The rule of the Gentiles over Jerusalem

Verses 1/2

Verse 2 makes reference to a time period of 42 months, as Revelation 13 v 5 does, and this is the time when the beast of Revelation 13 wields its influence. Revelation 11 v 2 identifies the beast (Revelation 13 v 5) as the Gentiles� as they are both said to operate for 42 months. The statement in v 2 about the treading down of the holy city by the Gentiles is an allusion to Jesus' words in Luke 21 v 24, where he says �Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles�. Jerusalem is referred to as �the holy city� in scripture, as the following references show:

Isaiah 48 v 2, Isaiah 52 v 1 (quoted in Revelation 21 v 2 - this time in the context of New Jerusalem), Nehemiah 11 v 1, Daniel 9 v 24 (see below), Matthew 27 v 53.

The temple that John measures is likely to comprise of Jesus Christ and his followers (see this principle� in 1 Corinthians 3 v 16). This may be an extension of the ideas in chapter 7 where the faithful were numbered.

The outer court which is "cast off" seems to be the holy city (Jerusalem) which is trodden under foot for the 42 months. �Holy City� is a reference to Daniel 9 v 24, which is part of the prophecy concerning the �seventy sevens� (AV weeks). The prophecy describes a period of seven sevens and sixty two sevens (v 25), as well as half of the final seven (�the midst of the seven� - v 27). As the prophecy seems to be speaking about periods of 7 years, this means that one period of 3 and a half years is unaccounted for. Revelation 11 v 2 indicates that the final period of three and a half years (42 months) is described in the Book and finishes with the return of Christ.

[The period of 69 and a half periods of seven referred to in Daniel chapter 9 (total 487.5) seems to relate to a time period starting with the seventh year of Artaxerxes (459 BC) when Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7 v 7) and finishing with� the death and resurrection of Jesus (27 AD).]

There are references in verses 1 and 2 to Ezekiel chapter 40:

11 v 1�� reed����������������������������������� Ezekiel 40 v 3
11 v 1�� measure������������������������������������ "��� 40 v 5
11 v 2�� the court that is without������������� "��� 40 v 17

In Ezekiel 40, the temple seems to be a physical structure belonging to the kingdom age, whereas in Revelation 11 it is a spiritual one. The relationship between the physical and spiritual meaning of passages is explored further in the notes on chapters 21 and 22.

The two witnesses represent a faithful body of people who witness about Jesus during the time when Jerusalem is dominated by Gentiles.

Verses 3/12

The 2 witnesses prophesy for 1260 days (v 3). The same time span as in Revelation 12 v 6.

It is possible that the references to time, times and half a time, 42 months and 1260 days all relate to the same time period, but represent different perspectives of it. �1260� days may describe the time as seen by the oppressed, �42 months� the time as seen by the oppressors and �time, times and half a time� may emphasise that fact that the time will come to an end with the establishment of the kingdom of God (Daniel 7 v 25 - 27).

The two witnesses seem to be a class of people and not individuals. In the text from which the AV was translated, it speaks about the dead bodies of the witnesses, however in other texts, the first two references in verses 8 and 9 are not to "dead bodies" but to "dead body", i.e. a body of people.

The identity of the witnesses is provided by Revelation 12 v 17, which speaks of the dragon making war with the remnant of the woman's seed, which have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. The beast of Revelation 11 v 7 is a manifestation of the dragon and this makes war against the witnesses. The greek word for witness (martus) is related to the one translated testimony (marturia) in Revelation 12 v 17. The witnesses are identified in Revelation 12 as people who testify about Jesus. They are called the remnant or the rest of the woman's seed, and may be Israelite believers who witness about Jesus in the land (see notes on chapter 12 for options). Revelation 11 verses 11 and 12 imply the resurrection of these faithful witnesses, using similar language to that employed about Jesus (see Acts 1 v 9).
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Major Scriptural references employed in verses 3 - 12 are:

Acts 1 v 8�� "You will be witnesses to me"� -� see Revelation 11 v 3, 7

The references to Zechariah 4:

11 v 4 "the two olive trees"������������������� Zechariah 4 v 3
11 v 4 "candlesticks"�������������������������������������� "���� 4 v 2

11 v 4 "standing .. the God of the earth"���������� "���� 4 v 14

The links to Moses and Elijah:

11 v 5 Fire����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� -�� 2 Kings 1 v 10, 12
11 v 6 Shut heaven - no rain for the days of their prophecy (three and a half years) -�� 1 Kings 17 v 1, Luke 4 v 25
11 v 6 water to blood������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� -�� Exodus 7 v 20
11 v 6 plagues������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ -�� the plagues on Egypt

Similarities with Psalm 79:

v 1�� Gentiles defiled Jerusalem�� -��� Revelation 11 v 2
v 2�� Dead body of servants������� -������������������� 11 v 8
v 2�� Flesh unto beasts of earth�� -�������������������� 11 v 7 "beast"
v 3�� None to bury������������������������������������������� 11 v 9
v 4�� Reproach, scorn, derision��� -������������������� 11 v 10 "rejoice/ make merry"

(Note that in Psalm 79 v 2 the hebrew should be translated �body� and not �bodies�.)

Further reference is made to Psalm 79 in Revelation chapter 16, which describes God's vengeance on those who persecute his servants.� Revelation 16 v 6 speaks of those who have �shed the blood of saints�, quoting Psalm 79 v 2, 3. The psalm also says �pour out thy wrath� (v 6) and �render unto our neighbours sevenfold� (v 12). These requests are fulfilled in Revelation chapter 16,� when the great voice says �to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth� (v 1). The psalm also asks for the �revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed� (v 10 - as 2 Kings 9 v 7 does). This echoes the words of the fifth seal (Revelation 6 v 10). It was concluded that the punishment detailed in the sixth seal was primarily directed against Israel, whereas the vials are directed against the nations round about Israel. This dual application of God�s wrath follows the pattern set out in Jeremiah chapter 25, when describing the drinking of the cup of God�s wrath (see notes on chapter 16).
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�Reference to Ezekiel 37:

37 v 10������������������� "The Spirit of Life entered into them and they stood on their feet."

This is a reference to the resurgence of the nation of Israel, however in Revelation 11 v 11 it implies resurrection (see reference in v 12 to achieving the same state as Jesus - "ascended up to heaven in a cloud" - Acts 1 v 9).

Reference to Isaiah 5:

v 5�� trodden down���������������������������������� -�� Revelation 11 v 2
v 25 bodies ... in the midst of the streets��� -�� Revelation 11 v 8

Reference to Psalm 69:

v 11 clothed in sackcloth�������� -�� Revelation 11 v 3

The context of Psalm 69 is of David witnessing to his enemies - note v 9 which is quoted of Jesus in John 2 v 17, and indicates that the witnesses manifest his spirit. Note also Psalm 69 v 12, "they that sit in the gate speak against me".

Reference to 2 Samuel 22:

v 9 fire out of mouth������������ -� Revelation 11 v 5

(A Psalm of David after being delivered from Saul, and describing God's wrath).

Reference to Psalm 105:

v 38��� "(Egypt) was glad (when Israel departed : for the) ... fear (of�� them) fell upon them"� - Revelation 11 v 10, 11

Reference to Esther 9:

v2��� fear fell on (non Jews)�������� - Revelation 11 v 11
v19� sending presents one to another - Revelation 11 v 10

Of these references, the ones from Esther 9 and Isaiah 5 call for special� explanation. In Esther, gifts are given because the enemies of the jews are killed, and in Isaiah 5 the carcases belong to the ungodly. So how could they be applied to the death of faithful witnesses of Jesus? The answer is possibly that these brethren will be regarded as ungodly men, just as Jesus was, and will be rejected by those inhabiting the land.

[The use of Esther in this opposing manner is perhaps not surprising, as the names of the main godly characters in the book (Esther and Mordecai) are related to those of idols (Ishtar and Marduk). The Book of Esther can be regarded as showing the subjection of idolatry to the will of God. However, in Revelation chapter 11 it is quoted when showing that the people of Israel, who persecute the righteous, are trying to replace the God of Israel with idolatry.]

Similarly in Isaiah chapter 5, Israel confuse good and evil through their ignorance ("Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil, ... woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes" v 20, 21).]
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�The references to Zechariah chapter 4 build on the references to this passage in Revelation 1 v 20 and 2 v 1. In these earlier passages ekklesias are represented as candlesticks, and in Revelation chapter 11 the witnesses are two candlesticks and two olive trees. Based on the identification of Revelation chapter 1, the candlesticks represent two groups of disciples. The two olive trees in Zechariah 4 seem to represent Joshua the high priest (chapter 3) and Zerubbabel (chapter 4) who played a prominent role in God's purpose at that time. It is possible that the two olive trees in Revelation chapter 11 represent two prominent brethren among those making up the candlesticks who are the most visible in testifying about Jesus. However it is clear from vs 3, 4 that the two witnesses (v 3) are the olive trees and the candlesticks, i.e. they are a group of disciples.
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The idea in Revelation 11 v 5 of the witnesses performing feats is likely to have the same sort of meaning as in the following passages:

Hosea 6 v 5� "I have hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth".

Jeremiah 1v10� -� "I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down,�� to destroy and to throw down".

Jeremiah 5v14 "I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them".

The witnesses do not perform the acts themselves, however they witness about the punishments God brings on the land.

In verse 8 it is stated that the dead bodies of the witnesses �lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified�. The notes on chapters 8 and 9 suggest that the place referred to here is Jerusalem. However, there is also likely to be significance in the fact that the Lord Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, �the place of the skull� (Matthew 27 v 33, Mark 15 v 22, John 19 v 17). Skulls can be associated with idolatry, for example in 1 Chronicles 10 v 10 the Philistines fastened the skull (AV head) of Saul in the temple of the God Dagon. Also, when Jezebel was killed, one of the few things that remained of her was her skull (2 Kings 9 v 35). The great city, Babylon, is described using the language of Jezebel (see references in the notes on chapters 2 and 3). The fact that Jerusalem has a place of the skull, indicates that it is a centre of idolatry, which is clearly shown when she is described as a woman in later chapters of Revelation.

(The notes on chapter 13 also make reference to skulls when the number of the beast is considered.)

Verses13/14

The earthquake mentioned here seems to be similar to the one described in Matthew 27 v 51, which accompanies resurrection. The additional earthquake in verse 19 is likely to be the shaking identified in Joel 3 v 16 and the re-arranging of the land in Zechariah 14 v 4-5 (see notes on Revelation chapter 16).

Verses 15/19

This is the time when the "kingdoms of this world become those of the Lord" (v 15). The statements in verse 18 (�And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give� reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and� great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth�) can be considered to be a summary of things that have already happened at that time, possibly belonging to the time of the third woe which is stated as �coming quickly� in verse 14 and which is described in verse 15. The AV makes this point unclear by having �thy wrath is come�, and it would be better translated �thy wrath came�. The time of God's wrath on the nations (v18) and the judgement of the dead (v18) are things which are described in more detail in chapters 16 and 20 respectively.
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In verse 18, the statement about destroying those who destroy the earth can be traced back to Jeremiah 51 v 25 and its reference to the destruction of the Babylonian mountain. If the ideas in these notes are correct, then God's judgement is poured out on the destroyers of the land within Jerusalem (Babylon) and on the destoyers of the land from other nations, i.e �all nations� (see notes on chapter 6).

The reference to angry nations in verse 18 points to Psalm 2 v 1, and its context of breaking them with a rod of iron (v 9 - see Revelation 2 v 27, 12 v 5, 19 v 15).

The reference in verse 19 to lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake and great hail bring to mind Isaiah 29 v 6 which speak of "thunder, earthquake, great voice (AV noise), storm, tempest and flame of devouring fire". These things are poured on the nations that besiege Ariel (the city where David dwelt (v 1) - i.e. Jerusalem).� Similar expressions elsewhere in the Book of Revelation (e.g. Revelation 16 v 18) seem to have their origin in Exodus 19 v 16, which the notes on chapter 1 link to the manifestation of Yahweh with the purpose of punishing the jewish people and Jerusalem for their lack of belief in his ways. The use of similar language to Exodus chapter 19, but based more on Isaiah 29 v 6, shows that the gentiles face similar judgements. This is consistent with the idea of the cup of Yahweh�s wrath passing from Jerusalem to the people which surround her. This is explored more in the notes on Revelation chapter 16.
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In Revelation 11 v 17 the elders say, �We give thee thanks ... Lord�, quoting from Psalm 106 v 1. In Revelation 19 v 4 the elders say �Amen, Alleluia�, quoting from the last verse of Psalm 106 (v 48). This leads to the possibility that the intervening chapters in Revelation and the verses in Psalm 106 may contain similarities too. The theme of Psalm 106 concerns Israel�s rebellion against the word of Yahweh, their oppression by their enemies (v 42) and their salvation from them. These themes are present in Revelation chapters 11 - 19 too.

It is suggested that the 1260 days is a period of Gentile domination of Jerusalem and the land, ending with Jerusalem being beseiged (Isaiah 29 v 3, Zechariah 12 v 2) and captured (Zechariah 14 v 2) by the 10 horns (Revelation 17 v 16). The 1260 days is also the time of events described by the 7 trumpets (especially trumpets 6 and 7), with the 6th trumpet encompassing the resurrection (�come up hither� - Revelation 11 v 12). The nations which make the woman desolate are displaced as the rulers of the land (see Revelation 12) and are punished (the 7 vials/plagues).

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