Revelation 11:1 - 6

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

John is given a measuring stick or standard, he is one of the apostles and was given the authority by Christ (Matthew 19:28) and God to use the word of God to lead and guide the followers of Christ. This standard which is given to John is the word of God. (1 Peter 4:11) The word of God is what we are to use to guide us in living our lives.

The temple of God refers to the church (1 Corinthians 3:16 – 17). The altar refers to the center of our worship, those who worship at the altar are Christians.

The outer court was the part of the temple where the Jews who were not priests were allowed to be. Verse two refers to the way the enemies of the church, in reality the leaders of the Roman Catholic church, in this part of the book of Revelation nearly always when referring to Rome, Babylon, or church and state, unless otherwise exempted, it refers to the Roman Catholic empire, because the union of the church and state gave it complete control over the lives of the people who resided in that area of the world.

The 42 months refers to the Dark Ages, 42 X 30 is equal 1260, 1 day is equal to 1 year, so 1260 years, the ruling of the church and state began with Constantine, 300AD and continued until the reformation in the 1500s. These numbers are corroborated in the “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” By Edward Gibbon who was not a Christian so would not have any motivation to verify dates in the Bible.

The two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments of the Scripture, they prophesy because the speak by the direct inspiration of God, they are symbolically clothed in ashes because of the treatment given the scripture by the Roman Catholic Empire during the entire Dark Ages while it was being suppressed from the use by the people.

During the time of John, Olive oil was the chief form of fuel for lamps providing artificial light. Olive oil required olive trees and since the word of God is the only source of spiritual light available to man, the Old and New Testaments are symbolized by two olive trees. The wording of this verse is like (Zechariah 4:11 – 14)

We know the Bible never literally injures any one, this means God is jealous for His word and will inflict vengeance on all who oppose it. During special times He has allowed various ills to harm those, but generally this refers to when the eternal punishment will be given to those who have not given the word of God its due respect.

This last verse goes along with verse five, If it is necessary God will punish those who cause the word to be mistreated.