The big picture
Revelation 11 opens in verse 1 with “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall…”, and closes in verse 19 with “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of…” Repeated or prominent terms include heaven, earth, days, dead, power. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Revelation · King James Version · 19Revelation 11:1-7
1–7: There was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying…
Revelation 11:1–7 opens with “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure…” and reaches “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The measured temple, two witnesses, their death and vindication, and the seventh trumpet announcing the kingdom, with particular weight carried by power, days, earth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and…” Naming Rise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Revelation 11:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
2But 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.
3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5And 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.
6These 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.
7And 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.
Revelation 11:8-14
8–14: Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which…
Revelation 11:8–14 opens with “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called…” and reaches “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The measured temple, two witnesses, their death and vindication, and the seventh trumpet announcing the kingdom, with particular weight carried by bodies, dead, heaven.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Revelation 11:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
9And 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.
10And 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.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13And 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.
14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Revelation 11:15-19
15–19: The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven…
Revelation 11:15–19 opens with “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of…” and reaches “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The measured temple, two witnesses, their death and vindication, and the seventh trumpet announcing the kingdom, with particular weight carried by destroy, heaven, kingdoms.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Revelation 11:15-19
King James Version15And 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.
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17Saying, 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.
18And 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.
19And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Revelation 11:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Revelation 11:2 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Revelation 11:19 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words heaven, earth, days, dead, power, temple help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How will Abram's story answer Babel?
The builders seek to make their own name; God promises to make Abram's name great and to bless other families through him.
What obstacles frame the coming promise?
The family has not reached Canaan, and Sarai has no child.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.