Revelation 11:1–14 Commentary and Meaning – Who Are The Two Witnesses
Quick Summary
Revelation 11:1–14 introduces the vision of the two witnesses. John is told to measure the temple of God, symbolizing God’s protection over his people. Two witnesses are empowered to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They face opposition, are killed by the beast, and their bodies lie in the great city. After three and a half days, God raises them to life, and their vindication terrifies their enemies. The passage highlights God’s preservation of his people, the church’s prophetic witness, and the certainty of resurrection hope.
Introduction
This section forms part of the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, much like Revelation 7 stood between the sixth and seventh seals. These pauses reassure the faithful that God is at work even as judgment unfolds. Here, John is shown that God’s people, though under pressure, are measured, preserved, and given a mission.
The two witnesses symbolize the church’s prophetic calling in a hostile world. Their story echoes the ministries of Moses and Elijah, the suffering of Christ, and the hope of resurrection. The vision assures the church that even when the beast appears to triumph, God vindicates his witnesses. The message is both sobering and hopeful: the church’s witness will be costly, but it will not be in vain.
Revelation 11:1–14 Explained with Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Revelation 11:1–2 Explained
“Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, ‘Come and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months.’”
John is told to measure the temple, altar, and worshipers, but not the outer court. This symbolic act recalls Ezekiel 40–42, where the temple was measured to mark God’s presence and protection. Measuring here signifies God’s care for his people. The outer court being trampled for forty-two months indicates persecution — the church is not spared suffering, but it is preserved spiritually.
The “forty-two months” corresponds to 1,260 days or three and a half years, a symbolic period drawn from Daniel 7:25 and 12:7. It represents a limited time of suffering before God’s vindication. The holy city's trampling shows the reality of opposition, but the act of measuring reminds believers that God knows those who are his.
Revelation 11:3–4 Explained
“And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.”
The two witnesses are described in prophetic terms. Their authority to prophesy for 1,260 days mirrors the period of trampling in verse 2. Their clothing of sackcloth symbolizes repentance and mourning, underscoring the seriousness of their message.
The imagery of two olive trees and two lampstands echoes Zechariah 4, where Zerubbabel and Joshua are described as God’s anointed. Here, lampstands elsewhere in Revelation represent the churches (Revelation 1:20). The two witnesses likely symbolize the church’s prophetic mission, grounded in God’s Spirit, shining light in darkness.
Revelation 11:5–6 Explained
“And if anyone wants to harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes... They have authority to shut the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”
The witnesses are given power like Moses and Elijah. Elijah called down fire (2 Kings 1:10) and shut the heavens so it did not rain (1 Kings 17:1). Moses turned water into blood and struck the earth with plagues (Exodus 7–12). By drawing on both figures, John shows that the witnesses continue the prophetic tradition in its fullness.
This is not about literal fire-breathing prophets but about the authority of the church’s witness. The Word of God is powerful, able to confront rulers and powers, calling for repentance and warning of judgment. The church, in its testimony, shares in the authority of Moses and Elijah.
Revelation 11:7–10 Explained
“When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city... and the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb.”
When the witnesses finish their testimony, the beast rises and kills them. This is the first mention of the beast, who will be described more fully in Revelation 13. The death of the witnesses shows that faithfulness does not guarantee escape from suffering. The church’s mission will encounter violent opposition.
Their bodies lying in the street shows the contempt the beast has for the witnesses. Nothing is sacred. The “great city” is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, places of rebellion and oppression. It also points to Jerusalem, “where their Lord was crucified.” In short, the city represents human society aligned against God. The global scope of the crowd’s gaze underscores the public nature of the church’s suffering.
See “Key Patterns and Cycles in Revelation”
Revelation 11:11–12 Explained
“But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet... 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 watched them.”
Just as Jesus was raised on the third day, so the witnesses are raised after three and a half days. The Spirit of God breathes life into them, echoing Ezekiel 37’s vision of dry bones. Their vindication is public — enemies see them stand, hear God’s voice, and watch them ascend.
This resurrection and ascension symbolize the church’s ultimate hope. Even if the world silences the witnesses, God raises them. Death is not the final word. The vindication of the witnesses is both encouragement for the faithful and warning to their opponents.
Revelation 11:13–14 Explained
“At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming very soon.”
The vision closes with judgment and repentance. An earthquake strikes, killing seven thousand — a symbolic number recalling Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19:18. A remnant remains, and here they give glory to God. Unlike earlier judgments where people refused to repent (Revelation 9:20–21), here some finally turn to God.
The end of this section signals the close of the second woe. The interlude is complete, and the seventh trumpet will soon sound. The message is clear: the church’s suffering and witness are not wasted. God uses them to bring repentance and to demonstrate his power.
Themes in Revelation 11:1–14
1. God’s Protection and Preservation. Measuring the temple shows God’s care for his people, even in persecution.
2. The Prophetic Mission of the Church. The two witnesses symbolize the church’s calling to proclaim truth in a hostile world.
3. Opposition and Suffering. The beast wages war on the witnesses, showing the cost of faithfulness.
4. Vindication through Resurrection. God raises his witnesses, affirming that death is not final.
5. Repentance and Glory. The earthquake leads survivors to give glory to God, hinting that judgment and witness together lead to repentance.
Revelation 11:1–14 Meaning for Today
The vision of the two witnesses speaks directly to the church’s mission in the world. We are measured and known by God, preserved spiritually even as we face hostility. The outer court may be trampled, but God knows those who belong to him. That assurance gives courage.
The two witnesses remind us that the church’s role is prophetic. We speak truth, call for repentance, and announce God’s kingdom. The Word we bear has authority, not because of us but because it comes from God. Like Moses and Elijah, the church confronts the idols of its age.
The suffering of the witnesses points to the cost of discipleship. Faithfulness does not always lead to safety. Sometimes it leads to rejection or even death. Yet the story does not end there. God breathes life back into his witnesses. Resurrection hope belongs to the church.
Finally, the passage shows that witness and judgment can bring repentance. Where previous judgments only hardened hearts, here some are moved to give glory to God. The church’s calling, even in suffering, is never wasted. God uses witness to bring people to himself.
FAQ: Revelation 11:1–14
Who are the two witnesses?
They likely symbolize the prophetic mission of the church, drawing imagery from Moses and Elijah. Some see them as two individuals, but the broader imagery points to the faithful church.
Why are they killed by the beast?
To show that the church’s mission will face violent opposition. Faithfulness does not guarantee escape from suffering, but it does lead to vindication.
What does the resurrection of the witnesses mean?
It points to the ultimate hope of the church. Even if the world silences God’s people, he raises them to life.
Why is the temple measured?
Measuring symbolizes God’s protection and ownership. His people are known and kept secure in him.
What does the earthquake at the end signify?
It shows God’s judgment but also leads to repentance. Unlike earlier judgments, here some respond by giving glory to God.
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Works Consulted
Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (NICNT), ch. 11.
Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, ch. 11.
Grant R. Osborne, Revelation (BECNT), ch. 11.
Craig S. Keener, Revelation (NIVAC), ch. 11.
