From Behind The Veil (15)

The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet – The Final Warning Before the Kingdom

Primary Text: Revelation 11:1–19

Primary Scripture Reading

Revelation 11:3–15 KJV 1900

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 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.

Introduction

Revelation 11 is one of the most pivotal chapters in the entire book.

It connects:

The ministry of the two witnesses The rise of the beast The resurrection of the witnesses And the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

This chapter acts as a bridge between warning and fulfillment.

Before the final trumpet sounds, God sends witnesses.

Before the kingdom is openly revealed, truth is proclaimed one last time.

Behind the veil we see:

God never releases final judgment without final testimony.

The Measuring of the Temple

Scripture: Revelation 11:1–2

“…Rise, and measure the temple of God…”

“Measure” – Greek: metreō (Strong’s G3354)

Meaning:

• to measure precisely • to mark ownership • to distinguish

Measuring in Scripture represents:

Protection Possession Separation

Zechariah 2:1–5 shows Jerusalem measured prophetically before divine protection.

This indicates that before final judgment intensifies, God identifies what belongs to Him.

Behind the veil we see:

God distinguishes His people before wrath unfolds fully.

The Ministry of the Two Witnesses

Scripture: Revelation 11:3

“…they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days…”

1260 days = 3½ years.

This connects directly with:

Daniel’s final prophetic timeline The Great Tribulation period

“Sackcloth”

Represents:

Repentance Warning Mourning

These witnesses are not motivational speakers.

They are prophetic confrontational voices.

Behind the veil we see:

Before the King openly reigns, heaven sends warning.

Who Are the Two Witnesses?

Interpretation 1 –

Israel and the Church

Why some believe this:

• olive trees and candlesticks carry symbolic meanings • Romans 11 connects olive trees with Israel • Revelation 1 connects candlesticks with churches

Why this interpretation struggles:

Revelation treats them as individuals.

“They shall prophesy…” “Their dead bodies…”

2. They die in one city publicly.

3. They are resurrected after 3½ literal days.

The language reads literally, not corporately.

Why people arrive at this conclusion:

Because Revelation contains symbolism, some interpret almost everything symbolically.

But symbolism still points to real fulfillment.

Interpretation 2 –

Enoch and Elijah

Why some believe this:

Neither recorded physical death.

Genesis 5:24 – Enoch taken 2 Kings 2:11 – Elijah taken

Hebrews 9:27

“…appointed unto men once to die…”

So some conclude these two must return and die.

Why this interpretation struggles:

The miracles do not match Enoch.

Nothing in Scripture connects Enoch with:

• shutting heaven • turning water to blood • calling down fire

Interpretation 3 –

Moses and Elijah

This is the strongest interpretation scripturally.

Why?

Their miracles match Revelation 11 exactly.

Elijah:

Shut heaven from rain (1 Kings 17:1)

Moses:

Turned waters to blood (Exodus 7:20)

2. Malachi 4:5 specifically prophesies Elijah’s return.

3.Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration.

4. They represent the Law and the Prophets testifying of Christ.

Luke 24:27

“…beginning at Moses and all the prophets…”

Why some reject this interpretation:

Moses died physically according to Deuteronomy 34.

But Hebrews 9:27 is a general principle—not an absolute prophetic formula.

Others in Scripture died more than once after resurrection.

Behind the veil we see:

The strongest biblical pattern points toward two literal prophetic witnesses operating in the spirit and authority connected to Moses and Elijah.

Fire From Their Mouth

Scripture: Revelation 11:5

“…fire proceedeth out of their mouth…”

This likely represents prophetic judgment through spoken Word.

Jeremiah 5:14

“…I will make my words in thy mouth fire…”

The Word itself becomes judgment.

Behind the veil we see:

Truth is not passive—it carries authority.

The Beast Kills the Witnesses

Scripture: Revelation 11:7

“…the beast… shall overcome them, and kill them.”

Notice:

The beast cannot touch them UNTIL:

“…they shall have finished their testimony…”

Hell cannot stop God’s witnesses prematurely.

Their assignment is protected by divine timing.

Behind the veil we see:

Purpose determines protection.

The World Celebrates Their Death

Scripture: Revelation 11:10

“…they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice…”

Why?

Because conviction is gone.

Truth torments rebellion.

The world celebrates because the prophetic voice appears silenced.

Behind the veil we see:

A rebellious world hates truth that exposes darkness.

The Resurrection of the Witnesses

Scripture: Revelation 11:11–12

“…the Spirit of life from God entered into them…”

After 3½ days:

They rise publicly. Fear falls on the earth. They ascend to heaven.

This mirrors resurrection imagery connected to Christ.

Behind the veil we see:

God always has the final word over death.

The Seventh Trumpet Sounds

Scripture: Revelation 11:15

“And the seventh angel sounded…”

This is the final trumpet in the trumpet sequence.

Trumpets in Scripture announce:

War Gathering Kingship Divine intervention

This is why we connect this trumpet to:

1 Corinthians 15:52

“…at the last trump…”

And:

1 Thessalonians 4:16

“…with the trump of God…”

Why this interpretation makes sense:

This is the LAST trumpet.

It announces Christ’s kingdom.

It mentions resurrection and reward.

It follows tribulation and cosmic judgments.

Why some reject this interpretation:

Some separate Paul’s trumpet from Revelation entirely because Revelation had not yet been written.

Others remove the church completely from Revelation’s timeline.

But reading Scripture together reveals strong parallels.

Behind the veil we see:

The seventh trumpet is deeply connected to resurrection, reward, and kingdom transition.

The Kingdoms Become His

Scripture: Revelation 11:15

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

“Kingdoms” – Greek: basileia (Strong’s G932)

Meaning:

• dominion • royal authority • realm

This is a transfer of rulership.

Earth’s rebellion is reaching its end.

Daniel 7:14

“…there was given him dominion…”

Psalm 2 prophesied this moment.

Behind the veil we see:

Every earthly kingdom eventually falls before Christ’s kingdom.

The Nations Rage and Wrath Comes

Scripture: Revelation 11:18

“And the nations were angry…”

Psalm 2 again parallels this:

“Why do the heathen rage…”

Then:

“…thy wrath is come…”

This connects back to Revelation 6:17:

“For the great day of his wrath is come.”

The sixth seal announces approaching wrath.

The seventh trumpet reveals wrath openly unfolding.

Behind the veil we see:

The Day of the Lord progresses in stages.

The Resurrection and Reward of the Saints

Scripture: Revelation 11:18

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

“…give reward unto thy servants…”

Notice the connections:

Trumpet Kingdom announcement Resurrection language Reward of saints

This strongly parallels:

1 Corinthians 15 1 Thessalonians 4 Matthew 24

Matthew 24:29–31

After tribulation After cosmic signs Then trumpet Then gathering

Behind the veil we see:

The final trumpet is connected to resurrection and kingdom transition.

The Temple Opened in Heaven

Scripture: Revelation 11:19

“…the temple of God was opened in heaven…”

Then John sees:

“…the ark of his testament…”

The ark represents:

Covenant Presence Mercy Authority

At the climax of judgment, covenant is revealed.

Behind the veil we see:

Even in wrath, God remembers covenant.

Application

God always sends witnesses before judgment.

No generation is left without warning.

2. Truth confronts darkness.

Real prophetic ministry exposes sin.

3. God protects His servants until their assignment is complete.

4. Earthly kingdoms are temporary.

Only Christ’s kingdom remains forever.

5. The final trumpet is hope for believers.

What terrifies the world brings redemption to the saints.

Closing Insight

Revelation 11 reveals one overwhelming truth:

Before the King openly reigns, heaven gives one final witness.

The prophets testify. The beast rages. The world celebrates darkness. But God raises His witnesses and sounds the final trumpet.

Behind the veil we see:

History is not moving toward chaos.

It is moving toward a King.

Next Session Preview

In the next session, we will enter Revelation 12.

A woman clothed with the sun will appear. A great red dragon will rise. War will break out in heaven.

And the spiritual conflict behind earthly events will be revealed openly.

But remember this:

Before the dragon wages war on the earth, heaven already knows his end.