Revelation 11

King James Version

Full text for Revelation Chapter 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.

2But 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.

3¶ And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5And 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.

6These 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11And 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.

12And 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.

13And 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.

14¶ The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15And 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.

16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17Saying, 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.

18And 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.

19And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

John is commanded to measure the temple of God, while the outer court is left for Gentile treading for forty-two months. Two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, demonstrating great power, but are eventually slain by the beast. After three and a half days, they are resurrected and ascend to heaven, followed by an earthquake. The chapter concludes with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, declaring God's eternal reign and the opening of His heavenly temple.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with John receiving a reed to measure the temple, the altar, and the worshippers, but the outer court is designated for Gentile dominion for forty-two months. During this period, two powerful witnesses, clothed in sackcloth, prophesy for 1260 days, exhibiting miraculous powers such as calling down fire and turning water to blood. Upon completing their testimony, a beast from the bottomless pit overcomes and kills them, leaving their bodies unburied in the great city for three and a half days. Earth-dwellers rejoice at their death, but the Spirit of life from God enters them, and they are resurrected, ascending to heaven in a cloud before their enemies. This event is followed by a severe earthquake, causing significant destruction and leading some survivors to give glory to God. Finally, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, and heavenly voices proclaim that the kingdoms of the world have become the Lord's and His Christ's, who shall reign forever, culminating in the opening of God's temple in heaven and the revelation of the ark of His testament amidst divine manifestations.

Long Summary

John is instructed by an angel to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship within, symbolizing a divine preservation or assessment. However, the outer court is explicitly excluded from this measurement, being designated for the Gentiles to tread under foot for a period of forty-two months. Concurrently, God empowers two witnesses, who prophesy for 1260 days, dressed in sackcloth, signifying mourning or repentance. These witnesses are metaphorically identified as the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before God, possessing extraordinary powers to consume their enemies with fire, shut up heaven to prevent rain, turn waters into blood, and inflict various plagues upon the earth as they desire. After they complete their prophetic testimony, a beast ascending from the bottomless pit wages war against them, ultimately overcoming and killing them. Their dead bodies are left unburied for three and a half days in the street of the great city, which is spiritually identified with Sodom, Egypt, and the place of the Lord's crucifixion, while people from all nations rejoice and exchange gifts over their demise, having been tormented by their prophecies. Yet, after this brief period, the Spirit of life from God enters them, causing them to stand upon their feet, striking great fear into those who witness it. A great voice from heaven then calls them up, and they ascend into heaven in a cloud, observed by their enemies. In the same hour, a great earthquake devastates a tenth part of the city, slaying seven thousand men, and prompting the survivors to acknowledge and give glory to the God of heaven. Following this, a declaration is made that the second woe has passed, and the third woe is imminent. The seventh angel then sounds his trumpet, initiating profound declarations in heaven that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ, who shall reign eternally. The twenty-four elders, seated before God, fall on their faces in worship, giving thanks to the Almighty God for taking His great power and beginning His reign. They further declare that the nations were angry, but God's wrath has come, marking the time for the judgment of the dead, the rewarding of prophets, saints, and all who fear His name, and the destruction of those who destroy the earth. The chapter concludes with the temple of God in heaven being opened, revealing the ark of His testament, accompanied by dramatic celestial phenomena including lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Core Concepts

  • Measuring the TempleJohn is commanded to measure the temple, altar, and worshippers, signifying a divine preservation or assessment of the faithful, while the outer court is explicitly left for Gentile control for forty-two months.
  • The Two WitnessesTwo divinely empowered individuals prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth, demonstrating extraordinary powers such as calling fire from their mouths, stopping rain, and turning water into blood, serving as God's testimony to the earth.
  • Martyrdom and ResurrectionAfter their testimony, the two witnesses are slain by the beast from the bottomless pit, their bodies publicly displayed for three and a half days; however, they are miraculously resurrected by God's Spirit and ascend to heaven, witnessed by their enemies.
  • The Great EarthquakeFollowing the ascension of the witnesses, a severe earthquake strikes the great city, causing significant destruction and the death of seven thousand, prompting some survivors to fear God and give Him glory.
  • Seventh Trumpet and God's ReignThe sounding of the seventh trumpet heralds the declaration that the kingdoms of the world have become the Lord's and His Christ's, signifying the commencement of God's eternal reign and the elders' worshipful acknowledgment of His power.
  • Heavenly Temple and ArkThe temple of God in heaven is opened, revealing the ark of His testament, symbolizing the direct manifestation of God's covenant presence and justice, accompanied by powerful celestial phenomena.