49. Death of the Two Witnesses


REVELATION 11.7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 11.8 Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 11.9 From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

11.10 Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

11.11 After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 11.12 I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. 11.13 In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 11.14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. -WEB Bible.

The two Witnesses, or prophets, have been actively preaching for 3.5 years. Their enemies have longed to kill them, and now they will be allowed to do that. The bodies of the two prophets will lie in the streets for three days.

In the Middle East this is an indication of contempt, because the dead are usually laid to rest by sunset. Furthermore, their enemies rejoice, hold parties, and send one another gifts to celebrate the deaths of their hated tormentors.

The joy of those foolish people is short-lived. On the third day, the two Witnesses get up on their feet and God calls them to come up to heaven. As they disappear into the clouds, suddenly there is a loud trumpet call and the skies roll back like curtains on a stage.

REVELATION 11.15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” -WEB Bible.


IMAGE CREDIT: The Douce Apocalypse is one of several richly illustrated manuscripts of the Apocalypse made in England in the thirteenth century. (Wikimedia Commons)