Verse By Verse Through Revelation

Chapter Eleven


Revelation 11:1 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.”

  • This verse starts with “And…” indicating that the context is continuing from chapter ten.
  • John is not literally going somewhere physically to measure anything. He is on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
  • In this letter, John’s vision, the temple is representative of God’s dwelling in Heaven (Revelation 7:9-15, Revelation 15:5-8, and Revelation 16:1). We see that in this same chapter (Revelation 11:19).
  • Having said that, the Gentiles could not go to Heaven and tread under foot anything in Heaven and that is going to happen to the “holy city” (Revelation 11:2).
  • This letter is written to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4; 1:11).
  • What “temple” and “holy city” would apply to them? What makes sense here is the church, which is the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:19-22, and I Peter 2:5). The church is the house of God (I Timothy 3:15).
  • John was given a tool to measure the temple. Ezekiel and Zechariah had visions wherein the temple in Jerusalem was measured and wherein Jerusalem was measured (Ezekiel 40:1-5, Ezekiel 42:15-20, and Zechariah 2:1-2).
  • Now, let’s consider the altar wherein saints worship (Hebrews 13:10-16). It is not a physical place (John 4:20-24).
  • Those that worship (Philippians 3:3; cf. Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 15:29, and John 9:31).
  • In light of verse two, this about measuring those within and those without the temple of God.

Revelation 11:2 “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

  • This verse makes it easy to think about the physical city of Jerusalem and the temple that was there (cf. Luke 21:24). However, the Revelation of John is not just about physical Jerusalem (Revelation 3:10).
  • This is not about total destruction, as the prophesies about AD 70 are (Mark 13:1-2). This temple, this holy city (Revelation 3:12; cf. Psalms 11:4 and Hebrews 12:22-23) is going to be restored (Revelation 21:1-5). The Father and Son are the temple therein (Revelation 21:22-23).
  • Note what the end of this chapter states (Revelation 11:19).
  • The term translated “Gentiles” [ἔθνος] appears @ twenty-two times in Revelation. Every other time it appears in Revelation, this Greek word is translated “nation” or “nations” (Revelation 2:26, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 10:11, Revelation 11:9, Revelation 11:18, Revelation 12:5, Revelation 13:7, Revelation 14:6, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 15:4, Revelation 16:19, Revelation 17:15, Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:23, Revelation 19:15, Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:8, Revelation 21:24, Revelation 21:26, and Revelation 22:2).
  • So, the nations are outside of the temple treading the city under their feet. Don’t measure them. They are on the outside. The temple is separate from that which is without (II Corinthians 6:14-18).
  • The same period of time is given to the beast (Revelation 13:1-9).
  • Keep Revelation 3:12 in mind as we go forward. The time is short and things will be renewed (Revelation 22:1-7). Remember the message repeated to the churches - OVERCOME (Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, and Revelation 3:21).

Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”

  • The Biblical pattern of two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:15-17, II Corinthians 13:1, I Timothy 5:19-20, and Hebrews 10:28). Even with prophets within the assembly (I Corinthians 14:29-33).
  • These witnesses are there for 42 months (42x30=1,260). The same amount of time the holy city is tread under foot (Revelation 11:2). Just remember, don’t take that to be literal any more than Revelation 2:10. We will see this number again in the next chapter recorded in days (Revelation 12:1-6). The same period of time is given to the beast (Revelation 13:1-9).
  • Sackcloth is indicative of times of mourning and/or repentance (Genesis 37:34, Nehemiah 9:1-3, and Matthew 11:20-21).

Revelation 11:4 “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”

  • This is the only time in Revelation we read about two olive trees. Zechariah wrote about two anointed ones in similar fashion in regard to the rebuilding of the O.T. temple that was destroyed (Zechariah 4:1-14).
  • The two witnesses are candlesticks. These candlesticks are two prophets (Revelation 11:10).
  • They are going to be killed and risen from the dead (Revelation 11:7; 11:11).
  • Don’t confuse “God of the earth” (Genesis 24:1-4) with “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:3-4).

Revelation 11:5 “And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.”

  • This could be understood in such a way as Jeremiah was told (Jeremiah 5:14).
  • Or, in a literal fashion, God can certainly send a consuming fire (Numbers 16:23-35).
  • Their enemies “must be killed” from the fire coming out of their mouths. This is fascinating. This brings to mind the manner in which God worked through Elijah (II Kings 1:1-17).

Revelation 11:6 “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.”

  • These [the two witnesses] have power [authority] to stop rain. Elijah did this (James 5:17-18; cf. I Kings 17-18).
  • They can also do what Moses did in Egypt, through the power of God, in turning water to blood (Exodus 7:14-25).
  • They will be able to smite the earth with all plagues. Consider what the Lord said about sending plagues on Egypt (Exodus 9:14).

Revelation 11:7 “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”

  • These prophets (Revelation 11:10) are witnesses (Revelation 11:3).
  • Prophets testify (II Kings 17:13, II Chronicles 24:19, and Nehemiah 9:30).
  • Witnesses testify (Numbers 35:30).
  • Their testimony has an ending point wherein their work will be finished. We read of the mystery being finished in the previous chapter (Revelation 10:7). What is recorded in Revelation was to be fulfilled (i.e. Revelation 15:8) in short order (Revelation 1:1-3).
  • Herein we are introduced to the language of “the beast” that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit (Revelation 13:1-10 and Revelation 17:1-18).
  • There will be another beast (Revelation 13:11-18), which our studies will reveal is the false prophet (Revelation 19:20).
  • The beast is able to, temporarily, defeat the witnesses. The end is coming though (Revelation 20:10).
  • As we go forward and talk more of the beast and the false prophet, keep what Paul said to the Thessalonians in mind (II Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Revelation 11:8 “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.”

  • The “great city” is likened to Sodom, Egypt, and Jerusalem in this context. It is not about the physical, but the spiritual comparison. As we read further we will see the great city called Babylon in John’s Revelation as well (Revelation 14:8).
  • The great city reigned over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18). This great city was mighty (Revelation 18:10). This only fits Rome.
  • Yet, Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem (Luke 13:33-34 and Luke 18:31).
  • However, this is not about Jerusalem. It is about the city being spiritually likened to Sodom, Egypt, and then where our Lord was crucified.
  • Rome is like Jerusalem in that in Rome the blood of the prophets, saints, etc. was found (Revelation 18:1-3; Revelation 18:16-19:2). In being the city wherein the blood of the prophets and saints was found; Babylon [Rome] is like to Jerusalem (Matthew 23:32-39).

Revelation 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.”

  • When we read of the three days in the context of a resurrection, of course Jesus has to come to mind (Mark 8:31). Just don’t make too much of that.
  • Like Jesus, these bodies will remain three days. Unlike Jesus, they were not put in a tomb. This has happened to God’s persecuted people in the past (Psalms 79:1-3). God has also done this as punishment to His people in the past (Jeremiah 7:30-34), though such is not the case here.

Revelation 11:10 “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”

  • When the truth is preached, enemies are made (Luke 6:22).
  • Faithful messengers should fear if the world likes them (Luke 6:26).
  • God’s messengers are hated (Matthew 10:22 and John 15:18-19).
  • In fact, all saints should not be surprised if we are hated (I John 3:13).
  • The world felt tormented by these two prophets (cf. I Kings 18:17, I Kings 22:8, and Acts 17:1-7).
  • So, the world rejoiced to see them dead. Think back to the Edomites rejoicing at the fall of Jerusalem when Judah was taken captive (Obadiah 1:10-12).
  • As a side note, don’t rejoice if your enemy falls (Proverbs 24:17-18).

Revelation 11:11 “And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”

  • Three and half days (cf. Revelation 11:9). Just a short time is really all we can deduce. Especially because this is contextually indicative of the resurrection to come with the reward of Heaven (Revelation 11:12).
  • The Spirit of life from God entered into them. This could be in reference to the soul of a man coming back into a dead body (Genesis 2:7) because the body without the spirit is dead (James 2:26).
  • Ezekiel records something miraculous of this nature in a vision he had (Ezekiel 37:1-14).
  • This could also refer to the Holy Spirit bringing the miracle of life back to the dead (Romans 8:11 and I Peter 3:18).

Revelation 11:12 “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

  • “A great voice from Heaven” is not necessarily the voice of God in John’s revelation (Revelation 19:1).
  • The statement in this verse is about overcoming and being called to the Father (Revelation 3:21).
  • They were not take to Heaven as in the final reward. We know that because the resurrection is still in the future (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:20-28).
  • Being taken into Heaven doesn’t mean eternity. Remember Elijah (II Kings 2:1-12). Furthermore, we know that “heaven” is used in multiple ways in the Scriptures (Genesis 1:8-9; 1:14, II Corinthians 12:1-4, and Hebrews 9:24).
  • The enemies that celebrated the deaths of these witnesses get to see them rewarded. Remember what the Lord said to the saints in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:9).

Revelation 11:13 “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.”

  • The city in this context is Rome, as we worked through in verse eight (Revelation 11:8). *See the notes there.
  • When we studied chapter six, the opening of the fifth and sixth seals had a plea for vengeance and “a great earthquake” (Revelation 6:9-13).
  • Then there is what is recorded in chapter sixteen (Revelation 16:17-21).
  • What happens here is clearly from God to the remnant. Think of an unrelated account of how similar the response was (Matthew 27:50-54).

Revelation 11:14 “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.”

  • There were three woes (Revelation 8:13).
  • One woe was past (Revelation 9:12), now the second.
  • We will read, beginning in chapter fifteen, of “seven last plagues” (Revelation 15:1).
  • The third coming quickly ties to the seventh angel sounding (Revelation 10:7).

Revelation 11:15 “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.”

  • We started reading about the seven angels with trumpets in chapter eight (Revelation 8:1-3).
  • Four of those angels sounded off in chapter eight (Revelation 8:7-13). The fifth and sixth sounded off in chapter nine (Revelation 9:1-19).
  • We started reading about “voices” in Heaven earlier in John’s vision (Revelation 4:5).
  • In Heaven, the voices in this vision declare that God is reigning. We’d do well to remember that in bad times as John is recording this here though saints already know it (Psalms 135:5-7).
  • There is one throne that is eternal (Isaiah 9:1-7, I Timothy 6:14-15, Hebrews 1:1-11, and II Peter 1:11).

Revelation 11:16-17 “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.”

  • The twenty-four elders that sat before God that worshipped God (Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14, and Revelation 19:4).
  • They thanked God (Revelation 4:9).
  • The Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come (Revelation 1:4-5, Revelation 1:8-11, and Revelation 16:5). Remember the unity of the three in Heaven (I John 5:7) and that God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27).
  • They are speaking to the Father and the Son in this immediate context (Revelation 11:15).

Revelation 11:18 “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”

  • The nations of this world do not want God to reign (Psalms 2:1-6).
  • Their anger comes as God’s wrath is come because there is nothing they can do to restrain His wrath (Jeremiah 10:10).
  • Remember who God sends/will send His wrath upon (Romans 1:18-32).
  • With God’s wrath in Judgment comes also the reward to the faithful. That is true both in Judgment against nations as well as in the final Judgment. With God, your reward is earned (II Chronicles 6:23, Proverbs 14:14, Isaiah 3:10-11, John 5:28-29, and Galatians 6:7-8).

Revelation 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 lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

  • This chapter opened with John figuratively being told to measure the temple (Revelation 11:1-2).
  • Since this is in Revelation it is easy to forget what we know. This is a vision (Revelation 1:10, Revelation 4:1-2, Revelation 9:17, Revelation 17:3, and Revelation 21:10).
  • Just remember, the Heavenly Jerusalem the mount Zion of now, is the church. It is the Heavenly city (Hebrews 12:22-23).
  • The figures seen by John here represent the O.T. temple that represents a figure of what now is in the greater tabernacle (Hebrews 9:1-11).
  • John then sees lightnings, and voices, etc. which he has similarly seen previously in his heavenly vision (Revelation 4:5).
  • The temple of God, the church, is NOT destroyed! The church [house of God - I Timothy 3:15] is, was, and forever shall be with the Lord (Ephesians 5:27).
  • As we enter into chapter twelve, we are going to be going backwards. We will be going back to before the foundation of the world when God planned to bring Christ into this world (I Peter 1:18-20) and how He was going to do so. Remember this!

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22


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