Quick Answer
According to this teaching on Revelation 11, the two witnesses are widely believed by theologians to be Moses and Elijah, sent to prophesy for 3½ years in Jerusalem during the tribulation, performing miracles, being martyred, and then resurrected before ascending to heaven.
Key Takeaways
- The two witnesses are believed by many theologians to be Moses and Elijah.
- They prophesy for 1,260 days (3.5 years) clothed in sackcloth during the first half of the tribulation.
- They have supernatural power to shut the sky from rain, turn water to blood, and strike the earth with plagues.
- They are protected until God finishes His purpose through them, then the beast from the bottomless pit kills them.
- Their bodies lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3.5 days while the world watches and celebrates their deaths.
- After 3.5 days, God resurrects them and they ascend to heaven, causing a great earthquake and fear among those who watch.
What does the measuring of the temple mean in Revelation 11?
Remember last week when we were in Revelation chapter 10, I told you it was kind of an interruption between the sixth and seventh trumpets. Well, the passages today are as well. We’re still kind of in that interruption period, and this is Revelation 11 verses 1 through 14.
In actual Israel there is the Temple Mount, where King Solomon, the son of King David, built the original temple around 1040 BC. That temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar when he took the Jewish men, including Daniel, into Babylonian captivity. King Cyrus later had Zerubbabel rebuild it, and it was ultimately destroyed again in 70 AD by the Romans.
Now, since around 632 AD, the Muslims have their most holy site, the Dome of the Rock, on that same Temple Mount where the temple once stood. One day, inside this seven-year tribulation, beginning in the first part of the seven years, the belief is scripturally that the temple will actually be rebuilt. There is even a Temple Institute in Israel right now creating all the different aspects to put back into the temple.
As we study more, we’ll realize that during the first three and a half years, the Antichrist is coming to act like a man of peace, so the sacrifices and everything will be implemented back again inside this temple. But this is not that time – this is the end of that time when they will trample the holy city for 42 months and he will reveal who he really is. This passage is talking about the actual city of Jerusalem, making it clear yet again that God is going to deal with the Jewish people.
Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there. But do not measure the court outside the temple, leave that out. For it is given over to the nations and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
Revelation 11:1-2
Who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11?
What I read to you in verse 3 happens before the 42 months of trampling of the temple begins, so this is during the first three and a half years. It says God will grant authority to two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is three and a half years, clothed in sackcloth.
During that first three and a half years, many theologians believe these two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah, coming back as prophetic witnessing voices in the city of Jerusalem leading people to salvation. They will be prophesying what’s to come and prophesying the Jesus, the Messiah, who already came – once again nothing but the mercy of God giving people the opportunity to come to salvation.
They are clothed in sackcloth, which all throughout the Old Testament and scripture is a sign of mourning. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord on the earth, and they represent spiritual revival and the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s what they will be representing as they prophesy.
I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:3
What powers do the two witnesses have?
If anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes, so anyone during those three and a half years who tries to hurt them will be destroyed. I know this sounds like science fiction, but this is the word of the Lord – this is the power they will possess. They are being supernaturally protected by the Lord.
They also have the power to shut the sky so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying. Elijah did this to King Ahab, the wickedest king ever, during the time of Jezebel. They have the power over the waters to turn them into blood, which Moses did with Pharaoh – that’s why many theologians believe it will be Moses and Elijah.
They also have the power to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire. Yet they’re sustained supernaturally, because we’re not told how they’re fed or how they survive. But both Elijah and Moses were supernaturally sustained physically during different moments in their life and ministry.
If anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes… They have the power to shut the sky that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying. They have the power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire.
Revelation 11:5-6
How do the two witnesses die and how does the world respond?
When they have finished their testimony, that means there will be a moment that the Lord has done through them all that he purposed to do, because he’s a very intentional God. It is only then, when God is done – not when Satan is ready to attack them – that the beast who rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them.
Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified – we know Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language, and nation will gaze at their bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb. This is saying something that until our generation was not even possible – we are the generation that made it possible to watch anything live anywhere.
Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over their deaths and make merry and exchange presents, celebrating as if it is Christmas or a holiday. If this is not a sobering statement of what that culture and generation will be like, I don’t know what is. These two prophets have been a torment to those who dwell on the earth, because the message of truth is like acid to the man who desires to stay in his sin.
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
Revelation 11:7-8
For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:9-10
What happens when the two witnesses are resurrected?
But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them and stood them up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them, which will be the whole world. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here,’ and they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
At that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. It doesn’t say they were moved to salvation – it says they acknowledged God, which is still something, because in the last woe we saw people who just kept sinning and mocking God instead.
But now, at least inside of this, there’s some acknowledgment through the supernatural raising of the dead of these two witnesses that there is a God in heaven. And so the prayer is that this turns them to the hope of salvation. The reminder yet again is that inside of all of this, God is still doing everything he can to reach people.
But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here!’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Revelation 11:11-12
And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:13
What does the story of the two witnesses mean for us today?
In this moment, God uses two witnesses. But today, on this Monday morning, he has witnesses everywhere in you and in me. So let us go forth declaring the beautiful hope that is the gospel and message of Jesus Christ.
How do we know it’s true? Because he’s fundamentally transformed us. I don’t know about you, but he has fundamentally transformed me – I am not the Denise I used to be, and it is nothing but the mercy of the living God. That’s good news on a Monday morning.
I am not the Denise I used to be.
Denise Jones
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11?
Many theologians believe they are Moses and Elijah, based on the powers described in the passage – turning water to blood, which Moses did with Pharaoh, and shutting the sky from rain, which Elijah did during the time of Ahab and Jezebel.
How long do the two witnesses prophesy?
They prophesy for 1,260 days, which is 3 and a half years, during the first half of the seven-year tribulation.
What happens to the two witnesses at the end of their ministry?
Once they finish their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit makes war on them, conquers them, and kills them, leaving their bodies in the street of the city where their Lord was crucified for three and a half days.
How does the world react to the death of the two witnesses?
Those who dwell on the earth rejoice, make merry, and exchange presents because the two prophets had been a torment to them with the message of truth.
What happens to the two witnesses after three and a half days?
A breath of life from God enters them, they stand on their feet, and a loud voice from heaven calls them up, so they ascend to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watch.
Why is the temple being rebuilt during the tribulation?
The belief is that the temple will be rebuilt in the first part of the seven years while the Antichrist acts like a man of peace, and sacrifices will be reinstated before he later reveals who he truly is and tramples the holy city for 42 months.
Watch the full teaching to walk through the entire passage on the two witnesses in Revelation 11.
Read the full transcript
Opening and context
Good Monday morning. Remember last week when we were in Revelation chapter 10, I told you it was kind of an interruption in between the sixth and seventh trumpets. Well, the passages today are as well. We’re still kind of in that interruption period and this is Revelation 11 verses 1 through 14.
The measuring of the temple 1 min mark
So, we’ll start with verse one. Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and I was told, this is John speaking, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there. But do not measure the court outside the temple, leave that out. For it is given over to the nations and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.” Okay, let’s talk about this just for a minute.
The Temple Mount and its history 1 min mark
In actual Israel, there is the Temple Mount. That is where Solomon, originally the son of David, King David, King Solomon was the one that actually built the temple. I think he built it in like 1040 BC. Then the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. It’s when he took the Jewish men, which Daniel was a part of, into Babylonian captivity. Daniel received the visions and then King Cyrus had Zerubbabel rebuild the temple and then it was destroyed again ultimately in 70 AD by the Romans.
But now exist since I think 632 AD, the Muslims now have their most holy site, which is the Dome of the Rock, um on that on the Temple Mount where the temple has been. So, if you go to Jerusalem today, you can see that. One of the most beautiful sites to me in all of Jerusalem is when you’re looking out from the Mount of Olives through the Eastern Gate. But, then they’re since um the Dome of the Rock there.
The temple’s future rebuilding 2 min mark
Well, one day, inside of this 7-year tribulation, beginning in the in the first part of the 7 years, the the belief is scripturally that the Temple will actually be rebuilt. Even now, there is, I think it’s called the Temple Institute in Jerusalem or in Israel, they are even now uh rebuilding, creating all of the different aspects to put them back into the Temple and to have an actual Temple. As we study more, we’ll get into this further, but as we study more, we’ll actually realize that the first 3 and 1/2 years, remember the Antichrist is coming to act like a man of peace. And so, for the first 3 and 1/2 years, the sacrifices and everything will be implemented back again inside of this Temple.
But, this is not that time. This is the end of that time when they will actually then trample on the holy city for 42 months, and he will actually reveal who who he really is. So, this is talking about the actual city of Jerusalem in this passage of scripture. Making it clear to us yet again that God is going to deal with the Jewish people. So um that’s kind of where we are in light of all of this.
The two witnesses introduced 3 min mark
So, um then it goes on to say in verse 3, it says, it So, this um what I’m about to read to you in verse 3 is before the 42 months of trampling of this Temple begins. So, this is going to happen in the first 3 and 1/2 years. It says, “I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is 3 and 1/2 years, clothed in sackcloth.” Okay, who are these two witnesses?
Well, during that first 3 and 1/2 years, this is the time frame that many theologians believe, there will be two um believed to be uh many believe it’s Moses and Elijah um will come back and be prophetic witnessing voices for the first 3 and 1/2 years inside the city of Jerusalem to um salvation. That they will be witnessing and leading people to salvation while they share um Jesus with them. They’re prophesying what’s to come and they’re prophesying the Jesus the Messiah that did come in the once again nothing but the mercy of God to once again during this time give people the opportunity to come to salvation.
Symbolism and powers of the witnesses 5 min mark
They’re clothed in sackcloth. Sackcloth all throughout the Old Testament and scripture when people are clothed in sackcloth is a sign of mourning. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord on the earth. They represent spiritual revival and they represent the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s what they will be representing as they prophesy.
And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. So, anyone during those 3 and 1/2 years that would try to hurt them will be destroyed. How? By fire coming out of their mouth. I mean, seriously, I know this sounds like science fiction, but this is the word of the Lord. This is the power they will possess. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. So, they are in this time being supernaturally protected by the Lord.
They also, listen to power they’re going to have. They have the power to shut the sky that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying. Elijah did this to um King Ahab during um the time of Jezebel and Ahab. Ahab was the wickedest king ever. Elijah did this actual miracle back then. They have the power over the waters to turn them into blood. Moses did this with Pharaoh. That’s why many theologians believe it will be Moses and Elijah. And to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they desire. So, this is the power that they’re going to hold.
Yet, they’re sustained supernaturally cuz we’re not told how they’re fed, how they survive. Um but Eli- or how they’re given food, but both Elijah and Moses were supernaturally sustained physically during different moments in their life and in their ministry.
The end of their testimony 7 min mark
Verse seven. And when they have finished their testimony, that means there will be a moment that the Lord has done through them all that he has purposed to do through them because he’s a very intentional God. It is only then, when God is done, not when Satan is ready to attack them, when God is done with his purposes through them, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. That’s when he has the power to destroy them.
The bodies on display 7 min mark
And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. We know Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. For three and a half days, some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb.
So, this is saying something that until our generation was not even possible. Okay? We’re told that the whole world is going to be able to watch what’s happening. Well, we can watch anything happening live anywhere on Facebook, on YouTube, it can be on you know, 24-hour cable news. But until the last what would you say? 20 years? Maybe longer than that. Last 100 years, none of that was possible. We are the generation that made this moment even possible. So, the whole earth is able to see it and those who dwell on the earth listen to the response of their death.
The world’s response to their deaths 9 min mark
If this is not a sobering statement of what that culture and generation and people will be like, those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, over their deaths, and make merry and exchange presents. They’re going to celebrate their deaths as if it is Christmas, as if it is a holiday. These two prophets of the living God. Because these two prophets have been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. Why? Because the message of truth is like acid to the man who desires to stay in his sin.
The resurrection and ascension of the witnesses 9 min mark
But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them and stood them up on their feet and great fear fell on those who saw them, which will be the whole world. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
The earthquake and response 10 min mark
And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Now, it does not say that they were moved to salvation. It says they acknowledged God, which thank God, because we just saw in the last woe where they didn’t just hold on to their sin, they just kept sinning and sinning and sinning and mocking God. But now at least inside of this there’s some acknowledgement by the supernatural raising of the dead of these two witnesses that um there is a God in heaven.
And so the prayer is that this turns them to the hope of salvation. But the reminder is yet again that inside of all of this, God is still doing everything he can to reach people. And in this moment, he uses two witnesses.
Application for today 11 min mark
But today on this Monday morning, he has witnesses everywhere in you and in me. So let us go forth declaring the beautiful hope that is the gospel and message of Jesus Christ. And how do we know it’s true? Because he’s fundamentally transformed us. I don’t know about you, but he has fundamentally transformed me. I am not the Denise I used to be. And it is nothing but the mercy of the living God. That’s good news on a Monday morning.
