and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the remainder were terrified and gave glory to the God of Heaven.' Now that God's people have been taken up the world faces the judgment of God. There will... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The second woe is past. Behold the third woe comes quickly.' In Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:20 it is Christ Who ‘comes quickly', and we find here that the same applies to the third woe. For that final woe for mankind is indeed the arrival of the Judge of all the earth, as Heave... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the seventh angel sounded, and there followed great voices in Heaven, and they said, “The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever”.' Thus is declared the final hour. This is the seventh and last trumpet (compare 1 Corinthian... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the twenty four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, “We give thanks Oh Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and enforced your reign (reigned - aorist ingressive)”.' We note that there is no lo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the nations were angry, and your wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to your servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.' Now God reigns His judgme... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the Temple of God in Heaven was opened and in His temple was seen the ark of the covenant, and there followed lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and great hail.' Nothing is secret any longer. Heaven is opened and made known to earth. The ark of the covenant represents the thro... [ Continue Reading ]