Resilient – A Revelation Daily Devotional – Day 29
Cedar Creek Church August 25, 2025

Day 29 – August 25

Read or listen to the audio version of the Bible Reading and Daily Devotional.

Read Revelation 11:1-13

The Two Witnesses
1Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They 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. 7And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Today’s passage dives into one of the most intriguing and challenging sections in the entire book: the story of the Two Witnesses. This section really zeroes in on how God’s people are called to win victory for Christ, not through worldly power, but often through lives marked by suffering and a call to repentance, ultimately allowing God to use even death and martyrdom to draw people to Himself.

John sees a symbolic measuring of God’s true worshippers, setting them apart, even as the outside world remains under judgment. Then, God appoints two witnesses who will prophesy for a specific time, dressed humbly, but with incredible power. They can call down fire, stop rain, and bring plagues. They’re bold, direct, and confrontational, constantly calling a stubborn world to repent.

But here’s the powerful, often difficult, part: after their prophetic ministry, a beast rises up, conquers, and kills them. Their bodies are left in the street, and the world celebrates their deaths. It’s the ultimate rejection of God’s truth-tellers.

However, the story doesn’t end there! After a short time, God breathes life back into them, and they stand up, terrifying those who watch. Then, they’re called up to heaven, and immediately, a huge earthquake strikes, killing many and causing the survivors to finally acknowledge God’s power. This killing shows us aspects of both God’s mercy and justice. It is in the numbers (which are always important in Revelation) that we can see the reversing of the judgement numbers of the Old Testament. This is accomplished by God working through the faithful witnesses that serve as a symbol for His church. What an exciting, albeit terrifying, opportunity we have as a believer to serve as witnesses to the glory of God.

This whole story shows us something crucial: God often wins victory for Christ not through earthly might, but through people who are willing to suffer, to call others to repentance, and even to face death. It’s through their sacrifice and God’s miraculous intervention that His power is most clearly displayed, drawing people to Himself. It teaches us that our purpose isn’t always to avoid pain, but to faithfully speak God’s truth, trusting that He can use everything, even our ultimate sacrifice, to accomplish His divine plan and reveal His glory.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand that true victory often involves suffering for Your sake. Give me the courage to be Your witness, even when it’s hard. Amen