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Revelation 11:6
ESV 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.
NIV They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
NASB These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not 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 plague, as often as they desire.
CSB They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.
NLT They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
KJV 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.

What does Revelation 11:6 mean?

There has been much speculation about the identity of the two witnesses. The most popular choices are Elijah and Moses, but some Bible teachers suggest Enoch may be one of the two. They base this opinion on the fact that "it is appointed for man to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). Because Enoch did not die (Genesis 5:24), they believe he must die at a future time. Elijah also did not die, but was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1–12).

The identification of the two witnesses as Elijah and Moses is based on the witnesses' power to withhold rain from the earth, which Elijah did when he was a prophet in Israel (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17), and to smite the earth with plagues, which Moses did when he told Pharaoh to release the Hebrews from bondage (Exodus 7:14—12:29). It was also Elijah and Moses who were present at Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8). Jewish tradition believed Moses and Elijah would return in the future (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Malachi 4:5), but these Old Testament references were also fulfilled by Jesus and John the Baptist. Another consideration is that Moses and Elijah are the human representatives of the Law and the Prophets, both of which bear witness to God.

Of course, the two witnesses could be entirely different people. In the final analysis, it is not necessary to know exactly who the two witnesses are. What matters, in this context, is what they do.

The witnesses' sackcloth demonstrates their mourning over Israel's backslidden condition. This is a common symbol, especially in the Old Testament, of regret and sadness (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; Jonah 3:5).
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