Chapter 11
19 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.
Scripture
KJV1And 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.
2But 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.
3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5And 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.
6These 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.
7And 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.
8And 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.
9And 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.
10And 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.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13And 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.
14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15And 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.
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17Saying, 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.
18And 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.
19And 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.
“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.”
Overview
John is told to measure the temple of God but to leave out the outer court, which is given to the nations. Two witnesses are granted power to prophesy for 1,260 days, performing mighty signs. When their testimony is finished, the beast from the bottomless pit kills them, and the world rejoices — but after three and a half days God raises them to life and calls them up to heaven. The seventh trumpet sounds, and voices in heaven declare that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.
Key Themes
The Two Witnesses
These powerful prophets represent God's faithful testimony to the world during a time of great opposition, showing that God always preserves a witness even in the darkest hours.
Resurrection and Vindication
The raising of the two witnesses after three and a half days mirrors Christ's own resurrection, demonstrating that God vindicates His faithful servants and that death does not have the final word.
The Kingdoms Become Christ's
The seventh trumpet announces the ultimate reality that all earthly kingdoms will submit to the reign of Christ, fulfilling the hope of the entire biblical story.
Study Questions
What is the significance of measuring the temple, and what might the distinction between the inner temple and outer court represent?
How do the two witnesses reflect the pattern of prophetic ministry throughout the Old Testament?
Why does the world celebrate the death of the two witnesses, and what does this reveal about how the world responds to God's truth?
What parallels exist between the resurrection of the two witnesses and the resurrection of Jesus, and why are these important?
When the seventh trumpet declares that the kingdoms of this world have become Christ's, how should this future certainty shape how believers live now?
Connection to Christ
The two witnesses embody the prophetic ministry that points to Christ, and their resurrection echoes His own triumph over death. The seventh trumpet's declaration — 'The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever' — is the climactic announcement of the book. Christ's reign is the destination of all history.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Revelation 11. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?