1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
Comment: Somethings are obvious, much escapes me in this reading. Obviously God has 2 witnesses who proclaim His word until they are killed by ‘the beast from the bottomless pit.’ They have great power to kill those who oppose them until they themselves are killed and left lying unburied in the street ‘symbolically (is} called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.‘ Who were the 2 witnesses? Most seem to think Moses and Elijah (2 0f the great men of the OT), others wish to include Enoch – who with Elijah is described as ascending into heaven without dying. Where did there bodies lie? Jesus was crucified outside the city wall of Jerusalem. Was Golgotha known as ‘Sodom or Egypt’? What is the significance of 1260 days? Leaving the dead unburied was considered a great insult – although they were speaking on behalf of God, did the masses of people hate their message? What was their message? Hopefully we may get some answers as we read on!
Prayer: Make Your Word plain to us, please Lord!
As I read it! 