Observe here, 1. The command given by God to St. John to take. survey of his church, his spiritual temple, consisting of living stones, and built upon the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ. God's faithful and true worshippers are only those whom God will have to be measured, and taken notice of as be... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, What St. John is forbidden to measure, and commanded to leave out, as no part of the true church, namely, THE COURT WHICH IS WITHOUT THE TEMPLE; that is, that part of the visible church which is over-run with idolatry and Anti-christian worship, as bad as Gentilism, and accordingly sha... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That the church of God during Anti-christ's prevalency, shall not want witnesses or faithful teachers, though removed by persecution into corners. Observe, 2. By mentioning TWO only, we may gather the paucity of faithful teachers, during the time of Anti-christ's prevalency; TWO ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. double title given by God unto the two witnesses, spoken of in the former verse; they are styled OLIVE-TREES and CANDLESTICKS. As the olive-tree is always green, so the ministry of these witnesses is lively and efficacious; as the olive is. sign of peace, and the oil that drops from... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses set before us the barbarous usage which the two witnesses should meet with from the antichristian world, for the faithful discharge of their duty; THEY SHALL BE SLAIN, politically and civilly, say some; deposed, silenced, imprisoned, and laid aside as useless and dead. Literally, say o... [ Continue Reading ]
The death of the witnesses was described in the foregoing verses, their resurrection is declared in these. This is understood politically by some, that they who were civilly dead, that is, laid aside as useless, were now politically alive; that is, restored to their public work and employment in the... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are conceived by interpreters to set forth the great success of the witnesses' ministry after their resurrection; it was accompanied with. mighty earthquake, or. great shaking of the kingdom of antichrist; insomuch that. TENTH PART OF THE CITY FELL; that is, many nations and kingdoms und... [ Continue Reading ]
An account is here given of the angel's sounding the seventh trumpet, at the beginning of Antichrist's ruin and downfall; St. John heard great acclamations and shoutings in heaven for the victory which Christ by his WITNESSES had gotten over him, saying, The KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD, that is, several... [ Continue Reading ]
This chapter concludes with. doxolgy and solemn thanksgiving in heaven, for the victory which Christ obtained over antichrist here on earth, that is, for the begun victory over him. Here observe, 1. The persons rendering praises, the FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS; all the ministers of the church, say some... [ Continue Reading ]