Revelation 11:1-19

The details written in Revelation 8:7 - 11:14 pertain to effects or events taking place on earth as a result-of and corresponding-to the previous events which took place in heaven (Revelation 7:9 - 8:6).

In Revelation 11:1-14 John specifically writes according to the instructions he received in Revelation 10:11 - "...to prophesy on peoples and nations and tongues and many kings." Revelation chapter 11 includes part of the details of the effects or events that will follow the sixth angel blowing his trumpet, which is during the second of three woes referred to in Revelation 8:13. The second woe spans from Revelation 9:13 to 11:13.

Also, Revelation chapter 11 is part of what will occur after the opening of the seventh (7) seal of the book in heaven by the little-lamb which is representing the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 8:1). The seventh seal includes the implementation of judgments under seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7 - 14:20) including seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing (Revelation 15:1 - 18:24). The seventh trumpet with its seven bowls occur during the time of the great pressure of the completing together of the age - and will be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ's return on earth as recorded in Revelation chapter 19.

Revelation 11:1-3:

^11:1And there was given to me a reed like a rod, saying, "You must rise-up and you must measure the interior-temple of God and the sacrificial-altar and the (ones) worshipping in it, ^.2and the uncovered-area, the (uncovered-area) outside of the interior-temple you must throw-out outside and you must not measure it because it was given to the nations and they will tread the city, the holy (city) forty two months;

^.3and I will give to My two witnesses and they will prophesy a thousand two-hundred sixty days having been clothed² (with) sackcloth."

A reed similar to a rod (a staff for training or a scepter of authority and office) was given to me (John) by the angel (who is speaking on behalf of God; refer to Revelation 10:1 and 10) saying...

"You must arise
and you must measure (ascertain the measurements, find out the limits of the content, the standard of)
- the interior-temple of God (the innermost part of God's temple)
- and the sacrificial-altar (this altar refers to the altar on which incense is burned representing prayers being offered to God)
- and those worshipping (paying homage to, being obeisant towards God)
  - in the interior-temple (the area specifically dedicated to/for/by God),
and
- the uncovered area,
  - emphatically and specifically the uncovered area that is on the outside of (external to) the interior-temple
you must cast-out outside (omit it, do not consider it)
and you must not measure it
- because it was given to the nations (groups of people without reference to their background; this word usually refers to people of the Gentile background, ethnic groups other-than Israel/Judah - in this context referring to those who reject the only true God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ)
- and they will tread (will move their feet on) the city,
  - emphatically and specifically the holy city (referring to Jerusalem on earth - the fortified, walled town that is sanctified, set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean against God, the city that corresponds to the essence of God which is holiness - He is the standard of being holy)
- forty two months (42 months = 3 and a half years);
and I will give to (the angel is speaking on behalf of God, and what will be given is detailed in verses 3-6)
- My two witnesses (witnesses of Whom? - witnesses of/from God - these 2 beings will be witnesses belonging to Me and they will bear the same witness, attesting to the information or knowledge that I will give to them and they can therefore confirm it as being authentic by bringing it to light on the strength of the authority that I will give to them)
  - and they will prophesy (they will speak forth the words that I will communicate to them)
  - a thousand two-hundred sixty days (1,260 days = 42 months = 3 and a half years)
- having been clothed and continuing clothed
  - with sackcloth (a course cloth will have already been thrown or cast around them as a vesture, wrap, covering - which is worn at various times to demonstrate deep regret and grief regarding a situation or circumstance)."

The 1,260 days (42 months, 3 and 1/2 years) referred to in these verses are the second half of a 7-year period of time that spans from the gathering together of all holy-people (Christians) by Christ away from the earth and Christ's return on earth. Chart

Prior to the time when Jesus accomplished salvation, the "interior-temple" usually referred to the innermost-part, the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem, where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth during the old covenant times, called the "Holy of Holies." Today God's interior-temple is not a stone or brick building or other destructible materials such as a physical temple in today's Jerusalem. God's interior-temple is made up of His people who have received the gift of holy spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation - it consists of all holy-people (true Christians) no matter what location we may live in on the earth.

There will again be a temple including an interior-temple area in Jerusalem - between Christ's coming to gather all holy-people together with him in the air...

[Revelation 11:1 and 2 refer to the intervening temple with its interior-temple area in Jerusalem which will end in its destruction (refer to Daniel 9:27, 12:11; Matthew 24:15-22; and II Thessalonians 2:1-12).]

...and the descending of the new Jerusalem as written about in Ezekiel chapters 40-48 and Revelation 21:2. However, in the new Jerusalem the interior-temple will be as written in Revelation 21:22. References regarding this topic are: Matthew 26:61; John 2:19-22; Acts 17:22-31; I Corinthians 3:16 and 17, 6:19 and 20; II Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 21:22.

[Reference: Matthew 4:5, 11:21, 18:16; Luke 21:24; John 8:17; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 13:1; I Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28-31; Revelation 3:12, 6:12, 7:15, 8:3, 21:2, 10 and 15-17, 22:19.]

Verses 4-6:

^.4These are the two olive-trees and the two lamp-stands having stood² before the Lord of the earth; ^.5and if someone intends to treat them unrighteously fire journeys-out from their mouth and devours their enemies - even if someone may intend to treat them unrighteously thus it is necessary (for) him to be killed. ^.6These have the authority to shut the heaven in order that rain may not rain (during) the days of their prophecy, and they have authority on the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth in every stroke as-often-as if-ever they may intend.

The two witnesses referred to in verse 3 above are described as being (representing)...

the two olive-trees (both being equally righteous/just in relation to God - with God's mercy being made available according to their anointing by God for their assignment)
and the two lamp-stands (both being equal and holding the lamp of God's Word regarding the Lord Jesus Christ up above them so as to emitting light - with the light of what God says being made available according to the power of the spirit from God for their assignment)
- which stood and continue standing in the sight and presence of
  - the Lord of the earth (referring to God Who is Master over the earth);

...and if someone intends (wills, with active volition and desire) to treat them unrighteously (to wrong, act unjustly towards them)...

fire
- journeys out (makes its journey, proceeds, passes out)
- from their mouth
  - and devours their enemies (eats them down, the fire devours those who oppose and exhibit enmity and hostility against them as a lion eats his prey)
- emphatically to the degree and in explanation that
- if someone would intend to treat them unrighteously
- in this manner it is necessary (it is binding, must, ought to happen)
  - for him to be killed (be put to death ending that person's life, cause his life to be taken away from him).

These two witnesses have the authority (they hold the authoritative-power, permitted-right)...

to shut the heaven (to close, prohibit exit from the sky above the earth)
- for the purpose and result that rain would not rain (rain would not wet the earth, no rain would be sent)
  - during the days of their prophecy (while the information from God is being spoken by them concerning the past, present, and/or future),

...and they have authority...

on the waters to turn them into blood
and to strike (knock, beat against) the earth
- in all/every stroke (blow, strike, stripe as being hit by a lash)
as many times as if it should happen at any time that they would intend (will, with active volition and desire).

[Reference: Joshua 3:11; I Kings 17:1; Psalm 52:8; Jeremiah 5:14; Zechariah 4:2-6 and 14; Romans 11:32; I Corinthians 10:26; Hebrews 1:7, 10 and 14; James 5:17; Revelation 22:6.]

Verses 7-10:

^.7And whenever they may complete their witness - the wild-animal, the (wild-animal) ascending out-from the abyss, will make war with them and it will be-victorious-over them and it will kill them; ^.8and their fallen (corpses are) on the wide-street of the city, the great (city), the-one-which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt - where the Lord was crucified; ^.9and they observe their fallen (corpses) out-from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations three days and a half, and they do not leave their fallen (corpses) to be put into a memorial;^.10and the (people) dwelling-down on the earth joy on them and they are made glad-minded and they will send free-gifts to one-another because these two prophets tormented the (people) dwelling-down on the earth.

At whatever time these two witnesses would bring their witness to its intended fulfilling ending-issue (cause their attestation to be accomplished, in the state of completeness, bring it to its completion)...

the wild-animal (the savage beast of prey which is not tamed by mankind),
- emphatically and specifically the wild-animal (described in detail in Revelation chapter 13)
- coming up out from the abyss (that place which does not have a bottom to it, very far away, without measured depth underneath the observed land and sea; refer to Revelation 9:1, 2 and 11),
will make war (battle)
- with them
and the wild-animal will gain the victory over them (conquer them)
and it will kill them;

...and their fallen corpses (where their dead bodies fell down, their fallen carcasses) are...

on the wide (broad) street of the city,
- emphatically and specifically the great city (the large town that is walled, fortified),
- the city which spiritually is called (is being spoken as, given the name of)
  - Sodom and Egypt (representing a combination of idolatry, captivity, and destruction) -
- where the Lord was crucified (the location where the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified - Golgotha, which is also called Place of a Skull - Calvary - a hill outside the gate/wall of the city of Jerusalem at the time of his crucifixion but since then people include it as part of Jerusalem);

...and they observe (look-at and mentally-envision, they are mentally-aware and contemplate) their fallen corpses...

those observing are originating from
- the peoples (plural - masses or groups of people; this word usually refers to the descendants of Israel/Jacob)
- and tribes (plural - clans)
- and tongues (plural - languages)
- and nations (plural - groups of people without reference to their background; this word usually refers to people of the Gentile background, ethnic groups other-than Israel/Judah)

...3 days and a half, and they do not leave (let-go, dismiss and so permit)...

their fallen corpses
- to be put into a memorial (a place to set the dead bodies so as to be remembered, a record or monument);

...and the people dwelling-down on the earth (permanently dwelling, inhabiting, settled-down on the earth, where their house is)...

joy on them (rejoice over the dead bodies)
and they are made glad-minded (caused to have a cheerful mind)
and they will send free-gifts to one-another (emphasizing the fact that the gifts will be freely given)
- because these two prophets (referring to the 2 witnesses who had been prophesying; refer to verses 3 and 6 above)
  - tormented the people dwelling-down on the earth (as though the people were a touchstone that is being rubbed against by other things testing it and thereby causing marks, forced pains, tortures to them).

[Reference: Genesis 13:13, 18:16 - 19:29; Exodus chapters 1-15; Psalm 79 and 105:38; Isaiah 1:9, 25:2-9; Jeremiah 22:8; Ezekiel chapter 16, 23:3, 8 and 19; Joel 3:19; Matthew 2:15, 11:23 and 24, 27:33; Luke 17:29, 23:33; John 19:17-20 and 41; Acts 7:9-39, 13:17; I Corinthians 2:14; Galatians 4:24-31; Hebrews 3:16, 13:11-13; II Peter 2:6; Jude 1:5-7; Revelation 6:8, 9:1, 2 and 11, 10:11. The old and present-day city of Jerusalem will be destroyed and replaced with the new heavenly Jerusalem. All holy-people including our Lord Jesus Christ are waiting to enter into the new Jerusalem which God will cause to descend from heaven to earth; refer to Revelation chapters 21 and 22.]

Verses 11-13:

^.11And after the three days and a half (the) spirit of life out-from God went into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell on the (people) viewing them with-attention; ^.12and they heard a great sound out-from heaven saying to them, "You must ascend here" - and they ascended into the heaven in the cloud; and their enemies viewed them with-attention.

^.13And in that hour there became a great quake and the tenth of the city fell and seven thousand names of men were killed in the quake; and the remaining-people became fearful-within and they gave glory to the God of the heaven.

After the 3 and 1/2 days (refer to verse 9 above) the spirit of life originating from God...

went into the 2 witnesses who had died
and they stood on their feet (they became alive again as they had been previously and stood up);

...and a large amount of fear (fright, being afraid and scared, terror) fell on the people who were contemplating them in/with their minds; and they heard a great sound (a large voice or uttered-tone, loudly) originating from heaven saying to them...

"You must ascend here (mount or come-up to this location close to Me)"

...and they ascended into the heaven in the cloud (a particular and distinct cloud)...

and their enemies (those who opposed them and exhibited enmity and hostility towards/against them)
- contemplated them in/with their minds.

During that hour (immediately, in that limited period of time) there became (came to pass, occurred)...

a great quake (a large shaking motion, quick or shocking movement, a seismic event)
- and the tenth of the city fell (a tenth part of it collapsed)
- and 7,000 names of men (various people) were killed in the quake;

...and the rest of the people (those who were left alive) became fearful (afraid) within themselves and they gave glory to the God of the heaven. They credited God with importance, splendor, renown concerning this situation - they acknowledged that it was the God - living up in the heaven, not on earth, but implementing His power on earth - Who caused this to happen on the earth. However, there is no record of these people changing their minds to believe and obey God so as to become saved to Him.

[Reference: Revelation 16:11.]

Verse 14:

^.14The woe, the second (woe) went-away; look!, the woe, the third (woe) comes quickly.

John specifies a change or transition of woes:

The woe (regret, misery, distress),
- emphatically and specifically the second woe (number 2 of 3 woes)
  - went away (the effects or events pertaining to the second woe have gone by for John in what he is seeing and hearing by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ);
look (behold, pay attention)!,
- the woe
- emphatically and specifically the third woe (number 3 of 3 woes - the last woe)
  - comes quickly (with speed, swiftly).

[Reference: Revelation 8:13, 9:12.]

The first woe spans Revelation 9:1-11.
The second woe spans Revelation 9:13 - 11:13.
The third woe spans Revelation 11:15-19 and chapters 15-18.
- Revelation chapters 12-14 provide additional details of events leading up to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth (Revelation chapters 19 and 20).
- Revelation chapters 15-18 include seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing.

Revelation 11:15-19(a) records what John saw regarding the events that will take place in heaven (not on earth as Revelation 8:7 - 11:14).

Verses 15-18:

^.15(a)And the seventh angel trumpeted; ^.15(b)and there became a great sound in the heaven saying, "The kingdom of the world became (the kingdom) of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign-as-king into the ages of the ages."

^.16And the twenty four elders before God sitting-down on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God ^.17saying, "We thank You, Lord God, the All-Strong-One, the (One) being and the (One Who) used-to-be, because You took² Your ability, the great (ability), and You reigned-as-king; ^.18and the nations were caused-wrath, and Your wrath came, and the time of the dead-people to be judged, and to give the compensation to Your slaves - to the prophets and to the holy-people and to the (people) being fearful (towards) Your name - the small and the great, and to throughly-corrupt the (people) throughly-corrupting the earth."

The seventh angel blew his trumpet (refer to Revelation 10:6 and 7).

Verses 15(b)-18 reveal the celebration of the future results of the effects and events that will follow the 7th angel blowing his trumpet.

And there came to pass (happened, occurred)...

a great sound (a large voice or uttered-tone, loudly)

...in the heaven (the sky) saying...

"The kingdom of the world (the sovereignty, kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc, of the ordered-arrangement that God created but which the first man Adam gave to the devil as recorded in Genesis chapter 3; refer to Appendix to Romans, the fall of Adam)
- became (came to pass to be)
- the kingdom
  - of our Lord (referring to the only true God)
  - and of His Christ (God's son who is the Anointed-one, the Messiah),
and He will reign as King over His dominion (God will exercise His kingship, being the Royal Ruler of the ones reigning as kings including the Lord Jesus Christ)
- into the ages of the ages (for the durations of lifetimes for/throughout the durations of lifetimes; not only one age or a group of ages, but emphatically for all the durations of life, the entirety, for eternity, forever)."

And the twenty four elders in the sight and presence of God who are sitting down on their thrones (refer to Revelation 4:4 and 10)...

fell down flat on their faces (demonstrating complete submission and recognition of/for their superior)
and worshipped (paid homage to, were obeisant towards)
- God

...saying...

"We thank (express our gratitude towards) You,
- Lord God,
  - (the word "Lord" is the Greek word kurios and here it emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of God’s lordship, dominion and authority over and relative-to His creation, plus the respectful submission due to Him; also, this word is used in Greek as a translation for the Hebrew word Jehovah / Yahweh and refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created)
  - (the word "God" refers to the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light; He is the only true God; also, the usage of the name of God refers to the fullness of everything involved with Himself, all that He is and will continue to be, all of His authoritative-power, ability, workings, etc, His distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, and quality),
- the All-Strong-One,
  - (God is the One being totally strong, having all strength, every superiority and dominion in exerted force, almighty in relation to whom/what He has created; this emphasizes God's strength from/with which He gracefully supplies what is needed to/for His people, and to/for the rest of His host of beings; refer to II Corinthians 6:18, plus Romans 9:29 and James 5:4 where God is referred to as the Lord of Hosts which is from the same root word in Hebrew),
- the One Who is presently and actively being
  - (He exists in living reality right now during the present time)
- and the One Who used-to-be,
  - (He has existed historically during the past time)
  - [it is noteworthy that these elders do not include "the One coming" as it was previously in Revelation 1:4 and 8, and 4:8 - because this celebrates the true reality when God will have come to rule being the King and exerting His power]
because You took and continue to have taken (You have already received what was given to/for You to use; refer to Revelation 4:11 where this was spoken of as a future event)
- Your ability (able-power, capability),
  - emphatically and specifically the great ability (the able-power or capability that is large in magnitude, importance, etc),
- and You reigned as King (this verb is in the aorist tense, which is why it may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once this event is accomplished it is done, finished, it will not need to be done a second time!);
and the nations were caused wrath (made to have a lasting angry vengeance, like the heat of a burning-fire, this was not a spur-of-the-moment thing on their part against God and His Christ),
and Your wrath came (the lasting angry vengeance of God went into force; this began after the Lord Jesus Christ gathered all holy-people/Christians together with him away from the earth),
and the specific time of the dead-people to be judged (the opportune or precise period, occasion, season for those who already died and remained dead to be resurrected and receive God's decision regarding how they lived their lives, to have His sentence pronounced on them and implemented by means of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ),
and to give the compensation (the hire or wage due for work done)
- to Your slaves (God's bond-servants, the people serving in the capacity of being slaves from the working or service relationship viewpoint) -
  - to the prophets (the people who speak-forth God's words being revealed to them concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people; this word places emphasis on speaking to others)
  - and to the holy-people (the people who are sanctified; note: this excludes the holy-people/Christians living today because we will have already been gathered with/by the Lord Jesus Christ)
  - and to the people being fearful towards Your name (having fright, being afraid at the consequences of their performance of any wrong behavior, those who manifest the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards/for everything involved with God's name) -
- the small and the great people (from little to large, from junior to senior, from the young person to the old person, including from low to top rank or status among them),
and to throughly corrupt (to utterly decay, corrupt throughout or thoroughly)
- the people who are throughly corrupting the earth."

[Reference: Psalm chapter 2; Isaiah 26:19-21; Jeremiah 7:25, 25:4; Daniel 2:44, 7:14 and 18; Amos 3:7; Matthew 4:8, 5:12, 16:27; John 5:25, 18:36; Acts 4:24-28, 17:31; Romans 1:18, 2:5 and 8; I Corinthians 15:23-28; II Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:6; I Timothy 1:17, 5:18, 6:13-16; II Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 11:32; James 1:20; I Peter 4:5; Revelation 1:4 and 8, 4:4, 8, 10 and 11, 6:16 and 17; 7:11, 8:6-8, 10 and 12, 9:1 and 13, 10:5-7, 12:10, 13:7 and 10, 14:12, 16:6, 19:2, 20:12-15.]

Continuing from verse 18 above, verse 19 also reveals the future results of the effects and events that will follow the 7th angel blowing his trumpet. Revelation chapters 19 and 20 will continue with these future results and will include the return of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth, the resurrections, and the final judgments.

The details written in Revelation 11:19(b) pertain to effects or events that will take place on earth (Revelation 16:18-21) as a result-of and corresponding-to the previous events which take place in heaven (Revelation 11:15-19(a)) following the 7th angel blowing his trumpet.

Verse 19:

^.19(a)And the interior-temple of God, the (interior-temple) in the heaven opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His interior-temple, ^.19(b)and there became lightnings and sounds and thunders and quakes and great hail.

The interior-temple of God (the innermost part of God's temple - this is not the interior-temple referred to in verses 1 and 2 above)...

emphatically and specifically the interior-temple
- in the heaven (where God will be at the time of these occurrences)

...opened, and...

the ark of His covenant (the box, chest, vessel built to contain items pertaining to the covenant, God's binding agreement with His people)
- was seen (presented to be perceived with the eyes and known by those looking at it)
  - within His interior-temple;

...and there became (came to pass, occurred)...

lightnings (the sudden speedy flashes of shining bright light, the quick supplying of light)
and sounds (voices, uttered-tones)
and thunders (rolling, rumbling sounds - figuratively referring to God's presence and expression of command, judgment, and righteousness/justice in action)
and quakes (shaking motions, quick or shocking movements, seismic events)
and great hail (large hailstone).

[Reference: Galatians 4:24-26; Hebrews 7:22, 8:6, 9:4 and 11-15, 12:24, 13:20; Revelation 8:5, 14:15 and 17, 15:5-8, 16:17-21. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

Revelation Chapter 12