1-2 Then 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, but 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. 3-6 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And 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. 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.

7-10 And 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, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For 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, and 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.

11-12 But 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. Then 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. And 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. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. (English Standard Version)

Once again, Christians are divided in their understanding of this difficult part of John's vision. Some take it in a literal way and believe that before Christ returns the temple will have been rebuilt in Jerusalem and God will send two prophets who will do the things described in vs 3-6. They believe that vs 7-10 are also literal, and vs 11-12 would refer to believers being caught up to heaven in an event called 'the rapture'.

Other Christians believe that John's vision involved events familiar to the Old Testament (such as with Elijah and Elisha) to describe the age of the Church witnessing in the world. Verses 1-2 would then refer to those who are true worshippers of God and to those who are unsaved, and who trample on the things of God. Many of the judgements we saw in the earlier chapters of Revelation were the result of the prayers of God's people – and this is reflected now in vs 3-6.

And just as Jesus was crucified (and resurrected), so the Church will experience persecution and resurrection. It may be that the vision also means that, before Christ's return, persecution will gain momentum and it could even look as if Christianity has perished – much to the delight of ungodly people who are deceived by Satan. But the spirits of Christians who die immediately go to be with Christ, and the day will come when the bodies of Christians will be raised also as Christ descends from heaven.

Both of these views raise problems and questions that are not easy to answer. But it doesn't really matter because there is a basic truth which all Christians embrace. This chapter, like so much of Revelation, shows that there is a spiritual war on planet earth. It's a war that’s not just against human beings, there are spiritual forces involved as well. We are called to use the spiritual armour of faith and prayer and God's word. But those who hate the gospel will do all they can to oppose us and will take great delight whenever any of us die in the conflict. But even death will not overcome us. The gospel has brought eternal life to light. Our destiny is not to be terrified (as the people were in vs 11-12), but to be glorified. We will receive glorious new bodies that God has promised. The important issue for all men and women is which side they are on in this spiritual battle that’s raging, and rushing to its conclusion. Will it be terror or glory?