And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And after three days and an half – See the notes on Rev 11:9.
The Spirit of life from God – The living, or life-giving Spirit that proceeds from God entered into them. Compare the notes on Job 33:4. There is evidently allusion here to Gen 2:7, where God is spoken of as the Author of life. The meaning is, that they would seem to come to life again, or that effects would follow as if the dead were restored to life. If, when they had been compelled to cease from prophesying, they should, after the interval here denoted by three days and a half, again prophesy, or their testimony should be again borne to the truth as it had been before, this would evidently be all that would be implied in the language here employed.
Entered into them – Seemed to animate them again.
And they stood upon their feet – As if they had come to life again.
And great fear fell upon them which saw them – This would be true if those who were dead should be literally restored to life; and this would be the effect if those who had given great annoyances by their doctrines, and who had been silenced, and who seemed to be dead, should again, as if animated anew by a divine power, begin to prophesy, or to proclaim their doctrines to the world. The statement in the symbol is, that those who had put them to death had been greatly troubled by these witnesses; that they had sought to silence them, and in order to this had put them to death; that they then greatly rejoiced, as if they would no more be annoyed by them. The fact that they seemed to come to life again would, therefore, fill them with consternation, for they would anticipate a renewal of their troubles, and they would see in this fact evidence of the divine favor toward those whom they persecuted, and reason to apprehend divine vengeance on themselves.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. They stood upon their feet] Were restored to their primitive state.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And after three days and an half; after that short time which God had determined for antichrist, (just before his time should be expired), or after the precise time of forty-two months, or three years and a half, was expired, when the Gentiles thought they had fully prevailed, and should be no more troubled with Christs witnesses.
The Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; God, who alone can quicken the dead, reviveth them, and restoreth them again to their employment as his prophets; for it is plain this cannot be understood of a corporal resurrection: for:
1. Their death was not of that nature; nor:
2. Doth the Scripture give us any hints of any such resurrection before the coming of Christ to the last judgment.
And great fear fell upon them which saw them; this strikes a great fear into all their enemies amazed to think what God was about to do, and rightly presaging this would be their ruin.
It is a great question now, whether the time here spoken of for slaying the witnesses, and their rising again, be past, or yet to come. I must confess, the papacy had got such a victory over the faithful witnesses of Christ for some ages before the Reformation began in Germany, about the year 1517, and there was so sudden a resurrection of them in the first Reformers, brought to pass and carried on by such a stupendous series of providences, that I cannot wonder that some did think the time past: but we who have outlived that time more than one hundred and fifty years, seeing the Turks (whom all judicious interpreters make the four angels, bound by the river Euphrates, loosed) still so rampant, and the papacy still so predominant, and daily treading down the outward court, have no reason to judge the slaying of the witnesses yet over, at least that they are yet risen, and standing upon their feet; or that the seventh angel hath yet sounded; but that we are as yet under the period of time signified by the sounding of the sixth trumpet; and to expect a further degree of this evening before it will be light over the universal church (for we must not think any particular church intended here): and this appears most probable also from what followeth before the sounding of the seventh angel, Rev 11:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. Translate as Greek,“After the three days and an half.”
the Spirit of lifethesame which breathed life into Israel’s dry bones, Eze 37:10;Eze 37:11 (see on Eze37:10, 11), “Breath came into them.” The passagehere, as there, is closely connected with Israel’s restorationas a nation to political and religious life. Compare also concerningthe same, Ho 6:2, where Ephraimsays, “After two days will He revive us; in the third dayHe will raise us up, and we shall live in Hissight.”
intoso B and Vulgate.But A reads (Greek, “en autois“), “(soas to be) IN them.”
stood upon their feetthevery words in Eze 37:10, whichproves the allusion to be to Israel’s resurrection, incontrast to “the times of the Gentiles” wherein these”tread under foot the holy city.”
great fearsuch as fellon the soldiers guarding Christ’s tomb at His resurrection (Mt28:4), when also there was a great earthquake (Re11:2).
sawGreek,“beheld.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And after three days and a half,…. When it was certain they were dead, and all hope of reviving was over; see Joh 11:39; that is, three years and a half:
the spirit of life from God entered into them; this phrase is expressive of a resurrection the Jews frequently call the general resurrection , “a quickening”, and have the very phrase here used; for, speaking of the resurrection, they say u, , “the spirit of life” does not dwell but in the holy land. This resurrection of the witnesses is not to be understood of a corporeal resurrection; for there is no reason to believe that there will be a resurrection of any particular saints until the general resurrection, which will be at the personal coming of Christ, and at the beginning of the thousand years, and after the sounding of the seventh trumpet; whereas this will be before that, and towards the close of the sixth trumpet: and besides, the death of these witnesses is not corporeal, as has been observed: nor is a spiritual resurrection from the death of sin to a life of grace intended, which is owing to the Spirit of life from Christ; for these witnesses were such who had been quickened, and raised in this sense antecedent to their prophesying and killing; but a civil resurrection of them, or a resurrection of them as witnesses, when their spirits will revive, and they will take heart and courage again to appear for Christ: and this may be understood of the same individual persons that were silenced, or of those that succeeded such that corporeally died in the war of the beast, or during this interval; and so these witnesses may be said to rise in them, they appearing in the same spirit they did; just as John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elias: and this will be owing to the Spirit of life from God entering into them; which is said in allusion to the living soul of man, which returns to God, and at the resurrection, whether particular or general, comes from him, and reenters the body; and which also is owing to the Spirit of God, by whom mortal bodies will be quickened; and in allusion to the breathing on the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision, Eze 37:1; and the sense is, that the Spirit of God will inspire these witnesses with fresh life and rigour, zeal and resolution; so that though they have been so long silent, lifeless, and dispirited, they shall now rise in high spirits, and bravely exert themselves in the cause of Christ; and this will not be by any worldly power and authority, or by any secular arm, that shall encourage them, but by the Spirit of God, who shall breathe upon them, and afresh quicken them, and fill them with resolution and courage:
and they stood upon their feet; in great numbers, like the army in Ezekiel’s vision; and will reassume their former station, and be in a position and a state of readiness to serve the Lord, and to defend his truths, and discharge their duty with boldness and courage, fearing the face of none:
and great fear fell upon them which saw them; in this posture; either on their enemies, who may fear that they should be tormented with them again; that the things which they had foretold concerning their ruin are now coming upon them; that they shall be turned out of their places of profit, and lose all their worldly advantages, and carnal pleasures now, and be miserable to all eternity: or upon their friends, either their false hearted ones, that would not succour them when in distress, who may fear that God, whose finger they will see in this matter, will by them resent their conduct towards them; or else their real friends, who may be filled with reverence and awe of the divine Majesty, as the church was upon the business of Ananias and Sapphira, Ac 5:11.
u Zohar in Gen. fol. 79. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
After the ( etc.). The article (the) points back to 11:9.
The breath of life from God ( ). This phrase ( ) occurs in Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15; Gen 7:22 of the lower animals, but here there is clearly an allusion to Ezek 37:5; Ezek 37:10 (also 2Ki 13:21), where the dead bones lived again.
Entered into them ( ). Second aorist active indicative of with rather than after it (cf. Lu 9:46). The prophecy has here become fact (change from future to aorist ).
They stood upon their feet ( ). Ingressive second aorist active indicative of (intransitive). Reference to Eze 37:10, but with the accusative in place of genitive there after as in 2Ki 13:21.
Fell upon ( ). Second aorist active indicative of with repetition of . The same prophetic use of the aorist as in and .
Beheld (). Present active articular participle of . “The spectators were panic-stricken” (Swete).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Spirit of life [ ] . Rev., breath. See on Joh 3:8.
Entered into them. Compare Eze 37:1 – 10.
Saw [] . See on Joh 1:18.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And after three days and an half,” (kai meta (tas) treis hemeras kai hemisu) “And after the three days and a half;” After the three and a half years of the lifeless, spiritless, formal bodies of Christiandom and the Messiah-rejecting body of Israel have been tormented and unfruitful to God for these days.
2) “The Spirit of life from God entered into them,” (pneuma zoes ek tou theou eiselthen en autois) “Spirit of life out of (originating from) God entered into them,” into the two witnesses. This describes the restoration of true Israel, the 144,000 who had been sealed against death and the church, as they are given positions of service for the coming millennial age.
3) “And they stood upon their feet,” (kai estesan epi tous poclas auton) “And they arose and stood upon their feet; for further worship, service, and positions of honor for their God, even as they had given God special honor for 42 months as witnesses in temple worship and in Jerusalem before their temporary cessation of testimony, Rev 11:3-4.
4) “And great fear fell upon them which saw them,” (kai phobos megas epepsen epi tous theorountas autous) and great fear came down upon or over those who beheld them;- Act 5:11. It appears that there shall be a heavenly view of the raptured church, the redeemed of the ages, and the rapture of the 144,000 of redeemed Israel, as the latter are caught up to heaven, to the judgment seat of Christ where the true church had been already, and “every eye” on earth may see the momentary rapture of the 144,000 of Israel to glory and their return with Jesus to Mount Zion, Rev 1:7; Rev 14:1-5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(11) And after three days . . .Better, And after the three days and a half (not simply three days and a half,) a Spirit of life out of (from) God entered into (or, in; i.e., so as to be in) them, and they stood upon their feet; and a great fear fell upon those who beheld them. The vision of the dry bones will be remembered; in part, the very wording of it is employed heree.g., they stood upon their feet (Eze. 37:1-10); and a yet more sacred remembrancethe three days of our Masters death-sleepwill be traced here. Where I am there shall also My servant be (Joh. 12:26). If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified together (Rom. 8:17). There is a resurrection power in even rejected truth; the strength of it is undying. If it be of God, men cannot overthrow it. The corn of wheat that dies brings forth much fruit. The cause that seemed dead is found to be possessed of a renewed power and life. There is an end of resistance to the Papal rule and religion; opposers exist no more ! cried the orator of the Lateran Council in 1514; but within three years and a half the hand of Luther nailed up his theses at Wittenberg. It is one illustration among many.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Spirit, or breath of life; said to be from God, as miraculously descending into their bodies, and producing resurrection.
Fear A deep and awful transformation of their joy into terror. And the terror of the persecutors was the triumph of the martyrs.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them, and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying to them, “Come up here!”. And they went up into Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw the whole thing (literally – ‘beheld them’).’
The bodies of the remaining people of God lay exposed in the streets, including their two outstanding prophets who represented them, but then something amazing happens. ‘The breath of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet’. The language of Rev 11:11 echoes Eze 37:10, especially the LXX. The surprise at the raising of Lazarus kept Jerusalem agog, but compared with this it was as nothing. All the partying immediately ceases. The impossible has happened. The dead bodies have come alive again. But only to be carried up into Heaven in a cloud as Jesus was in His ascension (Act 1:9). There can really be no doubt that this is describing what is often called ‘the Rapture of the saints’. Jesus has come for His own. John was allowed up into heaven temporarily (Rev 4:1), their entry is permanent. There is great stress on the fact that what is described is what was seen by the spectators, and we are made aware of the awe that it produced.
This is not a separate rapture. John is encapsulating what is happening to the whole church in terms of what happens to the church in Jerusalem. Around the world similar things are happening. Paul describes it differently. ‘The Lord himself will descend from Heaven with a shout (‘come up hither’), with the voice of the Archangel, and the trump of God. And indeed the last trumpet now sounds (Rev 11:15)). And the dead in Christ will rise first. (This is pictured in the raising of these witnesses). Then we who are alive and remain will together with them be caught up in the clouds (the witnesses are carried up in a cloud) to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord’ (1Th 4:16-17). But all this is not made known to the watchers. They see only what is before them. In other cities similar things will be experienced.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The passing of the second woe:
v. 11. And after three days and an half the Spirit of Life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
v. 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
v. 13. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand; and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
v. 14. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. The enemies of the Lord, as in many cases since, rejoiced too soon: And after the three and one-half days the Spirit of Life from God came into them, and they stood upon their feet, and a great fear fell upon those that saw them. That has always been the experience of the Church under the guidance of God: the blood of the martyrs was its seed; Huss was burned at Constance, but Luther took his place in Germany. And by the grace of God such events always have a good effect, at least to some extent; they impress at least some of the souls that have been held in captivity by Anti-Christ, and cause them to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Other miracles attended this remarkable event: And they heard a great voice out of heaven saying to them, Ascend hither; and they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them; and in that hour there happened a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand souls, and the rest became terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. Many of those very witnesses for Christ whom the minions of Anti-Christ slew are now properly reckoned with the saints whom the Lord has taken up to heaven. The enemies themselves, in many cases, were obliged to acknowledge their excellence. The Reformation finally shook the Church like a great earthquake, and many that held to the old, anti-Christian order of things were swept down to eternal destruction in the ruin which threatened the very foundations of Anti-Christ’s kingdom. And as for the rest, great numbers were gained for the truth, while others were at least terrified to the extent that they insisted upon, and finally effected, at least a partial external removal of the many abuses that had openly been tolerated in the Church. Having this vision, the seer calls out: The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Everything that had been described till now was only of a preparatory nature before the last great and terrible woe.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Rev 11:11 . sq. The resuscitation, and ascension to heaven, of the two witnesses. , “A spirit of life.” Cf. Gen 6:17 ; Gen 2:7 . [2899] Incorrectly, Hengstenb.: The spirit of life.
. “Immediately, miraculously.” [2900]
. “Came” (into them, and remained) “in them.” Cf. Luk 9:46 ; Winer, p. 385.
. The more clearly this is meant as a sign of revivification, [2901] and the more definitely it is said, Rev 11:12 , . . . ., the less is it to be urged that here the expression or is avoided . [2902]
. , . . . Concerning the expression, cf. Luk 1:12 ; concerning the thing itself, Mat 27:54 . The resuscitation of the witnesses proved that the Lord, in whose name they came forth, has the power to avenge the indignity shown his servants.
. The reading , approved also by Ew. ii., whereby the same subject is to be understood as in , cannot be defended by a comparison with the entirely heterogeneous passage, Joh 5:28 . [2903] A declaration directed to the witnesses would be designated after the manner of Rev 6:11 . [2904] The properly supported by Beng., Ew. i., De Wette, is incomparably more suitable; also in Rev 6:6 , Rev 9:13 , John hears voices directed to others, whose consequences he then beholds. The call [2905] finds its fulfilment, immediately afterwards, before the eyes of the enemies: , . . . In this final glorification, the two witnesses are less like Elijah, [2906] than their Lord himself, [2907] as also their death was expressly compared with his crucifixion, Rev 11:8 .
[2899] Beng., etc.
[2900] Beng.
[2901] Cf. 2Ki 13:21 ; Eze 37:10 .
[2902] Against Ebrard, who finds in this an indication of its figurative significance.
[2903] Hengstenb.
[2904] Cf. also Rev 9:4 .
[2905] Cf. Rev 4:1 .
[2906] 2Ki 2:11 .
[2907] Cf. especially with the (Act 1:9 ).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Ver. 11. And they stood upon their feet ] That is, they set themselves stoutly and vigorously to fight against Antichrist. As William Ockam, who being excommunicated by the pope for writing some things against him, fled to Ludovicus the emperor, who was likewise excommunicated, and said unto him, Tu me gladio defende a Papae iniuriis, et ego te verbis ae scriptis defendam, Defend thou me with arms, and I will defend thee with arguments. The bishops also of those times that sided with the emperor, though they were none of the best, yet they resolved and avowed never to yield to the pope, Sed si excommanicaturus veniret, excommunicaturus abiret, cum aliter se habeat antiquorum canonum authoritas
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev 11:11-13
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And in that hour 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.
Rev 11:11 “the three and a half days” This is an allusion from Daniel and is a symbolic period of persecution. See full note at Rev 11:9.
“the breath of life from God came into them” This is an allusion to Ezekiel 37, the valley of dry bones. This is a play on the Hebrew word “ruach” which meant breath, wind, and spirit (as does the Greek word pneuma).
SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE
Rev 11:12 “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here'” As some see the secret rapture of the Church in Rev 4:1 where John was summoned to heaven, others see here a mid-tribulation secret rapture of the Church as these two witnesses are called to heaven in this verse. Here again our presuppositions and theological grids drive the interpretation of symbolic, ambiguous texts!
“Then they went up into heaven in the cloud” This is the divine transportation. The Messiah rode on the clouds of heaven in Dan 7:13. Jesus ascended to heaven in the clouds (cf Act 1:9). Jesus will return riding on the clouds of heaven (cf. Mat 24:30; Mat 26:64; Mar 13:26; 1Th 4:17; Rev 1:7; Rev 14:14).
Rev 11:13 “in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell” There are seven references in Revelation to earthquakes (cf. Rev 6:12; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:13; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:18). This shows the ongoing, continuing, limited judgments of God on unbelievers. This may be an allusion to Eze 38:17-23.
“the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” There has been much discussion about the identity of term “the rest.” It could refer to
1. the literal inhabitants of Jerusalem (cf. Zec 12:10) or Rome
2. those who are saved during the tribulation period, i.e.,those who truly repent
3. believing Jews, from Romans 11
4. people, like Nebuchadnezzer and Cyrus, who were awed by God’s acts, but not truly converted.
Because of Rev 9:20-21; Rev 14:7-8; Rev 16:10; #Rev 16:4 is the best option.
However, in Rev 16:9, giving glory is related to repentance. It is surely possible that these (Jews or pagans) believed! This is the stated purpose of God’s judgments (cf. Rev 9:20-21; Rev 16:9; Rev 16:11)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
after. App-104.
three = the three.
spirit of life = breath of life. Greek. pneuma (compare App-101.) zoes (App-170.) Compare Septuagint of Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15. See also Gen 2:7; Gen 7:22 (pnoe).
from. Greek. ek. App-104.
into. Greek. en. App-104.
fell. Greek. pipto. The texts read the strong word epipipto, indicating a paralyzing fear.
saw. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 11:11. ) So the Septuagint, Gen 6:17.- ) Wolf, who is in other respects thoroughly acquainted with Greek, thinks that this reading is unsupported by any example. But Plutarch, , : Herodotus, a much more ancient authority, : Plato, . But nevertheless this is rather too remote from the Hebrew idiom. I should prefer to admit ,[112] , from the Alex. and Augustan copy, especially since the copyists may easily have written the syllable once only, when it ought to be read twice. Thus Luk 9:46, , where also is omitted in two copies, of Selden and Wolf.
[112] is the reading of A: , C: , B: in eos, h Vulg.: , Rec. Text.-E.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
three: Rev 11:9
the Spirit: Gen 2:7, Eze 37:5-14, Rom 8:2, Rom 8:11
great: Rev 11:13, Jos 2:9, Jer 33:9, Hos 3:5, Act 5:5, Act 5:11
Reciprocal: 1Ki 17:22 – and he revived 2Ki 13:21 – touched Isa 14:2 – whose captives they were Isa 64:2 – that the nations Eze 2:2 – General Eze 10:17 – of the living creature Eze 37:10 – the breath Dan 7:22 – the Ancient Luk 1:65 – fear Rom 11:15 – but Gal 5:25 – we Rev 11:2 – forty Rev 15:2 – that had Rev 20:4 – and they Rev 20:5 – This
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 11:11. After three days and a half means after the Dark Ages of 1260 (verse 9). Spirit of life is figurative on the same principle as being dead In verse 7. The apostate church took the Bible away from the people and “slew” it. Luther and his co-workers gave it back to the people which put “life” back into it.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 11.
The finale to the scene of the two witnesses was signified in verse 11: After three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet: The resurrection of the cause for which the two witnesses died was here envisioned. It compares with Isaiah’s vision of the figurative resurrection of Israel from Babylonian exile (Isa 26:13-19); and with Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Eze 37:1-14), in which the prophets described the resurrection of Israel from the grave of their captivity. The Ezekiel and Revelation passages contain several parallel expressions–the first, bearing on the return of the captive people of Israel from exile, and the latter applying to the overcoming of the heathen persecutions; the victory of the church over the persecutors; and the emergence from that period of tribulation and trial. Concerning Israel in captivity, Ezekiel said: “Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live . . . and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet.” After the same manner of language in Rev 11:1-19, John said: “The Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet.” The Ezekiel passage was a prophetic picture of the return of Israel from captivity; and the Revelation passage was an apocalyptic portrayal of the emergence of the church from the period of persecution.
The effect of seeing the two witnesses stand upon their feet was described in these words: Great fear upon them which saw them: Reverence came over the by-standers– not the enemies themselves as yet-but the resuscitation of the witnesses, as of life out of death, brought reverence for the testimony of the witnesses.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 11:11. The short time of the worlds triumph passes away. Then a spirit of life out of God enters into them, and imparts to them such power that they stand up upon their feet, and strike all beholders with terror.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The death of the witnesses was described in the foregoing verses, their resurrection is declared in these. This is understood politically by some, that they who were civilly dead, that is, laid aside as useless, were now politically alive; that is, restored to their public work and employment in the church again, God causing princes and magistrates to own and favour them; and accordingly, by their ascending up into heaven, they understand their re-entering into the church, their re-enjoying their public liberties and gospel privileges, which, in comparison of the low nd sackcloth condition they were in before, was like heaven and earth unto them.
And they ascended in a cloud, that is, gloriously, and their enemies beheld them with an envious eye, because of the work in their hands, which it was not in their power to hinder. Others understand this resurrection (in the manner forementioned) to be meant not of the same spirit and office, restored to the same work, to the admiration of the good, and consternation of the bad; and that the voice of Christ spake to the slain witnesses, saying, Come up hither, that is, into heaven, to receive the reward of your sufferings and services, and others that succeed you in office shall partake of your spirit, and perfect that work which you began and carried on.
Where note, That ofttimes God’s faithful witnesses, namely, such magistrates and ministers as have done great things for the church of God, are taken up to heaven before they behold the desired issue, which is left to their successors to see completed.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Every time evil ones believe they have at last killed the church and destroyed the word of God, God revitalizes them. Hailey is reminded, in this verse, of the story of Belshazzar whose merrymaking was turned to fear by the finger of God writing upon the wall. ( Dan 5:1-31 )
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
11:11 {18} And after {19} three days and an half {20} the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they {21} stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
(18) The third passage, as noted before, is of the rising again of the prophets from the dead, and their carrying up into heaven. For their resurrection is shown in this verse: their calling and lifting up into heaven, in the verse following.
(19) That is, what time God shall destroy that wicked Boniface.
(20) That is, the prophets of God shall in a manner rise again, not the same in person (as they say) but in spirit: that is, in the power and efficacy of their ministry, which John expressed before, in Rev 11:5-6 So the prophecy that is spoken of Elijah, is interpreted by the angel to be understood of John the Baptist Lu 1:17 . For the same Boniface himself, who sought to kill and destroy them, was by the fire of God’s mouth (which the holy ministry shows and exhibits) devoured and died miserably in prison, by the endeavour of Satra Columensis and Nagaretus a French knight, whom Philip the fair King of France sent into Italy but with a very small power.
(21) That is, the most grievous heat of afflictions and persecution shall stay for a while, for the great amazement that shall arise on that sudden and unlooked for judgment of God.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
4. The resurrection of the two witnesses 11:11-13
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The breath of life from God will revive the witnesses’ dead bodies (cf. Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15; Gen 7:22; 2Ki 13:20-21; Eze 37:5; Eze 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.