The church overflowed by the world
Samson and the two witnesses compared
Commentary on Revelation 11:1-15 by David Pareus
Two witnesses | Samson |
The two witnesses stand before the Lord of the whole earth. | Samson stood up against the Philistines. |
Gentiles trample the holy city for 42 months. | Israel was delivered into the hand of the Philistines forty years. [Judges 13:1] |
The two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. | Samson judged Israel for 20 years, and began to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. [Judges 13:5] |
Two prophets |
Samson proposed riddles. |
The two witnesses tormented them that dwelt on the earth. | Samson troubled the Philistines; he set fire to their corn, and vineyards, and olives, and he slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. |
Their enemies must be killed by fire. | A company of 3,000 Jews promised not to harm Samson. They delivered him bound to the Philistines; he slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. |
The two witnesses shut heaven, so it does not rain. | Samson thirsted for water, and found it in the jawbone of an ass. |
At war with the beast from the pit. | Samson was at war with the Philistines. |
The two witnesses are overcome by the beast; two lamps are put out. | Samson was seduced, and then overcome by the Philistines, who put out both his eyes. [Judges 16:21] |
The people and kindreds and tongues and nations do not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves. The corpses lie in the street three days and a half. | Samson was imprisoned, and displayed for sport. |
The city is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt. | Samson was kept in Gaza. |
The nations rejoice, and make merry, at the death of the two witnesses. | The Philistines rejoiced, and made merry over his capture. |
The two witnesses revive, and stand on their feet. | Samson's hair began to grow back; the Spirit gave him strength to topple the temple. |
One tenth of the city falls. | The temple of Dagon collapsed upon the Philistines. |
7,000 are killed in an earthquake. | 3,000 Philistines were killed in the collapse of the temple of Dagon. |
The death and revival of the two witnesses has a greater impact than their previous ministry. | Samson slew more Philistines by his death, than he had during his entire life. |
They ascend to heaven in a cloud. | His body was retrieved by his family and buried. |
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