S
Friends,
"THE PROPHECY OF THE TEMPLE, OF ENOCH AND ELIAS [ELIJAH}, THE VOICE OF THE
TRUMPET OF THE SEVENTH ANGEL
"11:1-2 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. 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.
"According to the commentary of St. Andrew [of Caesarea], "the temple of the living
God is the Church in which the rational sacrifices are offered by us. The court which is
without is the society of unbelievers and Jews who are unworthy of the angelic measuring
(that is, the definition of the degree of their moral perfection and corresponding blessed-
ness) because of their impiety" (St. Andrew, ch. 30).
"The treading underfoot of the Holy City, Jerusalem, or the ecumenical Church for the
course of forty-two months signifies that at the coming of antichrist the faithful will be
persecuted for the course of three and a half years.
"Some interpreters suppose that this measurement of the temple signifies the speedy
destruction of the Old Testament temple in Jerusalem on the site of which there is to be
raised a New Testament Christian church, just like a similar measurement of the temple
by means of a reed was given in a vision to the prophet Ezekiel (chaps. 40-45), signifying
the restoration of the destroyed temple. Others consider that the inner court which
was measured by the Apostle signifies "the church of the first-born in heaven" (Heb.
12:23), the heavenly sanctuary; and that the outer court left without measurement is
the Church of Christ on earth which must endure persecution at first from the pagans
and then, in the last times, from antichrist. The miserable condition of the earthly Church
is limited, however, to this period of forty-two months. The fulfillment of the prophecy of
forty-two months some interpreters have seen in the persecution of Diocletian which
was distinguished by its great cruelty and lasted from Feb. 23, 305 to July 25, 308, which
is about three and a half years. The persecution touches not only the outward court; that
is, the outer side of the life of Christians whose property will be taken away. They will be
subjected to tortures, while the inner sanctuary of their souls will remain untouched.
"11:3-6 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two-hundred and three score days, clothed is sackcloth. 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.
"For the course of this whole time, 1,260 days, "two witnesses of God" will preach
repentance to men and convert them from the deception of antichrist. BY these two
witnesses all the Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church understand almost unanimous-
ly the Old Testament righteous ones Enoch and Elias [Elijah], who were taken alive into
heaven. During their preaching, while possessing authority and power over the elements
in order to chastise and bring to their senses the impious, they themselves will be un-
harmed.
"O wondrous grace of God!" for He offers a treatment equal in power to the wound. Just
as the false Christ will possess every diabolical activity, and all false signs and miracles
will be more glorious than all sorcerers and deceivers, so also will God arm these saints
with the power of true signs and miracles, so that by offering truth and light they might
overthrow the lie and darkness and convert the deceived either by the word of teaching
or by the blows of chastisement (drought, fire, changes in the elements and so forth),
and might expose the deceiver himself without themselves suffering in the least either
through him or others" (St. Andrew, ch. 30)."
(pages 127-129: The Apocalypse of St. John: An Orthodox Commentary. by Archbishop
Averky of Jordanville. Translated from the Russian and edited with an introduction by
Fr. Seraphim Rose. Valaam Society of America/ St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood,
Platina, CA: 1985. ).
God save us all.
"Our Father, Who art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be
done, on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation -- but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington (April, 2011 AD, n.c.).
"THE PROPHECY OF THE TEMPLE, OF ENOCH AND ELIAS [ELIJAH}, THE VOICE OF THE
TRUMPET OF THE SEVENTH ANGEL
"11:1-2 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. 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.
"According to the commentary of St. Andrew [of Caesarea], "the temple of the living
God is the Church in which the rational sacrifices are offered by us. The court which is
without is the society of unbelievers and Jews who are unworthy of the angelic measuring
(that is, the definition of the degree of their moral perfection and corresponding blessed-
ness) because of their impiety" (St. Andrew, ch. 30).
"The treading underfoot of the Holy City, Jerusalem, or the ecumenical Church for the
course of forty-two months signifies that at the coming of antichrist the faithful will be
persecuted for the course of three and a half years.
"Some interpreters suppose that this measurement of the temple signifies the speedy
destruction of the Old Testament temple in Jerusalem on the site of which there is to be
raised a New Testament Christian church, just like a similar measurement of the temple
by means of a reed was given in a vision to the prophet Ezekiel (chaps. 40-45), signifying
the restoration of the destroyed temple. Others consider that the inner court which
was measured by the Apostle signifies "the church of the first-born in heaven" (Heb.
12:23), the heavenly sanctuary; and that the outer court left without measurement is
the Church of Christ on earth which must endure persecution at first from the pagans
and then, in the last times, from antichrist. The miserable condition of the earthly Church
is limited, however, to this period of forty-two months. The fulfillment of the prophecy of
forty-two months some interpreters have seen in the persecution of Diocletian which
was distinguished by its great cruelty and lasted from Feb. 23, 305 to July 25, 308, which
is about three and a half years. The persecution touches not only the outward court; that
is, the outer side of the life of Christians whose property will be taken away. They will be
subjected to tortures, while the inner sanctuary of their souls will remain untouched.
"11:3-6 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two-hundred and three score days, clothed is sackcloth. 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.
"For the course of this whole time, 1,260 days, "two witnesses of God" will preach
repentance to men and convert them from the deception of antichrist. BY these two
witnesses all the Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church understand almost unanimous-
ly the Old Testament righteous ones Enoch and Elias [Elijah], who were taken alive into
heaven. During their preaching, while possessing authority and power over the elements
in order to chastise and bring to their senses the impious, they themselves will be un-
harmed.
"O wondrous grace of God!" for He offers a treatment equal in power to the wound. Just
as the false Christ will possess every diabolical activity, and all false signs and miracles
will be more glorious than all sorcerers and deceivers, so also will God arm these saints
with the power of true signs and miracles, so that by offering truth and light they might
overthrow the lie and darkness and convert the deceived either by the word of teaching
or by the blows of chastisement (drought, fire, changes in the elements and so forth),
and might expose the deceiver himself without themselves suffering in the least either
through him or others" (St. Andrew, ch. 30)."
(pages 127-129: The Apocalypse of St. John: An Orthodox Commentary. by Archbishop
Averky of Jordanville. Translated from the Russian and edited with an introduction by
Fr. Seraphim Rose. Valaam Society of America/ St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood,
Platina, CA: 1985. ).
God save us all.
"Our Father, Who art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be
done, on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation -- but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington (April, 2011 AD, n.c.).