요한계시록 Chapter 11

Translation: ESV

1

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there,"

Key Message

God knows His people precisely and measures them — He protects them even in the midst of any persecution.

▸The command to measure the temple connects to the vision in Ezekiel 40–42.

The command to measure the temple connects to the vision in Ezekiel 40–42. Measuring is an act signifying God's ownership and protection. The 'measuring rod' also appears in Ezekiel 40:3, conveying that God knows and protects His people precisely. The temple, altar, and worshipers symbolize spiritual Israel — the church.

Related Verses

When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand!
2

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 forty-two months.

Key Message

Worldly persecution is permitted only for a defined period, and God governs that period sovereignly.

▸The contrast between the inner and outer temple distinguishes the protected spiritual community from the realm of worldly persecution.

3

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."

Key Message

The church must fulfill its prophetic ministry of testifying to God's word to the very end, even in the midst of persecution.

▸The two witnesses represent the prophetic witness of the church.

4

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Key Message

The church, supplied with the Spirit's oil like olive trees, has received the mission of shining as lampstands of testimony to the world.

▸The two witnesses are depicted as the two olive trees and two lampstands of Zechariah 4.

5

And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed.

Key Message

God's witnesses receive divine protection until their mission is complete, and those who try to harm them bring judgment upon themselves.

▸The divine power protecting the two witnesses is described.

6

They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

Key Message

The church has been granted prophetic authority like Moses and Elijah to influence the course of world history through prayer and the word.

▸The powers of the two witnesses reflect two great Old Testament prophets.

7

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,

Key Message

Even the death of God's witnesses is within God's sovereignty — it is permitted only after their mission is fully completed.

▸'When they have finished their testimony' shows that the death of the two witnesses is permitted only after the completion of their mission.

8

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.

Key Message

The world is spiritually corrupt like Sodom and Egypt — a place that rejects Christ and His witnesses.

▸The 'great city' refers to Jerusalem but is called 'symbolically' Sodom (a city of corruption and immorality) and Egypt (a land of oppression and slavery).

9

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,

Key Message

The world's belief that it has silenced God's witnesses is only momentary — God will certainly bring about a reversal.

▸The expression 'peoples and tribes and languages and nations' is a recurring motif in Revelation signifying universality across all the world.

10

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.

Key Message

The world's joy at finding God's word uncomfortable will not last, and God's reversal follows.

▸'Those who dwell on the earth' is a fixed term in Revelation referring to unbelievers who belong to the world.

11

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.

Key Message

Although the church appears to be put to death by the world, it will certainly stand up again through God's breath of life.

▸The resurrection of the two witnesses reflects Christ's resurrection and connects with Ezekiel 37's vision of the dry bones.

12

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.

Key Message

God's witnesses are ultimately glorified before the world's eyes, and even their enemies witness it.

▸The ascension of the two witnesses parallels Christ's ascension.

13

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.

Key Message

God's judgment purposes not only destruction but also the repentance of survivors and the attribution of glory to God.

▸A judgment earthquake accompanies the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses.

14

The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

Key Message

God's judgment advances in stages, and each stage provides humanity an opportunity for repentance.

▸Three 'woes' were announced in 8:13 for the three remaining angel trumpets.

15

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

Key Message

The seventh trumpet proclaims the ultimate outcome of human history: all the kingdoms of the world become God's kingdom.

▸The seventh trumpet brings the ultimate declaration: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.

16

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Key Message

Before God's declaration of final victory all heavenly beings fall down in worship and respond.

▸The twenty-four elders are beings first introduced in chapter 4 around the heavenly throne, representing the redeemed people of God (12 tribes + 12 apostles).

17

saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Key Message

When God finally fully manifests His kingship, all heaven responds with thanksgiving and praise.

▸The song of the twenty-four elders is thanksgiving for the establishment of God's sovereignty.

18

The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."

Key Message

The final judgment brings complete justice — reward for the righteous and destruction for the wicked.

▸This verse concisely lists the core elements of the final judgment: the rage of the nations, God's wrath, judgment of the dead, reward for the righteous, and destruction of the wicked.

19

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Key Message

The ark in the heavenly temple declares the eternal faithfulness of God's covenant, and judgment is accomplished as the fulfillment of this covenant.

▸The vision of the heavenly temple being opened and the ark of the covenant appearing means two things.