But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. (Revelation 11:11-14, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Great fear would be the expected response to a double resurrection. How will they explain such an occurrence? How will people respond to their fear? They will respond in one of two ways. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7, NIV 1984). The beginning of knowledge leads to accepting the truth and eternal life in Heaven. Despising it leads to the final rejection of the truth and eternal damnation in Hell.
The command, “come up here,” is understood by some to speak of the rapture of the church, though here it is a call to only two people. “They went up to heaven in a cloud” is a possible allusion to the cloud which received Jesus at His ascension. Jesus’ friends watched “intently” as He ascended to heaven, whereas the witnesses’ enemies will watch in “terror” as the witnesses ascend.
“There was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed.” Earthquakes are often given as a symbol of great upheavals in social and spiritual order. A great earthquake occurred when the sixth seal was opened (Revelation 6:12), and there will be a greater one when the seventh bowl is poured out (Revelation 16:18–20). Whether in great upheaval or not, “see to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'” (Hebrews 12:25–26, NIV 1984).
“The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” To some, this phrase does not likely signify conversion, repentance, or thanksgiving, but rather intellectual recognition, which is its usual sense in scripture. For example, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and sadly, many religious leaders today, who connect with the mind but not the heart. Others believes that the widespread damage and death will lead many (“a great multitude“) to a Godly fear that turns into genuine faith and repentance. Likely, there will be both kinds of responses. To fear God and glorify Him is the authentic response to the eternal Gospel that is to be preached to all still alive on the earth. We may not always be able to discern how authentic an individual’s response is, but “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV 1984).
“The third woe is coming soon.” The third woe is the sounding of the seventh trumpet that was discussed previously.
My Advice – “As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'” (Acts 24:25, NIV 1984).
“Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.'” (Acts 26:28–29, NIV 1984).
The time is growing shorter by the day. Even a casual reading of world headlines point, at the very least, to the “beginning of birth pains.” But “short time of long” now is the best time for the lost to “find it convenient” to turn whatever fears they may have of the future into “the beginning of knowledge.” And turning that knowledge into an acknowledgement that “[Jesus is] the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him].” (John 14:6, NIV 1984). Don’t be like the “fools [who] despise [this] wisdom.”
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 (pp. 1901–1902). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 599). 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.
Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 11:13). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 520). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
The Brew Is A Musing 