Read Revelation 11

Key Verse: Revelation 11:15b “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord an of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.”

As John’s vision continues, he is given a measuring device and is told to “measure the temple of God and the altar” and to “count the worshippers there” (v.1). He is also told not to measure the “outer court” because it has been given to “the Gentiles” who will “trample on the holy city for 42 months” (v.2). Then the speaker refers to “my two witnesses” (the speaker is not named but I think we can assume it is Jesus ) who will “prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth” (v.3).

John goes on to say that these two witnesses are “two olive trees” and “two lamp stands” who devour their enemies with fire that comes out of their mouths (vv.4,5). Then, in verse 6, he calls them men, and in verses 7-12 we see them killed by a “beast that comes up from the Abyss”, and after three and a half days, they are resurrected and ascend “up to heaven in a cloud”.

The witnesses are not named, so I won’t speculate as to their identity (although some3 commentators build a case for them being Elijah and Moses). The beast is also not named, but we do know that this beast is the first of four referred to in the vision. The other three were the dragon (or Satan, 12:3), the beast with ten horns and seven heads (13:1), and the beast with two horns who spoke like a dragon (13:11). Apart from the variety of description, all these beasts are committed enemies of God. In this chapter, many commentators identify this beast with the Antichrist.

But the key verse (v.15) is the focus of the chapter. The “kingdom of the world”, that is: Satan’s domain, will eventually give way to “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ”. The Lamb will “begin to reign” (v.17).