The breath of life from God will revive the witnesses’ dead bodies (cf. Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:15; Genesis 7:22; 2 Kings 13:20-21; Ezekiel 37:5; Ezekiel 37:10). Their resurrections will terrify onlookers because these God-haters could do no more to silence their enemies than kill them. The use of the prophetic present tense in the verbs in this verse pictures what is future as fact. read more
4. The resurrection of the two witnesses 11:11-13 read more
The witnesses, and probably those beholding them before they ascend, will hear the "voice from heaven." It probably belongs to Jesus Christ (cf. Revelation 4:1). "The cloud" evidently refers to the shekinah in which Jesus Christ ascended (Acts 1:9). Their ascension is also similar to that of Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) and to Christians at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17). In the case of the two witnesses, their enemies will watch them ascend.Two writers who believed the witnesses stand for all... read more
Following this ascension an earthquake (cf. Revelation 6:12; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18; Matthew 27:51-52; Matthew 28:2) will destroy 10 percent of Jerusalem and will cause 7,000 people to die. One writer called this number "an obviously generalized figure." [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 187.] It may, however, be a round number. Those who will not die will give glory to God. This does not necessarily mean that they will all become believers, though some have concluded they... read more
11:11 spirit (a-10) Or 'breath.' read more
11:13 were (b-31) Ginomai . aorist. It then took place. 'they became;' but this has too much the sense of continuance. 'Were' gives the sense. read more
The Two Witnesses. The Seventh Trumpet1-14. Second episode. There is much difference of opinion as to the meaning of this vision. Perhaps the key may be found in the parallelism of the book. There were two episodical visions after the sixth seal (see on Revelation 7), the first signifying that Christ’s people were separated and preserved from God’s judgments, the second that they were preserved not from but through death. The same meaning may be found here.1, 2. The sanctuary and altar of... read more
(3-14) The Two WITNESSES.—It is the opinion of one able and pre-eminently painstaking commentator that “no solution has ever been given of this portion of the prophecy.” I quote this that none may be disappointed when no satisfactory solution is given here; further light in the knowledge of the Bible, and the light of history, and, above all, the aid of the Holy Spirit, may show what the real solution is. At present it is best to lay down the lines which seem to lead in the direction of such a... read more
(8-10) And their dead bodies . . .—Better, And their corpse (is) upon the street of the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified. And some from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations look upon their corpse three days and a half, and do not suffer their corpses to be put into a tomb. And they that dwell upon the earth rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 11:10
This is the only instance of rejoicing during the Tribulation recorded in this book. It reflects the widespread wickedness of that day (cf. 1 Kings 18:17; 1 Kings 21:20). Earth-dwellers will celebrate because they do not have to listen to messages from God any longer. This will be the world’s last great Mardi Gras type celebration. read more