2 But the court which is without the temple, leave out, and in which the temple was placed. The whole area was surrounded by a very substantial wall, nearly fifty feet in height. The site of the temple covered nearly the northern half of this area; and the court of the Gentiles was the southern part of it, which occupied nearly as much room as all the rest. It will be seen, then, that the court of the Gentiles was "without the temple," or outside of it. ¶ Measure it not. - This had always been given to the Gentiles, and therefore needed not to be measured; since the revelator measured only that part, as being peculiarly now the object of his description, which had not been profaned by Gentile feet before. When Ezekiel measured, he referred to the profane place: "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place;" xlii. 20. It is given unto the Gentiles. - Such had been long the ordinance of God. As the city was being measured because it was to be given up to the Gentiles, there was no need of measuring that part to which they had been invariably admitted. But the whole was now about to be given up to them; "the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months;" and this is precisely the description given by our Lord himself of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies: "And they [the Jews] shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled;" Luke xxi. 24. It seems highly probable that the revelator had his mind on this passage, when he wrote the words on which we are remarking; and it serves to show that he is describing the destruction of Jerusalem as foretold by Jesus. Forty and two months. measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy This expression seems to have originated in Dan. vii. 25, where we read of "a time, times, and the dividing of time," meaning one year, wo years, and a half of a year, or three years and a half. It denoted the time of the persecution of the church, and triumph of the Roman power. Three years and a half are just fortytwo months; and forty-two months, of thirty days each, (as the Jews reckoned,) are just twelve hundred and sixty days; ch. xi. 3, and xii. 6. During the forty-two months, the holy city was to be trodden under foot; xi. 2; and the beast was to continue; xiii. 5. During the twelve hundred and sixty days the two witnesses were to prophesy in sackcloth; xi. 3; and the woman was to remain in the wilderness to which she fled; xii. 6; and this appears to have been simultaneous with the "time, times, and half a time," mentioned chap. xii. 14. We give no credit to the hypothesis, that these twelve hundred and sixty days were so many prophetical years, a day being put for a year. We see no proof of this whatsoever. Neither do we suppose that twelve hundred and sixty days is strictly intended. We regard this designation, in all its forms, as a prophetical metaphor of time. The only remark which we can make with confidence is, that in all its forms, the expression describes the seasons of the persecution of the church, and the triumph of the Roman power. Prof. Stuart says, "Is this period to be regarded as literal; or as merely a figurative mode of designating a short period, by a reference to a well known period of time in the book of Daniel, vii. 25; xii. 7? The same question occurs in regard to the next verse, and some other passages in the sequel. After all the investigation which I have been able to make, I feel compelled to believe that the writer refers to a literal and definite period, although not so exact that city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall a single day, or even a few days, of tion of Jerusalem, and not to its entire variation from it would interfere with overthrow, which is mentioned verses the object he has in view. It is cer- 15—19. We have said, that previtain that the invasion of the Romans ously to giving a final account of the lasted just about the length of the overthrow of the city and nation of period named, until Jerusalem was the Jews, John took a momentary taken. And although the city itself retrospection of their history, espewas not besieged so long, yet the cially that of the temple, and their metropolis, in this case, as in innu- | opposition to the religion of Jesus; merable others in both Testaments, and that opposition is portrayed under appears to stand for the country of the treatment of the witnesses. 4th. Judea. During the invasion of Judea We do not think we are to construe by the Romans, the faithful testimony strictly the number two, as it respects of the persecuted witnesses for Chris- these witnesses; for this number, like tianity is continued, while at last that of seven, which occurs so frethey are slain. The patience of God, quently in the Apocalypse, seems to in deferring so long the destruction have been taken from the Levitical of the persecutors, is displayed by statutes. The testimony of two or this; and especially his mercy in three unexceptionable witnesses was continuing to warn and reprove them. regarded as sufficient; Deut. xvii. 6. This is a natural, simple and easy Under that law one witness was not method of interpretation, to say the sufficient; Deut. xix. 15; but two least, and one which, although it is were sufficient. Christ adopted this not difficult to raise objections against into his code for settling church diffiit, I feel constrained to adopt.". culties; Matt. xviii. 16. He was not (Com. on Rev. xi. 2. See also his condemned until there were found Hints on Prophecy, 117 et seq.) two false witnesses; Matt. xxvi. 60; 3. My two witnesses. It has been see also 2 Cor. xiii. 1; 1 Tim. v. 19; a great difficulty with commentators Heb. x. 28. Here, then, is reason to tell who these two witnesses were. enough why the Christian witnesses Hammond calls them "the main dif- should be spoken of as two witnesses. ficulty of this chapter." Let us exam- In fact, our Lord sent out his disciine the matter with care. We shall ples by twos: "After these things, come to a conclusion very different the Lord appointed other seventy also, from that of Hammond. 1st. They and sent them two and two before his were Christian witnesses, or witnesses face into every city, and place, whither of Christ. 2d. In verse 10 they are he himself would come;" Luke x. 1. called "prophets;" they were perse- But, 5th. There is a still stronger cuted and killed; ver. 7; and were reason than the foregoing, why the at last received up into heaven; ver. Christian witnesses were spoken of as 12. 3d. Let it be remembered that two. The revelator unquestionably the twelve hundred and sixty days had in his mind the two Jewish leaof their prophecy, as well as the ders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, under "three days and a half" that they lay whom the temple had been reared; dead, were all finished before the and he compared to them the Chrisdestruction of Jerusalem; for we are tian witnesses, who were engaged in told that at the same hour in which rearing the spiritual temple of the they were received up into heaven, gospel. See further under verse 4. "there was a great earthquake, and ¶ They shall prophesy. - Christian inthe tenth part of the city fell," ver. struction was sometimes spoken of as 13, which refers to the partial destruc-prophecy. "Having then gifts, dif prophesy a thousand two hun- | standing before the God of the dred and threescore days, clothed earth. in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olivetrees, and the two candlesticks fering according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;" Rom. xii. 6; see also 1 Cor. xii. 10; xiii. 2, 9; xiv. 1, 24, 31, 39; 1 Tim. iv. 14. ¶ A thousand two hundred and threescore days. This is the same expression, in effect, as the forty-two months mentioned in the preceding verse. Forty-two multiplied by thirty, the number of days the Jews allowed to a month, make twelve hundred and sixty, or a thousand two hundred and threescore. Clothed in sackcloth. This was a sign of affliction: and these witnesses prophesied during the time of the church's greatest trial. See under the following verse. 4. These are the two olive-trees. In Zechariah, ch. iv., Joshua and Zerubbabel are represented by two olive trees, planted by the sides of the candlesticks, to supply oil for the lamps therein, olive oil being the common material used for that purpose. They were the leaders in the rebuilding of the temple, and encouraged the people, and supplied them with zeal, as the olive trees supplied the lamps with oil; and under the fidelity and perseverance of Zerubbabel, the great mountain became a plain, [i. e., great difficulties were overcome,] and the head stone of the temple was brought forth with shouting, "Grace, grace, unto it." The reader must peruse the whole of the 4th chapter of Zechariah. In that chapter we have an account of the building of the temple, which was about to be destroyed when John wrote. Hence his reference to the passage in Zechariah. The prophet described the two leaders as "two olive trees," and "two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their ene earth;" Zech. iv. 11, 14; and this led the revelator to speak of the Christian witnesses as "the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth," as in the verse before us. Having thus given abundant reason why the Christian witnesses were spoken of as two, (although no stress is to be put on that number, as though there were any two particular Christians referred to,) we proceed to show (what perhaps is scarcely necessary) that the early Christian preachers were called "witnesses." "Ye are witnesses of these things;" Luke xxiv. 48. "Ye shall be witnesses unto me;" Acts i. 8; "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof ye are all witnesses;" ii. 32; iii. 15; v. 31. 32; x. 39-43. It was a favorite figure of the apostle John, to represent the Christian teachers as witnesses bearing testimony. 1 Epis. iv. 14; Gos. iii. 11; v. 39; and many other places. Nothing can be more evident, than that the early Christian preachers were spoken of in the character of witnesses. God gave power to those witnesses, and they prophesied during their season, clothed in sackcloth, as a sign of their great sorrow at the woes that were to fall upon their enemies, in which spirit Christ mourned over Jerusalem; and also a sign of the tribulation through which they entered into the kingdom of God. 5. Fire proceedeth out of their mouth. - This is a figure like that which we have already found in ix. 17, 18, only in that case it was applied to the horses. As it respects the witnesses, it was a symbolical representation of their means of defence, and of the protection afforded them by the Father. They could not be slain until it was mies and if any man will hurt earth with all plagues, as often them, he must in this manner as they will. 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 the will of God; they were invincible until their work was done. If any man attacked them, he would fall before the judgments of God. 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. plagues of Egypt. But concerning the plagues which are mentioned generally in the Apocalypse, we refer the reader to what we shall say, under xxii. 19. The 6. Power to shut heaven. - The power of Elijah to suspend the rain, 7. The beast that ascendeth, &c.— was a proof that he was the servant When their duty was done, and God of the living God; 1 Kings xvii. 1. had no more for them to do here This fact, in the sacred history of the below, the beast, who could not come Jews, was perfectly familiar to them out of the pit without permission of all. No man could have that power, God, shall assault them, and overas they all knew, without being an come them, and kill them. The figapproved servant of the Most High. ure of the bottomless pit, we have Turn them to blood. Here is a explained in our notes on chap. ix. 2, reference also to Moses, who, as the to which we refer the reader. This servant of God, had wonderful power, is the first instance of our having met by which he turned the water of with the apocalyptical BEAST. Egypt to blood, and brought plagues beast is a very different animal from all over that land. The object of the the four beasts, or living creatures, revelator was to show that these mentioned in the fourth, fifth, and Christian witnesses were truly God's sixth chapters of the Apocalypse. servants, as much as Moses or Elijah. The latter are Zoa, living creatures; The early Christians certainly had the former is to Therion, a wild venthe power of doing wonderful works omous animal. This beast we shall in attestation of the truths which they consider more fully under succeeding declared. What they bound on earth chapters. It is sufficient to observe was bound in heaven, and what they here, that it represents the leading loosed on earth was loosed in heaven, power by which the Christians were if two agreed as to what they should put to death. Made war against ask. So said Christ, Matt. xviii. 18, them. The beast made war against 19: "Verily, I say unto you, What-them, and overcame them, and killed soever ye shall bind on earth, shall them. The Roman beast had dominbe bound in heaven: and whatsoever ion in Judea; and it was only by the ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed Roman law that the Christians could in heaven. Again I say unto you, be put to death. When Pilate gave That if two of you shall agree on up Jesus to the Jews, and said, "Take earth, as touching anything that they him, and judge him according to your shall ask, it shall be done for them law," they said, "It is not lawful for of my Father which is in heaven." us to put any man to death;" John Two witnesses, under this rule, would xviii. 31. The Jews could not legally have great power. ¶ Smite the earth kill; the power to inflict death was with all plagues. The figure here reserved to the Roman law; when is borrowed, undoubtedly, from the therefore the killing of the Christians 8. In the street of the great city. They were killed in Jerusalem; their dead bodies were seen in the streets of that city. Called Sodom and Egypt. - That wicked place was sometimes called Sodom, on account of its enormous crimes. It was to the leaders of Israel that Isaiah addressed himself when he said, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom," &c.; i. 10. Jerusalem was wicked like Sodom and Egypt, and hence was spiritually called by those names. Where our Lord was crucified.- But the revelator makes it certain what city he meant, by saying, "where also our Lord was crucified." Jerusalem then was certainly intended. - 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 the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us ;" Psa. lxxix. 1—4. 10. Send gifts one to another. - To send gifts was a token of hilarity and joy. It was a custom especially on great occasions of rejoicing. These Christian witnesses had very faithfully and very severely reproved mankind, particularly the Jews, for their sins. The case of Stephen is in point here. They could scarcely contain themselves while he spoke to them. "They were cut to the heart; and they gnashed on him with their teeth;" Acts vii. 54. They cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him, and killed him; verse 57. Glad indeed were they to get such men out of the way; for they trembled and were tormented when their sins were pointed out. The death of such, therefore, was a cause of rejoicing to the wicked. 9. See their dead bodies. The people of all nations who entered within the walls of Jerusalem, should see their dead bodies, denied the right of burial; a crime for which the Jews were afterwards visited with a like fate; with terrific judgments, under which they died in such numbers that 11. Three days and a half. - This they had none to bury them, their is about the same length of time wives, nor their sons, nor their daugh- which intervened between our Lord's ters, for God poured out their wicked- death and resurrection. Perhaps the ness upon them; Jer. xiv. 16. The revelator had his mind on that fact. revelator seems to have had in his¶ They stood upon their feet. — It is mind the language of the Psalmist : not absolutely certain, that the account "O God, the heathen are come into of the treatment of the Christian witthine inheritance; thy holy temple nesses is to be understood in its lithave they defiled; they have laid eral import, although we have so Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies explained it. The language is suscepof thy servants have they given to be tible of either interpretation; though meat unto the fowls of the heaven, we should be led by Rev. xx. 4, to |