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Revelation 11 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
I think a major issue with Revelation 11 is the fact that it relies heavily on Revelation 10 for continuity. It is best to read on and view chapters 10 and 11 as one long event. So, with that in mind, we will look back to the context of chapter 10 as we study here in Revelation 11.
The action John is given here is a reference back to the instructions given to him in the previous chapter. In Revelation 10:11 John was told he must prophesy again and here in Revelation 11:1 he is immediately given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple and the altar. I have lots of unanswered questions here. Why was he asked to prophesy again? Did he actually prophesy before, and if so, when?
Measuring means to establish or preserve. For John, the temple would have been understood as the church. I tend to lean that this is another big-picture interpretation of God preserving his church and protecting them from the demonic onslaught of the Antichrist. Here are my reasons:
- This interpretation here in Revelation 11 is especially relevant considering Revelation 10 speaks to the bitter/sweet nature of the scroll. The bitterness is the suffering they will endure but the sweetness is the promise of redemption through Jesus.
- The measuring of the temple enclosure (but not the outer court) could easily represent the church from two different perspectives.
- The outer court (world) was given to the nations and they will “tread under foot” the city. The temple (church) is represented by the 2 witnesses who will be granted authority by God.
In the OT, we know that a second witness was required for reliable testimony.
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
Deuteronomy 19:15 NASB
Jesus also sent out his messengers two by two.
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
Luke 10:1 NASB
I don’t read too much into the identity of the two witnesses. I think they present an effective message regardless of if we know exactly who or what they are. The time period of the witnesses’ ministry is the same time period of the city being trampled under foot. Again, think in terms of the seven churches receiving this letter under great persecution. They would be encouraged to know that God has promised to give authority to His people and protect them during immense persecution and suffering.
Finally, we have the 7th trumpet.
Once again what we expect and what John has heard is not what he sees. Based on what was heard in previous chapters we expect a “woe,” but here, John sees the praise and worship of God. This dramatic trumpet will fulfill prophecies.
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.
Daniel 2:44 NASB
And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.
Zechariah 14:9 NASB
The ending of Revelation 11 is an awesome reminder. We serve a mighty God!