The Bible — World English Bible
Revelation 11
In brief
Revelation 11 falls between the sixth and the seventh trumpet. John is given a reed to measure the temple, then he sees two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days, are killed by the beast, lie unburied for three and a half days and go up to heaven. An earthquake strikes the city. The seventh trumpet then sounds and heaven proclaims that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Readings differ on the details, but the outcome is clear: God reigns.
The chapter in 5 parts
1A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it.
2Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.
3I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth.
5If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
6These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
8Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
9From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations, people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
10Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.
12I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.
13In that day 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.
14The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly.
15The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
16The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God’s throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power and reigned.
18The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.
Key verses
I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
God gives his two witnesses power to prophesy for 1,260 days, the same length as the forty-two months of verse 2. This period comes up several times in Revelation and in Daniel.
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
The witnesses are attacked only once their testimony is finished. The text suggests that their mission is protected until it is complete, even if the beast then seems to triumph.
In that day 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.
After the earthquake, the survivors give glory to the God of heaven. The chapter shows that testimony, even through death, eventually reaches hearts.
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
At the seventh trumpet, heaven proclaims that the kingdom of the world now belongs to the Lord and to his Christ forever. It is the central point of the chapter and one of the most quoted texts in Revelation.
God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.
God's temple opens in heaven and the ark of his covenant appears. It is a reminder that God stays faithful to his covenant even at the moment he judges.
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Frequently asked questions about Revelation 11
Who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11?
The text describes them as two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the Lord of the earth. It does not give their names. Readers propose several identifications: two prophets of the end times, two figures from the Old Testament, or a symbol of the church bearing witness. Christian traditions differ on this point.
What do the 1,260 days and the 42 months mean?
Verses 2 and 3 give the same length in two forms: forty-two months and one thousand two hundred sixty days, that is, three and a half years. It appears again in Daniel and elsewhere in Revelation. Some see a literal period before Christ's return, others a symbol of a limited time of trial set by God.
What does the seventh trumpet proclaim in Revelation 11:15?
Heaven proclaims that the kingdom of the world now belongs to the Lord and to his Christ, and that he will reign forever and ever. The twenty-four elders worship God. The message is that, despite the persecutions and hostile powers described up to this point, final sovereignty belongs to God and his Messiah.
Articles quoting Revelation 11
World English Bible translation — public domain.