Revelation 11 (July 18, 2025)

The Two Witnesses

11:1 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[a] 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[b] is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

The Seventh Trumpet

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

for you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

18 The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings,[c] peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Footnotes

Revelation 11:7 Or the abyss

Revelation 11:8 Greek spiritually

Revelation 11:19 Or voices, or sounds

Revelation 11

0:00

Summary

Revelation 11 is one of the most symbolically dense chapters in the book, filled with numbers, images, and contrasting scenes of judgment and triumph. It opens with John receiving a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there (v. 1), but the outer court is left out and given over to the nations (v. 2). This act symbolizes God’s preservation of His true worshipers, even while persecution rages outwardly.

11:1 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.”

Then we meet the “two witnesses” (vv. 3–13), a mysterious but theologically rich image. Clothed in sackcloth, they prophesy for 1,260 days—a symbolic period representing the church’s witness during the present age between Christ’s ascension and return. They stand like lampstands before the Lord (v. 4), echoing the imagery of the churches in chapters 2–3. Though the beast eventually kills them (v. 7), they are resurrected and taken up into heaven (v. 11–12), signaling God’s vindication and the final resurrection hope.

Finally, the seventh trumpet sounds (v. 15), and a heavenly chorus declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The chapter ends with worship in heaven and the opening of the heavenly temple, revealing the ark of the covenant (v. 19)—a symbol of God's enduring faithfulness.

Who is God

God is the sovereign Lord of redemptive history. The vision ends with the ark of the covenant in heaven (v. 19), a clear signal that all of God’s promises—from Sinai to the cross—are trustworthy and fulfilled in Christ.

Even in times of tribulation, He knows His people—marking them as His own and securing their place in His temple (v. 1). This does not mean escape from suffering, but it assures us of God’s preservation through suffering.

Even now, God commissions His witnesses. The numeric "two" is symbolic of witnesses, and this represent the church’s work in the world. We are called to be faithful to God who calls us to resist comfort, but to faithful testimony even in the face of opposition. He is the God who raises the dead, vindicates His saints, and ultimately establishes His everlasting kingdom (vv. 11–15).

19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

What is our Guilt

Our guilt is displayed in our fear of witness and the love of comfort. We prefer the" outer court" where we are not exposed. But God calls us to stand as "lampstands" in the world. All too often, we are prone to silence our testimony for the sake of safety and to forget that we are called to suffer for the sake of Christ.

We are also guilty of not trusting God’s Word. Maybe, we are not like the people in the passage who rejoice over the death of the witnesses (v. 10). However, we also often accommodate by softening the gospel message which is "offensive" to the world. We prefer to "fit in" with the world, rather than stand "against" or "out" in the world.

We also lack the long view of history. We live as if this world's powerful will endure forever. We grow in impatience, forgetting that God is actively building His Kingdom. We lose heart when we lose sight of heaven’s throne.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in God’s protection and presence with His people. The measuring of the temple is not just a vision. It is a reality for every believer. God knows you, "marks" you, and preserves you even when the world tramples your outer court. You are secure in Christ.

Grace also shines in the resurrection power given to the witnesses. Though killed, they are raised, publicly vindicated, and brought into glory. This is the destiny of all who bear faithful witness to Christ. Our deaths are not the end. Our present suffering does not compare to the future glory.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for Your faithfulness through the ages, for measuring and protecting Your people, and for calling us to bear witness in a dark world. You are the Lord of history, and all power belongs to You.

Forgive us for shrinking back from suffering. Forgive us for loving comfort more than the cross, and for hiding the light instead of standing like lampstands.

Thank You for the witness of Christ who went before us, died, and rose again. Thank You that, in Him, we too will be raised, vindicated, and welcomed into Your presence.

Help us live with courage, proclaiming the gospel no matter the cost. May we keep our eyes on the coming kingdom, and echo the song of heaven: “You shall reign forever and ever.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• What does it mean for God to “measure” His people? How does this encourage you today?

• Where do you feel challenged to speak more boldly as a witness for Christ?

• How does the vision of Christ’s eternal kingdom reshape your hopes and fears?