“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.”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 11:6 Mean?
The two witnesses of Revelation 11 are given Elijah-like and Moses-like powers: they shut heaven (no rain, like Elijah — 1 Kings 17:1), turn water to blood (like Moses — Exodus 7:20), and strike the earth with plagues as often as they will. The powers of the two greatest Old Testament figures are combined in these end-times witnesses.
The phrase "as often as they will" is remarkable: the witnesses have discretionary use of catastrophic power. They choose when to invoke the plagues. The authority isn't limited to one event. It's ongoing, repeatable, and subject to their judgment. God has delegated an extraordinary level of power to two human beings.
The combination of Elijah's power (weather control) and Moses' power (plagues) suggests these witnesses represent the fullness of prophetic authority — the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah), bearing witness together in the last days.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does the combination of Moses' and Elijah's powers in the witnesses suggest about the Law and the Prophets in the end times?
- 2.How does 'as often as they will' change your understanding of the authority God delegates to His witnesses?
- 3.Does the pattern (powerful testimony → death → resurrection) echo Christ's own pattern?
- 4.What does the world's celebration of the witnesses' death (verse 10) reveal about how the world responds to prophetic truth?
Devotional
They shut the sky. They turn water to blood. They strike the earth with plagues. As often as they want.
The two witnesses carry the combined authority of Moses and Elijah — the two greatest figures in Israel's history, representing the Law and the Prophets. What Moses did to Egypt and Elijah did to Israel, these witnesses do to the world. And the discretion is theirs: as often as they will.
That phrase should stop you. "As often as they will." The power isn't rationed. It's not a one-time use. These two witnesses decide when the sky closes and when the water bleeds. They choose the timing, the frequency, and the severity. God has handed them a level of authority that exceeds almost anything in the biblical record.
The Law and the Prophets — Moses and Elijah — stood together on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. And in Revelation 11, the same two powers return for the final testimony. The first appearance was glory on a mountain. The final appearance is plagues on the earth. Both serve the same purpose: bearing witness to Christ.
The witnesses are mortal. They'll be killed (verse 7). Their bodies will lie in the street (verse 8). The world will celebrate their death (verse 10). And then they'll stand up (verse 11). Because the power that shuts heaven and turns water to blood is the same power that raises the dead.
The Law and the Prophets will have their final say. And the world will wish they hadn't celebrated their silence.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
These have power to shut heaven,.... For these have the keys of the kingdom of heaven given them, and whatever they bind…
These have power to shut heaven - That is, so far as rain is concerned - for this is immediately specified. There is…
These have power to shut heaven - As Elijah did, 1 Kings 17:1-18:46.
To turn them to blood - As Moses did, Exo 7:19-25.…
In this time of treading down, God has reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to attest the truth…
power to shut heaven Like Elijah: over waters, &c. like Moses.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture