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Revelation 11

19 verses

TL;DR

Revelation 11 portrays the ministry, death, and ascension of two divine witnesses, followed by a cosmic judgment and the ultimate victory of God's kingdom.

Summary

In this chapter, the narrator receives a reed to measure the temple and the altar, while the court outside is left unmeasured as it belongs to the Gentiles. The two witnesses, symbolized as olive trees and candlesticks, are granted prophetic power for 1,200 days and can wield supernatural forces such as controlling rain and turning water to blood. They are eventually killed by a beast from the bottomless pit, and their bodies lie in the city for three and a half days without burial. After this period, God restores them to life, and they ascend to heaven amid a great earthquake that destroys part of the city. The chapter then declares the end of the second woe and the swift arrival of the third, announcing the seventh angel's proclamation of God's eternal reign. The heavens respond with worship by twenty‑four elders, and the temple in heaven opens to reveal the ark of the covenant amid thunder, lightning, and hail, signaling the fulfillment of divine judgment and reward.

Outline
  1. Measurement of the temple and the proclamation of the witnesses' ministry
  2. The witnesses' supernatural powers, persecution, death, resurrection, and ascension
  3. Apocalyptic declarations of judgment, the rise of God's kingdom, and heavenly worship
Themes
Divine judgment and vindication of the faithfulThe power and peril of prophetic witnessThe consummation of God's eternal reign
Keywords
prophecyjudgmentwitnessrevelationascensionearthquakearkvictory
People
AngelTwo WitnessesBeastLord (Jesus)GodFour and Twenty Elders
Places
Temple of GodHoly CityGreat CitySodomEgyptHeaven
Things
Reed like a rodOlive treesCandlesticksFireRainWater turned to bloodPlaguesDead bodiesCloudEarthquakeArk of the CovenantThunder, lightning, hail
Key Verses
  • Revelation 11:3: Shows the witnesses' 1,200‑day ministry and divine authority
  • Revelation 11:6: Highlights their control over heaven, rain, water, and plagues
  • Revelation 11:11: Depicts the miraculous resurrection and ascension of the witnesses
  • Revelation 11:13: Marks the earth-shaking judgment and its impact on humanity
  • Revelation 11:15: Announces the transition from the second to the third woe and God's victory
  • Revelation 11:19: Reveals the heavenly temple and the culmination of divine judgment
Questions
  • What does the measurement of the temple symbolize in the context of Revelation?
  • How are the powers of the witnesses used to support the theme of divine judgment?
  • In what ways does the resurrection and ascension of the witnesses foreshadow the ultimate vindication of believers?
  • What is the significance of the earthquake and destruction of part of the city?
  • How does the declaration of God's eternal reign shift the focus from human suffering to divine sovereignty?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter contains both violent judgment and hopeful restoration.