Revelation 11

Revelation Chapter 11 – Introduction

The Witness, the Word, and the Kingdom Revealed Through the Cross

Revelation 11 is a profound unveiling of the Gospel, veiled in prophetic imagery. It speaks of two witnesses, a temple measured, and a seventh trumpet declaring the kingdom of Christ. But at the center of all this is the finished work of Jesus, shining through the symbols like light through stained glass.

The chapter does not point to a literal rebuilding of a physical temple or two specific prophets roaming the earth, instead it unveils the spiritual temple of God (the Church), the testimony of the cross, and the authority of Christ established through His death and resurrection.

Chapter 11 — Jesus and Bride

Revelation 11 unveils the measuring of the temple, the ministry of the two witnesses, their apparent defeat, and ultimate vindication. The finished work of Jesus stands as the foundation: the true temple is not a building, but Jesus and His people. The two witnesses symbolize the prophetic testimony of Word and Spirit flowing through the Church, overcoming persecution through faithfulness to the cross. The Bride’s identity is revealed in her prophetic authority, her willingness to lay down her life, and her resurrection power in Jesus. The defeat of false religion is clear, earthly systems rejoice at the witnesses’ apparent failure, but God raises His people, proving that victory belongs to the Lamb.

Revelation 11:1

1. Son of Man Investigate the Worshippers – God Spirit Outside!

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.

Rise, and measure the temple of God

This scripture points to Jesus coming to His own, and they did not accept Him. The old synagogue temple worship is still at work, but God’s Spirit is outside just a spectator. He is no longer part of this Baal-style worship. He doesn’t recognize it anymore. Babylon, Mammon, and Jezebel are in operation. “Measure them, Son, they need to be judged!”

The Altar

God's judgment begins with His house, the inner temple represents those who are truly in Jesus. The altar points to Jesus finished work, and true worshippers are those walking in Spirit and truth.

The Altar – “the purity of the sacrifice”

The altar was where sacrifice was offered. Jesus is the true Altar and the true Sacrifice (Hebrews 13:10–12). To measure the altar is to examine the purity of what is offered, not bulls or goats, but the offering of Jesus Himself. It reveals that no other sacrifice could measure up except His own blood.

1 Peter 4:17 – “Judgment must begin at the house of God”

Malachi 3:1–3 – Refining of the temple

John 4:23 – True worshipers in spirit and truth

The Temple

Jesus begins to measure and judge the old covenant system. The reed (like a staff) In Rev 19 the Iron rod symbolizes divine authority to evaluate "measure" and establish a new temple, His Church. 

The Temple – “the inner place”

The temple represents the inner sanctuary, the place of God’s dwelling. Jesus came to examine the true temple, not the stone building in Jerusalem, but the temple of His body and the hearts of His people (John 2:19–21; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Measuring the temple means judging whether His people reflect His holiness and presence.

Ezekiel 40:3–4 – Measuring the temple

Zechariah 2:1–2 – Symbolic measurement of Jerusalem

Matthew 7:2 – “With what measure ye mete…”

John 2:19–21 – Christ as the new temple

Hebrews 8:13 – The old is ready to vanish away

them that worship therein

The Worshippers – “the vessel”

Those who worship represent the vessels, living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). To measure the worshippers is to weigh their faith, purity, and devotion. Jesus looks not at outward ritual but at the heart. Those in Him are measured righteous, clothed in His salvation (Isaiah 61:10).

Revelation 11:1 Jesus is given the measuring reed, He comes to investigate the temple, the altar, and those who worship there. This isn't the true worship God desires. It's a picture of the old synagogue system still trying to function without Him. all the have become is a Baal temple in disguise. The Spirit of God is on the outside, looking in, not welcome among the rituals anymore. The judgment begins where it should, among those who should have known better. "Measure them, Son. They need to be judged."

The Judgment

This measuring is not about destruction, but about separation, distinguishing what is true from what is false. The true temple, the pure altar, and the faithful worshippers are preserved in Jesus, while all that is false (the outer court of religion and law) is left out to be trampled (Revelation 11:2).

Temple = inner place of God’s presence
Altar = purity of the sacrifice (Jesus alone)
Worshippers = the vessels of God (His Bride, His people)
Measuring = judgment and separation of true from false

Revelation 11:2

2. Forget the Outside- The Inside Matters!

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.

court which is without

The outside is not what worries Me, but what’s going on inside My Temple. Don’t measure the Gentiles, they do not know Me. I will reveal Myself to them and give them a chance before they are measured. Those on the inside are supposed to know better, schooled and trained in the prophetic Scriptures. They come first. “Judgment begins in the house of the Lord.”

given unto the Gentiles

Forget the Outside, The Inside Matters! this reveals that God wants to be in the inner most being of our lives. Jesus didn.t reject the outside, the irony was that the outer court people heard rumors' and spoke about signs of the Messiah and Jesus born and is walking amongst them doing great wonders and signs and speak in authority. The very things the inner part should have seen and believed. Yet the rejected Jesus as blasphemous and a imposter. Revelation 11:2 Jesus says not to bother measuring the outer court, it’s given to the Gentiles. Jesus invitation is to the lost, no other scripture explains Revelation 11:2 better than Matthew 22:9-10 . His priority now is judgement of the inner court, the ones who should know Him. These are the ones trained in the Scriptures and prophecy, and judgment starts with them. The outside court of the temple is where the believers are of the prophets writings and prophecies of the Messiah that will come. Let me lay it out for you:

The Outer Court – Symbol of the Nations (Gentiles)
Jesus says the outer court is not to be measured. Symbolically, this reveals that God’s focus is not on outward religion or external rituals, but on the heart. The “outer court” belongs to the Gentiles, representing those outside the covenant who are still being drawn by faith, not ritual (Ephesians 2:13–14).

Forget the Outside, The Inside Matters
God’s true dwelling is not in outward forms but in the innermost being of man. The irony in Jesus’ time was that the outer court, those who were considered “less holy” were the ones who were talking about the Messiah, hearing rumors of His birth, and witnessing His miracles (John 7:31). Yet the inner court (scribes, priests, Pharisees)  those trained in scripture rejected Him, accusing Him of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65).

Judgment Begins with the Inner Court
The “measuring” of the temple points to God’s judgment and evaluation. He begins with those who should know Him, the keepers of the Law and the Prophets (1 Peter 4:17). Jesus warns that it is the religious inner circle who face judgment first because they resisted the very One their scriptures testified about (John 5:39–40).

The Invitation of the Outer Court
Revelation 11:2 connects beautifully with Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22:9–10:
“Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” What the insiders rejected, God offered to the outsiders. The wedding feast is filled because the invitation goes beyond the borders of religion to the highways of the world.

Prophetic Reversal – The Last Become First
The “outer” ones, seen as unworthy by religious standards, were the very ones brought near through Jesus blood (Romans 9:25–26). The temple’s outer court thus foreshadows the opening of God’s covenant to all nations through the Gospel.

Revelation 11:2 reveals a profound truth: God’s concern is not with the outward court of religion but with the heart, the inner temple of His people. The outer court being “given to the Gentiles” symbolizes the Gospel going to the nations, while judgment falls on those who, though rich in scripture and ritual, rejected Jesus. Matthew 22:9–10 perfectly explains this shift, the wedding invitation goes out to those once on the outside, and they fill the kingdom.

tread under foot forty and two months

The outer court represents those still outside covenant knowledge (Gentiles). They are not judged yet but are given time (symbolized by 3½ years - connected to Jesus ministry time before He will atone on the cross) to receive the truth and choose if they want His eternal life.

Luke 21:24 – “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles”

Acts 17:30 – God “winked at” former ignorance

Romans 11:25 – A partial blindness until the fulness of the Gentiles

Isaiah 49:6 – “A light to the Gentiles”

They shall tread the holy city under foot forty and two months

The symbolic 3½ years (1260 days) speaks of Jesus ministry and introduction to God’s Kingdom come, Jesus prophetic witness that follows and His redemptive plan to bring all man in Him united to God. One body, one nation under God in spirit!

Daniel 9:27 – Covenant confirmed for one week, broken in half

Luke 4:25; James 5:17 – Elijah’s drought lasted 3½ years

Revelation 11:3

3. Jesus Powerful in Spirit and Word!

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

I will give power

Jesus Himself, Powerful in Spirit and Word! Revelation 11:3 Jesus ministers with power for 3½ years. He’s represented by the two witnesses – clothed in sackcloth, a symbol of repentance and humility. He moves in Spirit and Word, prophesying with authority. His ministry isn’t passive but it confronts and calls for change.

my two witnesses

The two witnesses standing together in the tomb alive and ready for salvation of humanity!

The two witnesses represent the testimony of Jesus through His Word and Spirit, the Law and the Prophets fulfilled in Him and now active in the Church.

Zechariah 4:3, 11–14 – Two olive trees, two anointed ones

Luke 24:44 – Law, Prophets, and Psalms fulfilled in Christ

Revelation 19:10 – “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”

John 5:36–39 – The Scriptures bear witness of Him

The two witnesses in Revelation represent the Spirit and the Word, not two literal men, but the very manifestation of God’s Spirit in typological form throughout Scripture. They are Jesus Himself revealed through the Spirit and Word, and their witness has appeared throughout history in characters like Moses and Elijah, who are types (not replacements) of this divine testimony. This is why the two witnesses aren't new, they are a manifestation of God’s eternal witness through His people, empowered by the Spirit of Jesus.

Two Witnesses 

= Word and Spirit (The Witness of Jesus)

John 6:63  “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

1 John 5:6–7  “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness… For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost…”

Revelation 11:3  “I will give power unto my two witnesses…” This power is not carnal, it’s spiritual empowerment from God.

Moses and Elijah as Typological Manifestations

They are not the literal two witnesses that will come in the future, but represent the Word (Law) and the Spirit (Prophets): at there time when God used them to indicate as a shadow Jesus as the Messiah that will come in Spirit and Word in the flesh and unite us in Him, hence Jesus and His Bride/Church are the new covenant Two Witnesses!

Moses – symbol of the Law / written Word
Elijah – symbol of the Prophets / Spirit power

These two appeared at the Mount of Transfiguration:

Matthew 17:3 “And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.”
This scene shows how the Law and the Prophets testify of Jesus, a perfect picture of the Spirit and Word bearing witness.

Jesus Is the Fullness of the Witness

John 1:14  “And the Word was made flesh…”
Revelation 3:14  “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God…”
2 Corinthians 3:17  “Now the Lord is that Spirit…”
Jesus is both the Living Word and the Spirit, He is the True Witness. So when we see the two witnesses, we are seeing Him manifested in His people, by His Spirit and Word.

Why They Appear Throughout Scripture in Typology

Hebrews 1:1–2  “God… spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”
Romans 15:4  “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…”

God’s Spirit and Word have been witnessing from the beginning through typological characters like:

Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, even Noah (a preacher of righteousness  2 Peter 2:5). They all acted under Spirit empowerment and Word proclamation, not separate from the two witnesses, but reflections of the same divine witness in different generations. The two witnesses are not just two men at the end of time, but the ongoing, Spirit-filled testimony of Jesus throughout the ages, represented in Scripture through typological characters like Moses and Elijah. They are Jesus, manifest by Spirit and Word in His people, testifying through every age.

thousand two hundred and threescore days

For three and a half years, I will minister among them with the Word and in the Spirit!

Clothed in sackcloth

Jesus wrapped in linen in the tomb!

Sackcloth – Symbol of Mourning and Repentance
Sackcloth throughout Scripture is worn as a sign of grief, humility, and repentance (Jonah 3:5–6; Joel 1:13). The two witnesses clothed in sackcloth signify a testimony marked by sorrow, not for themselves, but for the spiritual blindness of God’s people. It is a prophetic mourning over unbelief and rejection of Jesus.

Jesus Wrapped in Linen – Death and Burial
In contrast, Jesus was not clothed in sackcloth but wrapped in clean linen when He was laid in the tomb (Matthew 27:59; John 19:40). Linen represents purity, righteousness, and the fulfillment of God’s promises (Revelation 19:8). His death was not a hopeless mourning but a victorious offering, He bore the world’s sorrow so that His Bride could be clothed in righteousness.

The Prophetic Parallel
Sackcloth = Witness to the rejection of Jesus.
The prophets and apostles bore the pain of testifying to a hard-hearted people. Their message was resisted, and their “mourning garments” symbolized the grief of God’s Spirit.
Linen = Victory over death.
Jesus’ burial in linen reveals that the grief was temporary. What sackcloth represents in the prophets, linen fulfills in Jesus, sorrow turned to joy, death swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54).

From Sackcloth to Linen
The Gospel movement is the journey from sackcloth to linen: from prophetic lament over sin to the pure garment of resurrection life. Jesus carried the ultimate sackcloth, our sin, shame, and mourning and exchanged it for the linen of triumph. This is why Isaiah says: “He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).

Witnesses Share in His Death and Resurrection
The two witnesses’ sackcloth shows their identification with Jesus suffering, they carry the cross in testimony. But just as Jesus rose wrapped in linen, their witness ultimately shares in His resurrection glory. What begins in mourning ends in life and vindication. The  Word and Spirit who is Jesus "Son of man" is there with Him all along to witness in suffering and in glory.

The sackcloth of the witnesses and the linen of Jesus are two sides of the same story: the sorrow of rejection and the victory of resurrection. Sackcloth points to humanity’s grief under sin and unbelief, while linen points to Jesus triumph over death and the gift of righteousness to His Bride. Revelation 11 shows that true witness must carry the sorrow of the cross but also the hope of the empty tomb. The message they bear is one of repentance and sorrow over sin. Jesus becomes sin for us and do a eternal repentance of sorrow for us on the cross (Blood mix with grace on the altar). Sackcloth is a call to turn back to God.

Jonah 3:5–10 – Sackcloth in Nineveh’s repentance

Matthew 11:21 – “They would have repented in sackcloth”

Isaiah 22:12 – National mourning with sackcloth

Revelation 11:4

4. Light of the World – The Living Word!

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

Spirit and Word testify about Me in truth. The Light has come into the world, the written Word has become the Living Word! Light of the World – The Living Word! These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, the Spirit and the Word. They stand before God and shine His light into darkness. Jesus, the Living Word, is revealed. His life and ministry are the fulfillment of everything written.

the two candlesticks:

Seven Golden Candlesticks / Seven Stars

Rev 1:12-13, 20; Rev 2–3 – Candlesticks = Churches; Stars = Angels of the Churches

Rev 11:4 – The two witnesses are “the two candlesticks,” still bearing light.

Emphasizes continuity of the Church’s witness throughout time.

Notice that the 7 Candlesticks became 2 Candlesticks,We see in Revelation 1 first Jesus is in the mids of the 7 Candlesticks, this indicate we as the Bride are now with Jesus united in one, Groom and Bride shining together before God as light! Let me explain: In Revelation 1, Jesus stands “in the midst of the seven candlesticks” (Rev 1:13), which represent the seven churches. This symbolizes His intimate presence with His Church, the Bride. Then in Revelation 11:4, the focus shifts from seven to two witnesses. These two witnesses are described as “the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Rev 11:4). The reduction from seven to two can be understood symbolically:

The seven candlesticks: represent the entire Church, the fullness of God’s people, the perfected light of Holy Spirit working in us as church.

The two witnesses: symbolize the  faithful and believers in Jesus, the Bride actively bearing witness alongside the Groom.Spirit and Word is Jesus in us united as husband and wife as one.

This points to the reality that the Church’s ultimate identity is not just as scattered congregations, but as a unified Bride who shines together with Jesus, the Groom. The two witnesses stand boldly before God, empowered to testify and illuminate, showing the Church’s spiritual calling to be a visible light in the world in union with Jesus. This captures the closeness and shared mission of the Groom and Bride in the unfolding Revelation story. Revelation one isn't just a introduction,  He is not giving orders to Seven  Churches, He is  revealing the  spiritual  realities the church  must deal with and  how He later overcame them through the cross. Revelation 1 is a call to  "come up higher" and  understand  His finish work on the cross and  the unification power and glory He wants us to move in!

two olive trees:

Two Witnesses = Word and Spirit

John 6:63  “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

1 John 5:7  “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost…”

Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy…”

To prophesy = to speak by the Word, empowered by the Spirit. This confirms the witnesses are a spiritual, not literal, testimony.

Two Olive Trees = the Oil (Anointing of the Spirit)

Revelation 11:4  “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”

Zechariah 4:11–14 (direct parallel to Revelation 11) “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Zechariah 4:6  “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

The olive trees in Zechariah continually pour oil into the lampstand, a clear image of Spirit-fueled testimony.
Oil = Holy Spirit
Candlesticks = Churches (Rev. 1:20)

The two witnesses and olive Trees working together as one "Jesus and Bride/Church":

“The two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Rev 11:4). They have power to prophesy, to shut heaven so no rain falls, to turn waters to blood, and to strike the earth with plagues (Rev 11:5–6). Olive trees: In Zechariah 4, olive trees supply oil to the lampstand, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Candlesticks: Like in Revelation 1 and 2, candlesticks represent the Church as the light-bearer. The oil that keeps the fire burning!

The two witnesses and two olive trees represent Spirit-empowered "Oil", faithful testimony from the Church. As humans, we often tend to analyze and naturalize things because it makes sense to our human nature but we must remember, God is Spirit. When we look at the two witnesses in Scripture, they clearly point to "Spirit and Word." They are a unified image, an embodiment of Jesus Himself. Throughout Scripture, we find similar texts that seem connected to this theme. And that’s because they are. As we read through the Word, we see these dual similarities because God’s Spirit and Word have been present from the beginning, the Alpha and Omega. These characters were called to operate in Spirit and Word, which is why they appear to be part of the same theme. But they are simply operating in the Spirit of God. In Scripture, we read of “looking into a glass,” where the image of man and God appears in the same reflection we see Him, and also ourselves. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, and it’s the very reason why there are so many different interpretations and opinions about the book of Revelation. But the book is always about the Revelation of Jesus, you just need to look past the natural reflection and see His face in the Scriptures.

See Addendum- Two Witnesses

Some say "The two witnesses also symbolically represent the Law and the Prophets, or Moses and Elijah", figures who confronted evil and pointed to God’s power, yes they where and the did operate with God in power but they only represented God in the same spirit as a shadow what would come Jesus the written Word that became flesh "The Living Word", Typology is one of the main reasons people misunderstand or find contradictions in the book of Revelation. Why? Because spiritual and prophetic imagery is not meant to be interpreted naturally. It uses symbolic language and typological patterns to reveal deeper spiritual truths, especially about Jesus.

See Addendum- Typology

Their Role in the Mission of the Church

The two witnesses stand “before the God of the earth,” highlighting that their testimony is divinely authorized. They proclaim God’s truth in the midst of persecution and opposition (symbolized by the beast who kills "them- Jesus on the cross"). Their miraculous powers echo the Old Testament prophetic ministry, showing that the Church’s mission involves both word and spiritual authority. Their death and resurrection (Rev 11:7–12) symbolize the Church’s victory through suffering, mirroring Jesus own death and resurrection.

Revelation 11:7   "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." "They" refers to the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3–6) who prophesy for 1,260 days.(Jesus in His 3 and half years ministry) The "beast from the bottomless pit" is a spiritual and symbolic image (also connected to Rev. 13). Their death (Jesus crucifixion ) is not literal only, but represents a silencing or suppression of the Spirit and Word a temporary "victory" of worldly powers over God's testimony. The synagogue and Romans work together but they work right into God's plan. Jesus said "He lay down His life and they had no authority to take it from Him", He gave His life freely as atonement.

Unity of the Groom and Bride

In Revelation 1:13, Jesus stands in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (the churches), showing His intimate presence with His Bride. The two witnesses are “two candlesticks,” a smaller, focused representation of the Church bearing testimony. This unity symbolizes the inseparable relationship of Jesus and His Church, the Bride and Groom are partners in mission. The Church receives power and authority from the Spirit (olive oil) and is called to shine God’s light in a dark world. The Bride’s mission is to bear witness to Jesus truth, even unto death, trusting in the resurrection victory.

Spiritual Implications for Today

The spirit of the "two witnesses" call us to remember that the Church’s mission is a Spirit-empowered witness of Jesus’ victory. The unity of Bride and Groom means believers are not alone; Jesus is present and empowering His Church. Like the witnesses, the Church faces opposition, but resurrection power and God Spirit and Word in us ensures ultimate victory. The number “two” reminds us that authentic witness requires both Spirit and Word, love and truth, power and humility. Jesus, the anointed One (olive tree) and light of the world (lampstand), now lives through His Church, the dual witness of Spirit and truth.

Zechariah 4:2–6, 11–14 – Anointed trees as divine witnesses

John 1:9, 8:12 – Jesus as true Light

Romans 11:17 – Gentiles grafted into the olive tree

Revelation 1:20 – Churches as candlesticks

See Addendum- two olive trees- two candlesticks

The Two Witnesses in Revelation 11 represent the Word and the Spirit, the two-fold witness of God’s truth on the earth. The two olive trees are the source of the oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s anointing and power that fuels this testimony. This is not two literal people, but a spiritual reality: God's eternal testimony through Spirit and Word, now revealed through Jesus and His Bride/Church.

God of the earth.

Jesus!

God of the Earth
God of the earth means Jesus, the Son of Man who became the Son of God victorious! He made Himself part of the natural earth, walking in glorified flesh. Unlike in Eden with Adam and Eve, Jesus is now God of the earth, God in flesh. We were created in His image and likeness, but now He has also taken our likeness upon Himself, understanding our flesh and our ways so that He may have compassion on us.

Jesus Took Our Likeness
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.” (Hebrews 2:14)
This shows Jesus did not remain distant as God, but entered creation in real humanity.

The Son of Man, Yet Son of God
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” (Matthew 9:6)
Jesus is called both “Son of Man” and “Son of God” (John 1:49–51). His earthly identity connects Him with Adam’s race; His divine identity shows His victory as the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45).

God of the Earth — Lord Over Flesh
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared in glorified flesh, still human yet divine: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39).
Unlike Adam, who fell in weakness, Jesus rose in power, now Lord over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18).

Compassion Through Experience
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
Because He shared our flesh, He understands human weakness, showing compassion and mercy as the true Judge and Savior.

God’s Image Perfected in Us
We were made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Now Christ has entered our likeness so we may share His: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God… we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2).

“God of the earth” reveals Jesus as the Son of Man and Son of God, uniting heaven and earth in His glorified flesh. Unlike Adam, who failed, Jesus succeeded, He took our likeness so that we might share His. By entering into our human nature, He became the compassionate High Priest who rules as God of both heaven and earth, victorious in His humanity and His divinity.

Revelation 11:5

5. The Word Cuts Deep!

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.

 if any man will hurt them= men opposing God's Word and Spirit but the Word of God will always overcome and be victorious. Truly all things work for the good for those God love.

must in this manner be killed.= see first part state if any man hurt them, then Fire "Holy Spirit" comes through 'The Word" , now the last part  inidcate again "if any man hurt them" in this manner must they be killed,  what manner? By Word and Spirit. This is prophetic language of God saying "You can resist but I will win your heart!"

devoureth their enemies:= evil are overcome with good always! Love conquers always. These statements reveal the power of Gods Word and Spirit that overcome all, brake the works of the enemy and  bring light into darkness.

fire proceedeth out of their mouth

Jesus will operate under the anointing, His Spirit is Fire when it mix with His Word. He will testify only of His Father in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Testimony is Spirit in Fire! The “Word,” like a two-edged sword, will cut and divide, one will be taken and one left behind. The wheat will be separated from the thorns. Jesus comes as King to conquer, not with a literal sword or army, but with His Word. His Word came, broke the system, and established His Kingdom forever. “Live by the sword, die by the sword.”

devoureth their enemies

The Word Cuts Deep! Revelation 11:5 Anyone who tries to hurt them is consumed by fire from their mouths, this is the power of Jesus’ Word. It’s the two-edged sword that divides, confronts, and judges. He doesn’t raise an earthly army, His Word alone breaks systems and sets His Kingdom in motion. The Word of God is mighty and powerful and will destroy all strongholds and wickedness that is not from Him, all will fall under His Word and Spirit. The Word of Jesus is like fire, it convicts, judges, and purifies. It is not carnal warfare but spiritual truth.

Jeremiah 5:14 – Word made fire

Hebrews 4:12 – Sharp two-edged sword

Revelation 1:16; 19:15 – Sword from Jesus mouth

Romans 12:21 – Overcoming evil with good

must in this manner be killed

Grace always abounds sin, Jesus saying no matter how they oppose the Word and Spirit, grace and mercy will always abound. God will kill the old nature through the power of His Word and Spirit. If sinful man resist me I will pursue them with love and grace by My Spirit and Word. Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you, this was not just mend for the righteous but the lost as well. Rejection of Spirit and Word is rejecting Jesus life and testimony directly. If we except Him we have life (Bread and  Water)  Jesus words at the last supper " I am the bread of life" and  "Drink of Me and  eat of My Flesh" All scriptures are connected to the same scarlet thread that runs through the bible. If We reject Jesus the manner you will be killed is eternal death because you rejected eternal life "Jesus Himself." Jesus fight for your salvation, even when you reject Him. If He loved you so much to die for your sin how much more will He persue you in love now when the door is open.

Romans 5:8–10 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

“Must in This Manner Be Killed”  This does not mean God delights in the destruction of men, but that the old nature must die in the light of Christ’s Word and Spirit. The trumpet judgments reveal that even when sin resists, grace always abounds. 

Romans 5:20 “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
Colossians 3:9–10  “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man…”

Jesus is proclaiming that no matter how fiercely the world, the flesh, or the religious spirit oppose His Word, grace and mercy will prevail. God “kills” not the person, but the old self, sin, pride, idolatry, through the sword of His Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  This “killing” is not destruction but transformation. The old dies so that the new creation may rise in Jesus. In God’s judgment, grace abounds beyond sin. The cross ensures that the old nature is slain, but the new man rises. Judgment is never final destruction for those who turn, it is the Spirit cutting away the old so that resurrection life can flow.

Romans 5:20–21  “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 12:9  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Ephesians 2:7–8  “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
Titus 2:11  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
John 1:16  “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

Even in the trumpet judgments, when sin seems to abound, grace overflows all the more. God’s dealings with the old nature are not about destruction, but about bringing man into the reign of grace through Jesus.

 Romans 6:1–2  “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Romans 6:14–15  “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”

Romans 3:7–8  “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.”

Paul makes it clear: grace shines brightest against the backdrop of sin, but grace is not a license to sin. Rather, grace kills the old nature (Romans 6:6) and empowers the believer to live in newness of life. Some accused Paul of teaching, “Let us sin so grace may abound,” but he answers strongly: “God forbid!” Grace is not permission, it is power to live in Jesus.

Revelation 11:5  “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.”

The Witnesses Speak with Fire
The “fire” is not natural destruction but the Word of God proceeding from the mouth of the witnesses (Spirit-empowered Church). Jeremiah 5:14  “Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.” This fire = truth that exposes sin, judges the old nature, and burns away falsehood.

Enemies Devoured
The “enemies” are not flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12) but false religion, unbelief, and the spirit of the world that opposes the Gospel. The devouring is symbolic of the old order being consumed by the Spirit’s word of judgment. “Must in this manner be killed” Not physical execution, but the death of the old man. God slays sin through the Gospel so that new life may rise. Romans 6:6 “Our old man is crucified with him…” and in Hebrews 4:12 the Word pierces and divides, slaying the fleshly nature.

Grace Always Abounds
The “killing” is not destruction of souls but the putting to death of the old life by the Word and Spirit. Even in judgment, grace and mercy abound.
Romans 5:20  “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Revelation 11:5 shows the power of the witnesses’ testimony (the Church in the Spirit): their word is fire, consuming all opposition to Jesus. Those who resist are “killed” not by sword or vengeance, but by the truth of the Gospel slaying the old nature. In this way the enemies of God are not people destroyed, but sin and unbelief judged. This reveals the heart of grace: God always brings death to the old so that life may spring forth in the new.

Revelation 11:6

6. Jesus Sovereign King- Law and Prophets Full filled

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.

power to shut heaven

When God open a door and when God close a door! "Power to Shut Heaven"  is found in the context of Elijah and also symbolically referenced in Revelation. Elijah had power over water and spirit "rain and fire" 1 Kings 17:1 and 1 Kings 18:37–38.

1 Kings 17:1   "And Elijah the Tishbite... said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth... there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

James 5:17  "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."

Revelation 11:6  The two witnesses: "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy..." (Spiritually symbolic of judgment or withholding of divine outpouring)

"When God Opens a Door / Shuts a Door"

God’s sovereignty and authority to open or shut opportunities, destinies, or spiritual access. "Shutting Heaven" speaks of prophetic authority (judgment or withholding of spiritual rain), fulfilled in Jesus and mirrored by the two witnesses (Word & Spirit). "Open/Shut Door" speaks of Jesus sovereign authority over salvation, opportunity, and kingdom access. In this spicific prophetic reference, Jesus closed the door to the Old Covenant in finailty when they closed Him up in the tomb. When Jesus opened the tomb closing by the power of His Spirit it was a decleration that heaven is now open. Jesus allowed the closing and He alone opened up the door to glory!

Revelation 3:7  "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

Isaiah 22:22  "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."

rain not in the days of their prophecy

Rain = the life that sustain of God’s Word and Spirit-spiritual revelation, truth, life-giving word.

Former and latter rain, which speaks of spiritual outpourings, first under the Old Covenant and finally fulfilled through Jesus and the New Covenant. "The rain stopped" is prophetic reference to stop of the move of God's Spirit and life to man, when Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days. We see the stop of Gods Spirit move as Jesus will atone and while being in the grave major spiritual shifts has taken place. Jesus risen, brings eternal rain to man and finaly stop spiritual draught to man. He is the fountain of life that can be drank from eternal - open heaven and eternal rain!

Revelation 11:6  “These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy…” This rain is not just natural, it's spiritual: a picture of divine revelation, blessing, and outpouring of God’s Spirit and Word. 

Deuteronomy 32:2  “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew…”
Isaiah 55:10–11  “For as the rain cometh down… so shall my word be…”

Former and Latter Rain

These are prophetic terms for two major outpourings of God's Spirit:

Joel 2:23  “Be glad then… for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”

Former Rain = God’s Word/Spirit through the Law and Prophets (Old Covenant revelation)
Latter Rain = Final and full outpouring through Jesus and the Spirit in the New Covenant

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know… his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

James 5:7 “Be patient… until he receive the early and latter rain.”

“Rain Not in Their Days” What Does It Mean? First what is the prophecy? It is the Death and resurrection of Jesus, this reveal the word is in the grave  and the move of the spirit shut or quite  until resurrection day, They have the power to move but the time is not yet come. Power to shut heaven= The tomb is shut,closed up until new life comes "The rain" 

When Rev. 11:6 says the witnesses (Word & Spirit) shut up heaven that it rain not, it symbolically refers to:

Spiritual drought like Elijah in 1 Kings 17.
A time of judgment, silence from God, or rejection of truth.
The absence of spiritual rain where the Spirit and Word are refused or resisted.
Just like in Elijah's day, the rain (Spirit & Word) was withheld due to rebellion.

Rain

Spiritual outpouring of God's Word and Spirit

Former Rain

Old Covenant revelation through Law and Prophets

Latter Rain

Fullness through Jesus and His Spirit (New Covenant)

No Rain (Rev. 11:6)

A time of spiritual drought where the truth is resisted or rejected

Two Witnesses

Word & Spirit, the carriers of rain (life) or drought (judgment)

power over waters to turn them to blood

Jesus turning the water in to wine as His first miracle at the wedding of Canaan was not a coincident, the miracle of water turned into wine at the wedding in Cana carries a much deeper meaning than just a provision of drink. It is a prophetic picture of salvation at the cross. Just as the water was transformed into wine, so Jesus would transform the old covenant of ritual into the new covenant of His blood. Thus the reason of His words to Mary, “My hour has not yet come,” were not a denial of the miracle, but a reference to the greater hour of the cross when His life would be poured out. In Cana, the empty jars and the lack of wine reveal humanity’s emptiness under the Law, but the new wine points to the joy, covenant, and Spirit-life that flow from Jesus atoning death. God turning the Nile to red as blood also not a a coincident, all symbols of typology of  Jesus that will have the power to turn "Water- all living things"  to " Blood - blood of His covenant"  We see that the river "River is the saints and nations" made pure and clean by Jesus atonement.This later in revelation a symbol before Gods throne clear as crystal later in Revelation. We know of Jesus words "He will give you living water to drink" and "Life do not come from a polluted well" 

See Addendum- Cana Wedding

Water to Blood - Blood to Living Water- A Typological Arc

We know Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding in John 2:1–11. Water = old purification system (Law) and Wine = joy, new covenant blood. Done at a wedding = points to Jesus  and the Church, His bride. In John 2:11 Jesus calls it “the beginning of miracles”  a sign of His glory. What is the typology (shadows or pictures that point forward to Jesus): Jesus transforms the old system into the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20) The turn of water to blood "wine" reveals Jesus salavtion message.

Nile Turned to Blood (Exodus 7:17–20)

God turns the Nile (life source) into blood in Egypt. Nile = source of life in Egypt mean judgment falls on the worldly system. Blood = death, judgment, but also a pointer to the power of blood in redemption. Typology: Judgment on the world system’s "water" vs. Jesus’ blood which brings true life

Jesus Offers Living Water (John 4:10–14)

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give… shall never thirst.” His water = Spirit and eternal life. Pure, not polluted. Unlike Jacob’s well (old covenant), His water springs up to eternal life.

Water as People / Nations in Prophecy

Revelation 17:15  “The waters… are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” 

Water = humanity.

Polluted water = corrupted religious systems.
Clean water = redeemed people through Jesus.

River of Life in Revelation (Rev. 22:1)

“A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” This is not polluted by the world, it’s crystal clear, flowing from Jesus Himself. The Lamb is the source, His blood made the water pure. It feeds the Tree of Life for the healing of the nations. Do you see? The water is us that is purified everytime. Once Jesus "Blood" mix with Us the bride "Water" purification take place. In Revelation the finality can be seen as the water turns dimond like crystyl clear and pure.

Water to Wine (John 2)

Old purification turned into joy of New Covenant by the blood of Jesus.

Nile to Blood (Exodus 7)

Judging Egypt = Judgment of the world’s polluted “life sources”

Living Water (John 4)

Jesus offers pure Spirit-life from within

People as Waters (Rev. 17)

Unredeemed are like polluted water, but redeemed are crystal clear

River of Life (Rev. 22)

The saints and nations made pure by the blood, flowing with life from the Lamb

John 7:38 – “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Zechariah 13:1 – “A fountain opened… for sin and uncleanness.”
Isaiah 12:3 – “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near with a true heart… having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Titus 3:5 – “Washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

smite the earth with all plagues

Here Jesus is shown as Sovereign King, He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets! The power to shut heaven and stop the rain shows that He is both the Spirit and the Law in manifestation. Elijah operated in the spirit of the prophets, and Moses under the Law as guidance, but Jesus has authority over both and has made it possible for us to walk righteously in both, Why? Because Jesus poured out the plagues ment for man on Himself.  Jesus is Sovereign King, through Him the Law and Prophets was Fulfilled. Jesus has power over nature, law, and judgment. Elijah called for no rain; Moses turned water to blood. But Jesus embodies both the prophetic and the law, He is Sovereign over both. He is not just a prophet, He is the fulfillment. Jesus, like Elijah and Moses, exercises prophetic authority to bless or judge. These acts reflect the power of the Word to bring life or discipline to those that believe in Him.

1 Kings 17:1 – Elijah’s drought

Luke 4:25–26 – Jesus references Elijah

Exodus 7:20 – Moses turns water to blood

John 2:6–10 – Jesus turns water to wine

Matthew 5:17 – Fulfillment of Law and Prophets

Revelation 11:7

7. Jesus Crusified!

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.

 beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit

the beast that ascendeth= the beast not yet judge and still can ascend in opperation, remember the pit is Gods judgement and judgement on them only comes after Jesus atonement. The judgement must be made with Jesus blood so that it could be mixed with grace, other wise the judgement would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah . What does this part "ascendeth" mean? The Roman empire in conjuction with the sanagogue priets making plans to cricify Jesus, remember they are allowed by Jesus to do so, He gave His life and was not taken by them.

John 10:17–18 

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Here Jesus shows that His life was not taken by force, He gave it willingly.

John 19:10–11  to Pilate

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them = the crucifixion and grave. Why "them" it is a prophetic referal to Jesus that moved in the power of "Spirit and Word."

Here we find a multi-layered message "Typology and Spiritual Parallelism ". First, the beast will kill Jesus, referring to the crucifixion. But it also points to the end of Jesus’ ministry after the 3½ years. While He is in the grave, the beast will have a short time of power over a not-yet Spirit-filled church. He will persecute Jesus’ followers as well and kill them, just as they killed Him. Jesus Crucified! After finishing His testimony, the beast rises to kill Him "The cross". This speaks to the crucifixion, Jesus’ earthly ministry ends in death. For a brief time, the enemy seems to have the upper hand. The beast also wages war against His followers, who are persecuted just as He was. Jesus earthly ministry (Word and Spirit) was opposed and crucified by the religious-political system (the beast).

John 1:11 – “His own received Him not”

Acts 2:23 – “By wicked hands crucified”

Revelation 13:7 – Beast makes war with saints

Typology = prophecy in picture form, fulfilled in Jesus.

Spiritual parallelism = repeating patterns of God’s ways that teach the same truth in different times.

Revelation 11:8

8. Jesus in the Tomb!

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.

The mention of Egypt and Sodom indicate the judgement that will follow the crucifixtion, Jesus was not crucified in Egypt or Sodom but the reference to them indiacte God of Moses and the law was persecuted and Sodom rejected the Spirit of Gods warning. The same end will come to the Old temple system and Roman empire that befell Egypt and Sodom.

dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city

Old Jerusalem rejected her Husband and crucified His Son. The two representations of Jesus, Spirit and Word symbolized by Elijah and Moses, are now dead, pointing to the death of Jesus Himself. The great city, representing the old covenant system built on temple worship, had become spiritually unfaithful to God. Jesus describes her fall using the names Sodom and Egypt. Sodom for its sin and pride, Egypt for its hardness of heart and resistance to God's commands. Revelation’s phrase “where also our Lord was crucified” is more than geographic, it reveals the deep spiritual guilt of a system that claimed holiness but rejected the very One it was meant to prepare for. 

Sodom and Egypt

Jesus lies in the great city, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, Old Jerusalem that killed her King. 

See Addendum- The 10 Plagues

where also our Lord was crucified

"Where our Lord was crucified", This exposes the system and people responsible for Jesus death, not just Rome, but Jerusalem’s religious system under the Old Covenant, which rejected the Messiah. It subtly reveals that the spirit of Babylon, Sodom, Egypt, and apostate Jerusalem are spiritually one and the same: guilty of persecuting prophets and killing the Lord. This phrase is an admission of guilt , not from the writer, but from the Spirit declaring judgment against the corrupt religious system that outwardly represented God but inwardly denied Him. It means that the Spirit and Word" the Two Witnesses" are Jesus Himself, and just as He was crucified, this unified Witness was slain at the cross, in the very place (or system) that claimed to represent God. The crucifixion is both the rejection and the fulfillment of the true Witness.

See Addendum- Rhetorical device and Theological Literary Pattern

A rhetorical device is how the words are said and theological literary pattern is the bigger design God weaves through Scripture.

Acts 2:23  "Him... ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

Matthew 23:37  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee..."

Hebrews 13:12-13  "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."
 

Jesus was rejected outside the religious system, crucified by those inside it! “where our Lord was crucified” is a spiritual accusation. It reveals that the system (Old Covenant Jerusalem) that should have embraced Jesus instead crucified Him, aligning itself with Sodom’s rebellion, Egypt’s oppression, and Babylon’s pride. This reflects the rejection and shame of Jesus crucifixion. Jerusalem had become like Sodom (moral corruption) and Egypt (bondage).

Isaiah 1:10; Ezekiel 16:49 – Sodom metaphor for corruption

Exodus 20:2 – Egypt as slavery

Matthew 27:33 – Crucified at Golgotha

Isaiah 53:3 – Despised and rejected

Matthew 27:41–43 – Public mockery

Revelation 11:9

9. Jesus

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.

The world knew of Jesus’ death—3½ days reflects His time in the tomb.

Matthew 12:40  “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Luke 24:46  “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.”

Jesus in Revelation 11:9 The world saw His death. They didn't even want Him buried, fearing the prophecy of His resurrection. But God had already arranged the tomb. Jesus’ death was public knowledge, and the suspense built over 3½ days. Authorities attempted to control Jesus' burial and legacy, but He was honorably buried by Joseph of Arimathea.

Jesus Buried in the Tomb

Matthew 27:59–60  “And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”

Mark 15:46  “And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.”

Luke 23:53–54  “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.”

John 19:41–42  “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

The Guard and the Seal

Matthew 27:65–66  “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”

Fear of Resurrection

Matthew 27:64  “Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.”

The religious leaders remembered Jesus’ words about rising the third day (Matthew 27:63). Their greatest fear was not His death, it was His resurrection. If the tomb was found empty, their power and system would collapse. They thought His disciples might stage a resurrection by stealing the body. But the irony is this: their fear actually confirmed the truth. By sealing the tomb and posting guards, they removed any possibility of tampering. When the stone was rolled away, the only explanation left was the power of God.

The Lie and Cover-Up

Matthew 28:12–15  “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

The full picture:

Jesus buried in a new tomb, wrapped in linen.
The tomb sealed and guarded.
The leaders spreading lies to cover the truth of His resurrection.

Matthew 27:64 – Fear of resurrection

John 19:38–42 – Burial by Joseph

Acts 13:29 – Laid in a sepulchre

Revelation 11:10

10. They Though They Won!

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

The earth shall rejoice over them

The earth, which is a part of God’s perfect creation, has become a symbol of the wicked natural mind, driven by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. What was made by God’s creative hand is now twisted into a representation of deception, standing completely opposite to God’s holy nature. 

Make merry

They celebrated with joy, likely hosting grand gatherings, praising one another and resting in the illusion that their power structures and temple coffers would remain untouched. No more Jesus whipping the money changers from the temple, no more righteous judgment to disrupt their corruption. The two prophets, Spirit and Word who operated powerfully in Jesus, carried the same authority and nature as the Law and the Prophets, exposing their sin and tormenting their conscience. Now, they thought, He is gone and with Him, the piercing voice of conviction and the light that revealed their darkness. 

send gifts one to another

They congratulated one another with gifts, weaving promises into their web of deception and power plays to ensure the “Jesus problem” was dealt with once and for all. As the day of the cross passed, a false sense of relief filled the beast’s lust for control, unaware that their evil scheme had actually delivered the final, fatal blow to the very power they desperately tried to cling to.

the two prophets tormented them

They Thought They Won! The people rejoiced, finally, the One who exposed their darkness was gone. They celebrated the silencing of the Word and Spirit, because it confronted their sin. But their joy would be short-lived. The world rejoiced in silencing truth, unaware that victory belonged to Jesus.

Psalm 2:2  “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,”– Earth’s kings oppose the Lord

John 16:20  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” “The world shall rejoice”

Acts 4:27  “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,”– Earth’s rulers against Jesus

Revelation 11:11

11.The Risen Christ!

.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.

After three days and a half 

This part indicate the clue to who is refer to in the verse "Jesus death and resurrection" Three days and a half = a symbolic timeframe connected to the period between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was crucified and lay in the tomb for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40), often referenced as “three days and a half” in apocalyptic literature to mark the time of death before resurrection. In Revelation 11:9–11, the two witnesses "Jesus" lie dead for this exact period before being resurrected, clearly reflecting Jesus victory over death.

Matthew 12:40   “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Revelation 11:9–11  The two witnesses lie dead for three days and a half, then are resurrected.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4  “...Christ died for our sins... He was buried, and... He rose again the third day.”

the Spirit of life from God entered into them

The Spirit of life from God entered into Jesus, bringing resurrection and new life. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God, so too do the two witnesses "who is Jesus Himself"  come alive through that same Spirit power to testify of the risen Jesus for eternity.

Romans 8:11  “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
1 Peter 3:18  “...being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
Job 33:4  “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”

and they stood upon their feet

“And they stood upon their feet” shows that Jesus the Spirit of Life and the Word in flesh "the two witnesses" come back to life by God’s power, the stone was rolled away from His tomb. This resurrection victory proves that death does not have the final word.

Matthew 28:2–6  “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended... and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it... He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”
Revelation 11:11  “And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet.”
1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

“And great fear fell upon them which saw them” 

The events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection were deeply unsettling and apocalyptic in nature. Darkness covered the land, the earth quaked, graves were opened, and the veil in the temple was torn at the very moment Jesus gave up His Spirit (Matt. 27:45–54). These signs were not subtle, they shook the foundation of religious power and provoked fear, confusion, and desperate attempts to suppress the truth. Those in power scrambled to create lies and cover-ups (Matt. 28:11–15), afraid that Jesus might indeed be who He claimed to be: the Son of God, the promised Messiah. The Spirit and Word embodied in  Jesus had been crucified, but now something terrifying to the system was happening: Life had returned. The presence of God had vindicated His Son. The “fear” that fell on those who saw it wasn’t just natural, it was the dread of realizing they had killed the Holy One and yet failed to stop Him. 

Graves opened

Matthew 27:52–53  "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

Darkness over the earth

Matthew 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

The veil of the temple was torn

Matthew 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Earthquake and supernatural events

Matthew 27:52–53   “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

Fear Among the Soldiers and People

Matthew 27:54  The Roman centurion and those guarding Jesus were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Even hardened soldiers recognized divine truth in the moment.

The Crowd Beating Their Breasts

Luke 23:48  After seeing all these things, the people who witnessed the crucifixion went home beating their chests, a sign of grief, guilt, and confusion. Something was clearly not normal.

An Angel Rolled the Stone Away & Shone Like Lightning

Matthew 28:2–3 An angel descended, caused another great earthquake, and rolled away the stone at the tomb. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook and became like dead men out of fear.

The Stone Rolled Away Not by Man

Mark 16:3–4, Matthew 28:2  The heavy stone was removed supernaturally by the angel, not by humans—further reinforcing that resurrection power comes from heaven alone.

Selah

The people heard that the tomb was open. The establishment was stressed, and the Romans were stressed when the body was gone from the tomb. There was talk among the people that Jesus rose, and they had seen Him for almost 40 days after His death. The Risen Christ! Revelation 11:11 After 3½ days, the Spirit of God raises Jesus from the dead. He stands, alive, and fear grips those who see. The empty tomb testifies that the story isn't over. Resurrection power stuns the establishmen, talk amongs people about the resurrection of Jesus. The Spirit raised Him up they say, restoring God’s testimony in power and that shook the foundations of the system. Men saw the truth and believed!

Romans 8:11 – “The Spirit… shall quicken”

Matthew 28:6 – “He is risen”

Acts 2:24 – “God raised Him up”

Revelation 11:12

12. Jesus Glorification!

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.

"A great voice saying, ‘Come up hither’”

Jesus accention! Jesus is glorified to a higher place "John see the Cross in the spirit" because of Jesus faithfulness, even unto death. This is not merely an ascension to heaven, but a moment of glory. In verse 13, we see the cross and the events that follow.

“They ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them”

 The establishment and the Romans tried to cover up the fact that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. They were afraid. This reveals that those who crucified Jesus began to realize He truly was the Son of God. Jesus was taken up in glory, and the testimony of His resurrection likely spread far and wide. 

This moment sounds closely related "prophetic typology-dual-layered or double meaning " to the Scripture where Jesus was taken into the clouds in Matthew, with His disciples watching. But in Revelation 11:12, the analogy goes even deeper. It’s not just about seeing the glorified Jesus going into heaven, it’s a declaration. Jesus is saying to His enemies, “You did not win. Look I AM who I said I am, and now I have all glory and honor.” The ones He refers to as “enemies” are the old system, those who opposed Him. He conquered them, and now, what remains of that system will be brought down. And just like the faithful disciples who witnessed His ascension, those who follow Him still today watch Him ascend “into” heaven, not only as a vision of glory, but as a proclamation of victory.

Jesus is called up, glorified, exalted. This is not just about ascending into the sky, it is elevation to a place of highest honor. This dual message speaks of Jesus’ vindication before the eyes of the very ones who killed Him. Though they weren’t physically present at His ascension, the hidden meaning is clear, they would soon find out exactly who He really was. Jesus ascended and was glorified through His sacrifice. His authority is now fully established. After His resurrection, He went to the Father to receive all glory and dominion.

Acts 1:9 – “A cloud received Him”

Revelation 12:5 – “Caught up to God”

Daniel 7:13–14 – Son of Man receives dominion

Philippians 2:9–11 – “Highly exalted Him”

Revelation 11:13

13. Impact of Jesus Death!

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.

“A great earthquake, and the city fell” 

The cross had a powerful impact. As Jesus died, the earth shook, a natural manifestation of the massive spiritual shift taking place in the heavenlies. The veil was torn in two, and even the hardest hearts must have trembled. It was a judgment day moment, marked by undeniable signs both in the natural and the supernatural. 

“Tenth Part”

The tenth part symbolizes what rightfully belongs to God, a portion of honor, worship, and recognition that the system (the great city, or Babylon-like religious/legalistic structure) had robbed Him of.

In biblical terms, the tenth often represents a tithe, a portion set apart for God (see Leviticus 27:30). But here, instead of the people giving the tenth to God willingly, the city loses it in judgment. This is what they refused to give God voluntarily, glory, honor, and truth. It’s symbolic of what the religious system stole from Jesus, His identity, His honor, His authority, crucifying Him as a blasphemer and criminal. The falling of the tenth part represents God reclaiming what is His. The judgment exposes their corruption and strips away their false claim to holiness.

Malachi 3:8–10 – “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me... in tithes and offerings.”
Matthew 21:42–44 – The stone the builders rejected becomes the cornerstone; it falls on and grinds the false system.
Philippians 2:9–11 – God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, what men tried to deny, God restored.

The "tenth part" falling is symbolic of divine vindication. What they withheld from Jesus, His rightful honor as the Son of God is now forcefully reclaimed through judgment. It is the portion due to Him, a tithe of truth they refused to give, now torn from the heart of the false city as it begins to crumble.

“the city fell”

This points to the collapse of the old system, the corrupted synagogue and temple structure entangled with Roman political power. Together they formed an alliance: the Dragon (Satan-the wicked spirit behind the deception) and the Beast (the unholy unity between the religious leaders and the Roman Empire). They worked together to crucify Jesus, but in the end, they fell. What was built on lies and control could not stand against the power of the cross and the risen Lamb. 

All 12 tribes stood guilty at the cross:

The 10 tribes had long ago broken away in wickedness, rejecting God, turning to idols, and being scattered by Assyria. They had lost their place, but their rebellion still hung over the nation spiritually. The 2 tribes (Judah and Benjamin) remained, holding temple power and claiming righteousness, but in reality, they were no better. They thought themselves “faithful” because the Temple stood among them, yet they rejected the very One the Temple pointed to. This is why Jesus’ words fit so well: “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15–16). The ten were “cold” (open rebellion), the two pretended to be “hot” (claiming covenant faithfulness), but in truth they were lukewarm, self-righteous yet crucifying their own Messiah.

In effect, all twelve tribes were against Jesus. The ten had broken away in wickedness, swallowed up in idolatry and scattered among the nations. The two remaining tribes, Judah and Benjamin still functioned in temple power, convinced they were righteous. But in rejecting their own Messiah, they proved themselves lukewarm. The cold rebellion of the ten and the lukewarm self-righteousness of the two met at the cross, where the whole house of Israel stood guilty. Here, Jesus exposed both open wickedness and hidden hypocrisy, fulfilling His own words: “I would thou wert cold or hot… but because thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15–16). The cross unveiled that no tribe, no king, no crown could claim righteousness, only the Lamb slain is worthy.

“Slain of men seven thousand”

 A symbolic, perfected number representing judgment upon those deserving, measured according to their works.

“Glory to the God of heaven”

 God was glorified through Jesus’ act of sacrifice. It signified that atonement was complete, and believers responded with gratitude and faith in Jesus finished work.

Selah

An earthquake shakes the earth, the natural world responds to the death of Jesus. A tenth of the city falls, and many die. The shaking isn't just physical, it marks the fall of worldly systems. The faithful remnant gives glory to God, recognizing the power of the cross. The cross shook heaven and earth. The veil was torn, judgment began, and some repented.

Matthew 27:51–54 – Earthquake at His death

Hebrews 12:26–27 – “Yet once more I shake...”

Luke 23:47 – Centurion gives glory

See Addendum- Ten Horns and Ten Crowns 

See Addendum- Ten Tribes vs Jesus

Revelation 11:14

14. The Second Woe Finish!

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

“The Second Woe Finish”

The second woe ends, intensifying judgment paused as the finished work of Jesus interrupts the pattern. The cross changes everything. Woes symbolize intensifying judgment, but Jesus finished work interrupts and overcomes all by His blood and grace!

Revelation 8:13, 9:12 – Three woes

Revelation 8:13  “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”

Revelation 9:12  “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”

Quick Note on the Three Woe

The three woes are tied to the last three trumpet blasts (5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets). Revelation 8:13 introduces them as a triple warning of intensifying judgment. Revelation 9:12 confirms the first woe has passed (the torment of the locusts, 5th trumpet), and two more woes remain. Spiritually, these woes symbolize the deep unveiling of God’s judgment mixed with mercy, the exposure of sin, the shaking of nations, and the final victory of Jesus over every false power.

What the Three Woes Mean

The three woes are not a “future apocalypse,” but the deep unveiling of judgment and redemption at the cross. They unfold through the last three trumpets (5th, 6th, and 7th), intensifying the exposure of sin and the triumph of Jesus.

The Second Woe – The Powers Shaken (6th Trumpet, Rev. 9:13–21)

Four angels are loosed at the river Euphrates, unleashing judgment. A great army is seen, symbolic of the overwhelming power of God’s Word and Spirit moving through the nations. This woe is the shaking of earthly powers and false thrones, especially the old covenant temple system allied with Rome. Spiritually: at the cross, Satan was judged, principalities and powers were disarmed (Colossians 2:15). The “second woe” shows the collapse of earthly and religious systems when confronted with the Lamb’s victory.

The Third Woe yet come to pass – The Kingdom Declared (7th Trumpet, Rev. 11:15–19)

The final trumpet sounds: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). This is not future but present reality, the enthronement of Jesus at the right hand of God after His resurrection and ascension. Heaven is opened, the temple of God revealed, the ark seen the true covenant in Jesus exposed. Spiritually: this is the consummation of the marriage, Jesus reigning as King, the Bride united, the new covenant unveiled in glory.

The three woes are not curses for the Bride, but unveilings of truth through the cross:

First Woe: Sin exposed and torments those outside Jesus.
Second Woe: Earthly and religious powers shaken, Satan judged.
Third Woe: The final removal, the rapture of the wicked, so that the Bride, already united with Jesus, may be revealed in glory until the time of grace is complete. John never writes “the third woe is past” because it is the great unveiling at the end of the age: the Bride remains, and the wicked are swept away. What the world calls woes are, in truth, the breaking of chains and the unveiling of the Lamb’s glory. For the wicked, they are terror; but for the Bride, they are liberation.

See Addendum -  The Three Woe's

See Addendum - Tetelestai

Revelation 11:15

15. Jesus Takes His Sovereign Reign!

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.

“Gave great voices in heaven”

 A proclamation and witness that Jesus completed the finished work on the cross.

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord”

Jesus, the faithful Son, receives all authority in heaven and on earth, not through compromise, but through the obedience of the cross. The kingdoms Satan once offered Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:8–10) are now rightfully restored to Him by His own blood. He did not bow to the Dragon’s temptations like the corrupted temple system, which sought power through bribes, politics, and compromise. Instead, Jesus overcame through faithfulness, love, and sacrifice. He now rules as the true King, crowned not by men, but by the Father declaring the old systems fallen and His Kingdom eternal. 

“And of His Christ; and He shall reign forever” 

Jesus now holds sole authority as the Anointed King reign over an everlasting Kingdom. The Cross was not merely a salvation message, it was the pivotal moment that split and changed history, conquered death, and shook both heaven and earth. All of creation and heaven itself, declared this glory with awe and astonishment. The angels, who long looked into these things (1 Peter 1:12), were witnesses of divine victory as the Lamb triumphed over every power.

Col. 2:15 “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly.” 

1 Pet. 1:12 “Which things the angels desire to look into.” 

Isa. 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”

The everlasting reign of Jesus is the result of the cross, heaven’s loudest amen to the finished work of Jesus. He reigns not by force, but by love, truth, and sacrifice, and that reign has no end. Heaven explodes with praise. The kingdoms of the world are now His, redeemed by His blood. He reigns forever. His authority is undisputed and eternal. Jesus is King. All authority has now shifted to Him after the resurrection and ascension.

Matthew 28:18 – “All power is given unto Me”

Daniel 7:14 – Everlasting dominion

Colossians 1:13 – Transferred into His Kingdom

Revelation 11:16

16. The Church and Word Triumphant!

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

“The twenty-four elders worshipped God”

 The saints "Church" worship in awe of this great marriage between God and His bride united as one. The old has been made new and there is no more separation between God and man. The elders fall down in worship, no more separation. God and His people are one. The old is fulfilled and the new has come. Jesus has received great power and is reigning. Heaven rejoices over Jesus victory. The elders represent the redeemed, offering thanks for God's reign through Jesus.

Revelation 4:4, 5:8 – Elders worship the Lamb

Hebrews 12:23 – Church of the firstborn

Revelation 12:10 – “Now is come salvation…”

Revelation 11:17

17. Jesus the King!

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.

“We give thee thanks”

Heaven gives thanks, Jesus, the eternal One, has taken His rightful place as King. He has reigned. The victory is complete.

Luke 17:15–16  “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”

Luke 17:17–18  “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

 The Parallel with Revelation 11:17 (“We give thee thanks…”)

In Revelation 11:17 the twenty-four elders cry: “We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty…” In Luke 17, ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to give thanks and that one was a Samaritan (outside of Israel).

This is a salvation parable:

The ten lepers = the scattered tribes / mankind in uncleanness.
The one returning = the true Bride, born not of the flesh but of the Spirit, who glorifies God through the blood of Jesus.
The nine = represent those who receive blessing outwardly but never come into true union through thanksgiving and faith.

So just as in Luke 17 only one out of ten gave thanks, so in Revelation 11:17 the true Bride, gathered from all nations and tribes, is the one who falls at His feet and says: “We give Thee thanks.”

Faith in Jesus 

Faith in Jesus is not just politeness, it’s the fruit of trust and recognition that salvation is a gift!

Colossians 2:6–7  “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving flows out of faith, to be “rooted in Christ” means to live in thankfulness.

Philippians 4:6–7  “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Thankfulness is a mark of trust. Faith expresses itself through thanksgiving, even in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
A thankful heart shows confidence in God’s will, faith that He is working all things for good.

Luke 17:19 (after the one leper gave thanks) “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Jesus directly connects the man’s thankfulness to his faith. Gratitude revealed that his healing was not just physical, but spiritual. Thankfulness is not just an emotion,  it is the evidence of faith. Those who truly believe in Jesus respond with gratitude, glorifying Him. Just like the one leper, thanksgiving is the mark of the Bride who recognizes that all comes by His blood.

“Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power”

Jesus receives back all power and authority, not as one grasping or stealing, but as One worthy, who gave His life freely and then took back the authority righteously. The word “taken” here is key: Jesus was not overpowered, but chose to lay down His life, and then took it up again in divine victory.

 John 19:11 (to Pilate) “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.”
John 10:17–18 “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.”
Matthew 28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Jesus didn’t seize power like worldly kings, He surrendered to the cross in obedience, and because of that, He was exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:8–9). This “taking” of power in Revelation is the Heavenly affirmation of the "It is finished!" moment.

“And hast reigned”

Jesus now reigns as King!

Revelation 11:18

18. Judgement Day!

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.

“The nations were angry” 

They were mad because they knew Jesus succeeded. If they had truly understood, they would never have crucified Him. Their system was defeated, and they lost their kingdom and power. The anger of the nations reflects the moment when spiritual and earthly systems realized their rule was ending. Jesus, by dying on the cross, didn't lose, He conquered. Their kingdom fell, and His rose. Their anger is not power, it’s the sound of defeat. 

Psalm 2:1–2  “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.”
This was fulfilled at the crucifixion, when religious and Roman powers united against Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2:8  “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Their anger is rooted in regret and blindness, they unwittingly destroyed their own system.
Colossians 2:15  “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
Jesus triumphed over the powers of darkness at the cross, publicly exposing them.
Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed…”
A symbolic continuation of the anger of the nations, now directed toward the Church.

“Thy wrath is come” 

Jesus has the authority to pour out wrath through His blood, yet He offers grace to those who believe. This part indicate that "wrath" is not a future event but judgement on the cross mixed with grace and love of His blood. God so loved the world! This line reveals that God’s wrath was fully revealed at the cross, where justice and mercy met. Jesus bore the wrath of sin on behalf of the world, He did not come to destroy, but to save through sacrifice. The judgment was real, but so was the grace that poured out with His blood. The phrase “Thy wrath is come” (Revelation 11:18) marks the spiritual climax, not a chronological one, pointing to the cross as the true outpouring of divine wrath and love. The wrath of God is not reserved for a later date, it already came, and it was fully absorbed by Jesus on the cross. What could have destroyed us was turned into a fountain of grace. This is not about fear of the future, but faith in the finished work of Jesus.

Jesus is both Judge and Sacrifice – Wrath was not delayed to a future end-time; it was poured out at Calvary.
John 3:16–17 – “For God so loved the world... not to condemn but to save.”
Isaiah 53:5 – “He was bruised for our iniquities... the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.”
Romans 5:9 – “Being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
John 12:31 – “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

“The time of the dead, that they should be judged”

The dead before the cross were judged first. Some even rose from the dead, as reported, people saw them walking in Jerusalem. The dead before Jesus- those under the old covenant, faced their moment of reckoning when the true Judge, Jesus, offered the final atonement. Some, who waited in hope, were resurrected as a sign of this great shift. This moment in Revelation marks the fulfillment of long-awaited justice for those who died in faith before the cross. Jesus didn’t only affect the living, His death and resurrection reached backward. The righteous dead received their reward, and some even rose as living proof. Judgment began not in fear, but in vindication and resurrection through Jesus. The resurrection of some Old Testament saints shows that the judgment of the dead had begun with Jesus finished work.

Matthew 27:52–53  “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection… and appeared unto many.”

John 5:25  “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
Hebrews 9:15  Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant to redeem the transgressions under the first covenant.

“Reward unto Thy servants the prophets”

 The prophets are honored for their faithful testimony about the coming Messiah. This is a way of saying "See we where right and you should have listened but instead you rejected our message and killed us. 400 years and more for some in waiting but Jesus truly avenged us! This line signifies a vindication and reward for the prophets who faithfully testified of the coming Messiah, despite persecution, rejection, and death. At the cross and resurrection, their message was confirmed, and they were honored in heaven’s court. The prophets were not forgotten. Though killed and mocked, their words came true at the cross, and Jesus avenged their suffering by proving their testimony correct. This is heaven’s declaration: God keeps His promises, and His messengers were right.

Luke 24:27 – Jesus expounds to the disciples “in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself,” confirming the prophets pointed to Him.
Matthew 23:29–37 – Jesus exposes Jerusalem’s guilt: “Ye build the tombs of the prophets… ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.”
Revelation 6:9–11 – The souls under the altar cry for justice. They were slain for the word of God, this verse now reveals their vindication.
Acts 3:18–21 – Peter affirms all the prophets foretold Christ’s suffering and that God would now fulfill all things spoken.
Romans 1:2 – The Gospel was promised “by His prophets in the holy scriptures.” Their faithful word has now been validated forever.

“To the saints and them that fear Thy name” 

This phrase emphasizes the reward and honor given to those who believed, both before and after the cross. These are the faithful saints, those who feared God, trusted His promises, and waited for the Messiah, now honored in His victory. This phrase celebrates the full inclusion and honoring of God’s people, from Abraham to the last believer. The saints who lived in hope before the cross, and those who now believe after it, together share in the reward of Jesus finished work. The fear of the Lord was not forgotten, it became the foundation of eternal reward. The saints of old are perfected together with us throughJ esus.

Hebrews 11:39–40  “These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us…”
Malachi 3:16–17  A book of remembrance was written “for them that feared the Lord… they shall be mine… in that day when I make up my jewels.”
Luke 1:50  “His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.”
Romans 4:11–13  Abraham is the father of all who believe, both circumcised and uncircumcised, he represents the faithful saints.
Philippians 2:9–11  Because Jesus humbled Himself, every knee shall bow, and He becomes the focal point of honor for all who fear God's name.

“Destroy them which destroy the earth”

Jesus destroyed “them” those who do not value or preserve life, those marked by the number of the beast in their wicked minds. Their structures and ways will never stand. Just like Daniel showed King Nebuchadnezzar, the Rock, who is Jesus and will destroy all kingdoms into dust, blown away by the Spirit of God, and in their place, a great mountain, His Kingdom will be established forever.  This speaks of Jesus’ righteous judgment against those who corrupt, oppress, and defile what God created. These are not just environmental destroyers, but spiritual corrupters, builders of false systems, and enemies of truth, those who destroy hearts, nations, and righteousness for selfish gain.

Revelation 11:18  “...and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
Jesus brings down those who pollute and ruin God's creation, both spiritually and morally.

Daniel 2:34–35  The stone cut without hands smites the image and destroys all earthly kingdoms.
This Stone is Jesus, who replaces all carnal power with a spiritual, everlasting Kingdom.

Isaiah 11:4  “...He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth...”
His word judges and brings down the wicked.

Psalm 2:9  “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron...”
This includes rebellious systems that resist the reign of Jesus.

1 John 3:8  “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Not just people, but the entire corrupt system rooted in deception and death.

Jesus, the Rock of Ages, has begun destroying all forms of worldly rebellion, from false religious kingdoms to selfish empires built on blood and pride. Just as in Daniel's vision, He doesn’t patch the old, He crushes it into dust and raises a mountain that is God’s unshakable Kingdom. Those who destroy truth, life, and righteousness will find their end in Jesus victory. Evil that rejects Jesus dies not only spiritually, but also eternally and even faces judgment in the natural world. The nations rage, they know they’ve lost. Judgment arrives. The dead are judged. Prophets, saints, and those who feared His name are rewarded. Those who destroyed the earth through rebellion are destroyed. Through Jesus, the final judgment begins: wrath to the rebellious, reward to the faithful.

John 5:29
“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Daniel 12:2–3
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Revelation 11:19

19. God Among Us-Judgments Made!

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.

See: Addendum - thunders and lightnings

“The temple of God was opened in heaven” 

There is no more separation between God and man. Through Jesus, God now lives in us, and we have full access to Him as His beloved children. We are not only priests, able to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, but also kings, welcomed into His throne room to make judgments, bring divine order, and shine as lights set on a mountain, transforming hearts and nations toward God. We are not mere servants, but sons and daughters, who can now behold the face of God’s glory and live. In this new covenant, we stand with confidence and assurance, securely held in the hands of our Father. Truly, He has opened the door! The opened temple reveals the completed access we have through Jesus’ finished work. Heaven is no longer distant, it’s within. We now stand as heirs and co-laborers, living out the reality of His Kingdom on earth.

Hebrews 10:19–22 – "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus..."

Revelation 1:6 – "And hath made us kings and priests unto God..."

2 Corinthians 3:18 – "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord..."

John 1:12 – "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God..."

Revelation 3:8 – "Behold, I have set before thee an open door..."

“Seen in His temple the ark of His testament”

This reveals the ark of His presence and testimony now in the heart of man. His dwelling place is within us, and all judgments were made by His blood to set us free.

Hebrews 9:4   “…the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant…” These three items represent God's full redemptive plan, all fulfilled in Jesus. what do we see from these three elements in the ark? "The Law is fulfilled, a rightly measured judgment that now guides us into a new life of grace, sustained and nourished and glorified by the Bread of Life." Golden pot - glory, Manna - life, Rod - measured judgment, Budded - new life. The heavenly temple opens. The ark is visible, God’s presence is no longer hidden. The thunder, lightning, earthquake, and hail show that divine judgment and presence have fully come. God now dwells among His people. Access is granted. Relationship restored. The blood has spoken. Jesus has opened access to God’s presence. He is the true Ark, the fulfillment of the covenant dwelling among men.

Hebrews 9:11–12; 10:19–22 – Jesus entered the true tabernacle

John 1:14 – Word became flesh and tabernacle

Revelation 21:3 – “God dwells with men”

Jeremiah 31:33 – Law written on hearts

See Addendum- The Ark

See Addendum- Aaron's Rod

Lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake, and great hail

God’s majesty and judgment are manifest through Jesus. His presence brings both awe and cleansing.

Exodus 19:16–19 – Sinai glory

Psalm 18:13–14 – Divine storm imagery

Revelation 4:5 – Lightning around the throne

This chapter symbolically portrays: Jesus measuring and judging the old religious system, the testimony of Jesus (Word and Spirit) being rejected, crucified, and resurrected. His Church continuing that witness in a hostile world, God opening covenant access to all through our faith in Jesus. Final victory, resurrection power, and the reign of Jesus as eternal King and even when truth appears to be defeated, Jesus is risen, His kingdom prevails, and His Church shines in Spirit and truth.

To My Bride

The Church is called to bold, Spirit-empowered witness, measured and secured in Jesus finished work. As the Bride, we prophesy, persevere, and even suffer for the sake of truth, knowing that resurrection life is our destiny. We overcome by standing firm in testimony, refusing compromise, and trusting God’s vindication even in the face of worldly rejection. Our victory is not in avoiding trial, but in sharing the story of Jesus through Word and Spirit, bringing life and transformation to a world in need.