And devoureth their enemies.—“History supplies the illustrations—the fire that consumed the opponents of Moses (Num. 16:28, 35), and that which came down at the word of Elijah. (2 Kings 1:10, 12)”—Cook.
And if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.—“Therefore have I hewed them by the Prophets; and I have slain them by the words of My mouth.”—Hos. 6:5.
11:6. These have power to shut heaven.—The literal heavens and the spiritual heavens.—1 Ki. 17:1.
That it rain not.—That there be no literal showers, or spiritual showers of blessings.
In the days of their prophecy.—Literally in the three and one half years in Elijah's day in which there was no rain (James 5:17) and spiritually in the three and one half times, or 1260 years, from A. D. 539 to 1799 in which [pg 174] the showers of blessing were withheld from the world.—Rev. 2:20.
And have power over waters.—Literal and symbolic.
To turn them into blood.—Literally as when Moses turned the waters of Egypt into blood (Exodus 7:21.) Symbolically during this Harvest time in which the Heavenly Harvest truths have become “bloody”, repulsive, abhorrent, symbolizing death where they should be received as a blessing.—Z. '07-279.
[And] to smite the earth with all plagues.—Literal and symbolic.
As often as they will.—Literally in the plagues which Moses poured out upon the Egyptians (Exodus 7 to 11.) Symbolically in the spiritual plagues, the seven last upon Christendom.—Rev. 16.
11:7. And when they shall have finished their testimony.—In the dead languages, about the time of the end of papacy's power to persecute.