Revelation 11 continues the theme of what is going on with the church, God’s people, as viewed from heaven when the prophetic veil is lifted for John. First, there is a short vision that engages John in measuring the temple of God and those who worship there (11:1-2). This measuring is a reference to Zechariah 2:1-5 where the temple is also measured by the prophet and then God protects it with a wall of fire. That’s a great image of the protection of God over His people. The vision shows that while Jesus’ followers may suffer persecution, this external defeat cannot cancel their victory through the Lamb.

This idea is elaborated in the scroll’s second vision. God appoints two witnesses as prophetic representatives to the nations. Some think that this refers literally to two prophets who will appear one day – maybe Elijah or Moses or Enoch. However, John calls these characters two lampstands, one of his clear symbols for the churches (Revelation 1:20).

Two witnesses are required for a testimony to be true, and so we interpret this section (11:3-13) symbolically as the witness of the church collectively, under the protection of God Almighty, for a season. Notice that the witnesses are granted God’s authority (11:3), they are protected (11:5), and they have great prophetic powers for miracles and signs like Elijah and Moses once did (11:6). If that sounds like Jesus’s instructions to his disciples when He commissioned them and told them of the Spirit to come, it is the same. The task of witnessing to the work of God and calling the world to repent is too great for any one person, it is the task of the church collectively.  

John also calls the witnesses two olive trees, a reference to Zechariah 4 where two are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth. They serve not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). The olive oil and the power of the Spirit are connected, so John is referencing that the work of the witnesses is done in the power of the Spirit.

When they have finished their testimony (11:7) reminds us that there is a season for witnessing and calling the world to repentance, and then the beast from the abyss is released (11:8) and makes war on them. (The note that the beast wages war on the witnesses also indicates that it is not two individuals, but the church collective.) The witnesses are no longer protected by God but instead killed – martyred for their testimony – but then resurrected and ascend into God’s presence (11:11-12). This results in many among the nations repenting and giving honor to God Almighty.

Let’s think about Revelation so far. God’s warning judgments through the seals and the trumpets did not generate repentance among the nations. Now the scroll reveals the mission of God’s people. God’s Kingdom is revealed when the nations see the church’s witness, which moves the nations to repentance. (An encouragement to the churches who received this letter!) After this, the last trumpet sounds, and the nations are shaken as God’s Kingdom comes on earth as in heaven.

But who was that terrible beast who declared war against God’s people? John turns to this question in the second half of Revelation.