Revelation11

John is commanded to measure the temple of God, while the outer court is left for Gentile treading for forty-two months. Two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, demonstrating great power, but are eventually slain by the beast. After three and a half days, they are resurrected and ascend to heaven, followed by an earthquake. The chapter concludes with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, declaring God's eternal reign and the opening of His heavenly temple.
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Measuring the Temple and the Holy City

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. ​

The Two Witnesses Prophesy

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. ​

The Seventh Trumpet Sounds

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. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 11

Verse 1

Measuring the temple symbolizes God’s protection and preservation of the true worshipers (the inner sanctuary) during the coming period of tribulation, contrasting with the outer court left exposed.

Verse 2

The duration of forty and two months (3.5 years, or 1260 days) is a symbolic period of persecution representing the time of the church’s tribulation before Christ’s return (cf. Daniel 7:25).

Verse 3

The two witnesses represent God’s faithful prophetic testimony maintained during the worst of the end-time persecution. Their sackcloth symbolizes mourning, repentance, and prophetic urgency.

Verse 4

This imagery, drawn from Zechariah 4:2-3, signifies that the witnesses are empowered by the Holy Spirit (the oil for the olive trees) and bear the light of God’s testimony (the candlesticks).

Verse 5

The power of fire proceeding from their mouths indicates the destructive power of their prophetic word against those who oppose God's message, reminiscent of Elijah's ministry (2 Kings 1:10).

Verse 6

The powers to shut heaven and turn water to blood evoke the famous miracles of Elijah (drought) and Moses (plagues), confirming the witnesses’ authentic prophetic authority.

Verse 7

This is the first explicit mention of 'the beast' in Revelation, an Antichrist figure who ascends from the abyss to wage war against the saints, setting up the central conflict of the latter half of the book (Rev 13).

Verse 8

The 'great city' is symbolically identified with Jerusalem (where Christ was crucified) but also universally with the entire wicked world system (Sodom and Egypt) that opposes God and persecutes His people.

Verse 10

The world’s celebration over the death of the witnesses highlights the intense hatred of the prophetic message, demonstrating that the world prefers darkness to the light of conviction.

Verse 11

The resurrection of the witnesses demonstrates God's ultimate power over death and serves as a powerful sign of vindication for the faithful martyrs, terrifying their enemies.

Verse 12

Their ascension mirrors Christ's own and confirms their status as divinely approved messengers, showing that their ministry was successful despite their apparent defeat.

Verse 13

The remnant giving glory to the God of heaven contrasts with the persistent impenitence of those judged earlier (9:20-21), showing that God’s judgments can still lead to repentance for some.

Verse 14

This verse is a crucial structural marker, closing the account of the sixth trumpet/second woe and preparing the reader for the final, climactic judgment.

Verse 15

The sounding of the seventh trumpet is the climax of the trumpet judgments. The announcement that the kingdoms of the world 'have become' Christ's indicates the certainty of the coming reign, even before its physical manifestation.

Verse 17

The elders’ worship affirms God’s sovereignty and eternal power, recognizing that the final stage of judgment and kingdom establishment has arrived.

Verse 18

This verse summarizes the final events: the wrath of God against the nations, the judgment of the dead, and the rewarding of all faithful believers, from the prophets to the common saints.

Verse 19

The opening of the heavenly temple reveals the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God’s covenant faithfulness and affirming that the final judgments proceed righteously from His holy presence.

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