This chapter starts off with John being told to measure the temple and it's dimensions.
Despite him having to stop and measure the temple and the alter, the main topic in this chapter is the last two witnesses and the 1260 days they will prophecy.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 11:3 |
These two will be given unique abilities by God to convince mankind that they are of God and sent here to deliver a message.
Fire is simply the word of God.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Mat 3:11 |
For our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29 |
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. James 3:6 |
Which means they will use the power God gives them to kill people without using anything except for words, like Peter did in the book of Acts where he killed a husband and wife using nothing more than his mouth and conversation.
You have not lied to men but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last....Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. Acts 5:4 in part to verse 10 |
These two will be doing the very same thing. I expect they will say things like die or death to you, or something like that. I also expect angels or God will keep them informed as to who wants to kill them, even if they are thousands of miles away or on the other side of the planet. Let's face it, with today's technology people could plan an air assault from the other side of the world. It will be interesting if they kill those kind of people that far away. They also have the power to stop rain and cause drought and to turn water into blood.
They will be prophesying for a period of 1260 days dressed in sackcloth during the 1290, day period. Which basically means they will be dressed poorly or in used up clothing or cloth. They will not have the latest fashion or be well groomed. They will be trying to tell the world what is coming next and to prepare themselves for Jesus. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. Rev 11:7 |
Now it's time to think for a minute. The two witnesses have the power of God at their disposal, but not for healing people because they are not said to be healing anyone at all. What is said, is that they will cause havoc on earth with God like powers and kill anyone who stands in their way. What kind of power does the human population have that will deal with this? Absolutely none.
The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit is a prelude to the beast with two horns that causes the mark of the beast, and can also be found in chapter 17.
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. Rev 17:8 |
Right now the beast is locked up in the bottomless pit along with all the other creatures.
Now the question on many people's minds is who are the last two witnesses? This is not a subject that is well answered or in black and white. We have very few clues as to who they are, but it is possible to seemly figure out who they are. Without question, John seems to be one of them because he was told he would prophecy again. The other is a man whom Jesus loved. Than man is the rich man who came up to Jesus and asked for salvation, having to go back and sell all that he had in order to follow him.
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" John 21:20 |
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21 |
Normally, John 21:20 has been decided by most people, including myself in the past, to be describing the apostle John. But nowadays I'm not convinced it's talking about John, but rather I think it is the rich man who followed all the laws and was told he lacked one thing. The man went away sad, but perhaps he wasn't sad because he was turned away, perhaps he was sad because knew he had to sell many things in order to be accepted. Also, each time in the New Testament a name does not follow the phrase "the one who Jesus loved." Even at Jesus's death, a name was not given for us to know who this man is.
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. John 19:26-27 |
Who ever they are, they will eventually be killed 1260 days later and the world will celebrate, and I expect it will be on a global bases.
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. Rev 11:10 |
The fact that they will be send gifts to one another is an indication that the world will be as normal then as it is now. The five month period will be long gone by this time and Satan will have killed the last two witnesses of God.
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. Rev 11:12 |
Right after they ascend to heaven there will be a great earthquake, where people repent and give glory to God.
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. Rev 11:13 |
The second woe is over at this point in time. The only thing left now is the seventh trumpet.
The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly Rev 11:14 |
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" Rev 11:15 |
The seventh trump is when Jesus becomes lord over the earth, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When the seventh trump blows it is the end of the reign of Satan for this time period only, he will continue again after the millennium as found in chapter 20. Jesus becomes lord of all the earth at this time and has returned to make his claim as found in chapter 14.
Here's where it gets confusing when reading the Book of Revelation, there's a break in the sequence of events from chapter 11 to chapter 14. Chapter 14 will pick up from this point and explain the sequence of things to come after this. Chapter 12 and 13 are not in sequence, but rather give explanations of what has brought about things that have happened in the past and ties them to things that will happen in the future. The events from chapter 8 through 11 end here, but continue and can be followed in sequence beginning again in chapter 14 when Jesus comes out of the clouds and actually sets foot here on earth.
Chapter 12 and 13 show where the beasts arise and where their power comes from.
So to date, the dead have risen, those who were alive and remained were taken up. The last two witnesses are done and gone to heaven, which leaves Jesus and the 144,000 to finish the battle between mankind, Satan, and the mark of the beast.
The people who give glory to God during these events will likely have to face the mark of the beast and be put to death.