Meaning of Revelation 11:3

Revelation 11:3 introduces two divinely appointed witnesses who will prophesy for a specific period of 1,260 days, a duration that carries significant symbolic weight within apocalyptic literature. Their attire of sackcloth signifies mourning, repentance, and a prophetic stance of lament and judgment against the prevailing wickedness of their time. These witnesses are not merely passive observers but active agents of God, delivering His message in a period of intense spiritual and political turmoil, likely preceding or coinciding with the final judgments described in the book. Their ministry is characterized by divine empowerment and protection, even amidst opposition, highlighting God's sovereign plan to bear witness to His truth before the consummation of history.

Context and Background

This verse is situated within Revelation chapter 11, which describes a period of tribulation and divine intervention. John is instructed to measure the temple of God, excluding the outer court which is given to the nations. Following this, the two witnesses are commissioned. The 1,260 days are a recurring prophetic period in Revelation (also seen in 11:2, 12:6, and 13:5), often interpreted as a literal period or, more symbolically, representing a time of testing and persecution for God's people, or a complete generation. The "sackcloth" is a traditional garment of mourning, penitence, and humility, often worn by prophets like Elijah and Elisha, suggesting a continuation of their prophetic spirit and a message of divine displeasure.

Key Themes and Messages

The central themes are divine commission, prophetic witness, endurance in suffering, and God's sovereign timing. The witnesses are explicitly appointed by God, indicating their authority is not self-derived. Their prophecy, delivered in sackcloth, communicates a message of judgment and a call to repentance in the face of an ungodly world. The specific duration emphasizes that their ministry is a divinely ordained and limited period, not an indefinite one.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, these witnesses represent the faithful remnant of God's people who bear witness to Him during times of intense opposition and spiritual darkness. Their prophecy in sackcloth can be seen as the church's ongoing prophetic calling to speak truth to power, lament the state of the world, and call for repentance, often at great personal cost. The period of 1,260 days underscores the importance of perseverance and faithfulness through trials, trusting that God's purposes will ultimately be fulfilled.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The concept of divinely appointed witnesses is a consistent thread throughout Scripture, from Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament to the apostles and early disciples in the New. The prophetic voice, often met with resistance and persecution, is a hallmark of God's interaction with humanity. The imagery of sackcloth echoes the prophetic tradition of mourning and judgment, a theme present from Isaiah to Jeremiah. Furthermore, the period of testing before final deliverance is a recurring motif in biblical history, from the wilderness wanderings to the Babylonian exile.

Analogies

The two witnesses can be likened to:

• Two lamps or candlesticks (Revelation 11:4), signifying their role in shedding light and bearing testimony in darkness.
• The olive trees mentioned in Zechariah 4:14, which are described as "the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth," often interpreted as representing priestly and kingly authority or prophetic ministries that sustain God's work.
• The persistent voice of conscience and truth in a corrupt world, even when that voice is unpopular and its bearers face hardship.

Relation to Other Verses

• Revelation 11:4: Directly links the witnesses to the imagery of olive trees and lampstands, reinforcing their symbolic role as empowered bearers of testimony.
• Daniel 7:25, 12:7: These passages in Daniel also speak of a period of persecution and tribulation for God's people, often described in terms of "time, times, and half a time" or 1,260 days, highlighting the consistent prophetic framework of tribulation followed by divine vindication.
• Matthew 24:9-14: Jesus speaks of His followers being hated, persecuted, and delivering a testimony to all nations before the end, aligning with the witness-bearing role of these figures.
• 1 Kings 17-18 and 2 Kings 1-2: The ministry of Elijah and Elisha, who prophesied powerfully and faced significant opposition, serves as a strong Old Testament precedent for the spirit and function of these two witnesses.