New Testament · Prophecy

Revelation 11

The Two Witnesses

Two prophets testify for 1,260 days, breathing fire on their enemies. When they're finally killed, the whole world celebrates — until they rise again.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And 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.

Understand This

Revelation 11, explained

What Revelation 11 is saying

John measures the temple but is told to exclude the outer court, given to the nations for 42 months. Two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, performing miracles reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, before being killed by the beast from the Abyss. Their corpses lie in the 'great city' for three and a half days while the world celebrates, but God resurrects them and calls them up to heaven in a cloud. A great earthquake destroys a tenth of the city, killing 7,000, and the survivors give glory to God. The seventh trumpet sounds, proclaiming God's kingdom.

The background behind it

The two witnesses draw on the Mosaic and Elijah traditions (stopping rain per 1 Kings 17, turning water to blood per Exodus 7), and the Zechariah 4 imagery of two olive trees and lampstands. The 42 months / 1,260 days / three and a half years echoes Daniel 7:25 and 12:7, representing a definite but limited period of tribulation. The 'great city' is likely Jerusalem, Rome, or a symbolic composite of all cities hostile to God.

Themes running underneath

The faithful prophetic witness inevitably encounters violent opposition from the beast—a pattern established by Jesus and continued through the church. Yet apparent defeat (death and public humiliation) is reversed by resurrection, demonstrating that God's witnesses cannot be ultimately silenced. The seventh trumpet's declaration that 'the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord' anticipates the final consummation.

Why it still matters

The two witnesses embody the vocation of the church: to prophesy faithfully even when the message provokes hostility. Their vindication after apparent defeat encourages perseverance in an age that measures success by visibility and cultural approval.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.