Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven continues the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet blasts. This interlude begins with the two witnesses that prophesy at this time. They are likened to the prophets of the Old Testement.


 ¹ I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. ² But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”^[a] 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
 ⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
 ¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath^[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
 ¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
 ¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

The measuring of the temple represents the protection of the believers at this time. The inner court of the Temple represents the believers during this time. The outer courts represent the non-believers, who will oppose God. This is not saying that believers will not be martyred, but they will not die separated from God.  This  time will span forty-two months.

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

Now God sends his two witnesses. Two represents strength and truth, if one person tells you something it may not be true, but a second person can attest to the truth of what the first person is telling you. The will prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. The 1260 days corresponds to the time spoken of in Daniel.

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^{[b] Daniel 7:21}

The sackcloth represents mourning, which means the witnesses will be prophesying during a time of persecution. They are described as two lampstands and as two olive trees

¹¹ Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

 ¹² Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
 ¹³ He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
   “No, my lord,” I said.
 ¹⁴ So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to^[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14


The two witnesses were supernaturally protected during this time. They prophesied and were given the power to stop any rain from falling during their time of ministry. They could turn the waters to blood and strike the earth with plagues, but no one could harm them. Any one that would try to harm them during this time would be devoured by the flames that came from their mouths. At the end of the 1260 days, the beast (Satan) will kill them. They will lie on the street for the whole world to see for three and a half days. During this time in history is the first time that this could actually happen. Television will probably broadcast this event to the entire world. Everyone will celebrate the fact that these two are gone. After the three and a half days, they will rise from the dead and will ascend to heaven. The world that is watching will be in shock that this happened. After they ascend there will be a massive earthquake and a tenth of the city will collapse. This ends the second woe that the eagle had previously announced. Now we move on to the third woe...

The Seventh Trumpet

 ¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:   “The kingdom of the world has become
   the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
   and he will reign for ever and ever.”
 ¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷saying:
   “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
   the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
   and have begun to reign.
¹⁸ The nations were angry,
   and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
   and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
   both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
 ¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.


Now the seventh trumpet is sounded. The final seven bowl judgments are contained within this final trumpet blast. These final judgments will culminate in God defeating Satan and his followers. At the blast of the trumpet, there was an announcement in heaven that the earth now belongs to God. Until this time God had given dominion to Adam, and then when Adam sinned he gave dominion to Satan. Now it had come full circle and dominion was now returned to God. The twenty-four elders who we had seen earlier in Revelation begin to worship God, and to praise God and to proclaim that the time of judgment is now. At this time God's temple in heaven is opened and we see the ark of His covenant. The termination of the seven trumpets is heralded by a storm in heaven much like the termination of the seal judgments. This encompasses the first half of the tribulation period for the earth. Next we will learn about the final judgments of the Great Tribulation period, the final three and a half years before Jesus returns to battle Satan.