The Two Witnesses
This section pictures the willful rejection of God’s...
- This section pictures the willful rejection of God’s continuing call for repentance. The many attempts to silence his witnesses ultimately fail, and God triumphs.
- Many attempts have been made to identify the two witnesses of this chapter. Moses and Elijah, who appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matt 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30), are likely candidates (see Rev 11:6); they represent the law and the prophets. Others have suggested Enoch and Elijah because they did not die (see Gen 5:21–24; 2 Kgs 2:11–12). Other possibilities include Peter and Paul, or James and John. More important than their identities is their role of confirming God’s message by the testimony of “two or three witnesses” (see Deut 17:6). God provides a twofold witness to the world about the impending judgment, making it clear that his word is certain to be fulfilled (Deut 19:15; Matt 18:15–16).
1Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.
The outer courtyard in the Jerusalem Temple, outside...
- The outer courtyard in the Jerusalem Temple, outside the stone warning fence, was regarded as the place for the Gentile nations. John makes a clear distinction between the people God recognizes and those he does not.
- The 42 months and 1,260 days refer to a period of three and a half years, or a broken seven (see study notes on Dan 7:24–25; 8:26; 9:24–27). John repeatedly uses these time designations in Revelation when persecution is evident and evil appears to dominate the world. God’s people will be secure in him (see study note on Rev 11:1) even though God allows evil forces to persecute them (see 13:7; Mark 10:30).
2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.† 5If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. 6These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
The Witnesses Killed and Raised
When the witnesses finish their testimony, the scene...
When the witnesses finish their testimony, the scene changes dramatically. The beast (cp. 13:1) is introduced for the first time; it is associated with the bottomless pit. Like all enemies of God, the beast engages in war against God’s witnesses, and he kills them.
7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. 9For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.
The Seventh Trumpet
The seventh trumpet (“the third terror,” 11:14; see...
The seventh trumpet (“the third terror,” 11:14; see also 9:12) presents a scene of final judgment and the eternal Kingdom. As in 7:9–17, this scene provides a dramatic window into the ultimate Christian hope with God. In the midst of a picture of judgment, the reader is reminded of eternity with God.
15Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven:
“The kingdom of the worldhas become the kingdom of our Lordand of His Christ,and He will reign forever and ever.”
The twenty-four elders, representing the people of God,...
The twenty-four elders, representing the people of God, confirm God’s victorious enthronement (see study note on 4:4). Their worship acknowledges God’s sovereign rule as the Almighty (see 4:10–11; 5:8–10).
16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying:
“We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty,the One who is and who was,†because You have taken Your great powerand have begun to reign.18The nations were enraged,†and Your wrath has come.The time has come to judge the dead†and to reward Your servants the prophets,as well as the saints and those who fear Your name,both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.