Revelation 11:3 kjv
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:3 nkjv
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Revelation 11:3 niv
And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."
Revelation 11:3 esv
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."
Revelation 11:3 nlt
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days."
Revelation 11 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 19:15 | "A single witness shall not suffice... by the testimony of two witnesses..." | Principle of two witnesses. |
| Zec 4:14 | "These are the two anoint-ed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." | Two "sons of oil," likely prophetic figures. |
| Matt 18:16 | "if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, that every charge... confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses." | Authority and validation of witness. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | Disciples empowered to be witnesses. |
| Rev 1:5 | "and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness..." | Jesus as the ultimate faithful witness. |
| Dan 7:25 | "He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time." | Same prophetic time period (3.5 years). |
| Dan 12:7 | "It would be for a time, times, and half a time..." | Another instance of the 3.5 years period. |
| Rev 12:6 | "and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be fed for 1,260 days." | Same time period for God's protection. |
| Rev 13:5 | "and authority was given to it to continue for forty-two months." | Equivalent to 3.5 years or 1260 days. |
| Gen 37:34 | "Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins..." | Sackcloth as a sign of deep mourning. |
| 1 Ki 21:27 | "And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his garments and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth..." | Sackcloth for repentance and humility. |
| Isa 20:2 | "at that time the Lord had spoken by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins..." | Sackcloth as prophetic attire/symbol. |
| Jon 3:5-6 | "The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth..." | Corporate repentance shown through sackcloth. |
| Jer 4:8 | "For this put on sackcloth, lament and wail..." | Sackcloth for lamentation and judgment. |
| Lam 2:10 | "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have cast dust on their heads and put on sackcloth..." | Grief and desolation signified by sackcloth. |
| Matt 11:21 | "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." | Call to repentance. |
| Lk 10:13 | "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." | Repentance demonstrated. |
| Jer 1:9-10 | "Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth... 'See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.'" | God's commission and authority for prophecy. |
| Ezek 3:1-4 | "And he said to me, 'Son of man, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.'" | Prophetic commissioning and message. |
| Zec 4:2 | "What do you see?' I said, 'I see a lampstand all of gold... and two olive trees by it, one on the right and one on the left of the bowl.'" | Connects to imagery in Rev 11:4 for witnesses. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes..." | Foreshadowing of future prophetic ministry. |
Revelation 11 verses
Revelation 11 3 Meaning
Revelation 11:3 announces God's divine commission of two empowered witnesses who will prophesy for a specific period of one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Their ministry will be characterized by a deep sense of mourning, repentance, and prophetic warning, symbolized by their attire of sackcloth. This verse sets the stage for a period of intensified prophetic testimony amidst tribulation, ordained by God Himself.
Revelation 11 3 Context
Revelation 11:3 is situated within a pivotal section of John's vision following the sounding of the seventh trumpet in chapter 10, which announced "the mystery of God would be fulfilled" (Rev 10:7). Chapter 11 opens with John commanded to measure the temple, but to exclude the outer court, implying a distinction between true worshippers and those nominally religious. Immediately following this instruction, God announces the commissioning of these two powerful witnesses, who stand in stark contrast to the unholy world around them. Their ministry takes place during the last 3.5 years of Daniel's prophecy, known as the Great Tribulation, a time marked by severe divine judgments. They serve as God's persistent voice, calling to repentance and proclaiming judgment before the return of Christ, in a world steeped in rebellion against God.
Revelation 11 3 Word analysis
- "And I will give power to my two witnesses":
- "And I will give power": The Greek is kai dōsoumai dynamis (καὶ δώσω δύν αμιν), emphasizing divine bestowal. This power is not inherent to the witnesses but comes from God, enabling them to fulfill their mission despite opposition. It implies supernatural authority and capability beyond normal human limits.
- "my two witnesses": Greek tois dyo martysin mou (τοῖς δύο μάρτυσίν μου).
- "My" (mou) signifies God's personal selection and ownership, indicating their direct commission from the Almighty. They are God's chosen instruments.
- "Two" (duo) is significant in Jewish law (Deut 19:15), where the testimony of two or three witnesses was required for validation and truth. This provides undeniable and irrefutable testimony in the face of widespread unbelief. In a prophetic context, it reinforces the certainty and truthfulness of their message. The identity of these two witnesses has been a subject of diverse interpretations—some view them as literal individuals (often Moses and Elijah, due to their powers and prefigurement in OT), others as symbolic of the Church (Old and New Testament believers, or the believing remnant), or even literal individuals representing prophetic office. Regardless, they represent a faithful remnant testifying for God.
- "Witnesses" (martysin) comes from martys, which also gives us the word "martyr." It implies not just giving testimony, but doing so faithfully, even unto death, embodying the suffering aspect of prophetic ministry.
- "and they will prophesy": The Greek kai prophēteusousin (καὶ προφητεύσουσιν). This signifies active, ongoing prophetic ministry. "Prophesy" in the Bible involves both "forth-telling" (speaking God's word, truth, and warnings to their generation) and sometimes "fore-telling" (predicting future events, particularly judgment). Their mission is to declare God's message, denounce sin, call for repentance, and warn of impending judgment, demonstrating God's longsuffering patience before final judgment.
- "one thousand two hundred and sixty days": The Greek hēmeras chilias diakosias hexēkonta (ἡμέρας χιλίας διακοσίας ἑξήκοντα). This precise duration corresponds to 42 months (Rev 13:5) or "a time, times, and half a time" (Dan 7:25, 12:7; Rev 12:14), which is 3.5 years. This fixed, limited period signifies the exact timing of their ministry, often associated with the duration of the Great Tribulation or the latter half of Daniel's 70th week. The precision highlights God's sovereignty and His predetermined plan, not leaving anything to chance.
- "clothed in sackcloth": The Greek perißeßlēmenoi sakkous (περιβεβλημένοι σάκκους).
- "Clothed in sackcloth" is deeply symbolic. Sackcloth in biblical tradition is primarily a sign of:
- Mourning and grief (Gen 37:34, Jer 4:8): Signifying their sorrow over the world's sin and rebellion against God.
- Repentance and humility (1 Ki 21:27, Jonah 3:5-6): Calling others to lament their sins and turn back to God, modeling the attitude they preach.
- Prophetic lament/warning of judgment (Isa 20:2, Jer 6:26): Identifying with the sorrow God feels over a rebellious people and warning them of impending divine wrath.This attire underlines the solemn and urgent nature of their prophetic ministry. It's not a message of comfort to the world, but one of severe warning and call to deep change.
- "Clothed in sackcloth" is deeply symbolic. Sackcloth in biblical tradition is primarily a sign of:
Revelation 11 3 Bonus section
The power granted to the two witnesses later includes ability to send plagues (Rev 11:6), similar to Moses, and call fire from heaven (Rev 11:5), like Elijah, strengthening the common interpretation of their symbolic identity as 'new Moses and Elijah' figures. Their ministry demonstrates God's persistent grace and patience even in the midst of escalating judgments, offering a final opportunity for humanity to repent before final judgments unfold. They serve as a powerful contrast to the beasts introduced later in Revelation, representing the clash between God's truth and demonic deception. Their testimony also implies God's care for His own people, as these witnesses are a testament to the fact that God always has His faithful representatives on earth, regardless of how dark the times become.
Revelation 11 3 Commentary
Revelation 11:3 is a profound statement of divine initiative and enduring witness amidst escalating global rebellion. God Himself commissions two specially empowered witnesses for a clearly defined period of 1260 days. This period, equivalent to three and a half years, indicates a specific, though often debated, timeframe within end-time events, generally aligning with the intensity of the Great Tribulation. Their ministry of prophecy—both forth-telling divine truth and fore-telling future judgment—is conducted in "sackcloth." This signifies the solemnity and lamentable nature of their message: a sorrowful call for repentance in a world ripe for judgment, and perhaps also their own experience of suffering and persecution for their testimony. These witnesses represent God's unwavering commitment to communicate His truth to humanity, even when rejected, demonstrating that His grace and warning precede judgment. Their presence assures that humanity remains without excuse before God.