Revelation 11:5, commentary and pictures

Revelation 11:5 belongs to the prophecy of the two witnesses concerning the oppression of the church and the suppression of the Scriptures under papal supremacy. The forty-two months and the thousand two hundred and threescore days around it are the same period, representing the time the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome. The 1260 years of papal supremacy began in A.D. 538 and ended in 1798, when a French army entered Rome, made the pope a prisoner, and he died in exile, after which the papal hierarchy never wielded its former power. The persecution of the church did not continue through the whole period, for God in mercy cut short the time of fiery trial, and through the influence of the Reformation persecution was brought to an end prior to 1798. The prophecy foretells terrible results coming especially upon France from the domination of the man of sin.

The verse means that no one can trample upon the word of God or harm His witnesses without punishment. The fire proceeding from the witnesses' mouths to devour their enemies is the punishment God will bring on those who add to or take away from what He has revealed or commanded, adding to them the plagues written in the book and taking away their part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things written in the book, as described in Revelation 22:18-19. The warning guards against changing in any manner what God has revealed or commanded and applies to all who by influence lead others to regard lightly or disregard the law of God, who declare obedience to be of little consequence, who exalt their own opinions above divine revelation, and who change the plain meaning of Scripture to suit convenience or to conform to the world. The written word, the law of God, will measure the character of every person and will judge and condemn all whom that unerring test declares wanting.

The eleventh chapter of Revelation must be read verse by verse to learn the things yet to take place in the cities. The verse gives special indication of a wonderful display of God's power in destruction brought upon a sinful city recently destroyed because of its sins. Those who believe the prophecies must not ignore this destruction or show indifference, must not make light of what was witnessed or flatter themselves that they will build buildings far in advance of any yet built, and must not defiantly invest means as before, for God will exercise His power to counteract such efforts. The calamity calls those who have abused privileges and taken advantage of fellow men to make amends for wrong done, for the Lord has spoken and men must hear His voice.