The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 265

now a heavenly messenger were to come among us who was appointed to measure the real living temple of. God, would it not tum out that, of a very large part of our surroundings, the order would be," .Vea,nm, it not"1 Thill meaBUrement from on high is ever going on. And if the great Lord of the Church saw fit to show ue In a vision who are in his Church and who are not, many would be without whom we thought were in, and many within whom we thought were out. But not by any human hands can ~he true temple of God be built; nor yet by any human eye can its limits be discerned. II. THE 8PAOII WITHOUT THE TEMPLE AND CITY 01' GoD 18 LEFT FOB A "'1ULB IN HOflTILB BANDS. '' It hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." We know not what period of time is thus indicated; nor from what moment it begins. Wu know only three things concerning this matter: 1. That the worldly power will act in opposition to and preponderate over the Church. 2. That this will be for a limited time. 3. That this permissive limit is fixed by our God.• Thus Car all is clear. The world in its facts answers to the Word in its statements. If we attempt to go beyond this, we shall be in confusion. IIJ, DURING THE WHOLE OF THIii PERIOD OUR LoRD WILL PRESERVE BI8 FAITHFUL WITNESSES. "My two witnesses." Why two ? "Is it not written in your Law that the tffltimony of two men is true i'" Although the number should be small, there should always be enough to preserve in the wotld a testimony for God. Further, the sym.0 bolism is based on the vision of Zechariah (iv.). Therein we have two olive trees conveying oil, and two lamp-stands holding light. Just as in the times following the Captivity there were anointed ones to stand by the Lord of the whole earth, 80 through• out the times of the Christian Chnrch there will be men anointed by him to ruaintain on his behalf a faithful testiinony; whose witness-bearing would be at once "mean., of grace and centres of light" (Vaughan), We have several details here given respecting them. 1. Tlie'JI a7'1!1 to prophesy in sackcloth. So much of their witness has to be a protest against sin in the world and against corruption in the nominal Church, that their work often bears upon it an impress of sadness which cannot be removed till the corruption ceases. 2. Tlie'JI are to have power with God and for him. As Moses and· Elijah had power to smite the earth or to shut up heaven, 80 with tho.se who should come "in the spirit and power of Elias." They would make men feel that God is among them still. 3. Their work is also to 'give out a tatimony to man. Even nnder the Old Testament, when a priestly order was in accordance with Divine appointment, God set it aside because of its corruption and inutility, and brought on the scene p~ phets to declare his will. Much more now, under the New Testament economy, where every human priesthood is but a pretence and a sham, will he carry on his work by the voice of the prophet, that men may learn through the ear that which they. will fail to see by a histrionic parade. 4. Around these witnesses then slwuld be a apecial guard. (Ver. 5.) No one can willingly wound or plot against any witness for God without suffering for it, either in his reputation or in his peace. Nor can any one seek to injure a Church that is true to its Lord, without bringing on himself, sooner or later, the jndgments of God. God surrounds his witnesses as with a wall of fire. 5. Thia panl will ~ around them tal they have finished their testim()'ll,u, (Ver. 7.) "Man is immortal till his work is done." There are forces of ill, concealed, pent-up, restrained, which, if they were but let loose, would soon make havoo of the Church; but an all-controlling Power keeps them in check, and as long as God has anything for a witness to say, that witness will be spared and empowered to say it. 6• .At SO?M time or other th6re tDiU be 8fJlih an onrwA qf the great worlit-poyJJer as t,o 866'1TI, for a wMle, to Bilenc.e thia wUneaa,. bearing, Just as onr Lord was hedged round with an impenetl'able guard until his hour was come, 80 shall it be with his witnesses. Just as there came a time when his voice was stilled in death and the enemy triumphed, so shall it be with them, There ia yet to be permitted such an onrush of the powers of darkness as ahall seem for a while to carry all before it, and the voices of the witnesses shall be stilled. 7. 2'li. nkncittg qf flu, wi&nasu 11.1ill cause t/Mir joe-S to triumph. (Vers. 8-10.) Theae pro- • "The period of forty and two months is the symbol of a period limited In Jen~ and under the oootrol of him who holds the seven stars, and lives through the ages. It iii the pllgrim~perlod of the Church, the period of the world's power, during which it seems to triumph (Bishop Carpenter, in loc.). Profe880r Milligan has a thoughtful paragraph 011 this point, which i1 wo1·thy of aUenlion, although we cannot regard it a, •tisfact.or:r, m. :u. 1-19.] THE REVELATION OF ST, JOHN THE . DIVINE. 291