Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Revelation 11
Revelation 11:3And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
God grants special authority to His witnesses to speak His truth, showing that He never leaves the world without a clear message of His grace and judgment.Revelation 11:15Then 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."
This is the grand announcement that the struggle for the world is over, and God has officially taken His place as the eternal King.Revelation 11:19Then 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.
The opening of the heavenly temple and the sight of the ark show that God is faithful to His promises and is fully present with His people.
Historical & Cultural Context
Measuring the Temple and the Holy City
Following the vision of the little scroll in chapter 10, John is given a task that involves measuring the temple. This act of measuring is a symbolic way of saying that God is taking ownership and providing protection for the heart of His worship. While the outer areas are left to be trampled by the nations, the inner sanctuary remains under God's watchful eye. This sets the stage for a period of intense conflict between God's truth and the world's rebellion.
The Ministry and Resurrection of the Two Witnesses
The scene then shifts to two powerful witnesses who represent the voice of God on earth. They perform miracles reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, showing that they carry God's full authority. After they finish their work, they are killed by a beast from the pit, and the world celebrates their death. However, this celebration is short-lived as God breathes life back into them, calling them up to heaven in a cloud of glory.
The Protection of the Temple and the Final Trumpet
In Revelation 11:1-19, the vision moves from the earthly struggle of God's messengers to the heavenly celebration of His final victory. The passage begins with John measuring the temple and ends with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which marks the completion of God's plan for the ages.
Measuring the Inner Sanctuary (Revelation 11:1-2)
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.
Commentary:
God measures and protects His true worshippers while the world experiences a time of trial.
The Power of the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-6)
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.
Commentary:
God empowers His messengers with authority and spiritual strength to speak His truth.
The Death of the Witnesses (Revelation 11:7-10)
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.
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.
Commentary:
The world celebrates the temporary defeat of God's truth, but evil's victory is short-lived.
Life Returns and Judgment Falls (Revelation 11:11-14)
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.
Commentary:
God raises His witnesses to life and demonstrates His power through a great earthquake.
The Seventh Trumpet Sounds (Revelation 11:15-19)
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, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Commentary:
The seventh trumpet announces Christ's eternal reign and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Spiritual Truths in the Midst of the Storm
The Security of the Soul
The measuring of the temple reveals that God provides a spiritual 'safe zone' for His people. While we may face external pressure or physical suffering, our identity and relationship with God are measured and secured by Him. This theme encourages us that our spiritual life is never at the mercy of the world's chaos.
The Unstoppable Nature of Truth
The two witnesses show that God's word cannot be silenced forever. Even when the world tries to kill the message or the messenger, God has the power to bring life back to His truth. Their resurrection serves as a powerful reminder that God's purposes will always prevail over any earthly opposition.
The Transition of Power
The sounding of the seventh trumpet marks the moment when all earthly authority is officially handed over to Jesus. This theme emphasizes that human governments and powers are temporary, while Christ's reign is the ultimate and eternal reality. It shifts our focus from the temporary struggles of today to the permanent victory of tomorrow.
Applying the Vision to Your Daily Walk
John was told to measure the temple in Revelation 11:1, and you can trust that God has measured your life and holds you in His care. Even when external circumstances are difficult, your spiritual life is protected and valued by God. You can find peace knowing that He is aware of every detail and keeps you secure in His presence.
The two witnesses in Revelation 11:3-4 stood firm because they were fueled by God's Spirit, symbolized by the olive trees. To be a witness today, you don't need to rely on your own strength, but on the power God provides. It means speaking the truth with love and humility, even when it is unpopular, knowing that God is the one who gives your words weight.
Revelation 11:15 reminds us that the kingdom of this world will eventually belong to our Lord. This gives you a reason to hope even when you see injustice or corruption in the news. Instead of being overwhelmed by current events, you can live with the confidence that the 'end of the story' is already written and that Christ's perfect kingdom is coming.
The King Has Taken His Throne
John reveals that while the world may temporarily silence God's truth, it can never defeat His plan. In the story of the two witnesses, we see that God's power is greater than death itself, and His justice will eventually right every wrong. The message is clear: the kingdoms of this world are passing away, but the kingdom of our Lord is eternal. We are invited to stand as faithful witnesses today, knowing that our King has already won the final victory.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is choosing to trust the King who has already won, even when the battle around us still feels intense. Revelation 11 invites us to stop looking at the 'trampling' of the world and start looking at the open temple in heaven. We are called to be people of the light, sharing God's truth with a world that desperately needs to hear it.
- In what area of your life do you need to remember that God has 'measured' and protected you?
- How can you speak God's truth more boldly this week, even if it feels uncomfortable?
- What would change in your daily stress if you truly believed that Christ is already reigning?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
John eats a small scroll that is sweet in his mouth but sour in his stomach, preparing him for the difficult prophecy in chapter 11.
The vision continues with a cosmic battle between a woman, her child, and a great dragon, further explaining the spiritual war.
Connections Across Scripture
This Old Testament vision of two olive trees and lampstands provides the background for the imagery of the two witnesses.
A parallel prophecy describing the Son of Man receiving an eternal kingdom that will never be destroyed.
The story of Elijah stopping the rain, which is one of the powers given to the witnesses in Revelation 11.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the world in this vision reacted with such joy to the death of the witnesses? What does this tell us about the human heart's response to truth?
- The witnesses were given power for a specific time (1,260 days). How does knowing that God sets limits on times of trial help you in your own life?
- When the seventh trumpet sounds, the elders fall on their faces in worship. What specific qualities of God mentioned in verses 17-18 make Him worthy of such deep respect?