Two Witnesses’ Death

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11:7-10, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The “beast that comes up from the Abyss” (the anti-Christ), “will attack them, and overpower and kill them.” It is only because their period of ministry is completed that he will succeed in killing the two witnesses. There is a touch of irony in using the word conquer (overpower) to speak of the death of the witnesses. For a very brief time it will look like the beast is victorious.  But these witnesses, though martyred, are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37, NIV 1984), through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

Their deaths come only after they have finished their testimony. God’s obedient servants cannot be touched until their work is done. The anti-Christ is now in power and wants to take over the temple. But he cannot succeed until the witnesses are out of the way. God will permit the anti-Christ to slay them, for “who can make war against him?” (Revelation 13:4, NIV 1984).

Prior to this appointed time, it was impossible to hurt these two witnesses because the fire from their mouths consumed any who tried.  There is some debate as to whether this refers to literal fire or the Word of God, “I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes. (Jeremiah 5:14, NIV 1984).” The same was true with respect to Christ, who many times silenced His opponents with His words or simply escaped those who sought to do Him harm before His appointed time.

Calling Jerusalem, the city where the Lord was crucified, the “great city” (the usual way of referring to Babylon the Great as well as Sodom and Egypt) reflects how wicked most inhabitants of Jerusalem will have become. In biblical literature, Egypt is vilified for its oppression and idolatry, and Sodom for its wickedness and immorality.  The killing of the two witnesses (which parallels Jesus’ death), the desecration of not allowing them a proper burial (generally forbidden to leave the deceased unburied overnight unless it is for their honor), and the partying because of the witnesses’ death, are all a reflection of that depravity.

The days of the gloating over the dead bodies are as many as the years of the prophesying by the witnesses.  In a country where burial regularly takes place on the day of death the time of exposure and indignity would be regarded as exceedingly long and leaving “the dead bodies…like refuse in the streets” (Isaiah 5:25, NIV 1984), will be the ultimate in shame and disrespect. The three and a half motif is common to apocalyptic texts and often denotes a period of wrath, judgment, and tribulation.

The entire world gloats over their dead bodies. This implies some worldwide display, inconceivable in John’s Day, but now made possible by satellite television and the internet. Their deaths will be considered a great victory for the world ruler and Satan and will be celebrated by people sending gifts to each other. The anti-Christian sentiments of the last days will probably be under the name of philosophical enlightenment and civilization (sounding all too familiar these days), but in reality, reflects man’s deification of himself (secular humanism). Fanaticism will lead anti-Christ’s followers to exult in having at last silenced (or so they will think) their Jewish Christian rebukers.

My Advice – “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:13, NIV 1984). It may seem like we are already there, but clearly, we are not. Yet. Church age believers may not be around to see it get this bad, although there are many throughout the globe who are seeing it now. But no matter how bad it gets; our expected response is clear. Stand firm. In the meantime. be encouraged. “[He] told [us] these things, so that in [Him we] may have peace. In this world [we] will have trouble. But take heart! [He has] overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV 1984).

Sources:

Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., & Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1901). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 599). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 11:5). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 11:8 -9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 956). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 577). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.