American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Revelation 11
1
And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Reference
2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Reference
Holy
Daniel 7:25
Daniel 12:7
Revelation 21:2
Isaiah 52:1
Revelation 22:19
Parallel theme
Revelation 12:6
Luke 21:24
Revelation 11:3
3
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 12:6
Revelation 11:2
Revelation 13:5
Isaiah 22:12
Genesis 37:34
Witness
Deuteronomy 19:15
Acts 1:8
Acts 13:31
Matthew 18:16
Luke 24:48
4
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 11:16
Revelation 1:20
Romans 11:17
Luke 11:33
References God
Psalm 52:8
Isaiah 54:5
5
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Reference
6
These 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.
Reference
7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 13:7
Daniel 7:25
John 17:4
Luke 13:32
Revelation 13:11
Witness
Revelation 11:3
Acts 20:24
8
And 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 23:14
Revelation 18:10
Revelation 18:21
Hebrews 13:12
Revelation 18:18
Revelation 11:9
2 Peter 2:6
Matthew 10:15
Jude 1:7
References Lord
Amos 4:11
9
And 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.
Reference
10
And they that dwell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelled on the earth.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 18:17
Revelation 3:10
Acts 5:33
Matthew 10:22
John 7:7
Micah 7:8
Prophecy
1 Kings 22:8
11
And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell on them which saw them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 11:9
Acts 5:11
Jeremiah 33:9
References God
Genesis 2:7
Hosea 3:5
Spirit
Romans 8:11
Romans 8:2
Acts 5:5
12
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Reference
13
And 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.
Reference
Glory
Revelation 14:7
Joshua 7:19
Jeremiah 13:16
Parallel theme
Revelation 6:12
Revelation 8:5
Revelation 15:4
Revelation 19:7
References God
Revelation 11:11
Revelation 11:19
15
And 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.
Reference
Kingdom
Daniel 7:14
Daniel 7:27
Revelation 12:10
Zechariah 14:9
Luke 1:33
Exodus 15:18
Daniel 7:18
Parallel theme
Revelation 10:7
Revelation 16:17
References Lord
Revelation 19:1
16
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God,
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 4:4
Worship
Revelation 4:10
Revelation 7:11
Revelation 19:4
Revelation 5:14
17
Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.
Reference
Kingdom
Revelation 19:6
Revelation 16:14
Revelation 15:3
Revelation 11:15
Parallel theme
Revelation 1:4
References God
Revelation 16:7
Psalm 57:11
References Lord
Revelation 1:8
Revelation 16:5
Psalm 21:13
18
And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
Reference
Holy
Revelation 13:10
Judgment
Revelation 20:12
Revelation 15:7
Revelation 15:1
Revelation 14:10
Hebrews 9:27
Psalm 2:5
Parallel theme
Revelation 19:5
Revelation 22:12
Psalm 103:11
19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightning, and voices, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Reference
Covenant
Numbers 10:33
Light
Revelation 4:5
Revelation 8:5
Isaiah 30:30
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 38:22
Revelation 11:15
Revelation 19:11
Numbers 4:5
References God
Revelation 16:21
Temple
Numbers 4:15
Summary of Revelation 11
Revelation 11 describes God's protection of His people, the powerful testimony and eventual death of two witnesses, their miraculous resurrection and vindication, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet announcing Christ's eternal kingdom, showing that evil may temporarily defeat God's servants but cannot ultimately prevent God's purposes or escape His final judgment.
The chapter begins with John being given a measuring rod and instructed to measure God's temple, the altar, and those worshiping there.
The act of measuring communicates God's awareness, ownership, and purpose concerning what belongs to Him.
However, John is told not to measure the outer court because it has been given to the nations.
They will trample the holy city for forty-two months, a period equivalent to three and a half years.
John is then introduced to two witnesses who receive authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.
They wear sackcloth, representing mourning, repentance, and the seriousness of their message.
Their ministry is accompanied by extraordinary signs.
They are described as two olive trees and two lampstands, imagery that recalls the prophetic vision of Zechariah and emphasizes God's empowering presence.
The witnesses are protected from their enemies during their appointed ministry.
They possess authority to perform signs resembling those associated with Moses and Elijah, including turning water into blood, bringing plagues, and stopping rain.
These similarities suggest that their ministry represents a powerful prophetic confrontation with a rebellious world.
However, their protection does not mean they will never suffer.
When they finish their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit attacks them and kills them.
Their bodies remain publicly exposed in the great city, which is spiritually compared with Sodom and Egypt and identified with the place where Jesus was crucified.
People throughout the world see their bodies and celebrate their deaths because the witnesses had challenged them through their prophetic message.
The world even exchanges gifts in celebration.
This disturbing response demonstrates the depth of humanity's hostility toward God's truth.
Yet the apparent victory of evil lasts only three and a half days.
God breathes life into the witnesses.
They stand on their feet, causing great fear among those watching.
Then a voice from heaven calls them upward, and they ascend into heaven while their enemies watch.
Their resurrection and ascension demonstrate that God's servants may be killed, but death cannot ultimately defeat God's purposes.
A great earthquake follows, killing seven thousand people and terrifying those who survive.
Some respond by giving glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has now passed, and the seventh trumpet is ready to sound.
When the seventh angel sounds, voices in heaven announce that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of God and His Christ.
This is one of the major declarations of Revelation.
Earthly kingdoms may appear powerful for a time, but their authority is temporary.
God's kingdom will ultimately prevail, and Christ's reign will continue forever.
The twenty-four elders respond by worshiping God.
They declare that God has taken His great power and begun to reign.
The nations may be angry, but God's judgment has arrived.
The time has come to judge the dead, reward God's servants, and deal with those who have corrupted and destroyed the earth.
The chapter closes with the temple of God in heaven being opened.
The ark of God's covenant becomes visible, accompanied by lightning, thunder, an earthquake, and great hail.
The appearance of the ark emphasizes God's covenant faithfulness.
Even while judgment is taking place, God remains faithful to His promises.
Revelation 11 teaches that God faithfully preserves His purposes and empowers His witnesses to proclaim the truth even in the face of intense opposition, allowing evil to appear victorious only temporarily before vindicating His servants through resurrection and bringing history toward the seventh trumpet, when Christ's eternal kingdom is publicly proclaimed, the nations are judged, God's faithful servants are rewarded, and His covenant faithfulness is revealed in glory.
The chapter begins with John being given a measuring rod and instructed to measure God's temple, the altar, and those worshiping there.
The act of measuring communicates God's awareness, ownership, and purpose concerning what belongs to Him.
However, John is told not to measure the outer court because it has been given to the nations.
They will trample the holy city for forty-two months, a period equivalent to three and a half years.
John is then introduced to two witnesses who receive authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.
They wear sackcloth, representing mourning, repentance, and the seriousness of their message.
Their ministry is accompanied by extraordinary signs.
They are described as two olive trees and two lampstands, imagery that recalls the prophetic vision of Zechariah and emphasizes God's empowering presence.
The witnesses are protected from their enemies during their appointed ministry.
They possess authority to perform signs resembling those associated with Moses and Elijah, including turning water into blood, bringing plagues, and stopping rain.
These similarities suggest that their ministry represents a powerful prophetic confrontation with a rebellious world.
However, their protection does not mean they will never suffer.
When they finish their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit attacks them and kills them.
Their bodies remain publicly exposed in the great city, which is spiritually compared with Sodom and Egypt and identified with the place where Jesus was crucified.
People throughout the world see their bodies and celebrate their deaths because the witnesses had challenged them through their prophetic message.
The world even exchanges gifts in celebration.
This disturbing response demonstrates the depth of humanity's hostility toward God's truth.
Yet the apparent victory of evil lasts only three and a half days.
God breathes life into the witnesses.
They stand on their feet, causing great fear among those watching.
Then a voice from heaven calls them upward, and they ascend into heaven while their enemies watch.
Their resurrection and ascension demonstrate that God's servants may be killed, but death cannot ultimately defeat God's purposes.
A great earthquake follows, killing seven thousand people and terrifying those who survive.
Some respond by giving glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has now passed, and the seventh trumpet is ready to sound.
When the seventh angel sounds, voices in heaven announce that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of God and His Christ.
This is one of the major declarations of Revelation.
Earthly kingdoms may appear powerful for a time, but their authority is temporary.
God's kingdom will ultimately prevail, and Christ's reign will continue forever.
The twenty-four elders respond by worshiping God.
They declare that God has taken His great power and begun to reign.
The nations may be angry, but God's judgment has arrived.
The time has come to judge the dead, reward God's servants, and deal with those who have corrupted and destroyed the earth.
The chapter closes with the temple of God in heaven being opened.
The ark of God's covenant becomes visible, accompanied by lightning, thunder, an earthquake, and great hail.
The appearance of the ark emphasizes God's covenant faithfulness.
Even while judgment is taking place, God remains faithful to His promises.
Revelation 11 teaches that God faithfully preserves His purposes and empowers His witnesses to proclaim the truth even in the face of intense opposition, allowing evil to appear victorious only temporarily before vindicating His servants through resurrection and bringing history toward the seventh trumpet, when Christ's eternal kingdom is publicly proclaimed, the nations are judged, God's faithful servants are rewarded, and His covenant faithfulness is revealed in glory.