Two ancient olive trees side by side on a terraced hillside at dawn, two small clay oil lamps burning on the low stone wall between them.

The Book of

Revelation 11

Two witnesses speak for God, and no one can silence them until their work is done. Then the last trumpet sounds, and heaven sings that the kingdom belongs to Christ.

19 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Seven churchesChrist among His lampstands
4–11Seals & trumpetsThe Lamb opens the scrollChapter 11
12–16The great conflictThe dragon, the beasts, the bowls
17–20The King comesBabylon falls; the Lamb wins
21–22All things newA new heaven and a new earth

The Two Witnesses

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

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And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Revelation 11:4

If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

Where the picture comes from

Whiteboard

Almost every picture here comes from the Old Testament. Ezekiel and Zechariah each saw a man measuring God’s temple or city. Zechariah saw two olive trees beside a lampstand. Elijah called down fire and shut the sky, and Moses turned the waters into blood and struck Egypt with plagues. Daniel spoke of a set, limited time. John’s first readers would have heard all of it in the words “my two witnesses.”

Reflect

Lamps that keep burning

God calls His witnesses “the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” They speak for Him in hard days, “clothed in sackcloth,” and He gives them all they need until their work is done. Where has God placed you to shine for Him right now? What would help you keep your lamp burning there this week?

The Witnesses Killed and Raised

When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.

Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.

The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.

Question

Quick question

For three and a half days it looked as if the witnesses had lost.

What happened after the three and a half days?

The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 11:15

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Sunrise seen from a high mountain over a vast landscape of seas, plains, rivers and far ranges, all lit gold at once.

saying:

“We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty,

the One who is and who was,

because You have taken Your great power

and have begun to reign.

The nations were enraged,

and Your wrath has come.

The time has come to judge the dead

and to reward Your servants the prophets,

as well as the saints and those who fear Your name,

both small and great—

and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

0:26

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Pray

He will reign forever

Join the elders and give thanks: “We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was.” Thank God that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” Bring Him whatever feels out of control today, and ask Him to make you faithful as one of “those who fear Your name, both small and great.”

You’ve experienced

Revelation 11

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A verse to carry with you

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 11:15

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