Revelation 11:3

REVELATION 11:3

This verse introduces the two witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days (three-and-a-half years), clothed in sackcloth—a garment of mourning and penance. The two witnesses function as prophetic voices testifying to God’s truth during a period of intense trial. The number 1,260 days is symbolic, reflecting the duration of prophetic ministry or judgment in Revelation (comparing with Daniel’s timeframes). The sackcloth imagery signals humility, repentance, and distress, contrasting with the power and authority that come from God. In the cultural milieu, two witnesses may reflect the legal and testimonial weight of two credible witnesses in Jewish law, reinforcing the credibility and urgency of their message. They stand as agents of God in a hostile world, delivering divine testimony in the face of opposition.

The two witnesses embody themes of faithful witness, divine authority, and the endurance of the faithful under persecution. They remind readers that God raises prophetic voices to confront sin, call for repentance, and authenticate his message despite suffering. Their sackcloth signifies lament and repentance, tying prophetic proclamation to moral renewal. The passage also foreshadows eschatological conflict where true worship confronts idolatry and resistance to God’s rule.

In contemporary terms, believers are called to be prophetic voices of truth in a world that often resists correction and justice. The “two witnesses” can be seen as symbolic for steadfast Christian testimony in word and deed—consistent proclamation of the gospel and lives of integrity, holiness, and mercy. Practical steps: identify and practice your core messages—love, justice, repentance—without wavering under pressure, support communities that uphold truth and mercy, and engage in acts of mercy as a form of testimony. The period of witness invites endurance and faithful presence.

Cross-References: Matthew 24:9-14; Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; Revelation 7:3; Habakkuk 2:2-3