The Church (Revelation Series 8)
Revelation 11: 1-14
Revelation 11:1–14 (HCSB): 11 Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want. 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which prophetically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And representatives from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. 10 Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets brought judgment to those who live on the earth. 11 But after 3½ days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming quickly!
Revelation 11:1–14 must be read in its historical, literary, and symbolic context to recover its original meaning.
Historically, this interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets comforts and instructs the persecuted church in its prophetic mission.
1. The Measuring of the Temple (vv. 1–2)
- The Action: John must measure the temple, altar, and worshipers, but exclude the outer court, given to the Gentiles for 42 months.
- In Ezekiel 40 and Zechariah 2, measuring signifies divine ownership and protection. The temple represents the true community of believers: though their earthly lives may be persecuted, God secures their spiritual and eternal destiny.
- The Timeframe: The “42 months” (1,260 days or 3.5 years), drawn from Daniel 7:25 and 12:7, symbolizes a limited period of intense tribulation, contrasted with the perfection of seven.
2. The Identity and Mission of the Two Witnesses (vv. 3–6)
- The Characterization: Called two olive trees and two lampstands, they echo Zechariah 4’s Spirit-empowered Joshua and Zerubbabel.
- The Symbolism: Two fulfills the requirement for valid testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15). Their acts recall Israel’s great prophets:
- Elijah: Withholding rain (1 Kings 17).
- Moses: Turning water to blood and bringing plagues (Exodus 7–11).
- The witnesses embody the church’s prophetic witness. Their sackcloth signifies mourning and repentance as they call a hostile world to God; divine power protects them until their testimony ends.
3. The Death and Humiliation of the Witnesses (vv. 7–10)
- The Adversary: Revelation first explicitly presents the “beast from the Abyss,” symbolizing anti-Christian political and military power under satanic influence.
- The Location: Their bodies lie in “the great city,” spiritually called Sodom for corruption and Egypt for oppression, “where also their Lord was crucified” (Jerusalem).
- The city symbolizes the global empire opposed to God. Denying burial inflicts ultimate ancient disgrace, while the world celebrates silencing God’s convicting truth.
4. Resurrection, Vindication, and Judgment (vv. 11–14)
- The Reversal: After three and a half days—a brief echo of the 3.5 years—God’s “breath of life” revives them, recalling Ezekiel 37.
- The Ascension: They ascend in a cloud, paralleling Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9) and believers’ resurrection.
- The church’s vindication terrifies its enemies. Unlike earlier judgments, the earthquake—destroying a tenth of the city and killing 7,000—moves survivors to glorify God, achieving repentance and reverence where plagues did not.
So, what does it all mean?
Revelation 11:1–14 calls the church to faithful prophetic witness in a hostile world. Though it may suffer apparent defeat, God preserves it spiritually, vindicates it, and brings it into Christ’s final triumph.