Revelation 11:1-14 – November 6

God, please give us a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ as we study the book of Revelation!

We’ll be studying Revelation through the end of November. Please feel free to read and journal with us as often as you can, with the goal of getting to daily time at the feet of Jesus. For this study, we are using Beth Moore’s “Here and Now…There and Then” lecture series and study guide on Revelation as a resource, so you may see it referenced occasionally.

You can read the NIV version of today’s reading below or your favorite Bible version then spend some time meditating and journaling on the reading, letting God speak to you through it. We encourage use of the SOAP method of Bible study as you grow in your relationship with God. Check out the What’s SOAP tab above for more info. Also, below today’s reading is a SOAP journal entry from our team to help dive into God’s Word. And we encourage you to share your SOAP journal entry, prayer requests, or questions in the Comments section on our website.

The Discover One Thing main website continues to follow the Life Journal Reading Plan which covers the whole Bible in one year. Click HERE to check out today’s Discover One Thing post.

Revelation 11:1-14 – The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. ² But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

 

A Lot to Unpack | Dyea Rowland

Scripture

Revelation 11:13

Observation

In verse 1, we know that God will protect the area that John is measuring; there is no temple now, but there may be one in the future, so John is to measure that area as well. In verse 2, this refers to the nations who did not and do not worship God (see Luke 21:21-24, 25-28 and Daniel 9:27). They will have rule of Jerusalem, “the Holy” city and destroy it; they will not have God’s protection during these 42 months.

The witnesses?? Some speculation is either Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah…more evidence points to Moses and Elijah as they bring on the same types of plagues during this time, while God is pouring out His wrath — (1) the sneak preview of them both in Matthew 17:1-13; (2) the ways in which they departed this earth and the Devil’s dispute with the Archangel Michael over where Moses’ body is; and (3) the miracles performed – Moses and his turning the Nile River to blood and Elijah praying earnestly that it may not rain for three years and six months (James 5:17). So here they are both trying to bring light unto the whole world. And verse 5 says, “If any man will hurt them, fire proceed out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies.” They are some pretty powerful figures. Read about Elijah in 2 Kings 1, with regards to rebuking the enemies, “Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.” We know that the enemies are going to want to kill them for preaching the Word of God and especially since they believe these two are bringing the plagues among them. Jesus warned us that this would happen, right after he told us not to conceal ANYTHING (Matthew 10:26-28).

Moving on, so we have the beast who has killed the witnesses, people are rejoicing, and then get bored of seeing them. You know the Christians are gone by this time, because NO ONE is helping or even burying them. They laid there for three days before the Spirit of life from God entered into them. Great fear fell on the ones that did see (so again not all saw this – probably got bored seeing it covered all over the news and changed the channel or something).

Verse 13, a great earthquake fell and 7000 were slain (YUCK), but my favorite part – – and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. YAY, they got it!

Application

I am willing to be hated just like these Two Witnesses for Your name’s sake! Let me witness and hide nothing; let me scream it from the housetops as loudly as I can, so all ears can hear and be saved. You died so we don’t have to – the more people that are caught up with You on that Great Day, the better.

Prayer

Father, this was a full 14 verses, but I loved that eyes were able to see and gave You Your rightful glory. Let us all be witnesses in this time like this, hiding nothing, holding nothing back, like Becky said let us do “straight-up Bible.” I don’t know when You’re coming, it could be 10 years, 100 years, or 3000 years. But, You’re right at the door, and I am so glad for my salvation and the kingdom of You that dwells within me now. I love You too much, thank You for loving me…Amen