Revelation 11:1-14
The Two Witnesses
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
In Revelation 9:12 we read of the first woe on the world in judgment by the torment of the locust-scorpions with their excruciatingly painful sting that begged but could not find death as a relief. Now the second woe is described to John as he viewed the events to transpire on the way to the end of this world. The temple was measured along with the altar of sacrifice and the worshippers who assembled there. Only the outside courtyard of the nations was left unmeasured until the fullness of their number would be attained (Romans 11:25) and the others trampled Jerusalem underfoot first as foreshadowed before in Luke 21:24 when the destruction of the city by the Romans was first seen. This second time will witness two witnesses to the gospel of God who will speak prophesy about the impending judgment as proven by their ability to perform miracles similar to Moses to set God’s people free from bondage. They will keep rain from falling, turn water to blood, and strike the earth with various plagues as in Egypt long before. As lampstands from God’s presence, they will also be able to devour their enemies with fire breathed out like a mythical dragon against the real dragon’s (Revelation 12:9, 17) followers set against them and their message of repentance and judgment. When their testimony of these things is accomplished, these two will be overcome in battle by the beast out of the bottomless pit and killed to be put on display for several days in the sight of all to rejoice over as if the battle was won against the witnesses’ God and the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lamb. For a whole three and a half days they will be mocked and jeered in supposed triumph in the hubris of evil as they celebrate with parties in temporary relief that they were not confronted with the truth and thought they escaped being held accountable since the two witnesses were dead. But like the Lord Jesus before them, they arose after three days and stood up in front of all to bring a sudden fearful dread on those who killed them. God Himself will call them home to heaven in the sight and hearing of all the onlookers who will be frozen in absolute fear in the knowledge they would be facing their eternal accountability at last for defying and rejecting God and His gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). This announcement was immediately followed by an immense earthquake that killed many there and engendered fear in those left alive as if they would finally give glory to the sovereign Almighty God of heaven above and repent. This will be the second woe upon the world as the third woe was promised to follow soon afterwards. The call to repentance and reconciliation with God through believing and receiving Christ will be the only escape just as it is now. We should turn to Him from sin now before the witnesses of the second woe of judgment come to us as described clearly and fearfully here.
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