Analysis of Revelation Chapter 11
Revelation Chapter 11 is a powerful and deeply symbolic chapter within the book of Revelation. This chapter consists of prophetic visions and descriptions of key figures and events that play significant roles in the unfolding of God’s ultimate plan for humanity. The chapter can be divided into three primary segments: the measuring of the temple and the two witnesses, the blowing of the seventh trumpet, and the praise and worship that follows. Each of these segments carries profound theological implications and demands careful examination.
The Measuring of the Temple (Revelation 11:1-2)
The chapter begins with a command directed to John:
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
In biblical tradition, measuring often symbolizes ownership, protection, and setting apart for divine plans. Ezekiel 40-42 describes a similar act of measuring the temple, emphasizing its sanctity and the divine purpose underlying its construction. Here, John’s task to measure the temple, the altar, and the worshipers signifies God’s claim over His people and His protective intent. The act of measurement establishes boundaries of sacred space, marking a distinction between those who belong to God and those who oppose Him.
Interestingly, the outer court is excluded from this measurement. This area, associated with the Gentiles, is said to be trampled for 42 months (3.5 years), which many scholars interpret as a period of trial and tribulation. This division underscores the permeation of divine sovereignty even amidst conflict and desecration. It poignantly highlights the coexistence of divine judgment and mercy, as the temple itself remains safeguarded while external areas experience turmoil.
The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-13)
Following the measurement of the temple, the narrative introduces two mysterious witnesses:
3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
The two witnesses hold a crucial role as God’s prophetic agents during this period. Clothed in sackcloth—a traditional symbol of mourning and repentance—they call for the world’s repentance and proclaim God’s judgment. The duration of their prophecy, 1,260 days (equivalent to the 42 months mentioned earlier), aligns with the significant period of trial.
Described as “the two olive trees” and “the two lampstands,” these witnesses draw on imagery from Zechariah 4, where two anointed ones stand by the Lord. The olive trees represent the Holy Spirit’s anointing and continual sustenance, while the lampstands symbolize the light of God’s truth amid darkness.
The witnesses possess extraordinary powers akin to those of Elijah (who shut up the sky) and Moses (who turned waters into blood). These powers assert their divine authority and serve as signs of God’s active presence. Their ability to emit fire from their mouths to devour enemies illustrates divine protection and retributive justice against opposition.
The witnesses’ ministry is not without severe opposition:
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
Despite their divine mission, the witnesses suffer martyrdom at the hands of the beast, a force of evil power emanating from the Abyss. Their death and public humiliation in the “great city”—which symbolically represents spiritual depravity (Sodom and Egypt) and also relates to Jerusalem—highlight the world’s enmity towards divine truth. The global celebration of their death starkly contrasts their righteous mission; it showcases the pervasive spiritual blindness and rebellion against God.
However, their triumph lies beyond their death:
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The resurrection and ascension of the witnesses demonstrate God’s ultimate sovereignty over life and death, reminiscent of Christ’s resurrection and victory over the grave. This miraculous event induces profound fear and a shift in perception among the bystanders, leading some to glorify God, signifying a partial repentance and acknowledgment of His power.
The Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 11:14-19)
The subsequent section heralds the sounding of the seventh trumpet – a climactic event in Revelation:
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
The seventh trumpet signifies a transformative declaration: God’s eternal reign is fully realized. This transition proclaims the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, wherein the fractured kingdoms of the world are subsumed under the divine governance of the Lord and His Messiah, establishing an eternal theocratic reign.
This heavenly declaration evokes a response from the twenty-four elders, who prostrate themselves in worship:
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”
The elders’ worship acknowledges God’s almighty power and eternal nature. Their thanksgiving signifies an acknowledgment of the divine justice and mercy unveiled through God’s reign. The past, present, and future merge in this proclamation, affirming the unchanging sovereignty of God, who “is and who was.”
The subsequent verses highlight the dual nature of the divine judgment:
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small, and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
This verse captures the culmination of divine justice: it is a time of wrath for the nations in rebellion against God, and simultaneously, a time of reward for the faithful servants, prophets, and reverent followers. The dual outcomes of judgment and reward emphasize the righteousness of God’s rule, which validates righteousness and rectifies injustice.
The vision culminates with a glimpse of divine sanctuary:
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a severe hailstorm.
The opening of God’s heavenly temple and the revelation of the ark of His covenant symbolize the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises and the final validation of His covenantal relationship with humanity. The ensuing natural disturbances signify the awe-inspiring power of God’s presence and His unassailable holiness.
Conclusion
Revelation Chapter 11 is a chapter rich with symbolism, prophecy, and divine revelation. Through the measuring of the temple, the ministry of the two witnesses, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, we witness a profound narrative that underscores God’s sovereignty, justice, and the fulfillment of His divine plans.
The chapter challenges readers to reflect on themes of divine protection, the authority of prophetic witness, the inevitability of divine judgment, and the ultimate establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. In its rich tapestry of imagery and prophetic declaration, Revelation 11 calls believers to a deeper understanding of God’s redemptive work and a profound reverence for His eternal reign.