Neville Goddard on Revelation 11:1-19 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Revelation 11 in context

Scripture Focus

1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6These 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.

7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11:1-19

Biblical Context

John is shown a measuring rod to delineate the divine temple and its worshipers, while the outer court is entrusted to the nations. Two prophetic witnesses arise, are challenged and killed, rise again, and the scene culminates in a triumph of divine rule.

Neville's Inner Vision

Listen: the rod of measure is not a weapon; it is the posture of your attention. The temple of God is the state of consciousness you inhabit now, and the altar with its worshipers are the images you honor in your mind. When the outer court is left unmeasured, you acknowledge that the noisy world beyond your inner precinct belongs to Gentile powers only for a season, not to your center. Your two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks—the stable sap of wisdom and the clear light of awareness that stand before the God of your earth. They prophesy by the conviction with which you refuse to surrender your truth to fear. They can seem to unleash storms—closing heaven, turning waters to blood—yet these are inner symbols of your spiritual discipline. You endure not by fighting in the old sense, but by remaining loyal to your inner testimony. When they finish their testimony you may feel the death of old patterns; fear may tremble, but your Spirit of life enters, you rise, and the temple of God opens to reveal your testament and your rightful reign in consciousness.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and imagine measuring your mind's temple with a calm, unshakable awareness. Then revise and affirm that the outer world holds no authority over your inner witnesses; feel the sovereignty of your I AM for a minute.