Revelation Chapter 11

At a Glance

  • Revelation 11 deepens the symbolic drama by detailing two witnesses empowered to prophesy, perform miracles, and confront the world with divine judgment.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter builds on prophecy’s tradition of witness and judgment.
  • - Faithful Witness Under Persecution: The witnesses stand firm amid danger and are tested by the world.
  • - Divine Power Through Weakness: God’s power is displayed not by human violence but through prophetic action and resurrection.

Chapter Overview

Revelation 11 deepens the symbolic drama by detailing two witnesses empowered to prophesy, perform miracles, and confront the world with divine judgment. They are described as two olive trees and two lampstands, standing before God and empowered to shut heaven, turn waters to blood, and unleash plagues. Their ministry is marked by dramatic protective and punitive power—fire from their mouths consuming enemies, authority over weather, and the capacity to halt and unleash divine signs. When they complete their testimony, the beast from the abyss makes war against them, overcomes them, and leaves their bodies unburied in the streets of the symbolic “great city,” where Jesus was crucified. The global community rejoices over their death, a grim display of worldly triumphalism. After three and a half days, life returns to them by the Spirit of life from God, and they ascend to heaven in the sight of their enemies. A huge earthquake then shakes the city, and ten prophets gauge the seriousness of the moment. The chapter culminates with an altered religious landscape: a divine call to worship shifts into a cosmic verdict, where the arc of witness and judgment converge, and the end of the old age edges closer.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter builds on prophecy’s tradition of witness and judgment. The two witnesses hearken to prophetic scriptural images (e.g., Zechariah’s olive trees and lampstands) and symbolize the faithful perseverance of God’s messengers under persecution. The beast from the bottomless pit represents hostile powers resistant to divine truth, while the city where the Lord was crucified evokes the cruciform center of Christian identity. The dramatic death and resurrection of the witnesses underscores the paradox of life and judgment in Revelation: even death becomes a stage for divine vindication. The earthquake and return to life enact eschatological reversal—humiliation of the wicked, vindication of the faithful, and affirmation that God’s agenda proceeds amid human fear and triumph.

Key Themes

- Faithful Witness Under Persecution: The witnesses stand firm amid danger and are tested by the world.

- Divine Power Through Weakness: God’s power is displayed not by human violence but through prophetic action and resurrection.

- Cosmic Reversal and Judgment: The witnesses’ deaths provoke human celebration but culminate in divine vindication.

- The Unveiling of God’s Timing: The sequence emphasizes God’s timing in final judgment and the coming of the kingdom.

Modern Application

Readers today can draw from this chapter a model of steadfast witness in hostile or indifferent contexts. The two witnesses symbolize communities and individuals committed to embodying truth, justice, and mercy even when opposed by power structures. The text invites Christians to consider how they testify in word and deed—through courageous advocacy for righteousness, inclusion, and mercy—while recognizing that ultimate vindication rests with God. The motif of resurrection after suffering offers hope in personal trials, reminding believers that suffering is not the final word. The chapter also prompts humility and trust in God’s timing, encouraging communities to remain faithful, prayerful, and courageous in witness, knowing that God’s purposes transcend human calculations of success.

Cross-References: 3-5 related passages

- Zechariah 4:3-14 (the olive trees and lampstands)

- Ezekiel 37 (prophetic witness and restoration)

- Matthew 24:9-14 (endurance and witness in persecution)

- Acts 4:29-31 (prayer for boldness in the face of opposition)

Recommended Personas

- Jesus (to interpret witness and vindication through the gospel)

- Paul (to explain church-wide witness and suffering)

- Moses (to connect prophetic calling and covenant fidelity)

- An angel/elder (to illuminate heavenly perspective)

Chapter Text

1

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.

2

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.

3

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5

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.

6

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.

7

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17

Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

Explore Revelation Chapter 11 with Biblical figures who can provide unique perspectives grounded in Scripture.

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