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Rev. 11:1,2:  And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. And leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months."
         A rod was given the Apostle to measure all things justly and undisturbed. Unless this rod is given to measure all things as God sees them, we usually form judgments on souls by what they say, by what is fine, alluring, serene, adjusted; we judge them by what we feel or do not feel. To do this is to make a great mistake. Is a soul full of carnality regarded highly while the greatest of another is not because he is in extreme poverty?
         The soul that is placed in the truth judges only according to truth, hence the measuring rod. The soul overlooked by leaders will be known for what it is by those persons in a similar state. The measurement is the temple of God and the altar ...the greatness of sacrifice and worship of God, and general loss of carnality.
         The outward court is not measured, because it is given unto the Gentiles. God permits much to fall on the "outer court" because He wants the believer who lives in the "outer court" to come to nought through suffering.

Rev. 11:3-5: "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed."
         John describes here the advent of Jesus Christ-His inward and outward reign throughout the whole earth and what must take place during and before this time. Redemption through Jesus Christ has been somewhat bound and captive, and did not have its full expansion, but in the future it must be without limit or measure, and in its fullness, not only in the redeemed, as in the days past, but in all the world.
         Jesus Christ came to destroy and ruin the empire of the devil throughout the whole earth. This empire has been ruined in many hearts and numberless souls to which Jesus Christ extended full redemption, but this has not become universal. The devil has kept his rights on people. But in this scene we see that he will be completely banished from the face of the earth. Jesus Christ will extend His Empire to the ends of the earth. Then all the kings of the earth will recognize Him as King. Then the wolf and the lamb will live together, and the bottomless pit will be shut.
        God chooses two witnesses whom He will clothe with strength and power to announce truth. These witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth, which means they will have a plain unnoticed appearance.
       These two witnesses are faith and pure love and they are under the blame of all, as a sacrifice. Faith lives only with sacrifice and pure love only in self-denial. These two witnesses declare the truth to those who are to hear their profound word.
         Strong and effective words defeat all those that oppose them, forcing men to come to the truth and never more fight it. If they do not enter the truth, God will soon take them out of the world.
         God bears, hides, even seems to favor the enemies, but  a day will come when they will be destroyed by the words of His mouth. These servants will have no other weapon except these words of destroying fire.
         We see a little of this today -holy ones who have no other weapon to defend themselves except their love and faith of which they speak and which makes their enemies speechless. God gives them words that no one can withstand.

Rev. 11:6:  These have the power to shut up the sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
         It is certain that those to whom power is given to witness the truth like Jesus Christ did have a great power over others, and over the elements. They have the power "to shut heaven" to stop the rain of comfort on those in whom grace will work out death. They perform great miracles to prove the truth they announce. Note that God gives them this power after they have been brought to nought. The two special witnesses, what power they possess! They shut heaven. They turn the waters of grace and sweetness to blood. All is suffering, misery and strange misfortunes. They smite the weaker ones with all plagues, as often as they will. The heralds of truth have such a great power on others that they are changed inwardly and outwardly under the influence of these two witnesses. If they tell one to have peace, a profound peace comes; and if they do the opposite, then peace is disturbed.

Rev. 11:7,8:  And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
         As soon as Jesus Christ had witnessed to the truth, He was smitten by the beast of the pit, for the devil stirred His own to take His life. Those who witness to the truth suffer death. They will positively be killed in the mind of all men. Their bodies shall lie in the world, signifying that there will be no more hope of getting back their reputation. These bodies lie in a spiritual Egypt, in a Sodom where God is not known, where He is dishonored in the strangest way, and in the very place which made my Savior die.
         The world is nothing more than Egypt on account of the fighting element and the dislike for harmony and agreement. It is a Sodom on account of disorders and wickedness prevailing there. Shall I tell of those who make up the Church? Catholics and non-Catholics? It seems to me it is a Sodom, this vast variety. The children of God's house dishonor the Church although the Church itself is most holy; but it has been polluted by her children.
         The children of the Synagogue crucified their Lord; the children of the Church will kill the faithful witnesses of the truth which abide in the Church. But if they kill them, their bodies will remain out "in the street" to bear witness to this cruelty.
         Oh, this is the reign of Satan, this is the time of his efforts to destroy the Church if he can. But it will be in vain; the gates of hell will not prevail against her. Alas, this poor Church is going to remain without comfort! Her children despise and leave her. They lose her Spirit. She carries in her bosom the war between Jacob and Esau. Oh Church, you  mourn the loss of your children! Lovely Rachel, you mourn and cannot be comforted because they are not. But cheer up, the time is coming when your children will be brought from all the ends of the earth. You will see them at your table. They will eat your bread and will no longer be rebellious against you. I grant that your children are fighting; within you Esau persecutes Jacob, but soon Jacob will come to life, and as he has been loved by God from eternity, you, too, will love him forever. Rejoice, oh Church, the time of joy is nearing; your grief is going to end. You are going to triumph over everyone and through you Jacob will be victorious. He will prevail with God Who seems to be now against him; and if he keeps limping in the fight, it is only to be a sign, to his seed, of his victory. Jerusalem, holy city-- Thy Church-- held by the unbelievers for so many years, the time is coming when you will see within your walls the children of the Lord. Jerusalem, you will be the flourishing city!
         The beast destroys and kills this witness to the truth for a time, but this is of short duration.

Rev. 11:9,10:  And those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
         These two witnesses will be seen and known of all the people on earth, meaning they will be spoken against. All shall rejoice in their apparent defeat. Truth is unbearable, they say. That is why truth is banished from the courts of Princes, from conversations; everybody flees from truth; no one can stand it. Such men always rejoice in their defeat of the two witnesses. But if truth seems defeated for a time it will revive with more strength.

Rev.11:11-13:  And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were beholding them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
         After three days and a half is the time when truth will seem defeated in this fight. Then the Spirit of life and strength will enter into them.
         All those who are intended to bear witness to the truth must have the same fate; they must die, and when they will have been dead for three days and a half-dead to the outward world- a living and quickening Spirit will be sent to them from heaven. After this reviving, they will be received in God Himself. The devil and the flesh will never more be able to attack them.
       When it is least expected, God will give them the life that the father of lies had tried to snatch from them. This will be a new life -one that the world cannot receive. Then, after their rising, truth will be completely manifested.
         But at the same hour there was a great earthquake. Let us make this an application to those left...and to their inward parts. They fear destruction; their inferior, or weaker, parts are stripped from their natural life. What once satisfied is taken away. They can not be satisfied by spiritual and divine life, which they never knew.
         In this earthquake the tenth part of the city will fall...a tenth part of the Church will be thrown down. But at the same time seven thousand men will be slain. Oh, unspeakable happiness, soon thereafter sin is destroyed forever. Sin will be banished from the face of the earth, and truth will be known. Oh God, You will not be offended or dishonored anymore! Oh flesh, sin and devil, your empire is going to be destroyed even by the very means you used to establish yourself.

Rev. 11:14: The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
 A "woe" is no longer a woe when it has passed away and very often what seemed to destroy us is the very thing that establishes us. This "woe" was a misfortune only as long as it lasted, but if the time of its duration was troublesome, its consequences are very sweet and agreeable.

Rev. 11:15:  And the seventh angel sounded; and  there arose loud voices in heaven,  saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of, our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."
         The opening of the seventh seal showed us the seventh angel announcing unspeakable bliss. Oh pains, works and griefs, how well rewarded you are by the manifestation of the truth! Paul knew this and said the sufferings of this present world are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed. Rejoice in your happiness; your tears are wiped. (We must know that all the states that were described take place, more or less, in the inward being of the believer in whom truth has been manifested).
         There is not a word in the book of Revelation that will not happen as it is foretold, not only outwardly but inwardly-- in the soul of the believer. The reality of such things will be manifested to all when the seventh seal is open, when the seventh angel will have announced the truth, and it will appear clear and bare as it is.
         But what is this truth?
       This truth is truly the reign of Jesus Christ outwardly and inwardly.
         The souls in whom Jesus Christ reigns absolutely will be placed in reality. The outer reign of Jesus Christ will extend throughout all the world. But as He will extend outwardly, so He will also be extended inwardly. The same century that is fortunate enough to see everyone subject to the reign of Jesus Christ, will also see every heart on earth under His control and will. (Editor's note: "Every knee shall bow; every tongue shall confess...." All of mankind will freely submit themselves in wondrous love to the King of kings. End of note). All will follow the moves of His Spirit. Then shall the will of God be done on earth as in Heaven. He will reign in the minds and hearts forever and ever.

Rev. 11:16,17:  And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give Thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy great power and hast begun to reign."
         Nothing will gladden more the holy ones (and Heaven) as the time in which the reign of Jesus Christ must spread throughout the earth. Before this time, Jesus Christ had all power given Him in Heaven and on earth; but He chose that His power would be spread only when it is exercised in the hearts and minds of all men. That is why it is written, "The Lord said to my Lord: Sit down at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool."
         This happens when all rebellious wills come under Him. Then shall everyone be moved and led by Him. This is the joy of the blessed ones and the greatest glory that God can receive from His creatures.

Rev. 11:18,19:  "And the nations were enraged, and Thy wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
         After John spoke of the marvelous reign of Jesus Christ he is shown another scene. The nations will seem to become angry against the reign of Jesus Christ. Those who will be most opposed in feelings will agree to persecute this reign and destroy the inward way. Their fury will be stirred. It seems God will give them some power to destroy. But then the day of the wrath of God comes; He takes vengeance on the enemies of His reign (and of the inward life) and He punishes them in an amazing way.
         Then comes the time of judging (Editor's reference : AP Adams "Judgment") the dead, that is, judging those who died spiritually ...having suffered a thousand deaths through the cruelty of men who stole their honor. After having been oppressed a long time, God's justice will have it known to all that they were in the truth, not their enemies. Then will God "reward the prophets," showing the truth of the words they spoke. He will show that the way they followed was the true way for all.
         Two things corrupted the earth, the carnal mind and self will. They opposed the reign of Jesus Christ constantly. The fleshly mind led to idolatry and self will is the source of all other sins. So Jesus Christ will not absolutely and entirely reign on earth unless these two enemies are destroyed. That is why He has raised two powerful enemies against the carnal mind and self will: faith and pure love. To establish faith and pure love in place of the fleshly mind and the self is the purpose of God in sending the two witnesses.
         When that time comes, the temple of God will be opened. All nations will enter in the Church of God. Then ark of His testament will be seen. (That is to say, the wonderful ways He used, and is using, to unite Himself to men). Oh God, how many truths You will uncover to Your poor creatures when Your truth is manifested! But this will happen only after the thunderings, noises, and lightnings strike the powers which now are rendering God a service by opposing His kingdom!
         When the time comes and their eyes open, they will be very surprised to see they fought the truth thinking they were fighting a lie.
         Paul is an example of what will then happen. Those who will have fought the truth with the greatest zeal, will defend it with the greatest strength.
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^{(1) Guyon, Mme. Jeanne, CHRIST OUR REVELATION, Gardiner, Main, Reprinted 1987 Christian Books Publishing House ( Book in now out of print)}

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