Revelation:11

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* And there (note :)The authority of the intended revelation being declared , together with the necessity of that calling which was particularly imposed on John after which follows the history of the estate of Christ his Church , both conflicting or warring , and overcoming in Christ . For the true Church of Christ is said to fight against that which is falsely so called , over which Antichrist rules , Christ Jesus overthrowing Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth : and Christ is said to overcome most gloriously until he shall slay Antichrist by the appearance of his coming , as the apostle teaches in ( 2Th_2:8 ). So this history has two parts : One of the state of the Church conflicting with temptations until Chapter 16 . The other of the state of the same church obtaining victory , thence to Chapter 20 . The first part has two sections most conveniently distributed into their times , of which the first contains a history of the Christian Church for 1260 years , what time the gospel of Christ was as it were taken up from among men into heaven : the second contains a history of the same Church to the victory perfected . These two sections are briefly , though distinctly propounded in this chapter , but both of them are discoursed after in due order . For we understand the state of the Church conflicting , out of Chapters 12 and 13 , and of the same growing out of afflictions , out of Chapters 14 to 16 . Neither did John unknowingly join together the history of these two times in this chapter , because here is spoken of prophecy , which all confess to be but one just and immutable in the Church , and which Christ commanded to be continual . The history of the former time reaches to ( Rev_11:2-14 ), the latter is set down in the rest of this chapter ( Rev_11:15-19 ). In the former are shown these things : the calling of the servants of God in ( Rev_11:4 ) the conflicts which the faithful must undergo in their calling , for Christ and his Church , thence to ( Rev_11:5-10 ) and their resurrection , and receiving up into heaven to ( Rev_11:11-14 ). In the calling of the servants of God , two things are mentioned : the begetting and settling of the Church in two verses , and the education of it in two verses . The begetting of the Church is here commended to John by sign and by speech : the sign is a measuring rod , and the speech a commandment to measure the Temple of God , that is , to reduce the same to a new form : because the Gentiles are already entered into the Temple of Jerusalem , and shall shortly defile and overthrow it completely .(:note ) was given me a reed like unto a rod : and the angel stood , saying , Rise , and Either that of Jerusalem 's , which was a figure of the Church of Christ , or that heavenly model in ( Rev_11:19 ) but I like the first better , and the things following all agree to it . The sense therefore is , you see all things in God 's house , almost from the passion of Christ , to be disordered : and not only the city of Jerusalem , but also the court of the Temple is trampled under foot by the nations , and by profane men whether Jews or strangers : and that only this Temple , that is , the body of the Temple , with the altar , and a small company of good men who truly worship God , do now remain , whom God sanctifies and confirms by his presence . Measure therefore this , even this true Church , or rather the true type of the true Church , omitting the rest , and so describe all things from me , that the true Church of Christ may be as it were a very little centre , and the Church of Antichrist as the circle of the centre , every way in length and breadth compassing about the same , that by way of prophecy you may so declare openly , that the state of the Temple of God , and the faithful who worship him , that is , of the Church , is much more upright than the Church of Antichrist . measure the temple of God , and the altar , and them that worship therein . * * And (note :)I would rather translate it «illud » than «illam » the temple than the city : for God says , I will give that temple , and commit it to my two witnesses , that is , to the ministers of the word , who are few indeed , weak and contemptible : but yet two , that is , of such a number as one of them may help another , and one confirm the testimony of another to all men , that from the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be made good among men ; ( 2Co_13:1 ).(:note ) I will give [power ] unto my two witnesses , and they shall They will exercise their office enjoined by me by the space of those 1260 years , in the midst of afflictions though never so lamentable , which is figuratively shown by the mourning garment . prophesy a thousand two hundred [and ] threescore days , clothed in sackcloth . * These (note :)That is , the ordinary and perpetual instruments of spiritual grace , peace and light in my Church , which God by his only power preserved in this Temple . See ( Zec_4:3 ).(:note ) are the two olive trees , and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth . * * These haue power to shut heauen , that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecying , and haue power ouer waters to turne them into blood , and to smite the earth with all maner plagues , as often as they will . * * And their dead bodies [shall lie ] in the (note :)That is , openly at Rome : where at that time was a most great crowd of people , the year of Jubile being then first ordained by Boniface to the same end , in the year 1300 , an example of which is read in chapter 1 «Extra , de poenitentys strkjv @066:011:008 And their corpses shall lie in the streetes of the great citie , which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt , where our Lord also was crucified . amp ; remissionibus .» So by one act he committed two wrongs against Christ , both abolishing his truth by restoring the type of the Jubile , and triumphing over his members by wicked superstition . O religious heart ! Now that we should understand the things of Rome , John himself is the author , both after in the seventeenth chapter almost throughout , and also in the restriction now next following , when he says , it is that great city (as he calls it ) ( Rev_17:18 ) and is spiritually termed Sodom and Egypt : and that spiritually (for that must here again be repeated from before ) Christ was there crucified . For the two first names signify spiritual wickednesses : the latter signifies the show and pretence of good , that is , of Christian and sound religion . Sodom signifies most licentious impiety and in the most confident glorying of that city , as it were in true religion , being yet full of falsehood and ungodliness . Now who is ignorant that these things do rather , and better fit Rome , than any other city ? The commendations of the city of Rome for many years past , are publicly notorious , which are not for me to gather together . This only I will say , that he long since did very well see what Rome is , who upon leaving , used these verses : «Roma vale , vidi , Satis est vidisse : revertar , Quumleno , meretrix , scurra , cinadus ero .» «Now farewell Rome , I have seen thee , it was enough to see : I will return when as I mean , bawd , harlot knave to be »(:note ) street of the great city , which After a more secret type of meaning and understanding . spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt , Namely in his parts , as also he said to Saul in ( Act_9:5 ) where also our Lord was crucified . * And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies (note :)That is , for three years and a half : for so many years Boniface lived after his Jubile , as Bergomensis witnesses .(:note ) three days and an half , and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves . * And they that dwell upon the earth (note :)So much the more shall they by this occasion exercise the hilarity of their Jubile .(:note ) shall rejoice over them , and make merry , and shall send gifts one to another ; because these two prophets The gospel of Christ is the affliction of the world , and the ministry of it , the savour of death to death , to those that perish , ( 2Co_2:16 ). tormented them that dwelt on the earth . * * And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them , (note :)They were called by God into heaven , and taken out of this wicked world , into the heavenly Church , which also lies hidden here in the earth , to exercise their calling secretly : of whom this wretched world was unworthy ; ( Heb_11:38 ). For the church of the wicked is by comparison called the earth , or the world : and the Church of the godly , heaven . As it was in ancient times among the godly Israelites : so among the Jews in the days of Manasseh and other kings , when the earth refused the heirs of heaven , we read that they lay hidden as heaven in the earth .(:note ) Come up hither . And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud ; Yet they could not hinder the secret ones of the Lord (as the Psalmist called them ) ( Psa_83:3 ) but they prospered in his work . and their enemies beheld them . * * * * * Saying , We giue thee thankes , Lorde God almightie , Which art , and Which wast , and Which art to come : for thou hast receiued thy great might , and hast obteined thy kingdome . * * And the temple of God was (note :)This is the confirmation of the next prophecy before going by signs exhibited in heaven , and that of two sorts , of which some are visible , as the passing away of the heaven , the opening of the temple , the ark of the covenant appearing in the temple , and testifying the glorious presence of God , and the lightning : others apprehended by ear and feeling , which bear witness in heaven and earth to the truth of the judgments of God .(:note ) opened in heaven , and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament : and there were lightnings , and voices , and thunderings , and an earthquake , and great hail .

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