What does Revelation 11:3 mean?

Throughout history, regardless of how dark and evil the times are, God has His witnesses. Noah was His witness in pre-flood days. Abraham was His witness in Canaan centuries before the Hebrews occupied Canaan. Joseph was His witness in pagan Egypt. Gideon and other judges were His witnesses in the times of the judges, when "the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals" (Judges 2:11). Elijah stood for the Lord in the days of wicked Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Daniel was God's faithful witness in Babylon.

A faithful minority has continued to witness for God from then until now, and in the tribulation the sealed 144,000 saved Jews from the tribes of Israel will witness for God and lead many souls to Jesus (Revelation 7:1–10). Revelation 11:3 introduces us to two more witnesses. Under divine authority, these two faithful witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, the second half of the tribulation. The following verses describe an awe-inspiring sequence of events meant to prove God's involvement in their message.