Chapter 11______

The Two Witnesses







1Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.2"Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.3"And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."



Verse 1___In Ezekiel 40:3,5 the prophet was given a 9-foot measuring stick. Here we have something along the same line. John is told to arise and measure. What is this measuring business? Here, as in Ezekiel, it is to make a distinction between the holy and profane (common). That which is to be be kept apart (Ezekiel 42:20). When we measure something we set it apart from that which we do not measure. This setting apart means something is holy. In Zechariah 2:1-5, this idea does not seem to come through. It seems as if the point in Zechariah is that Jerusalem's inhabitants will be too numerous to be walled in. Besides that, they won't need a wall since YHWH is their wall. But the passage in Revelation has something a little different in mind. In Revelation, it isn't just a matter of protection but making holy.

The Temple of God___What Temple is this? By the time this letter is written, there was only ONE temple of God! The Church of God___1st Cor. 3:16,17 or Ephesians 2:19-22. There is by the time of this letter only ONE holy city. The city of God___Revelation 21:1,2,9ff.

And them that worship therein___This is a reference to the inner sanctuary and not the entire building. Those that worship (therein) would have to be priests, for only the priests entered the sanctuary. Note, that the worshipers are to be measured.

Verse 2___And the court...without the Temple...measure it not...Why? “It has been given to the nations and the holy city shall be tread underfoot for forty and two months.”

In these two verses, we have a comparison between the holy and the profane. Those measured in verse 1 are kept by God and they are holy, but those in verse two are not to be holy. They are of the “nations.” But the message is that the church of God is about to enter a period of persecution, but at the same time be sustained. God is saying here that even though the church is about to abused by the evil Roman Empire, they will not be permitted to destroy the church. The “inner sanctuary is kept by God.

The holy city shall they tread under foot for forty and two months. ___

What is 42 months? If you remember we have already discussed this when we studied the book of Daniel. The 42 months is the same as 1260 days. The Jews worked on a 360 day year. They added an intercalary month__2nd Adhar ever so often the bring the calendar in line with the solar calender. 1260 days equal 42 months. Both of these are equivalent to “time, times, and half time.” Just look at chapters 12 verse 6, 14 where 1260 is interchangeable with time, times and a half time.

All right___now we know what he period is but what does it mean? It is a time figure. It is what the “1000 years” of Revelation 20 is___a period of time, used to speak of a state of affairs. Later we will talk about the 42 months. Look where the phrase of its equivalent occurs.

  1. It is the period of the beast's authority__Rev. 13:5

  2. It is the period of the holy city trodden under foot ___ Rev. 11:2.

  3. It is the period during which the witnesses prophesy__Rev. 11:3

  4. It is the period where the woman is nourished in the wilderness___Rev. 12:6,14.

  5. It is the period the “little horn” persecutes the saints___Daniel 7:25.

What does this mean? It speaks of a period of time (a broken period) where the saints are under persecution, yet protected. The saints will be persecuted then not persecuted and back to persecution.

The two thoughts are even present. In Daniel 7:25 we hear the little horn has power of the saints for “time, times, and a half a time"....But blessed. The judgment shall be set and the little horn will get his dues according to Daniel.

In the case of the woman, she is forced to flee into the desert which speaks of hardship for the wilderness is not a palace. But___she is nourished there! Right in her place of hardship. Is there a lesson here for us today?.

In the case of the two Witnesses, they are in “sackcloth” which also indicates hardship. Their preaching cannot be stopped because the Lord is there to sustain them.

In the case of the holy city__the citadel of it is not taken despite the abuse of the outer limits. And why does it remain not taken? Because God sustains it. Why must the witness wear sack cloth? The woman, why must she flee? The city__why must it be trodden under? Why is the beast given authority to continue 42 months? Because God wants it!

Notice, the woman is forced to flee in the wilderness but is nourished there. The time of hardship and nourishment is 3 ½ years. In the days of Elijah the prophet we find the model. (1st Kings 17:1-5).

So what do verses 1 and 2 mean?_____

The City of God (the church of God) is to undergo persecution from Rome. Despite the persecution, the church will be sustained.

 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.6These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.9Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here " Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.13And in that hour 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.



Verses 3-13_______So what about the two witness?

This "and I will give” continues the idea of God as being in control. The outer court and the holy city are “given unto the nations.” The two witnesses here represent the church of God. The figure changes from a temple and a city, to a pair of prophets. In chapter 21 we also have two figures. That of a bride and a city.

The number “2” in Oriental symbolism carried the idea of strength__two men are stronger than one. This prophesy left by God will be one of great power. God seems to be saying that be assured of the fact that the gospel of Christ will be preached in this evil world.

The number two is the number of the confirmed and strengthened testimony. We are not to accept an accusation against an elder unless there be at least two (1st Tim.5:19) and then it must be in front of all. Even Jesus said that although he would always tell the truth, his own testimony would not stand alone.

Jim McGuiggan makes the argument that the two witnesses are the church. The prophet Zechariah helps us understand this matter. In chapter 4 we have the vision of two olive trees which supply the candlestick with oil. The two olive trees are identified for the prophet (verses 11-14) as the “two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” These two anointed ones are the civil ruler Zerubbabel and the priest Joshua, son of Jozedek. It was by these two (kings and priests were both anointed to their office, hence they were the anointed ones). It was thorough Zerubbabel and Joshua that God led the nation. These two are said to be the “two olive trees.” Here in Revelation 11 our two witnesses are said to be “the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.”

The church is a “royal priesthood.” The church has “the priesthood” and royalty (Jesus Christ).

They shall prophesy 1260 days___ This is the same period of time that the holy city is trodden underfoot. It is also the period that the beast (Rome) is allowed to continue. In spite of that, the church cannot be stopped.

Verses 5-6__we must remember this is a vision. In this vision the church seems unstoppable. Remember in chapter 7 when the saints prayed and God responded. We are there again.

Verse 7__We are here told what the 3 ½ years means. “When they have finished their testimony.” The 3 ½ means a broken period of time (ups and downs) that the church will testify to Christ. So, let's start again. The Witnesses represent the church. They are here seen as holding their testimony even under persecution. This isn't to say that the church can't be hurt, because it can.

The beast ...shall make war with them___ Here we have two sides of the same coin. The church must finish its work of testimony and they must do it while the beast makes war on them. As John tells us the story it is (1) the unstoppable church (2) the victory of the beast. Daniel 7:25ff is the commentary on this section of Revelation.

Verse 8___In the street of the great city___The city is called by three names. Egypt, Sodom, and Jerusalem. Yes Rome is the answer to all three. Egypt because Egypt was the oppressor of God's people as was Rome. Sodom because Sodom was the city of immorality as was Rome. Jerusalem because Jerusalem was the center of a perverted religion as was Rome. The great city in view here is Rome.

We do well to bear in mind that the sentence of death against Jesus came from Rome. It was by “lawless” hands the Jews crucified and slew our Lord. The kings of the earth (Rome too, represented by Pilate) had gathered against the Lord and His Anointed (Acts 4:25-28).

Verses 9-10___Men look upon their bodies___Here the beast is pictured as killing the witnesses at the end of their ministry. In 13:5ff we are told the same thing. The beast makes war with them and overcomes them. In this vision, the witnesses are seen as dead but dead only 3 ½ days. Remember, 3 ½ is the broken 7 idea. The witness will not stay dead. Death's hold on them is not complete.

And suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.___ We are told in the next verse why these bodies are not to laid in a tomb.

And they shall send gifts to one another__those who hated the church are celebrating.

Verses 11-13___And after three days and a half___They stood on their feet___The church is not dead and the church as been resurrected. The church is triumphant over the beast.

Verse 12___Come hither, and they went up into heaven.

This is the church triumphant. Like Elijah, they are heaven bound. And their enemies beheld them. ___One of the great proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the survival of the church. Be assured the enemies were watching.

Verse 13___There was a great earthquake___Once again a sign of God's judgment. And the rest gave glory to the God of heaven.__This speaks of people who were not converted just scared. The God of heaven is alive and working on earth in contradistinction to the Roman gods.


The Seventh Trumpet--Christ's Reign Foreseen

14The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

15Then the seventh angel sounded; 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 will reign forever and ever."16And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,17saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.18"And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."19And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Verses 14-19_______The second woe is past: Behold the third....comes quickly. This is leading up to the seventh trumpet. The 6th blew back in 9:13.

Verse 15___And the 7th angel sounded....With this, the book ends as far as dealing with Rome. Remember, the 7th seal containing the 7 trumpets and the 7th trumpet containing the 7 bowels are poured out. God's destructive wrath on Rome is complete. Now a different cry. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Notice, the kingdom of God was established in the lifetime of John.

Verse 16___We are back to the 24 Elders.

Verse 17___Notice, Jesus started His reign over His Kingdom in the lifetime of John.

Verse 18__And your wrath came, and the time of the dead is to be judged.....Remember, the blowing of the 7th trumpet contains the outpouring of the 7 bowls. In the days of the 7th trumpet the full outpouring of God's wrath is on them. The wrath is that wrath___the seven bowls of wrath which include the great battle of Meggido (Aramgeddon) see chapter 16:12ff and 19:11-21. And who are the dead here? Those who lose their lives in the wrath of the 7 bowls and well as those who have already died in opposition to the Lord. And what judgment is this? The one we deal with in chapter 20:11-15.

To give their reward to your servants___This has a reference of the joys of knowing who is victorious. We find in Daniel 7:17-22, 25-27 that the kingdom belongs to the saints. But__who is exercising the power? God is exercising the power and judging the oppressor.

Verse 19__The temple of God in Heaven was opened. Premillennialists usually claim there is a “real” temple in heaven. These people have temples floating around everywhere. Here we are reminded of the the “ark” and God. The “ark of the covenant” was never far from God and this is a reminder of how faithful God is with those of the covenant.




Lane Rogers