NOTES for Rev 11:1-14
1 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. |
2 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 under foot forty and two months. |
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. |
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. |
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. |
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. |
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. |
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. |
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. |
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. |
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. |
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. |
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. |
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. |
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This passage is complex, tangled, frightening, and painful. Still, let us try to understand, if not its whole meaning, then at least what this passage means for us today. We see two prophets and many who live on the earth. The prophets, as prophets should, testify to God. They are given enormous authority. But when their testimony is complete, they fall under the power of the Beast. God has removed His hands, removed His protection, and evil acts freely...
What is people's reaction? John says that the prophets tormented those who live on the earth. Nothing less: they tormented them! What did the torment consist of? The word of truth. No one wants to listen to unpleasant truth. It is inconvenient, uncomfortable. And therefore people rejoice so much when the prophets have finally fallen silent...
But then everything happens according to the laws of the Kingdom of God: Life itself cannot die, and no Beast has the power to destroy a person in whose heart God lives. Therefore the prophets rise, made alive by the Spirit of God.
One more important question remains. Where are you and I in this picture? Are we not among those "who live on the earth," for whom the prophets are simply a walking problem?...
Readings for 10 December 2025
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