Revelation 11 6

Revelation 11:6 kjv

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.

Revelation 11:6 nkjv

These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:6 niv

They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Revelation 11:6 esv

They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:6 nlt

They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

Revelation 11 verses

Revelation 11 6 Meaning

This verse describes the extraordinary divine power granted to the two witnesses during their prophetic ministry. It specifies two primary manifestations of this power: first, the ability to control weather patterns, specifically to prevent rain for the entire duration of their prophecy, directly referencing Elijah's ministry. Second, they possess the authority to transform water into blood and inflict various plagues upon the earth with judicial discretion, reminiscent of Moses and the Exodus judgments. Their ability to activate these judgments "as often as they will" signifies a continuous and active endowment of divine authority, indicating they are agents of God's judicial will throughout their mission.

Revelation 11 6 Context

Revelation chapter 11 introduces the "two witnesses," sent by God during a critical phase of end-time tribulation. This verse specifies their miraculous capabilities, immediately after their appearance is announced (Rev 11:3-4). The broader context of Revelation details God's final judgments upon an unrepentant world. The temple measurement in 11:1 highlights God's sovereignty over His people amidst persecution, and these witnesses stand as a final, powerful prophetic testimony to those outside of God's preserved sanctuary. Their ministry duration is set at 1260 days (3.5 years), an intense period of witnessing and confrontation before their eventual martyrdom and resurrection, which serves as a prelude to the seventh trumpet judgment. Their formidable powers authenticate their divine commission and signify the severity of God's impending wrath on a defiant world.

Revelation 11 6 Word analysis

• "These" (οὗτοι, houtoi): A definite plural demonstrative pronoun, directly referring back to "my two witnesses" mentioned in Revelation 11:3-4. It clarifies the agents endowed with this exceptional authority.
• "have power" (ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν, echousin exousian): Exousia implies not mere physical strength but delegated divine authority, right, and legitimate control. This is God's power actively channeled through them.
• "to shut heaven" (κλεῖσαι τὸν οὐρανόν, kleisai ton ouranon): To close, fasten, or withhold from above. This signifies total command over the celestial elements and processes, preventing natural phenomena from occurring.
• "that it rain not" (ἵνα μὴ βρέχῃ, hina mē brechē): A specific and targeted exercise of the "shutting heaven" power. Brechō specifically means "to send rain." This mirrors the Old Testament prophet Elijah's unique control over rainfall (1 Kgs 17:1).
• "in the days of their prophecy" (ἐν ἡμέραις τῆς προφητείας αὐτῶν, en hēmerais tēs prophēteias autōn): Specifies the duration of this particular judgment as coterminous with their 1260-day prophetic ministry. This links the judgment directly to their proclaimed message and serves as validation.
• "and have power" (καὶ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν, kai echousin exousian): Repeats the grant of exousia, highlighting a distinct, yet equally divine, area of their authorized activity.
• "over waters" (ἐπὶ τῶν ὑδάτων, epi tōn hydatōn): Indicates dominion over liquid bodies, including rivers, seas, and springs. This targets a vital source of life.
• "to turn them to blood" (στρέφειν αὐτὰ εἰς αἷμα, strephein auta eis haima): Strephein means to turn or change. This horrifying transformation makes life-sustaining water deadly, directly alluding to the first Egyptian plague brought by Moses (Ex 7:17-21).
• "and to smite" (καὶ πατάξαι, kai pataxai): To strike forcefully, wound, or inflict a blow. It signifies the direct action of judicial punishment.
• "the earth" (τὴν γῆν, tēn gēn): Refers to the physical planet and its inhabitants globally, indicating the comprehensive reach of their judgmental authority.
• "with all plagues" (ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ, en pasē plēgē): Pasē means "all" or "every kind of," and plēgē means a blow, stroke, or plague/calamity (divinely sent). This signifies an exhaustive range of divine judgments, not limited to specific ones, reminiscent of Moses' role in unleashing multiple plagues upon Egypt.
• "as often as they will" (ὁσάκις ἐὰν θέλωσιν, hosakis ean thelōsin): A critical phrase indicating the recurring, active, and immediate nature of their authorized power. It denotes not independent human caprice, but a continuous divine empowerment, allowing them to initiate judgments directly under God's guidance and timing. This reflects a standing commission rather than one-off events.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy": This clause directly parallels the prophetic ministry of Elijah, who, through prayer and God's power, caused a severe drought in Israel for three and a half years (1 Kgs 17:1; Jas 5:17). This associates one or both of the witnesses with Elijah's uncompromising confrontation of idolatry and God's power over creation. It underscores God's ability to judge an unrepentant world by withholding vital necessities.
• "and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues": This segment strikingly evokes the ministry of Moses during the Exodus. Turning water to blood was the very first plague inflicted upon Egypt (Ex 7:17-21), and Moses was God's chosen instrument to bring the full array of ten plagues (Ex 7-12). This signifies that the witnesses possess the comprehensive judicial authority of God, bringing judgment upon those who resist His call, much as Moses challenged Pharaoh. Together, these two abilities highlight the two witnesses embodying the "Law and the Prophets"—the entirety of God's authoritative revelation—demonstrating His final warnings before ultimate judgment.
• "as often as they will": This powerful concluding phrase underscores that the witnesses' ability to deploy these formidable judgments is not limited to singular events but is a standing, active, and available authority for the duration of their prophetic ministry. This emphasizes their consistent, divinely-backed leverage to impact the physical world and inflict punishment as a direct consequence of ongoing human rebellion and rejection of their message, showcasing God's persistent attempt to call humanity to repentance even through severe measures.

Revelation 11 6 Bonus section

The identification of the two witnesses with Elijah and Moses is a common interpretation due to these precise powers, representing the Law and the Prophets in God's dealing with humanity. Their collective ministry encompasses judgment against idolatry and sin (Elijah) and confrontation of oppressive systems with judicial plagues (Moses). The 3.5-year duration ("in the days of their prophecy") mirrors not only Elijah's drought but also common apocalyptic periods of intense tribulation (e.g., Dan 7:25, 12:7; Rev 12:6, 14), signifying a compressed and severe period of prophetic warning and divine judgment before Christ's second coming. This emphasis on supernatural signs during their witness confirms God's active involvement in human history, even as resistance mounts against His rule. Their authority is a powerful testimony against those who would ignore their call for repentance, ensuring that the world is without excuse for its eventual judgment.

Revelation 11 6 Commentary

Revelation 11:6 describes the two witnesses wielding astonishing divine authority, reminiscent of Elijah and Moses. This depiction serves multiple purposes: it validates their prophetic message through miraculous signs, akin to how God authenticated Moses and Elijah; it demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over nature, directly challenging any reliance on idols or humanistic beliefs; and it signifies that a period of intense divine judgment is unfolding on earth. The drought and plagues are not arbitrary acts but are specific retributive measures, designed to compel a hardened world to repentance. "Shutting heaven" directly counters humanity's presumption of control over natural processes, showing that even fundamental life sources are subject to God's command. The turning of waters to blood, and the infliction of "all plagues," highlights a direct, punitive action against human sin and rebellion, echoing the plagues that broke Pharaoh's stubborn will. The clause "as often as they will" signifies a continuous empowerment rather than sporadic occurrences, reinforcing that these judgments are deliberate, dynamic consequences for ongoing rejection of the divine message delivered by these powerful envoys. This highlights the seriousness of their warning and God's persistent, final efforts to bring humanity to account before the culmination of His kingdom.