A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 11

A reed (καλαμος). Old word for a growing reed (Matthew 11:7) which grew in immense brakes in the Jordan valley, a writer's reed (3 John 1:7), a measuring-rod (here, 21:15f.; Ezekiel 40:3–6; Ezekiel 42:16–19).

Like a rod (ομοιος ραβδω). See 2:27; Mr 6:8 for ραβδος.

And one said (λεγων). "Saying" (present active masculine participle of λεγω) is all that the Greek has. The participle implies εδωκεν (he gave), not εδοθη, a harsh construction seen in Ge 22:20; 38:24, etc.

Rise and measure (εγειρε κα μετρησον). Present active imperative of εγειρω (intransitive, exclamatory use as in Mr 2:11) and first aorist active imperative of μετρεω. In Eze 42:2ff. the prophet measures the temple and that passage is probably in mind here. But modern scholars do not know how to interpret this interlude (11:1-13) before the seventh trumpet (11:15). Some (Wellhausen) take it to be a scrap from the Zealot party before the destruction of Jerusalem, which event Christ also foretold (Matthew 24:2; Luke 21:6) and which was also attributed to Stephen (Acts 6:14). Charles denies any possible literal interpretation and takes the language in a wholly eschatological sense. There are three points in the interlude, however understood: the chastisement of Jerusalem or Israel (verses 1,2), the mission of the two witnesses (3-12), the rescue of the remnant (13). There is a heavenly sanctuary (7:15; 11:19; 14:15, etc.), but here ναος is on earth and yet not the actual temple in Jerusalem (unless so interpreted). Perhaps here it is the spiritual (3:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16f.; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19ff.). For altar (θυσιαστηριον) see 8:3. Perhaps measuring as applied to "them that worship therein" (τους προσκυνουντας εν αυτω) implies a word like numbering, with an allusion to the 144,000 in chapter 7 (a zeugma).

The court (την αυλην). The uncovered yard outside the house. There were usually two, one between the door and the street, the outer court, the other the inner court surrounded by the buildings . This is here the outer court, "which is without the temple" (την εξωθεν του ναου), outside of the sanctuary, but within the ιερον where the Gentiles could go (carrying out the imagery of the Jerusalem temple).

Leave without (εκβαλε εξωθεν). Literally, "cast without" (second aorist active imperative of εκβαλλω.

Do not measure it (μη αυτην μετρησηις). Prohibition with μη and the first aorist active (ingressive) subjunctive of μετρεω. This outer court is left to its fate. In Herod's temple the outer court was marked off from the inner by "the middle wall of partition" (το μεσοιτοιχον του φραγμου, Ephesians 2:15), beyond which a Gentile could not go. In this outer court was a house of prayer for the Gentiles , but now John is to cast it out and leave to its fate (given to the Gentiles in another sense) to be profaned by them.

They shall tread under foot (πατησουσιν). Future active of πατεω, here to trample with contempt as in Lu 21:24, even the holy city (Matthew 4:5; Isaiah 48:2; Nehemiah 11:1). Charles thinks that only the heavenly city can be so called here (21:2,10; 22:19) because of 11:8 (Sodom and Gomorrah). But the language may be merely symbolical. See Da 9:24.

Forty and two months (μηνας τεσσερακοντα κα δυο). Accusative of extent of time. This period in Da 7:25; 12:7. It occurs in three forms in the Apocalypse (forty-two months, here and 13:5; 1260 days, 11:3; 12:6; time, times and half a time or 3 1/2 years, 12:14 and so in Daniel). This period, however its length may be construed, covers the duration of the triumph of the Gentiles, of the prophesying of the two witnesses, of the sojourn of the woman in the wilderness.

I will give (δωσω). Future active of διδωμ. The speaker may be God (Beckwith) or Christ (Swete) as in 2:13; 21:6 or his angel representative (22:7,12ff.). The idiom that follows is Hebraic instead of either the infinitive after διδωμ as in 2:7; 3:21; 6:4; 7:2; 13:7,15; 16:8 or ινα with the subjunctive (9:5; 19:8) we have κα προφητευσουσιν (and they shall prophesy).

Unto my two witnesses (τοις δυσιν μαρτυσιν μου). Dative case after δωσω. The article seems to point to two well-known characters, like Elijah, Elisha, but there is no possible way to determine who they are. All sorts of identifications have been attempted.

Clothed (περιβλημενους). Perfect passive participle of περιβαλλω as often before (7:9,13; 10:1, etc.). But Aleph A P Q here read the accusative plural in -ους, while C has the nominative in -ο. Charles suggests a mere slip for the nominative, but Hort suggests a primitive error in early MSS. for the dative περιβεβλεμενοις agreeing with μαρτυσιν.

In sackcloth (σακκους). Accusative retained with this passive verb as in 7:9,13. See 6:12 for σακκος and also Mt 3:4. The dress suited the message (Matthew 11:21).

The two olive trees (α δυο ελαια). The article seems to point to what is known. For this original use of ελαια see Ro 11:17,24. In Zec 4:2,3,14 the lampstand or candlestick (λυχνια) is Israel, and the two olive trees apparently Joshua and Zerubbabel, but John makes his own use of this symbolism. Here the two olive trees and the candlesticks are identical.

Standing (εστωτες). Masculine perfect active participle agreeing with ουτο instead of εστωσα (read by P and cursives) agreeing with ελαια κα λυχνια, even though α (feminine plural article) be accepted before ενωπιον του κυριου (before the Lord).

If any man desireth to hurt them (ε τις αυτους θελε αδικησα). Condition of first class, assumed to be true, with ε and present active indicative (θελε) "if any one wants to hurt" (αδικησα first aorist active infinitive). It is impossible to hurt these two witnesses till they do their work. The fire proceeding out of the mouths of the witnesses is like Elijah's experience (2 Kings 1:10).

Devoureth (κατεσθιε). "Eats up (down)," present active indicative of κατεσθιω.

If any man shall desire (ε τις θεληση). Condition of third class with ε and first aorist active subjunctive of θελω as in Lu 9:13; Php 3:12, but MSS. also read either θελε (present active indicative) or θελησε (future active, condition of the first class like the preceding one. The condition is repeated in this changed form, as less likely to happen and with inevitable death (δε αυτον αποκτανθηνα, must be killed, first aorist passive infinitive of αποκτεινω with δε).