REVELATION 11

THE WITNESSES + THE SEVENTH TRUMPET 

Next in the vision, John is given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple and the altar. He is not to measure the court outside of the temple because it will be trampled by the nations. This imagery is similar to the vision of Zechariah, who saw a man using a tool to measure Jerusalem (Zechariah 2).

Meanwhile, God grants authority to two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days. These witnesses are called lampstands, a symbol previously used to describe the church. These witnesses have protection from God and authority over the weather. During the time of their prophesying, they have the ability to bring plagues upon the earth.

Once they have finished testifying, a beast rises from the bottomless pit and kills them. This beast is often compared to the beast in Daniel’s apocalyptic prophecy (See Daniel 7). After the beast conquers the witnesses, their dead bodies remain in the street. After the three and a half days God revives them with His breath, bringing them back to life. They go up to heaven and there is a great earthquake, killing many people.

The seventh and final angel blows his trumpet, ushering in loud voices saying that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Jesus.” Not only will the world be restored, but Christ will reign eternally! The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones fall upon their faces and worship God. God brings wrath upon the Earth, but rewards those who are His followers. The elders acknowledge God as the destroyer of the destroyers, showing His authority over death and evil.

God’s temple in heaven is revealed and the ark of the covenant is seen within the temple, along with thunder, lightning, earthquakes, and hail.

Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”