Revelation 11

v.1

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there.

v.2

But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

v.3

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

The two witnesses mentioned here who prophesy are not individuals, but rather represent the corporate church in its capacity as faithful prophetic witness to Christ. We can give a number of reasons for this: They are referred to as “two lampstands” in v. 4, which should be identified as the churches (see 1:12-2:5). The OT had prophesied that the entire eschatological community of God’s people would receive the Spirit’s gift of prophecy (Joel 2:28-32), and the early Christian community understood that this prophecy had begun fulfillment in their midst (Acts 2:17-21). In v. 7, it states that the beast will make war on the two witnesses. This alludes to Dan. 7:21, where not an individual but the nation as the covenant community is attacked… The witnesses prophesy for three and a half years (v. 3), the same amount of time that the holy city (the church) is trampled under foot (v. 2) and the woman of 12:6 (also representing the church) and those dwelling in heaven (13:6) are oppressed…

Above all, only two the seven churches in chs. 2-3 escaped Christ’s accusations of unfaithfulness (Smyrna and Philadelphia). That these two churches as representative of the faithful church are in mind is apparent from the identification of the “prophetic witnesses” here as “lampstands.” Thus there is pictured here the faithful remnant church who witnesses.

GKBeale

v.7

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

v.18

The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”