Lesson 1 – Some Principles of Prophecy

DAILY BIBLE READING

Revelation 11 – The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet

5 April 2025

Daily Chapter: Revelation 11

Bible Text: Revelation 11 (King James Version)

The Two Witnesses

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.

2 But 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.

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

5 And 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.

6 These 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.

7 And 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.

8 And 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.

9 And 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.

10 And 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.

11 And 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.

12 And 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.

13 And 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.

15 And 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.

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

17 Saying, 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.

18 And 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.

19 And 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.

Explanation & Context

Introduction

Revelation 11 stands as a decisive section in the prophetic depiction of the end times. In this chapter, two essential elements are introduced:

• The Two Witnesses: Two chosen prophets who proclaim God’s message within a limited period (1260 days) and possess extraordinary power—even to shut the heavens and influence the forces of nature.

• The Seventh Trumpet: With the sound of the seventh trumpet, God’s work is fulfilled, as worldly dominion is transferred to the Lord and His Christ, and judgment is enacted upon the wicked world.

This chapter not only demonstrates God’s power and authority but also the price that His witnesses must bear, and the ultimate triumph of God over evil.

Commentary

The Two Witnesses (Verses 1–14):

• Commission for Prophecy and Measurement (Verses 1–2):
  A reed (symbolizing a measuring instrument) is given to measure God’s temple, the altar, and the worshipers. The outer court is excluded, as it is given to the Gentiles—a reference to the temporal dominion of the Gentiles over the holy city for 42 months.

• The Commission and Identity of the Witnesses (Verses 3–4):
  The two witnesses are assigned a period of prophecy lasting 1260 days. They are described as two olive trees and two candlesticks, symbolizing their connection to God’s Spirit and truth.

• The Power and Fate of the Witnesses (Verses 5–8):
  Their words possess destructive power—fire proceeds from their mouths to consume their enemies, and anyone who would harm them must be killed accordingly. They have the power to shut up the heavens so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy, and they can turn water into blood, underscoring their divine authority. After their testimony is completed, the beast that rises from the abyss will wage war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

• The Circumstances After the Martyrdom (Verses 9–14):
  Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city (spiritually called “Sodom and Egypt”) for three and a half days—the very place where their Lord was crucified. During this time, the nations will see their dead bodies, but they will not allow them to be buried. After three and a half days, God breathes the spirit of life into them, and they stand on their feet; great fear falls upon those who witness this, and they ascend to heaven in a cloud.

The Seventh Trumpet (Verses 15–19):

• The Sound of the Seventh Trumpet (Verse 15):
  The seventh angel sounds his trumpet, and great voices in heaven proclaim that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, and that He will reign from eternity to eternity.

• Worship in Heaven (Verses 16–17):
  The twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fall on their faces and worship Him, giving thanks for His eternal power and reign.

• The Judgment Over the Gentiles (Verse 18):
  It is declared that the Gentiles have become angry, and that God’s wrath has come, along with the time of the dead, to reward His servants—the prophets, the saints, and those who fear His name, both small and great—and to destroy those who have corrupted the earth.

• The Heavenly Revelation (Verse 19):
  The temple of God is opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant is seen in His temple; simultaneously, lightning, voices, thunder, an earthquake, and great hail occur, symbolizing the immeasurable intervention of God in earthly order.

Summary

Revelation 11 presents two central elements of the end times:

• The Two Witnesses: Two prophets chosen by God who proclaim His message within a limited time span, endowed with supernatural power, and ultimately suffer and die for their faith. Their resurrection and ascension testify to God’s power to govern life and death.

• The Seventh Trumpet: With the sound of this trumpet, God’s dominion over the world is completed; the kingdoms of the world are handed over to the Lord and His Christ, and final judgment is passed upon evil.

The chapter emphasizes God’s sovereignty, the unstoppable progression of His plan of salvation, and the ultimate triumph of the divine over the earthly.

Message for Us Today

• God’s Sovereignty and Dominion:
  Revelation 11 reminds us that God holds control in all times—He determines life, death, and the course of history.

• Courage and Faithfulness in Belief:
  Like the two witnesses, we are called to proclaim God’s truth, even if it means enduring suffering. Their story encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith.

• The Coming Judgment and the Eternal Reward:
  The proclamation of the seventh trumpet admonishes us that God’s justice will ultimately prevail. All who remain faithful to Him will be rewarded, while evil will receive its just recompense.

• Call to Evangelism:
  The global mandate given to the two witnesses is applicable even today. Every believer is called to proclaim the good news of the gospel and to be a light in an often dark world.

“Whoever belongs to Jesus need not fear the coming judgment—because God’s sovereignty and His promises are eternal.”