Revelation 11: The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet
The Two Witnesses
Chapter with Audio
11 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 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. 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, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Chapter Analysis
Revelation 11: The Two Witnesses And The Seventh Trumpet
The Temple Measured
📖 Revelation 11:1–2
¹ John was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
² But he was told to leave out the outer court, because it was given to the Gentiles. They would tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
🔹 The Truth
God measures what belongs to Him.
The holy city will be trampled for an appointed time.
Even when evil appears to dominate, God has set the limits.
🔹 The Promise
God knows His worshipers and preserves His purpose through the time He has appointed.
✅ Conclusion
The measuring of the temple shows that God is not absent or confused. He knows what is His and rules over the times.
The Two Witnesses Prophesy
📖 Revelation 11:3–6
³ God gives power to His two witnesses, and they prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
⁴ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
⁵ If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. Whoever wants to harm them must be killed in this way.
⁶ They have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over waters to turn them to blood and to strike the earth with plagues as often as they desire.
🔹 The Truth
God raises up witnesses during a dark time.
Their message is marked by mourning, warning, and divine authority.
God gives them power to complete their appointed testimony.
🔹 The Promise
God’s witness will not be silenced until His appointed work is finished.
✅ Conclusion
The two witnesses show that God continues to speak truth even when the world is in rebellion.
The Witnesses Are Killed
📖 Revelation 11:7–10
⁷ When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
⁸ Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
⁹ People from many peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will see their bodies for three and a half days and will not allow them to be buried.
¹⁰ 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.
🔹 The Truth
The beast cannot kill the witnesses until they finish their testimony.
The rebellious world rejoices when God’s witnesses are silenced.
Hatred for God’s message often becomes hatred for God’s messengers.
🔹 The Promise
The servants of God are immortal until their appointed work is complete.
✅ Conclusion
The death of the witnesses looks like defeat to the world, but it happens only after God’s purpose through them is finished.
The Witnesses Raised And Taken Up
📖 Revelation 11:11–14
¹¹ After three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.
¹² They heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” They ascended to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched.
¹³ In that same hour there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city fell, seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
¹⁴ The second woe was past. The third woe was coming quickly.
🔹 The Truth
God raises His witnesses by His own power.
Their enemies see their vindication.
God’s judgment brings fear, and some give glory to Him.
🔹 The Promise
God can turn what looks like public defeat into public vindication.
✅ Conclusion
The resurrection and ascension of the witnesses show that God has the final word, not the beast and not the rebellious world.
The Seventh Trumpet Sounds
📖 Revelation 11:15–19
¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded, and loud voices in heaven declared that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.
¹⁶ The twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God.
¹⁷ They gave thanks to the Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because He has taken His great power and begun to reign.
¹⁸ The nations were angry, and God’s wrath came. The time came for the dead to be judged, for His servants the prophets and saints to be rewarded, and for those who fear His name, small and great. The time also came to 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. There were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
🔹 The Truth
The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of God and of Christ.
Jesus Christ will reign forever and ever.
God will judge the dead, reward His servants, and destroy those who destroy the earth.
🔹 The Promise
Christ’s reign is certain, eternal, and victorious.
✅ Conclusion
The seventh trumpet announces the sure victory of God’s kingdom. The world may rage, but Christ will reign forever.
Summary Conclusion
Revelation 11 shows God measuring what belongs to Him, empowering the two witnesses, allowing their death only after their testimony is complete, raising them in public vindication, and announcing the reign of Christ through the seventh trumpet. The chapter declares that God’s witnesses may suffer, but His kingdom cannot fail.
Final Questions For You
- What does Revelation 11 teach about God’s control over the timing of His witnesses?
- Why does the world rejoice when God’s witnesses are killed, and what does that reveal about the human heart?
- How should the announcement that Christ will reign forever strengthen believers today?