Monday, December 15, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Revelation 11

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Two Witnesses

1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. ² But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. ³ And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

⁴ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. ⁵ And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. ⁶ These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. 

(Revelation 11:1–6, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• After the command for John to eat the little book, we see the vision of the end times continue, with a new story line: John is ordered to measure the temple of God, and two witnesses show up to prophesy for three and one-half years.
• John is given a reed like a measuring rod. The angel then orders him to measure the temple, the altar, and those who worship there. He is told not to measure the court outside the temple. though, for it will be overrun with Gentiles. They will trample the temple mount and holy city underfoot for forty-two months (three and one-half years). However, the temple, which could represent the body of Christ or the people of God, will be preserved. The measuring rod is often a symbol of measuring for the purpose of preserving.
• Two witnesses will be empowered by God to prophesy for three and one-half years as well, dressed in the sackcloth of mourning. The speaker describes the two witnesses as olive trees and lampstands, standing before the God of the earth. They had a built-in defense weapon. If anyone chose to harm them, fire would proceed from their mouths and devour their enemies. The witnesses have the power to shut up heaven and cause the rain not to fall. They can turn the waters to blood, and also strike the earth with all types of plagues, and they can do this as often as they please. These are divine messengers and witnesses of God and His truth. They come from God, and are protected by His divine power.
• These witnesses are not named, and are suspected to be either divine emissaries, or else are representative of the people of God, witnessing His truth even at the cost of their lives. There is some speculation among scholars that these witnesses could be Enoch and Elijah, both taken up to heaven without dying, or else Moses and Elijah, two fo the greatest prophets that lived, and that appeared at Jesus transfiguration. These two pieces (measuring rod, and two witnesses) of the story are not necessarily in chronological order, as the temple has already been destroyed at this point of John’s life, but could have been built back in the early part of the tribulation period.

The Witnesses Killed

⁷ When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. ⁸ And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. ⁹ Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. ¹⁰ And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 

(Revelation 11:7–10, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The description of the Holy City as Sodom and Egypt shows the degradation of the city to a place of immorality and oppression. When the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast, not mentioned to this point, ascends out of the bottomless pit, from which the locusts of the fifth trumpet came. The beast is seen here in a somewhat premature appearance, as he will be much more prominent at a later time in Revelation. He contends with the witnesses, and then kills them, leaving their bodies in the street. This is a sign of utter disrespect, as the body has great dignity in the Jewish faith. It was only criminals and enemies of the nation that would be left out in public after death.
• It is also telling that the bodies were left out three and one-half days. In Jewish tradition, the soul presumably hovers near the body for three days after death, or until the burial of the body. This is also reminiscent of the period Jesus lay in the tomb until His resurrection. This would be proof that the souls of these witnesses had left the bodies for a half-day before their resurrection, equalling a miracle. While they are dead, the evil people of the city rejoice over their death, an end to the holy witness. They celebrate, give gifts to one another, and rejoice that the holy witness has been overcome. While this is reminiscent of some actions taken by ungodly people today, rejoicing over the end of Christian influence, it is to be short-lived. God will not be stopped, and His witness will not be silenced.

The Witnesses Resurrected

¹¹ Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. ¹² And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. ¹³ In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 

(Revelation 11:11–14, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• When the last passage concluded, the two witnesses were lying in the street dead, being made a public spectacle. In this passage, the story turns as the witnesses resurrect and the seventh trumpet sounds.
• When the two witnesses rose from the dead, a voice called them up from the earth and they ascended to heaven on a cloud for all to see. The earth reacted with an earthquake, and people were killed, bringing fear upon the rest of those in the city. They, in turn, gave glory to God. The writer then announces that the second woe had passed, and the third woe is coming quickly. Again, this account is not necessarily presented in chronological order, for the two witnesses do not necessarily appear during the second half of the Tribulation, and the beast has not yet been seen. His formal appearance does not occur until later.
• There is a three and one-half year reference, so they do appear sometime during the Tribulation, but the exact placement is uncertain. The length of their death, although significant based on the time Christ was in the tomb and concerning Jewish tradition concerning the body and spirit after death, also speaks to the length of the tribulation half-period, as if they could be dormant for the last half of the period, yet arise and speak to those born during the tribulation or those who may be born during the millennium. However, the message is clear concerning the worship and witness of Christ. This set of events surrounding the measuring of the temple and the two witnesses can definitely signify the preservation of worship and the preservation of the witness of God. These two institutions will not be denied by the rejection of the inhabitants of the earth, nor will they be silenced forever. The gospel will be preached, and the witness shall continue.

Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” ¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come,

Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

¹⁸ The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,

And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,

And those who fear Your name, small and great,

And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

¹⁹ Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. 

(Revelation 11:15–19, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The abrupt turn from the account of the two witnesses to this sounding of the seventh seal marks a shift from a picture on earth of the church and/or temple of God to a sighting of the heavenly temple. The declaration that accompanies the sounding of the seventh trumpet signals the renewal of the power of God and the worship of God as supreme. The “kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ,” is as clear a message as one can receive. He shall reign forever and ever!
• The twenty-four elders fell on their faces and worshipped God with poetic words of adoration to their King. They thank the Lord for His might, recognize His eternal existence, and bow before Him as King. They recognize that the nations were angry with God, but God has prevailed, and His wrath has been poured out. It is time for the dead to be judged, and that the righteous servants be rewarded. Those who fear the Lord and His name, regardless of background or perceived political or military power (or lack thereof) will fight alongside the Lord against the earth and its unrighteous inhabitants.
• It was then that the temple of God in heaven, perhaps in the midst of the New Jerusalem. This heavenly temple contains elements similar to those included in the earthly temple, including the ark of the covenant. This may have been the archetype of what was built for the earthly temple, but nevertheless much more spectacular, as it is divine and eternal. Some scholars speculate that what John actually saw was the throne in heaven, as it is the true mercy seat where God forgives sin and judges mankind. Upon seeing such a glorious sight, John then hears noises, like thunder and lightning, an earthquake, and hail.
• Whether these are happening on earth or in heaven is uncertain. However, most understand these atmospheric phenomena are often metaphors for the voice of God. Therefore, what John heard could have been representative of the voice of God, sounding thunderously throughout the heavens. Whatever they were, they induced further awe for the vision of the temple in heaven and for what would happen next. It is as if God were sounding the seventh trumpet to announce the rehearsal of the salvific history of the earth in microcosm.

__________________________________________________________________________

All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.