Greek NT with variants

1καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} μοιG3427{P-1DS} καλαμοςG2563{N-NSM} ομοιοςG3664{A-NSM} ραβδωG4464{N-DSF} σκαιG2532{CONJ} σοG3588{T-NSM} σαγγελοςG32{N-NSM} σειστηκειG2476{V-LAI-3S} λεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} αεγειρεG1453{V-PAM-2S} τσβεγειραιG1453{V-AMM-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} μετρησονG3354{V-AAM-2S} τονG3588{T-ASM} ναονG3485{N-ASM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-ASN} θυσιαστηριονG2379{N-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} προσκυνουνταςG4352{V-PAP-APM} ενG1722{PREP} αυτωG846{P-DSM} 2καιG2532{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} αυληνG833{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} αβσεξωθενG1855{ADV} τεσωθενG2081{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} ναουG3485{N-GSM} εκβαλεG1544{V-2AAM-2S} αεξωθενG1855{ADV} τσβεξωG1854{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} αυτηνG846{P-ASF} μετρησηςG3354{V-AAS-2S} οτιG3754{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} τοιςG3588{T-DPN} βεθνεσιG1484{N-DPN} ατσεθνεσινG1484{N-DPN} καιG2532{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} πολινG4172{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} αγιανG40{A-ASF} βπατησουσιG3961{V-FAI-3P} ατσπατησουσινG3961{V-FAI-3P} μηναςG3376{N-APM} ατεσσερακονταG5062{A-NUI} τσβτεσσαρακονταG5062{A-NUI} α[και]G2532{CONJ} βκαιG2532{CONJ} δυοG1417{A-NUI} 3καιG2532{CONJ} δωσωG1325{V-FAI-1S} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} βδυσιG1417{A-DPM} ατσδυσινG1417{A-DPM} βμαρτυσιG3144{N-DPM} ατσμαρτυσινG3144{N-DPM} μουG3450{P-1GS} καιG2532{CONJ} προφητευσουσινG4395{V-FAI-3P} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} χιλιαςG5507{A-APF} διακοσιαςG1250{A-APF} εξηκονταG1835{A-NUI} περιβεβλημενοιG4016{V-RPP-NPM} σακκουςG4526{N-APM} 4ουτοιG3778{D-NPM} εισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} αιG3588{T-NPF} δυοG1417{A-NUI} ελαιαιG1636{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} αβσαιG3588{T-NPF} δυοG1417{A-NUI} λυχνιαιG3087{N-NPF} αιG3588{T-NPF} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} αβκυριουG2962{N-GSM} τσθεουG2316{N-GSM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} αεστωτεςG2476{V-RAP-NPM} τσβεστωσαιG2476{V-RAP-NPF} 5καιG2532{CONJ} ειG1487{COND} τιςG5100{X-NSM} αυτουςG846{P-APM} αβθελειG2309{V-PAI-3S} τσθεληG2309{V-PAS-3S} αδικησαιG91{V-AAN} πυρG4442{N-NSN} εκπορευεταιG1607{V-PNI-3S} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} στοματοςG4750{N-GSN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} κατεσθιειG2719{V-PAI-3S} τουςG3588{T-APM} εχθρουςG2190{A-APM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειG1487{COND} τιςG5100{X-NSM} αθελησηG2309{V-AAS-3S} βθελειG2309{V-PAI-3S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} τσθεληG2309{V-PAS-3S} αδικησαιG91{V-AAN} ουτωςG3779{ADV} δειG1163{V-PQI-3S} αυτονG846{P-ASM} αποκτανθηναιG615{V-APN} 6ουτοιG3778{D-NPM} εχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} ατηνG3588{T-ASF} εξουσιανG1849{N-ASF} κλεισαιG2808{V-AAN} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} ιναG2443{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} τσβρεχηG1026{V-PAS-3S} υετοςG5205{N-NSM} αββρεχηG1026{V-PAS-3S} τσενG1722{PREP} αβταςG3588{T-APF} τσημεραιςG2250{N-DPF} αβημεραςG2250{N-APF} τσαυτωνG846{P-GPM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} προφητειαςG4394{N-GSF} αβαυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} εξουσιανG1849{N-ASF} εχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} επιG1909{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} υδατωνG5204{N-GPN} στρεφεινG4762{V-PAN} αυταG846{P-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} αιμαG129{N-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} παταξαιG3960{V-AAN} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} αβενG1722{PREP} πασηG3956{A-DSF} πληγηG4127{N-DSF} οσακιςG3740{ADV} εανG1437{COND} βθελησωσιG2309{V-AAS-3P} ατσθελησωσινG2309{V-AAS-3P} 7καιG2532{CONJ} οτανG3752{CONJ} βτελεσωσιG5055{V-AAS-3P} ατστελεσωσινG5055{V-AAS-3P} τηνG3588{T-ASF} μαρτυριανG3141{N-ASF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} τοG3588{T-NSN} θηριονG2342{N-NSN} τοG3588{T-NSN} αναβαινονG305{V-PAP-NSN} εκG1537{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} αβυσσουG12{N-GSF} ποιησειG4160{V-FAI-3S} τσπολεμονG4171{N-ASM} μετG3326{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} αβπολεμονG4171{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} νικησειG3528{V-FAI-3S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} αποκτενειG615{V-FAI-3S} αυτουςG846{P-APM} 8καιG2532{CONJ} ατοG3588{T-NSN} τσβταG3588{T-NPN} απτωμαG4430{N-NSN} τσβπτωματαG4430{N-NPN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} πλατειαςG4113{N-GSF} αβτηςG3588{T-GSF} πολεωςG4172{N-GSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} μεγαληςG3173{A-GSF} ητιςG3748{R-NSF} καλειταιG2564{V-PPI-3S} πνευματικωςG4153{ADV} σοδομαG4670{N-NPN} καιG2532{CONJ} αιγυπτοςG125{N-NSF} οπουG3699{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} κυριοςG2962{N-NSM} αβαυτωνG846{P-GPM} τσημωνG2257{P-1GP} εσταυρωθηG4717{V-API-3S} 9καιG2532{CONJ} αββλεπουσινG991{V-PAI-3P} τσβλεψουσινG991{V-FAI-3P} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} λαωνG2992{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} φυλωνG5443{N-GPF} καιG2532{CONJ} γλωσσωνG1100{N-GPF} καιG2532{CONJ} εθνωνG1484{N-GPN} αβτοG3588{T-ASN} τσταG3588{T-APN} αβπτωμαG4430{N-ASN} τσπτωματαG4430{N-APN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} τρειςG5140{A-APF} ατσκαιG2532{CONJ} ημισυG2255{A-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} πτωματαG4430{N-APN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ουκG3756{PRT-N} ααφιουσινG863{V-PAI-3P} βαφησουσιG863{V-FAI-3P} τσαφησουσινG863{V-FAI-3P} τεθηναιG5087{V-APN} ειςG1519{PREP} αβμνημαG3418{N-ASN} τσμνηματαG3418{N-APN} 10καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} κατοικουντεςG2730{V-PAP-NPM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} αβχαιρουσινG5463{V-PAI-3P} τσχαρουσινG5463{V-FAI-3P} επG1909{PREP} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} αευφραινονταιG2165{V-PPI-3P} τσβευφρανθησονταιG2165{V-FPI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} δωραG1435{N-APN} βδωσουσινG1325{V-FAI-3P} ατσπεμψουσινG3992{V-FAI-3P} αλληλοιςG240{C-DPM} οτιG3754{CONJ} ουτοιG3778{D-NPM} οιG3588{T-NPM} δυοG1417{A-NUI} προφηταιG4396{N-NPM} εβασανισανG928{V-AAI-3P} τουςG3588{T-APM} κατοικουνταςG2730{V-PAP-APM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} 11καιG2532{CONJ} μεταG3326{PREP} ταςG3588{T-APF} τρειςG5140{A-APF} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} ημισυG2255{A-ASN} πνευμαG4151{N-NSN} ζωηςG2222{N-GSF} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} εισηλθενG1525{V-2AAI-3S} αενG1722{PREP} βειςG1519{PREP} τσεπG1909{PREP} ααυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τσβαυτουςG846{P-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} εστησανG2476{V-2AAI-3P} επιG1909{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} ποδαςG4228{N-APM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} φοβοςG5401{N-NSM} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} αεπεπεσενG1968{V-2AAI-3S} τσβεπεσενG4098{V-2AAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} θεωρουνταςG2334{V-PAP-APM} αυτουςG846{P-APM} 12καιG2532{CONJ} βηκουσαG191{V-AAI-1S} ατσηκουσανG191{V-AAI-3P} τσβφωνηνG5456{N-ASF} αφωνηςG5456{N-GSF} τσβμεγαληνG3173{A-ASF} αμεγαληςG3173{A-GSF} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} αλεγουσηςG3004{V-PAP-GSF} τσβλεγουσανG3004{V-PAP-ASF} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} ααναβατεG305{V-2AAM-2P} τσβαναβητεG305{V-2AAM-2P} ωδεG5602{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} ανεβησανG305{V-2AAI-3P} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} νεφεληG3507{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} εθεωρησανG2334{V-AAI-3P} αυτουςG846{P-APM} οιG3588{T-NPM} εχθροιG2190{A-NPM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} 13καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} εκεινηG1565{D-DSF} τηG3588{T-DSF} βημεραG2250{N-DSF} ατσωραG5610{N-DSF} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} σεισμοςG4578{N-NSM} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} δεκατονG1182{A-NSN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} πολεωςG4172{N-GSF} βεπεσεG4098{V-2AAI-3S} ατσεπεσενG4098{V-2AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} απεκτανθησανG615{V-API-3P} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} σεισμωG4578{N-DSM} ονοματαG3686{N-APN} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} χιλιαδεςG5505{A-NPF} επταG2033{A-NUI} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} λοιποιG3062{A-NPM} εμφοβοιG1719{A-NPM} εγενοντοG1096{V-2ADI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} εδωκανG1325{V-AAI-3P} δοξανG1391{N-ASF} τωG3588{T-DSM} θεωG2316{N-DSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} 14ηG3588{T-NSF} ουαιG3759{N-OI} ηG3588{T-NSF} δευτεραG1208{A-NSF} απηλθενG565{V-2AAI-3S} σκαιG2532{CONJ} ατσιδουG2400{V-2AAM-2S} ηG3588{T-NSF} ουαιG3759{N-OI} ηG3588{T-NSF} τριτηG5154{A-NSF} βιδουG2400{V-2AAM-2S} ερχεταιG2064{V-PNI-3S} ταχυG5035{ADV} 15καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} εβδομοςG1442{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενοντοG1096{V-2ADI-3P} φωναιG5456{N-NPF} μεγαλαιG3173{A-NPF} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ουρανωG3772{N-DSM} τσβλεγουσαιG3004{V-PAP-NPF} αλεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} αβεγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} τσεγενοντοG1096{V-2ADI-3P} αβηG3588{T-NSF} τσαιG3588{T-NPF} αββασιλειαG932{N-NSF} τσβασιλειαιG932{N-NPF} τουG3588{T-GSM} κοσμουG2889{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} ημωνG2257{P-1GP} καιG2532{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSM} χριστουG5547{N-GSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} βασιλευσειG936{V-FAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} αιωναςG165{N-APM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αιωνωνG165{N-GPM} 16καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} εικοσιG1501{A-NPM} τσκαιG2532{CONJ} τεσσαρεςG5064{A-NPM} πρεσβυτεροιG4245{A-NPM} α[οι]G3588{T-NPM} τσβοιG3588{T-NPM} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} β[τουG3588{T-GSM} βθρονου]G2362{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} καθημενοιG2521{V-PNP-NPM} επιG1909{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} θρονουςG2362{N-APM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} βεπεσονG4098{V-2AAI-3P} ατσεπεσανG4098{V-2AAI-3P} επιG1909{PREP} ταG3588{T-APN} προσωπαG4383{N-APN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} προσεκυνησανG4352{V-AAI-3P} τωG3588{T-DSM} θεωG2316{N-DSM} 17λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} ευχαριστουμενG2168{V-PAI-1P} σοιG4671{P-2DS} κυριεG2962{N-VSM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} παντοκρατωρG3841{N-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} ωνG5607{V-PXP-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} τσκαιG2532{CONJ} τσοG3588{T-NSM} τσερχομενοςG2064{V-PNP-NSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} ειληφαςG2983{V-RAI-2S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} δυναμινG1411{N-ASF} σουG4675{P-2GS} τηνG3588{T-ASF} μεγαληνG3173{A-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εβασιλευσαςG936{V-AAI-2S} 18καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} εθνηG1484{N-NPN} ωργισθησανG3710{V-API-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} οργηG3709{N-NSF} σουG4675{P-2GS} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} καιροςG2540{N-NSM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} νεκρωνG3498{A-GPM} κριθηναιG2919{V-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} δουναιG1325{V-2AAN} τονG3588{T-ASM} μισθονG3408{N-ASM} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} δουλοιςG1401{N-DPM} σουG4675{P-2GS} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} προφηταιςG4396{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} αγιοιςG40{A-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} φοβουμενοιςG5399{V-PNP-DPM} τοG3588{T-ASN} ονομαG3686{N-ASN} σουG4675{P-2GS} ατουςG3588{T-APM} τσβτοιςG3588{T-DPM} αμικρουςG3398{A-APM} τσβμικροιςG3398{A-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ατουςG3588{T-APM} τσβτοιςG3588{T-DPM} αμεγαλουςG3173{A-APM} τσβμεγαλοιςG3173{A-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} διαφθειραιG1311{V-AAN} τουςG3588{T-APM} διαφθειρονταςG1311{V-PAP-APM} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} 19καιG2532{CONJ} ηνοιγηG455{V-2API-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} ναοςG3485{N-NSM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} αοG3588{T-NSM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ουρανωG3772{N-DSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ωφθηG3700{V-API-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} κιβωτοςG2787{N-NSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} διαθηκηςG1242{N-GSF} βτουG3588{T-GSM} βκυριουG2962{N-GSM} ατσαυτουG846{P-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ναωG3485{N-DSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενοντοG1096{V-2ADI-3P} αστραπαιG796{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} φωναιG5456{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} βρονταιG1027{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} ατσσεισμοςG4578{N-NSM} ατσκαιG2532{CONJ} χαλαζαG5464{N-NSF} μεγαληG3173{A-NSF}


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   This prophetical passage about measuring the temple is a plain reference to what we find in Ezekiel's vision, Ezek 40:3, etc. But how to understand either the one or the other is not so easy. It should seem the design of measuring the temple in the former case was in order to the rebuilding of it, and that with advantage; the design of this measurement seems to be either, 1. For the preservation of it in those times of public danger and calamity that are here foretold; or, 2. For its trial; that it may be seen how far it agrees with the standard, or pattern, in the mount; or, 3. For its reformation; that what is redundant, deficient, or changed, may be regulated according to the true model. Observe,
I. How much was to be measured. 1. The temple; the gospel church in general, whether it be so built, so constituted, as the gospel rule directs, whether it be too narrow or too large, the door too wide or too strait. 2. The altar. That which was the place of the most solemn acts of worship may be put for religious worship in general; whether the church has the true altars, both as to substance and situation: as to substance, whether they take Christ for their altar, and lay down all their offerings there; and in situation, whether the altar be in the holiest; that is, whether they worship God in the Spirit and in truth. 3. The worshippers too must be measured, whether they make God's glory their end and his word their rule, in all their acts of worship; and whether they come to God with suitable affections, and whether their conversation be as becomes the gospel.
II. What was not to be measured (Revel 11:2), and why it should be left out. 1. What was not to be measured: The court which is without the temple measure it not. Some say that Herod, in the additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it the court of the Gentiles. Some tell us that Adrian built the city and an outer court, and called it Aelia, and gave it to the Gentiles. 2. Why was not the outer court measured? This was no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would not mark it out for preservation; but as it was designed for the Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot for a certain time - forty and two months, which some would have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God, and will be found among his enemies. 3. From the whole observe, (1.) God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time. (2.) He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes how every thing is managed in it. (3.) Those who worship in the outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the veil accepted. (4.) The holy city, the visible church, is very much trampled upon in the world. But, (5.) The desolations of the church are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles.

 3   In this time of treading down, God has reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellency of his ways. Here observe,
I. The number of these witnesses: it is but a small number and yet it is sufficient. 1. It is but small. Many will own and acknowledge Christ in times of prosperity who will desert and deny him in times of persecution; one witness, when the cause is upon trial, is worth many at other times. 2. It is a sufficient number; for in the mouth of two witnesses every cause shall be established. Christ sent out his disciples two by two, to preach the gospel. Some think these two witnesses are Enoch and Elias, who are to return to the earth for a time: others, the church of the believing Jews and that of the Gentiles: it should rather seem that they are God's eminent faithful ministers, who shall not only continue to profess the Christian religion, but to preach it, in the worst of times.
II. The time of their prophesying, or bearing their testimony for Christ. A thousand two hundred and threescore days; that is (as many think), to the period of the reign of antichrist; and, if the beginning of that interval could be ascertained, this number of prophetic days, taking a day for a year, would give us a prospect when the end shall be.
III. Their habit, and posture: they prophesy in sackcloth, as those that are deeply affected with the low and distressed state of the churches and interest of Christ in the world.
IV. How they were supported and supplied during the discharge of their great and hard work: they stood before the God of the whole earth, and he gave them power to prophesy. He made them to be like Zerubbabel and Joshua, the two olive-trees and candlestick in the vision of Zechariah, Zech 4:2, etc. God gave them the oil of holy zeal, and courage, and strength, and comfort; he made them olive-trees, and their lamps of profession were kept burning by the oil of inward gracious principles, which they received from God. They had oil not only in their lamps, but in their vessels - habits of spiritual life, light, and zeal.
V. Their security and defence during the time of their prophesying: If any attempted to hurt them, fire proceeded out of their mouths, and devoured them, Revel 11:5. Some think this alludes to Elias's calling for the fire from heaven, to consume the captains and their companies that came to seize him, 2Kgs 1:12. God promised the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 5:14), Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people shall be wood, and it shall devour them. By their praying and preaching, and courage in suffering, they shall gall and wound the very hearts and consciences of many of their persecutors, who shall go away self-condemned, and be even terrors to themselves; like Pashur, at the words of the prophet Jeremiah, Jer 20:4. They shall have that free access to God, and that interest in him, that, at their prayers, God will inflict plagues and judgments upon their enemies, as he did on Pharaoh, turning their rivers into blood, and restraining the dews of heaven, shutting heaven up, that no rain shall fall for many days, as he did at the prayers of Elias, 1Kgs 17:1. God has ordained his arrows for the persecutors, and is often plaguing them while they are persecuting his people; they find it hard work to kick against the pricks.
VI. The slaying of the witnesses. To make their testimony more strong, they must seal it with their blood. Here observe, 1. The time when they should be killed: When they have finished their testimony. They are immortal, they are invulnerable, till their work be done. Some think it ought to be rendered, when they were about to finish their testimony. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of the 1260 years, then they should feel the last effect of antichristian malice. 2. The enemy that should overcome and slay them - the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit. Antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, should make war against them, not only with the arms of subtle and sophistical learning, but chiefly with open force and violence; and God would permit his enemies to prevail against his witnesses for a time. 3. The barbarous usage of these slain witnesses; the malice of their enemies was not satiated with their blood and death, but pursued even their dead bodies. (1.) They would not allow them a quiet grave; their bodies were cast out in the open street, the high street of Babylon, or in the high road leading to the city. This city is spiritually called Sodom for monstrous wickedness, and Egypt for idolatry and tyranny; and here Christ in his mystical body has suffered more than in any place in the world. (2.) Their dead bodies were insulted by the inhabitants of the earth, and their death was a matter of mirth and joy to the antichristian world, Revel 11:10. They were glad to be rid of these witnesses, who by their doctrine and example had teased, terrified, and tormented the consciences of their enemies; these spiritual weapons cut wicked men to the heart, and fill them with the greatest rage and malice against the faithful.
VII. The resurrection of these witnesses, and the consequences thereof. Observe, 1. The time of their rising again; after they had lain dead three days and a half (Revel 11:11), a short time in comparison of that in which they had prophesied. Here may be a reference to the resurrection of Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Or there may be a reference to the resurrection of Lazarus on the fourth day, when they thought it impossible. God's witnesses may be slain, but they shall rise again: not in their persons, till the general resurrection, but in their successors. God will revive his work, when it seems to be dead in the world. 2. The power by which they were raised: The spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet. God put not only life, but courage into them. God can make the dry bones to life; it is the Spirit of life from God that quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dying interest in the world. 3. The effect of their resurrection upon their enemies: Great fear fell upon them. The reviving 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 not a courageous, but a cowardly spirit. Herod feared John the Baptist.
VIII. The ascension of the witnesses into heaven and the consequences thereof, Revel 11:12, Revel 11:13. Observe, 1. Their ascension. By heaven we may understand either some more eminent station in the church, the kingdom of grace in this world, or a high place in the kingdom of glory above. The former seems to be the meaning: They ascended to heaven in a cloud (in a figurative, not in a literal sense) and their enemies saw them. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this world and at the great day, that they shall see the faithful servants of God greatly honoured and advanced. To this honour they did not attempt to ascend, till God called them, and said, Come up hither. The Lord's witnesses must wait for their advancement, both in the church and in heaven, till God calls them; they must not be weary of suffering and service, nor too hastily grasp at the reward; but stay till their Master calls them, and then they may gladly ascend to him. 2. The consequences of their ascension - a mighty shock and convulsion in the antichristian empire and the fall of a tenth part of the city. Some refer this to the beginning of the reformation from popery, when many princes and states fell off from their subjection to Rome. This great work met with great opposition; all the western world felt a great concussion, and the antichristian interest received a great blow, and lost a great deal of ground and interest, (1.) By the sword of war, which was then drawn; and many of those who fought under the banner of antichrist were slain by it. (2.) By the sword of the Spirit: The fear of God fell upon many. They were convinced of their errors, superstition, and idolatry; and by true repentance, and embracing the truth, they gave glory to the God of heaven. Thus, when God's work and witnesses revive, the devil's work and witnesses fall before him.

 14   We have here the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, which is ushered in by the usual warning and demand of attention: The second woe is past, and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded. This had been suspended for some time, till the apostle had been made acquainted with some intervening occurrences of very great moment, and worthy of his notice and observation. But what he before expected he now heard - the seventh angel sounding. Here observe the effects and consequences of this trumpet, thus sounded.
I. Here were loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven. Observe, 1. The manner of their adorations: they rose from their seats, and fell upon their faces, and worshipped God; they did it with reverence and humility. 2. The matter of their adorations. (1.) They thankfully recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, Revel 11:15. They were always so in title, both by creation and purchase. (2.) They thankfully observe his actual possession of them, and reign over them; they give him thanks because he had taken to him his great power, asserted his rights, exerted his power, and so turned title into possession. (3.) They rejoice that this his reign shall never end: He shall reign for ever and ever, till all enemies be put under his feet; none shall ever wrest the sceptre out of his hand.
II. Here were angry resentments in the world at these just appearances and actings of the power of God (Revel 11:18): The nations were angry; not only had been so, but were so still: their hearts rose up against God; they met his wrath with their own anger. It was a time when God was taking a just revenge upon the enemies of his people, recompensing tribulation to those who had troubled them. It was a time in which he was beginning to reward his people's faithful services and sufferings; and their enemies could not bear it, they fretted against God, and so increased their guilt and hastened their destruction.
III. Another consequence was the opening of the temple of God in heaven. By this may be meant that here is now a more free communication between heaven and earth, prayer and praises more freely and frequently ascending and graces and blessings plentifully descending. But it rather seems to intend the church of God on earth, a heavenly temple. It is an allusion to the various circumstances of things in the time of the first temple. Under idolatrous and wicked princes, it was shut up and neglected; but, under religious and reforming princes, it was opened and frequented. So, during the power of antichrist, the temple of God seemed to be shut up, and was so in a great degree; but now it was opened again. At this opening of it observe, 1. What was seen there: the ark of God's testament. This was in the holy of holies; in this ark the tables of the law were kept. As before Josiah's time the law of God had been lost, but was then found, so in the reign of antichrist God's law was laid aside, and made void by their traditions and decrees; the scriptures were locked up from the people, and they must not look into these divine oracles; now they are opened, now they are brought to the view of all. This was an unspeakable and invaluable privilege; and this, like the ark of the testament, was a token of the presence of God returned to his people, and his favour towards them in Jesus Christ the propitiation. 2. What was heard and felt there: Lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. The great blessing of the reformation was attended with very awful providences; and by terrible things in righteousness God would answer those prayers that were presented in his holy temple, now opened. All the great revolutions of the world are concerted in heaven, and are the answers of the prayers of the saints.