Interpreting Revelation 11

+ Larger Font | - Smaller Font

The Creation Concept


A brief commentary

The temple in heaven

Malachi's prophecy

Measuring the temple of God

The two olive trees

How heaven is shut

War with the beast

Spiritual warfare

The church overflowed by the world

Samson and the two witnesses compared

John Napier's paraphrase

Commentary on Revelation 11:1-15 by David Pareus

Thomas Cartwright on the two witnesses

The Two Witnesses

Samson and the two witnesses compared

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.

Copyright © 2010 by Douglas Cox
All Rights Reserved.