1 A rod See on Rev 2:27. And the angel stood Omit. The insertion of these words furnishes a subject for the agreement of the participle λέγων, which is irregular in construction. Literally the correct text reads, "there was given me a reed, saying." Accordingly Wordsworth refers the speech to the reed as an inspired medium of speech. Rev., better, and one said. The temple (τὸν ναὸν) See on Mat 4:5. The altar Of incense, as that alone stood in the sacred place. Them that worship Note the peculiar expressed, measuring the worshippers with a reed.
2 The court which is without the temple Not merely the outer court, or Court of the Gentiles, but including all that is not within the ναός, the Holy and Most Holy places. Leave out (ἔκβαλε ἔξω) Lit., throw out, i.e., of the measurement. Unto the Gentiles (τοῖς ἔθνεσιν) See on Luk 2:32. Rev., nations. Forty and two months A period which appears in three forms in Revelation: forty-two months (Rev 13:5); twelve hundred and sixty days (Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6); a time, times and half a time, or three years and a half (Rev 12:14, compare Dan 7:25; Dan 12:7)
3 Power Omit. Two witnesses The reader may profitably consult on this point the lectures of Professor Milligan on the Revelation of St. John. He maintains that the conception of the Apocalypse is powerfully molded by John's recollections of the life of Jesus; that there is a close parallelism between the Apocalypse and the delineation of the life of Christ contained in the fourth Gospel; and that the Apocalypse is, in the deeper conceptions which pervade it, a repetition of the Gospel. See pp. 59-69. They shall prophesy (προφητεύσουσιν) See on prophet, Luk 7:26. Commonly explained of preaching repentance, though some take it in the later sense of foretelling future events. Clothed in sackcloth The garb of preachers of repentance. Compare Isa 22:12; Jer 4:8; Jon 3:5; Mat 3:4. For sackcloth see on Luk 10:13.
4 Two olive trees See Zec 4:1-14. Candlesticks See Zec 4:1-14, and note on Mat 10:15. The God Read κυρίου the Lord. Compare Zec 4:14.
5 Fire proceedeth Compare 2Ki 1:10; Jer 5:14.
6 To shut up the heaven As Elijah, 1Ki 17:1; Luk 4:25; Jam 5:17. That it rain not (ἵνα μὴ βρέχῃ ὑετὸς) Lit., that the rain may not wet. To turn them into blood Compare Exo 7:19. To smite (πατάξαι) Used by John only in Revelation, here and Rev 19:15. Compare Mat 26:31; Mar 14:27; Luk 22:49, Luk 22:50; Act 12:7, Act 12:23. With all plagues (πάσῃ πληγῇ) Singular number. Rev., correctly, with every plague. See on Mar 3:10. Not merely with the plagues with which Moses smote Egypt.
7 The beast (θηρίον) Wild beast. See on Rev 4:6. A different word from that wrongly translated beast, Rev 4:6, Rev 4:7; Rev 5:6, etc. Compare Rev 13:1; Rev 17:8, and see Daniel 7. Bottomless pit (ἀβύσσου) See on Rev 9:1.
8 Dead bodies (πτῶματα) Read πτῶμα carcass. See on Mat 24:28; see on Mar 15:45. In the street (ἐπὶ τῆς πλατείας) Lit., "Upon the street." See on Luk 14:21. The great city Jerusalem is never called by this name. Different expositors refer it to Rome or Babylon. Milligan to Jerusalem. Spiritually (πνευματικῶς) Typically or allegorically. Compare 1Co 10:3, 1Co 10:4. Our Lord Read αὐτῶν their for ἡμῶν our.
9 Shall see (βλέψουσιν) Read, βλέπουσιν do men look (Rev.), and see on Joh 1:29. Shall not suffer (οὐκ ἀφήσουσιν) Read ἀφίουσιν do not suffer. To be put in graves (τεθῆναι εἰς μνῆματα) Read μνῆμα a tomb, as Rev. Compare Gen 23:4; Isa 14:19, Isa 14:20.
10 Shall rejoice (χαροῦσιν) Read χαίρουσιν, present tense, rejoice. Shall make merry (εὐφρανθήσονται) Read εὐφραίνονται, present tense, make merry; and for the word see note on fared sumptuously, Luk 16:19. Shall send gifts As on a day of festival. See Neh 8:10, Neh 8:12. Tormented (ἐβασάνισαν) See on vexed, 2Pe 2:8, and see on Mat 4:23, Mat 4:24.
11 Spirit of life (πνεῦμα ζωῆς) Rev., breath. See on Joh 3:8. Entered into them Compare Eze 37:1-10. Saw (θεωροῦντας) See on Joh 1:18.
13 Earthquake See on Rev 6:12. Of men (ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων) Lit., names of men. See on Rev 3:4. Gave glory to the God of heaven The phrase signifies not conversion, nor repentance, nor thanksgiving, but recognition, which is its usual sense in scripture. Compare Jos 7:19 (Sept.). Joh 9:24; Act 12:23; Rom 4:20.
15 The kingdoms - are become (ἐγένοντο αἱ βασιλεῖαι) Read ἐγένετο ἡ βασιλεία, the kingdom - is become. Of our Lord, etc. Compare Psa 2:2-9.
17 O Lord God, etc. See on Rev 4:8. And art to come Omit. Hast taken to Thee Omit to thee.
18 Were angry (ὀργίσθησαν) See on wrath, Joh 3:36. Compare Psa 2:1. The time (ὁ καιρὸς) See on Mat 12:1. Reward (μισθὸν) See on 2Pe 2:13. Destroy (διαφθεῖραι) Also to corrupt. Which destroy (τοὺς διαφθείροντας) Or, the destroyers.
19 The temple (ὁ ναὸς) The sanctuary. Compare Rev 11:1 and see on Mat 4:5. In heaven Join with temple of God, as Rev., instead of with opened, as A.V. The ark of His covenant (ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ) κιβωτὸς ark, meaning generally any wooden box or chest used of the ark in the tabernacle only here and Heb 9:4. Elsewhere of Noah's ark. See Mat 24:38; Luk 17:27; Heb 11:7; 1Pe 3:20. For covenant, see note on testament, Mat 26:28. This is the last mention in scripture of the ark of the covenant. It was lost when the temple was destroyed by the Chaldeans (2Ki 25:10), and was wanting in the second temple. Tacitus says that Pompey "by right of conquest entered the temple. Thenceforward it became generally known that the habitation was empty and the sanctuary unoccupied, no representation of the deity being found within it" ("History," v., 9). According to Jewish tradition Jeremiah had taken the ark and all that the Most Holy Place contained, and concealed them, before the destruction of the temple, in a cave at Mount Sinai, whence they are to be restored to the temple in the days of Messiah. Lightnings and voices, etc. solemn salvos, so to speak, of the artillery of heaven, with which each series of visions is concluded."
See on Rev 2:27.
And the angel stood
Omit. The insertion of these words furnishes a subject for the agreement of the participle λέγων, which is irregular in construction. Literally the correct text reads, "there was given me a reed, saying." Accordingly Wordsworth refers the speech to the reed as an inspired medium of speech. Rev., better, and one said.
The temple (τὸν ναὸν)
See on Mat 4:5.
The altar
Of incense, as that alone stood in the sacred place.
Them that worship
Note the peculiar expressed, measuring the worshippers with a reed.
2 The court which is without the temple
Not merely the outer court, or Court of the Gentiles, but including all that is not within the ναός, the Holy and Most Holy places.
Leave out (ἔκβαλε ἔξω)
Lit., throw out, i.e., of the measurement.
Unto the Gentiles (τοῖς ἔθνεσιν)
See on Luk 2:32. Rev., nations.
Forty and two months
A period which appears in three forms in Revelation: forty-two months (Rev 13:5); twelve hundred and sixty days (Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6); a time, times and half a time, or three years and a half (Rev 12:14, compare Dan 7:25; Dan 12:7)
3 Power
Omit.
Two witnesses
The reader may profitably consult on this point the lectures of Professor Milligan on the Revelation of St. John. He maintains that the conception of the Apocalypse is powerfully molded by John's recollections of the life of Jesus; that there is a close parallelism between the Apocalypse and the delineation of the life of Christ contained in the fourth Gospel; and that the Apocalypse is, in the deeper conceptions which pervade it, a repetition of the Gospel. See pp. 59-69.
They shall prophesy (προφητεύσουσιν)
See on prophet, Luk 7:26. Commonly explained of preaching repentance, though some take it in the later sense of foretelling future events.
Clothed in sackcloth
The garb of preachers of repentance. Compare Isa 22:12; Jer 4:8; Jon 3:5; Mat 3:4. For sackcloth see on Luk 10:13.
4 Two olive trees
See Zec 4:1-14.
Candlesticks
See Zec 4:1-14, and note on Mat 10:15.
The God
Read κυρίου the Lord. Compare Zec 4:14.
5 Fire proceedeth
Compare 2Ki 1:10; Jer 5:14.
6 To shut up the heaven
As Elijah, 1Ki 17:1; Luk 4:25; Jam 5:17.
That it rain not (ἵνα μὴ βρέχῃ ὑετὸς)
Lit., that the rain may not wet.
To turn them into blood
Compare Exo 7:19.
To smite (πατάξαι)
Used by John only in Revelation, here and Rev 19:15. Compare Mat 26:31; Mar 14:27; Luk 22:49, Luk 22:50; Act 12:7, Act 12:23.
With all plagues (πάσῃ πληγῇ)
Singular number. Rev., correctly, with every plague. See on Mar 3:10. Not merely with the plagues with which Moses smote Egypt.
7 The beast (θηρίον)
Wild beast. See on Rev 4:6. A different word from that wrongly translated beast, Rev 4:6, Rev 4:7; Rev 5:6, etc. Compare Rev 13:1; Rev 17:8, and see Daniel 7.
Bottomless pit (ἀβύσσου)
See on Rev 9:1.
8 Dead bodies (πτῶματα)
Read πτῶμα carcass. See on Mat 24:28; see on Mar 15:45.
In the street (ἐπὶ τῆς πλατείας)
Lit., "Upon the street." See on Luk 14:21.
The great city
Jerusalem is never called by this name. Different expositors refer it to Rome or Babylon. Milligan to Jerusalem.
Spiritually (πνευματικῶς)
Typically or allegorically. Compare 1Co 10:3, 1Co 10:4.
Our Lord
Read αὐτῶν their for ἡμῶν our.
9 Shall see (βλέψουσιν)
Read, βλέπουσιν do men look (Rev.), and see on Joh 1:29.
Shall not suffer (οὐκ ἀφήσουσιν)
Read ἀφίουσιν do not suffer.
To be put in graves (τεθῆναι εἰς μνῆματα)
Read μνῆμα a tomb, as Rev. Compare Gen 23:4; Isa 14:19, Isa 14:20.
10 Shall rejoice (χαροῦσιν)
Read χαίρουσιν, present tense, rejoice.
Shall make merry (εὐφρανθήσονται)
Read εὐφραίνονται, present tense, make merry; and for the word see note on fared sumptuously, Luk 16:19.
Shall send gifts
As on a day of festival. See Neh 8:10, Neh 8:12.
Tormented (ἐβασάνισαν)
See on vexed, 2Pe 2:8, and see on Mat 4:23, Mat 4:24.
11 Spirit of life (πνεῦμα ζωῆς)
Rev., breath. See on Joh 3:8.
Entered into them
Compare Eze 37:1-10.
Saw (θεωροῦντας)
See on Joh 1:18.
13 Earthquake
See on Rev 6:12.
Of men (ὀνόματα ἀνθρώπων)
Lit., names of men. See on Rev 3:4.
Gave glory to the God of heaven
The phrase signifies not conversion, nor repentance, nor thanksgiving, but recognition, which is its usual sense in scripture. Compare Jos 7:19 (Sept.). Joh 9:24; Act 12:23; Rom 4:20.
15 The kingdoms - are become (ἐγένοντο αἱ βασιλεῖαι)
Read ἐγένετο ἡ βασιλεία, the kingdom - is become.
Of our Lord, etc.
Compare Psa 2:2-9.
17 O Lord God, etc.
See on Rev 4:8.
And art to come
Omit.
Hast taken to Thee
Omit to thee.
18 Were angry (ὀργίσθησαν)
See on wrath, Joh 3:36. Compare Psa 2:1.
The time (ὁ καιρὸς)
See on Mat 12:1.
Reward (μισθὸν)
See on 2Pe 2:13.
Destroy (διαφθεῖραι)
Also to corrupt.
Which destroy (τοὺς διαφθείροντας)
Or, the destroyers.
19 The temple (ὁ ναὸς)
The sanctuary. Compare Rev 11:1 and see on Mat 4:5.
In heaven
Join with temple of God, as Rev., instead of with opened, as A.V.
The ark of His covenant (ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ)
κιβωτὸς ark, meaning generally any wooden box or chest used of the ark in the tabernacle only here and Heb 9:4. Elsewhere of Noah's ark. See Mat 24:38; Luk 17:27; Heb 11:7; 1Pe 3:20. For covenant, see note on testament, Mat 26:28. This is the last mention in scripture of the ark of the covenant. It was lost when the temple was destroyed by the Chaldeans (2Ki 25:10), and was wanting in the second temple. Tacitus says that Pompey "by right of conquest entered the temple. Thenceforward it became generally known that the habitation was empty and the sanctuary unoccupied, no representation of the deity being found within it" ("History," v., 9). According to Jewish tradition Jeremiah had taken the ark and all that the Most Holy Place contained, and concealed them, before the destruction of the temple, in a cave at Mount Sinai, whence they are to be restored to the temple in the days of Messiah.
Lightnings and voices, etc.
solemn salvos, so to speak, of the artillery of heaven, with which each series of visions is concluded."