REVELATION 11 - ATHEISM REBORN - THE KING OF THE SOUTH RISES.

Updated: Feb 22, 2022

THE RESURRECTION OF ATHEISM

Revelation 11 has significant spiritual application which includes the following:

The rise of Atheism - The Beast from the bottomless pit.
Atheism is the King of the South of Daniel 11:40
Papal Rome's deadly wound.
The Franks (France) helped set up Papal Rome.
France (Atheism) 'abolished' it in 1798.
Papal Rome was the 'Christianity' of the day at the time of the French Revolution.
The attack on the scriptures (the 2 witnesses) was an attack on Papal Rome.
Thus the beast's (Revelation 13) deadly wound is found in Revelation 11

REVELATION CHAPTER 11

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

INTRODUCTION

Daniel 8:14 reads, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Many in the Millerite Movement of the 1830-1840s believed that this sanctuary was the world which would be cleansed by fire at the Lord’s return and that this event would occur at the end of the 2300 days which they calculated as terminating on October 22, 1844. However the sweet message of Jesus' return turned into the bitterness of dissappointment (See Revelation 10). The answer to the Millerites misunderstanding was to be found in the study of the sanctuary. This is the opening subject of Revelation 11 and is a continuation of the instruction which the angel began to give John in the preceding chapter. Hence the beginning of Revelation 11 rightly belongs to chapter 10 and should not be separated by the present chapter division.

The disappointed Advent Believers were directed to study the sanctuary with the rod of God’s word. Their misunderstanding of what the cleansing of the sanctuary referred to had resulted in their great disappointment. It was by studying the subject of the sanctuary and the cleansing that their disappointment would end.

During the 1260 days (years) the two witnesses - the Old and New Testaments, were cast down, by Papal Rome (Daniel 8:13). During the greater part of this period the Old and New Testaments prophesied in sackcloth - a state of mourning. Papal Rome did all it could to hide the Scriptures from the people. Many lost their lives for the crime of possessing a Bible. The knowledge of God’s word was almost totally blotted from the earth. Yet God had promised that at the close of the 42 months (1260 year period) around 1798, knowledge of God’s word would be increased (Daniel 12:4-7), and that the way would be prepared for the final Reformation.

SPIRITUALLY SODOM AND EGYPT

Satan, seeing that this was about to be fulfilled, increased his efforts to destroy God’s Word. Satan had worked through Papal Rome for centuries to make war on God’s truth but here in Revelation 11 is brought to view a new manifestation of Satanic power. Papal Rome had kept the Bible from the people on pretense of reverence but this new power would make open war on the Word of God. This war upon God’s Word would occur in a place which manifested the immorality of Sodom and the God defying atheistic spirit of Egypt. Pharaoh openly denied the existence of the living God saying, “Who is Jehovah that I should obey his voice?” Exodus 5:2. Accordingly, some power would arise around 1798 to make open war on the Bible.

Atheistic power, and a place of immorality.

This was fulfilled in France during the French Revolution in 1793, “the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and RENOUNCE UNANIMOUSLY THE BELIEF AND WORSHIP OF DEITY.” Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, Vol. I, ch. 17.

The Bible was banned, fornication was legalised, and France plunged into the most licentious and bloody scenes ever witnessed in Europe. All this took place,“where also our Lord was crucified.” Of all nations France had been foremost to assist the Papacy to persecute, torture and massacre the saints. Here Christ was crucified in the person of His saints. “...in the scenes of the Revolution Jesus Christ was declared to be an impostor, and the rallying cry of the French infidels was, “Crush the Wretch,” meaning Christ. Heaven daring blasphemy and abominable wickedness went hand in hand, and the basest of men, the most abandoned monsters of cruelty and vice, were most highly exalted. In all this, supreme homage was paid to Satan; while Christ, in His characteristics of truth, purity, and unselfish love, was crucified.” Great Controversy, p273.

France rejected the light of the Reformation and in doing so they crucified Christ:

“For it is impossible for those who were once ENLIGHTENED… And have tasted the good word of God… If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they CRUCIFY TO THEMSELVES THE SON OF GOD afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Heb 6:4-6.

The rise of Atheism in France was the fruit produced by years of Papal rule.

In crushing out the light of the Reformation France destroyed progress, liberty, learning and the best of the nation’s intelligence. It was Papalism which produced the social ills that hurried France onto ruin. Some historians rightly recognize that the excesses of the Revolution are to be charged upon the Church of Rome. It’s corrupting influence made Revolution inevitable. Papal Rome had misrepresented God and as a result Revolutionary France rejected both the Bible and it’s Author. Papal Rome was seen as the Christianity of the day and the attack on the scriptures (the two witnesses) was in effect an attack and rejection of Papal Rome's Christianity. The Papal deadly wound of Revelation 13 was struck by the power described in Rev 11 - Atheistic France.

In rejecting the Bible, France was in effect rejecting Papal Rome, the professed representative of Christianity. Hence prophetically, Revelation 11 is about the Papacy receiving its deadly wound from the King of the South - see Daniel 11:40. Men like Voltaire spread their infidelity everywhere. The masses, long downtrodden by a corrupt church turned upon their oppressor with fury. The guillotine was set up on the very spot where Rome had set up the first stake at the opening of the Reformation. In rejecting Romanism as a deception, the people were led by Satan to regard all religion as a deception.

The War against the Bible began what is known as the “Reign of Terror”. Unhappy France was swept by a tide of fierce human passion. No one was safe. The streets in Paris flowed with blood. The Revelator describing this upheaval says: “The same hour was there a great earthquake.” France, one tenth part of that great city Babylon, was shaken as religion, law, social order, the state, and the church were all overthrown.

“And after three days and a half the Spirit of God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet.” In 1793 the Bible had been abolished by the French Assembly. Three and a half years later, in 1797, another resolution was passed rescinding the former decree, granting toleration to the Scriptures.

FRENCH REVOLUTION - The Birthplace of Atheistic Communism.

The French Revolution was a turning point in history. It was the birthplace of atheistic, materialistic communism.

“The COMMUNIST movement would never have taken form as it did except for the prior occurrence of the FRENCH REVOLUTION.” Palmer, Revolution, p11-12.

“The connection between the absolutist REVOLUTION OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY and the MARXIST MOVEMENT of the next century presses for recognition... [It] is THE DIRECT OFFSPRING and heir...A RELIGION OF ATHEISM… coupling scientific ideas with the greatest political hopes that man has ever entertained, the absolute hopes that animated the FRENCH REVOLUTION.” The Dignity of Man, R. W. Davenport, p163-9.

The atheistic beast (nation) from the bottomless pit is alive today in the Communist State and its influence is felt in evolutionary theory and humanistic and materialistic thinking everywhere. As surely as corrupt Christianity bred Atheism so Atheism will breed corrupt Christianity. Politically active professed Christianity will rise to power again and all the world will be led to wonder after the beast (Rev 13).

“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.” These words describe the exaltation of the Scriptures that followed the French Revolution. Shortly after the Revolution the Bible societies were established and the Word of God has risen to new heights of distribution. This to make possible the final proclamation of the truth to all the world before the Lord’s return.

“In the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished.” The first and second woes (5th and 6th Trumpets) are past. The third woe (7th Trumpet cometh quickly.” But before the final trumpet ushers in the Great Day of God, the mystery of God (the perfecting of the saints) will be accomplished. This is the same work described in Revelation 7 that occurs between the 6th and 7th Seals. By every evidence we are living in this time.

Revelation 11 was given under the 6th trumpet, and reveals events that were to happen before the 7th trumpet sounded in Revelation 11:15.

This chapter reminds us of the death and resurrection of Christ: The two witnesses (God’s written word - the Old & New Testaments) are trodden on, cast out and put to death. Likewise Christ (the living word) was put to death. As Christ, (the living word) arose and ascended to heaven, so also do the two witnesses (the written word of God).

OVERVIEW

Revelation 11 gives the solution to the disappointment mentioned in Rev 10. It also foretold the French Revolution, the birthplace of communism and modern day atheism. Revelation 11 is given under the 6th trumpet (and reveals events that were to happen before the 7th trumpet sounded in Rev 11:15.

Verse 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

verse 1 Focus on the Heavenly Sanctuary

In Rev 10 we saw the OPENING of the LITTLE BOOK, that portion of the book of Daniel which had been “SHUT UP” till the time of the end (Dan 12:4).

We saw how many in the 1840 came to the sweet belief that Jesus was to return in their day from their study of the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel 8. The 2300 day prophecy, which had been SHUT till the time of the end (Dan 8:17) pointed to the cleansing of the sanctuary (temple), which they believed was the world to be cleansed by fire at the Second Coming of Christ. It was by incorrectly identifying the sanctuary to be cleansed as the earth, the Advent believers suffered “bitter disappointment” in 1844 when Jesus did not return (Rev 10:10). Rev 11:1 helped them over their disappointment by directing the down hearted to “RISE and measure (examine) the temple (sanctuary)” with the “rod” of Godʼs word. (Mic 7:14; Jer 1:11-12). They learned that the sanctuary to be cleansed in 1844 was not the earth but the Lordʼs sanctuary or temple in heaven. The cleansing of the earthly AND heavenly sanctuaries is plainly taught in Heb 9:23. As the O.T. believerʼs sins were placed upon the sacrifices and from the sacrifices transferred into the earthly sanctuary, so our sins are placed on Christ and transferred into heavenʼs sanctuary. As, at the end of the year, the High priest cleansed the earthly sanctuary of the peopleʼs sins, so, in the end of the world Christ is to cleanse heavenʼs sanctuary of the record of sins. (Heb 8:1-5; See Dan 8). As the cleansing involves judgment to see who has remained faithful, this led those, who by faith worship in heavenʼs temple, to examine themselves; to see if they “measured up” to the standard in the judgment (2Cor 13:5; Ecc 12:13-14; Matt 7:2). Rev 11 therfore begins and ends with Godʼs temple in heaven (Compare Rev 11:1, 19).

A reed like unto a rod

The rod represents the word of God - The revelation of heavenly truths and the standard by which men are to be assessed: Christ is to rule all nations with a “ROD of iron.” (Rev 12:5). “Feed thy people with thy ROD.” (Mic 7:14). “...he shall smite the earth with the ROD of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isa 11:4 Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27; cf. 2 Cor 10:12; Comp. symbolism in Eze 40:3, 6; Zech 2:1-2.

Given to John

John here stands as representative of the church to which Revelation was written. We are to measure the temple etc.

Rise and measure the temple

As a representative of the church having just suffered the great disappointment (See Revelation 10) John was ‘down.’ The solution to depression was to rise and measure (examine) the temple, the altar and the worshipper. The language is clearly symbolic as the measuring is to be done by the rod - God’s word. No one is required to literally measure any literal temple or literally measure literal worshippers!

Measuring is to compare one thing to another. Spiritual things can only be measured with a spiritual rule - the word of God.

1Co 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

In Zechariah a man measured Jerusalem as an assurance that it would be rebuilt (See on Zech 2:2). This suggests that the measuring here may be an assurance of restoration and preservation. Between the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) and the seventh seal (Rev 8:1) a parenthetical assurance was given (Revelation 7) that some will stand through the terrors that attend the Second Coming. Likewise this ‘measuring appears to be a parenthetical assurance between the sixth trumpet (Rev 9:14) and the seventh trumpet (Rev 11:15) that amid the terrors attendant on the blowing of the trumpets, God’s temple - i.e. the plan of redemption portrayed there, and His people are secure.

Verse 2: But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

verse 2 Courtyard, Gentiles

The court of the Gentiles, which surrounded the temple (Eph 2:14; Heb 8:5; 9:1), represented the church on earth. The “Gentiles” to whom it was given are those who worship God (they are in the temple grounds) but are not the genuine people of God; not the real Israel of God.

“...for it [the courtyard] is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.” The Holy City is symbolic of God's people.

THE TWO WITNESSES - the Word of God.

“Search the scriptures... they are they which testify [witness] of me.” John 5:39

The two Testaments - Old & New “testify [witness]” of Christ. (John 5:39; Matt 24:14; 2Cor 13:1). The Old Testament is represented by a candlestick fed by the oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit sent from the Father and the Son (Zech 4:2-6; Ps 119:105).

verse 2 The 42 months

The 42 months parallel the 3 1/2 times of Dan 7:25 - 1260 years (538-1798) during which time the true church (the Holy city), and Godʼs two witnesses (the Old & New Testaments) were trampled underfoot (See Daniel 8:13). The Old & New Testaments prophesied in sackcloth (distress. 2Sam 3:31).

The Papacy hid the Bible from the people because it revealed her corruption Many lost their lives for possessing parts of the Bible and the knowledge of Godʼs Word and the prophecies were almost totally blotted out. However, God had promised that at the end of the 1260 years (i.e. 1798), knowledge of His word would be increased (Dan 12:4-7). Satan, seeing that this was about to be fulfilled, increased his efforts to destroy the Bible...

Verse 3: And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

verses 3-6 Two witnesses - the Word of God

verse 3 - 1260 days

This period is mentioned in various ways - days, months and times in many places: Dan 7:25 “a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Dan 12:7 “a time, times, and an half.” A period ended before the opening of the little book (See on Rev 10).
Rev 11:2 “forty two months.”
Rev 11:3 “a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.”
Rev 12:6 “a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.”
Rev 12:14 “a time, and times, and half a time.”
Rev 13:5 “forty two months.”
Many facts show it to be symbolic such as the unusual units used.

verse 6 Power to shut heaven

As Godʼs Word through Elijah prophesied that no rain would fall on apostate Israel for 3 1/2 years, so during the 3 1/2 prophetic years of Papal supremacy, there was a spiritual drought. (Luke 4:32; Hos 6:3). As Godʼs Word through Moses turned Egyptʼs waters into blood (Exo 7:17), so the “waters” (nations Rev 17:15) supporting Papal Rome would suffer revolution and bloodshed. All who hurt the Scriptures will be destroyed. (Rev 22:18-19; 2Thess 1:8).

Sackcloth indicates distressand mourning:

“...Gird you with sackcloth, and mourn...” (2Sam 3:31; Isa 22:12; Lam 2:10; Jer 6:26).

Isa 22:12 “...weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:”

Lam 2:10 “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, [and] keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.”

Jer 6:26 “...gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

During the 1260 years Godʼs witnesses were in a state of mourning and obscurity. The Papacy hid the Bible from the people, contradicted itʼs testimony, forbade the common people to posses it and hunted, tortured and burned those who had it and were proclaiming itʼs truths. Yet in these dark ages faithful men who loved the Godʼs word continued to declare the truth and the two witnesses, though clothed in sackcloth, prophesied throughout the 1260 years.

Verses 4-6: These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The two witnesses are also said to be two Candlesticks.

The Old Testament is represented by one candlestick fed by the oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit sent from the Father and the Son (Zech 4:2-6; Ps 119:105).

The heavens are shut or plagues fall according to the Word of God. The two witnesses have only one “mouth.” i.e. the Old & New Testaments speak as one book. The singular form “mouth” may be used collectively for “mouths.” Such usage is common in Greek, e.g. “heart” (Matt 15:8; Mark 16:52), “Face” (Matt 17:6; Acts 7:45)

"fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies" - Reminicent of Elijah’s judgment in 2Kings 1:10, 12. Ultimatelly those who resist the word of God will be devoured in the lake of fire for the word of the Lord so declares (See Rev 20:15) The Scriptures testify that fire will punish those who in any way alter of destroy the Scriptures. (Rev 22:18-19; Deut 4:2; Mal 4:1)

verse 6: Power to shut heaven...power over waters to turn them to blood.

SHUT HEAVEN - TURN WATERS TO BLOOD

Only the Word of God’s has power to do what it says (Luke 4:32). It was the word of the Lord through Elijah that stopped it raining for 3 1/2 years (1 Kings 17:1; Luke 4:25) . It was the word of the Lord through Moses that turned the waters of Egypt to blood (Exo 7:19). Just as these judgments were fulfilled, so also will every threatening and judgment the scriptures prophesy to come. An instance of this the world is yet to experience in the infliction of the seven last plagues.

As God’s Word through Elijah prophesied that no rain would fall on apostate Israel for 3 1/2 years, so during the 3 1/2 prophetic years of Papal supremacy, there was a spiritual drought. (Luke 4:32; Hos 6:3).

As God’s Word through Moses turned Egypt’s waters into blood (Exo 7:17), so the “waters” (a symbol of the nations Rev 17:15) supporting Papal Rome would suffer revolution and bloodshed. All who hurt the Scriptures will be destroyed. (Rev 22:18-19; 2Thess 1:8).

Verse 7: "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." Rev 11:7

verse 7 The beast from the bottomles pit

A beast symbolises a nation (Dan 7:23; 8:20-21). Satan had worked through Papal Rome for centuries to make war on Godʼs truth. Rome had kept the Bible locked up in an unknown tounge, hidden from the people out of pretended reverence for the Scriptures. However, when the Scriptures were finishing their testimony in sackcloth, around 1798, there would arise another nation (a beast symbolizes a nation. Dan 7:23; 8:20- 21) which would make open war upon the two witnesses.

Bottomless pit

The grave is a “pit” (Isa 38:18; Isa 14:19) which cannot be filled.

“ ...and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied...” Hab 2:5;

“ There are three [things that] are never satisfied...The grave...” Prov 30:15-16

The grave is thus a bottomless pit.

The Greek “abussos” translated “bottomless pit” is also translated “deep”

in Rom 10:7 where it clearly refers to the grave.

The Greek Septuagint Bible uses the word “abussos” to describe the earth lifeless

and void in Gen 1:2.

Thus the nation to rise from the pit would be a new manifestation of that which was. It was to be a resurrection of something that previously existed.

THE BEAST FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT WAS ATHEISM WHICH AROSE IN FRANCE

Atheism in France, the King of the South pushes at

Papal Rome, the King of the North - see Daniel 11:40

1. It would be a NATION as beasts represent nations (Dan 7:17, 23) 1. France is a nation.

2. This nation would be a new manifestation of something which existed before - from the bottomless pit (v7), i.e. something returned the dead. 2. France manifested the same God defying spirit that was seen in the kingdom of Egypt (Exodus 5:2), the LITERAL king of the south. The God defying sprit of ATHEISM was resurrected in France.

3. It would rise around 1798 at the end of the 1260 year period during which the witnesses prophesied in sackcloth (Rev 11:3, 7)

3. The French Revolution occurred in the late 1790s as the 1260 year period of papal supremacy was coming to an end.

4. It would attack the Bible - the two Witnesses (v7) 4. France attacked the Bible: “The [French] Convention dressed an ass...loaded it with the symbols of Christianity and tied the Old and New Testaments to its tail. It was then led in mock procession...The crowd piled books of devotion into heaps and burned them to ashes, amid blasphemous shouts...A prostitute was enthroned as ‘Godess of Reason’...” L.E. Froom, Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2, p738.

5. It would manifest a disbelief in the true God - like Egypt (v8, cf. Exo 5:2)

5. “France stands apart in the world’s history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced there was no God.” Blackwood’s Magazine, Nov, 1870. This echos Pharaoh’s denial of the existence of the true God (Exo 5:2).

6. It would manifest great immorality - Like Sodom (v8)

6. In the Revolution the institution of marriage was made a mockery and great degradation took place.“Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion was that which reduced the union of marriage - the most sacred engagements which human beings can form, and the permanence of which leads most strongly to the consolidation of society - to the state of a mere civil contract of a transitory character, which any two persons might engage in and cast loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed or their appetite gratified..” Sir William Scott’s, Life of Napoleon, Vol.I, ch. 17.

7. It would be located where Christ, in the person of His saints, suffered terribly (v8)

7. France in which Papalism had a strong hold became one of Europe’s most terrible persecutors. Christ was crucified in the person of His witness in events such as the papal inspired Bartholemews Day Massacre when in one night thousands of Protestants were massacred. “...in the scenes of the Revolution...Christ, in His characteristics of truth, purity, and unselfish love, was crucified.” White, Great Controversy, p273.

8. It was part of spiritual Babylon - that great city (v8)

8. France was part of spiritual Babylon. France was the first of the ten nations into which the Roman Empire divided, to support the papacy.

9. It would be involved in a great political upheaval - great earthquake (v13).

9. The French Revolution was a religious & political upheaval that changed the world and the effects remain with us even today. “The time of the eighteenth‑-century French Revolution when the 1260 years of the Papal era were closing, was a turning point in the history of the modern world. It brought forth forces that made a permanent change in the thoughts and actions of mankind.” Alison, History of Europe (1789-1815), Vol. 1, p47-49.

“According to the words of the prophet, then, a little before the year 1798 some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Bible. And in the land where the testimony of God’s two witnesses should thus be silenced, there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the licentiousness of Sodom. This prophecy has received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of France.” White, Great Controversy p 269.

The French revolution and open Atheism was the tragic result of Rome's suppression of the Scriptures.

“In the sixteenth century the Reformation, presenting an open Bible to the people, had sought admission to all the countries of Europe. Some nations welcomed it with gladness, as a messenger of Heaven. In other lands the papacy succeeded to a great extent in preventing its entrance; and the light of Bible knowledge, with its elevating influences, was almost wholly excluded. In one country, though the light found entrance, it was not comprehended by the darkness. For centuries, truth and error struggled for the mastery. At last the evil triumphed, and the truth of Heaven was thrust out. “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” John 3:19. The nation was left to reap the results of the course which she had chosen. The restraint of God’s Spirit was removed from a people that had despised the gift of His grace. Evil was permitted to come to maturity. And all the world saw the fruit of willful rejection of the light. The war against the Bible, carried forward for so many centuries in France, culminated in the scenes of the Revolution. That terrible outbreaking was but the legitimate result of Rome’s suppression of the Scriptures. It presented the most striking illustration which the world has ever witnessed of the working out of the papal policy-- an illustration of the results to which for more than a thousand years the teaching of the Roman Church had been tending.” White Great Controversy p. 265-266

Papal Rome's brand of Christianity paved the way for the rejection of God and the Holy Scriptures and the rise of ATHEISM. The same Atheism demonstrated in Egypt (the literal King of the South of Daniel 11). Atheism, therefore, in "the TIME of the END" of Daniel 11:40 is the spiritual King of the South which through France inflicted the deadly wound on Papal Rome, the King of the North - see Daniel 11:40.

“The work which the papacy had begun, atheism completed. The one withheld from the people the truths of the Bible; the other taught them to reject both the Bible and its Author. The seed sown by priests and prelates was yielding its evil fruit.” White, 4 Spirit of Prophecy p192

In the absence of the elevating truths of Scripture the aristocracy and the priesthood lived in splendor while oppressing the poor masses who lived in hunger and hardship. The suppression of the truths of the Reformation by the Papal clergy and the leadership whom they influenced brought about terrible conditions for the masses which at last boiled over in revolution. The aristocracy and the priests would reap what they had sown.

Verse 8: And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Textual evidence is divided between “bodies” and “body.” The singular form would agree with the fact that these two witneses have one “mouth” (verse 5). The Old & New Testaments form one book, one body.

THE GREAT CITY - SPIRITUAL BABYLON

Revelation is a book of two cities:

1. Jerusalem - representing the church of God. “The holy city” of Rev 11:2.

2. Babylon - representing false religion. “The Great city which spiritually is called Sodom & Egypt.” of Rev 11:8

Only three cities are called “great” in Scripture:

1. Gibeon - once (Josh 10:2)

2. Nineveh - 4 times (Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 3, 11)

3. Babylon - 10 times (Dan 4:30; Rev 14:8; Rev 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10,

16, 18, 19, 21).

The great city of this text is said to have the spirit of Sodom (immorality) & Egypt (Atheism - a disbelief in the true God). It cannot therefore refer to Jerusalem. It undoubtedly refers to Babylon the Great.

THE STREET

The witnesses were not to lay dead throughout spiritual Babylon in general but “in the street of the great city” “THE street” refers to some important part but not the whole of spiritual Babylon. At the time of the Revolution: “France had the largest population in Europe” (French Revolution, Britannica CD99 Standard Edition © 1994-1999), and was one of the strongholds of the Roman Church.

SPIRITUALLY SODOM

Gr. pneumatikos, not literally but figuratively. cf. Isa 1:10

SODOM

A symbol of moral degredation (Jude 7; Eze 16:46-55). Such was the condition of France during the Revolution. Sodom was known for its immorality (Jude 7). In the French Revolution marriage was degraded, adultery was legalised, and moral debasement and corruption swept the country. It is estimated that at least one in eight of all marriageable women practiced prostitution.

“Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion was that which reduced the union of marriage - the most sacred engagements which human beings can form, and the permanence of which leads most strongly to the consolidation of society - to the state of a mere civil contract of a transitory character, which any two persons might engage in and cast loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed or their appetite gratified. If fiends had set themselves at work to discover a mode most effectually destroying whatever is venerable, graceful, or permanent in domestic life, and obtaining at the same time an assurance that the mischief which it was their object to create should be perpetuated from one generation to another, they could not have invented a more effectual plan than the degradation of marriage into a state of mere occasional cohabitation or licensed concubinage. Sophie Arnoult, an actress famous for the witty things she said, described the republican marriage as the sacrament of adultery. These anti-religious and anti-social regulations did not answer the purpose of the frantic and inconsiderate zealots by whom they had been urged forward.” Sir William Scott’s, Life of Napoleon, Vol.I, ch. 17.

In this nation would be seen the immorality of Sodom and the Atheistic God denying spirit of Pharaoh who said, “WHO IS JEHOVAH that I should obey his voice...I KNOW NOT THE LORD” Exo 5:2. This prophecy received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of FRANCE. During the Revolution, in 1793, “the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which manʼs soul receives, and RENOUNCE UNANIMOUSLY THE BELIEF AND WORSHIP OF DEITY.” Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, Vol. I, ch. 17

“France stands apart in the worldʼs history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced THERE WAS NO GOD, and of which the entire population of the capital, and a vast majority elsewhere, women as well as men, DANCED AND SANG WITH JOY.”Blackwoodʼs Magazine, Nov, 1870.

The Bible was banned, fornication legalized and France plunged into the most bloody and licentious scenes ever seen in Europe known as the Reign of Terror.

Spiritually Sodom & Egypt

In this nation would be seen the immorality of Sodom and the God denying spirit of Pharaoh who said, “WHO IS JEHOVAH that I should obey his voice...I KNOW NOT THE LORD” Exo 5:2. This prophecy received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of FRANCE.

During the Revolution, in 1793, “the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and RENOUNCE UNANIMOUSLY THE BELIEF AND WORSHIP OF DEITY.” Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, Vol. I, ch. 17.

“France stands apart in the world’s history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced THERE WAS NO GOD, and of which the entire population of the capital, and a vast majority elsewhere, women as well as men, DANCED AND SANG WITH JOY.” Blackwood’s Magazine, Nov, 1870.

“Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion was that which reduced the union of marriage… to the state of a mere CIVIL CONTRACT of a transitory character, which any two persons might engage in and cast loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed or their appetite gratified.” Sir William Scott's, Life of Napoleon, Vol. I, ch. 17.

The Bible was banned, fornication legalized and France plunged into the most bloody and licentious scenes ever seen in Europe known as the Reign of Terror.

verse 8 Where Christ was crucified

Like the names of Sodom & Egypt the expression “where also our Lord was crucified” is taken by many commentators figuratively. “’Where also our Lord was crucified.’ This specification of the prophecy was also fulfilled by France. In no land had the spirit of enmity against Christ been more strikingly displayed. In no country had the truth encountered more bitter and cruel opposition. In the persecution which France had visited upon the confessors of the gospel, she had crucified Christ in the person of His disciples.” GC 271.

ʻChristianʼ France crucified Christ by rejecting the light of the Reformation:

“For it is impossible for those who were once ENLIGHTENED... And have tasted the good word of God... If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they CRUCIFY TO THEMSELVES THE SON OF GOD afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Heb 6:4-6

Of all European nation France was foremost in helping the Papacy persecute, torture & massacre the saints.

“... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto ME.” Matt 25:40.

When the Christ confronted Saul, who was terribly persecuting the church, the Lord introduced Himself by saying, “Saul,Saul, why persecutest thou ME?” Acts 9:4.

Whatever is done to Christ's followers He accepts as being done to Himself. Christ was ‘crucified’ in the person of His witnesses in the nation of France.

In the Bartholemews Day Massacre (1572) Catholics massacred tens of thousands of French Protestants in just one day. A medal still exists that Pope Gregory XIII had made to commemorate the massacre.

When news of the [Bartholemews Day] massacre reached Rome, the exaltation among the clergy knew no bounds. The cardinal of Lorraine rewarded the messenger with a thousand crowns…A medal was struck to commemorate the massacre, and in the Vatican may still be seen three frescoes of Vasari, describing the attack…the king plotting the massacre, and the massacre itself.” The Massacre of St. Bartholemews, ch. 14, par. 34

verse 8 Kill the two witnesses - Godʼs word

“The [French] Convention dressed an ass... loaded it with the symbols of Christianity and tied the OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS to its tail. It was then led in mock procession ...The crowd piled books of devotion into heaps and BURNED THEM TO ASHES, amid blasphemous shouts...A prostitute was enthroned as ʻGodess of Reasonʼ...”L.E. Froom, Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2, p738.

Verse 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

verse 9 Not suffer them to be put in graves

Other nations would not ʻburyʼ the Bible. Shocked at Franceʼs abolition of the Scriptures and the French idea of Republicanism in place of Monarchies, the European nations united to oppose France.

The nations beholding Frances war on the Bible would not be led to engage in the wicked work, nor suffer the murdered witnesses to be buried, or put out of sight among themselves, though they lay dead three days and a half (3 1/2 years), in France. On the contrary this very attempt on the part of France served to arouse Christians everywhere to put forth new exertions in behalf of the Bible, as will be shown

Shocked at France’s abolition of the Scriptures and the French idea of Republicanism in place of Monarchies, the European nations united to oppose France.

During the Revolution, in 1793, “the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.” Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17.

“On Nov 26, 1793, the Convention, of which 17 bishops and some clergy were members, decreed the abolition of all religion.” The Age of Revolution, W.H. Hutton, p156.

"The Convention dressed as ass...loaded it with the symbols of Christianity and tied the Old and New Testaments to its tail. It was then led in mock procession...The crowd piled books of devotion into heaps and burned them to ashes, amid blasphemous shouts...A prostitute was enthroned as ‘Godess of Reason’...” L.E. Froom, Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2, p738 “

With blasphemous boldness almost beyond belief, one of the priests of the new order said: ‘God, if You exist, avenge Your injured name. I bid You defiance! You remain silent; You dare not launch Your thunders. Who after this will believe in Your existence?’ Lacretelle, History, Vol. II, p309; in Sir Archibald Alison, History of Europe, Vol. I, ch. 10.

What an echo is this of the Pharaoh’s demand: ‘Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice?’ ‘I know not Jehovah!’

‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.’ Psalm 14:1”

Verse 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

verse 10 Wicked rejoice.

"They that dwell upon the earth"

This and similar terms are used consistently in Revelation to refer to the unrighteous. Rev 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; 17:2, 8]

Wicked rejoice

Those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God’s Law rejoiced over the silencing of the Scriptures convicting testimony and made merry.

“France stands apart in the world’s history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced there was no God, and of which the entire population of the capital, and a vast majority elsewhere, women as well as men, danced and sang with joy in accepting the announcement.” Blackwood’s Magazine, Nov, 1870

The wicked rejoiced over the silencing of Godʼs word which had tormented their consciences.

Verse 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

verse 11 - 3 1/2 days

This godless condition was to last 3 1/2 symbolic “days” which represents 3 1/2 years (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34). All religion had been banned by the French Assembly in 1793. Three and a half years later in June 1797 another resolution was passed rescinding the former decree and granting toleration to the Scriptures which arose from the dead, so to speak (cf. Eze 37:10; 2Kings 13:21). The guilty conscience that had tormented the wicked returned and “Fear fell upon them.”

Allowing for the days necessary for this decree to be published in the provinces it was 3 1/2 years later that Camille Jordan, in the National Convention, made his speech for the complete reversal of this policy (June 15, 1797). W.M. Sloane says of this speech, “Declaring that religion should no longer be proscribed but protected, he reiterated the solemn promise that worship should be free in France. In his peroration he called for the restoration of all the outward symbols of faith.” W.M. Sloane, French Revolution and Religious Reforms, p229.

stood upon their feet [cf. 2Kings 13:21; Eze 37:10];

3 1/2 days

This godless condition was to last 3 1/2 symbolic “days” which represents 3 1/2 years (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34).

“On Nov 26, 1793, the Convention, of which 17 bishops and some clergy were members, DECREED THE ABOLITION OF ALL RELIGION.” The Age of Revolution, W.H. Hutton, p156.

“THREE YEARS AND A HALF LATER A RESOLUTION RESCINDING THESE DECREES, thus granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted by the same body.” E.G. White, Great Controversy, p273, 287.

All religion had been banned by the French Assembly in 1793. 3 1/2 years later in 1797 another resolution was passed rescinding the

former decree and granting toleration to the Scriptures which arose from the dead, so to speak (cf. Eze 37:10; 2Kings 13:21).

Great fear fell upon them which saw them. The guilty conscience that had tormented the wicked returned.

Verse 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

verse 12 Witnesses Ascend up to heaven

Ascending to heaven means great exaltation (cf. Dan 4:22). Were the Scriptures exalted as here indicated, since France made war on them? They have. Shortly affter Franceʼs war on the Scriptures the Bible societies were established (British 1804, American 1816); and these, with their almost innumerable associate groups, are scattering the Bible everywhere. Increased knowledge following the Revolution resulted in improved printing fascilities. The breaking down of predjudice and national barriers and the loss of Papal influence opened the door for missionary efforts and the Old & New Testaments arose to new heights of distribution. The Bible is now the most printed book on earth. As Christ, the Word, died, was resurrected and ascended to heaven, so the written Word did the same.

“Ascended up to heaven.” - To understand this expression, see Daniel. 4:22: “Thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven.” Here the expression signifies great exaltation. Have the Scriptures attained to such a state of exaltation as here indicated, since France made war upon them? - They have. Shortly after, the British Bible Society was organized (1804); then followed the American Bible Society (1817); and these, with their almost innumerable auxiliaries, are scattering the Bible everywhere.” Uriah Smith, Daniel & the Revelation, p536.