Revelation 11

Revelation 11 offers a complex vision of God's two witnesses, their prophetic mission, persecution, death, and subsequent resurrection. This chapter aligns with the overall theme of Revelation, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His people over evil. It continues to use symbolic language to describe the events of the end times, focusing particularly on the power and protection granted to God's people during trials.

Revelation 11:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

This passage describes John being given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there, but not the outer court, which is given to the Gentiles for 42 months. In prophetic symbolism, the temple represents the church—God’s people, and measuring signifies a process of judgment or evaluation. This judgment is focused on the kingdom of Christ—His true followers, not the world at large. The outer court is excluded because it represents those outside Christ’s kingdom, indicating that this judgment is specifically for those who claim to be part of God’s people.

This passage fits within the broader structure of Revelation, where chapters 4–11 focus on the judgment of Christ’s kingdom, assessing His people to separate true worshipers from those who only profess faith. The 42 months (1,260 prophetic days/years) point to a historical period of persecution when God’s faithful were oppressed, and truth was trampled by corrupt religious powers. The Gentiles trampling the holy city symbolizes the dominance of false religious systems over God’s truth. However, the measuring of the temple shows that God is refining and judging His people, preparing them for His final work.

In contrast, Revelation 12–19 shifts to the judgment of the beast’s kingdom, where God executes justice on those who oppose His truth, culminating in the fall of Babylon and the destruction of evil powers. This division highlights that before God judges the world, He first judges His own people (1 Peter 4:17), ensuring that His kingdom is purified before bringing judgment on the wicked.

Revelation 11:3-6 (NKJV)
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

This passage describes two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth, symbolizing a period of mourning and opposition. These two witnesses represent God’s Law (the Word of God) and the Spirit & Power of God (Elijah), testifying to the truth in the face of great resistance. Their 1,260 days should be understood literally as a final three-and-a-half-year period of intense prophetic ministry before judgment, mirroring similar time periods in the Bible—Elijah’s drought (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17) and Jesus’ ministry (Luke 4:25, Daniel 9:27).

These witnesses are called two olive trees and two lampstands, which connects to Zechariah 4:2-6, where the olive trees supply oil to the lampstand, representing the Spirit empowering God’s work. This aligns with Malachi 4:4-5, where God commands His people to remember the Law of Moses (truth and righteousness) and promises to send Elijah (Spirit and power) before the great day of the Lord.

Their miracles confirm their divine authority:
Fire from their mouths (Revelation 11:5) signifies God’s Word as a consuming fire of judgment (Jeremiah 5:14).
Shutting the heavens, like Elijah (1 Kings 17:1), represents divine power over nature to call people to repentance.
Turning water to blood, like Moses (Exodus 7:20), symbolizes judgment against rebellion.

These signs parallel the ministries of Moses and Elijah, both of whom appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3), representing the Law (Moses) and the Spirit’s Power (Elijah) as God’s two great witnesses.

Since this literal 1,260-day period mirrors Christ’s and Elijah’s ministries, it suggests that before the final judgment, God’s truth and power will be boldly proclaimed for a set time, facing severe opposition. But despite persecution, His witnesses cannot be silenced because God’s Law and Spirit will always stand as the final testimony before the world.

Revelation 11:7-10 (NKJV)
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their bodies to be put in graves.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

This passage describes what happens after the 1,260 days of testimony by the two witnesses (God’s Law and the Spirit & Power of God). Once their prophetic work is complete, the beast from the bottomless pit rises to make war against them, overcome them, and kill them (v.7), symbolizing a powerful satanic force that seeks to silence and suppress God’s truth. This follows a pattern seen throughout Scripture—whenever God’s truth is boldly proclaimed, satanic opposition arises (e.g., Pharaoh against Moses, Ahab against Elijah, religious leaders against Jesus). The dead bodies of the witnesses lie in the streets of the great city, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, which represents deep moral corruption (Sodom) and defiance against God (Egypt) (v.8). The phrase “where also our Lord was crucified” connects this rebellion to Jerusalem’s rejection of Christ, symbolizing the world’s outright rejection of divine truth. The fact that their bodies remain unburied for three and a half days (v.9) signifies a short but intense period where God's Word and Spirit are completely rejected and dishonored, as people refuse even to acknowledge their presence. Instead of mourning, the world rejoices over their death, celebrating with merriment and the exchange of gifts (v.10) because these witnesses had "tormented" them—meaning God’s truth convicted their hearts, exposing sin and rebellion. This is much like how Ahab called Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:17) and how Jesus was hated for exposing sin (John 3:19-20). The false victory of the world, however, is short-lived, because God’s truth cannot be destroyed—soon, He will resurrect His witnesses, proving once again that His Law and Spirit will always stand as an unshakable testimony before the world.

Revelation 11:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

These verses describe the resurrection and vindication of the two witnesses (God’s Law and the Spirit & Power of God) after their apparent defeat. After three and a half days, "the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them" (v.11). This signifies that the things they prophesied about had just come to pass, proving that their testimony was true. The world, which had mocked and celebrated their suppression, is now shocked and terrified, realizing that they had rejected God's truth. Then, "they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here,’ and they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them” (v.12), symbolizing their public vindication and God's acknowledgment of their mission. This event mirrors Elijah’s ascension (2 Kings 2:11), where God took him up in victory after his faithful stand. The global impact of their resurrection and ascension leaves no doubt that God’s Law and Spirit remain unshaken, proving that His truth will always stand, even in the face of opposition, and that judgment is now imminent.

Revelation 11:13-14 (NKJV)
13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

These verses describe a massive upheaval following the vindication of the two witnesses, marking a turning point in prophetic history. A great earthquake shakes the city, symbolizing a dramatic judgment on the system that opposed God’s truth. A tenth of the city collapses, indicating that a significant portion of the corrupt structure is destroyed, and seven thousand people perish, possibly representing the downfall of leaders or key figures who resisted the message. Those who survive are struck with fear and acknowledge God's power, though this does not necessarily mean genuine repentance—rather, it is a recognition that the witnesses were right. This event signals that the second woe has passed, meaning that previous judgments are now complete, but a final, even greater judgment is approaching quickly, setting the stage for the final crisis before God's kingdom is fully established.

Revelation 11:15-19 (NKJV)
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

This passage marks the beginning of the third woe, introduced by the seventh trumpet, which signals the final phase of God’s judgment and the full establishment of Christ’s kingdom. A loud proclamation declares that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of Christ, signifying that His reign is now being fully established and that the power of earthly and satanic kingdoms is about to end. The twenty-four elders worship God, acknowledging that the time has come to reward the faithful and to judge the wicked, leading directly into God’s final outpouring of wrath. However, before these judgments are fully detailed, Revelation 12–15 serves as an interlude, providing critical background on the great controversy between Christ and Satan. These chapters introduce the dragon (Satan), the woman (God’s true people), the beast and false prophet (Satan’s kingdom), and the three angels’ messages (God’s final warning to the world). This interlude explains why God’s judgments are necessary and prepares for the execution of the third woe, which begins in Revelation 16 with the seven last plagues. As the seventh trumpet sounds, the temple in heaven opens, revealing the ark of the covenant, symbolizing that God’s law remains the standard for judgment, and His justice is now being fully executed. The lightning, thunder, earthquake, and great hail represent the final shaking of the world as God’s judgments escalate, leading to the destruction of evil. This marks the transition from the warning phase to the full execution of divine wrath, which unfolds in Revelation 16–20—bringing the seven last plagues, the fall of Babylon, the second coming of Christ, the final battle, and the complete destruction of Satan and sin, culminating in the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Revelation 21–22.