Enter the Beast

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conqueror them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the public square of the great city, which prophetically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. And representatives from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets brought judgement to those who live on the earth.

But after 3 1/2 days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them.

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven, the second woe has passed. Take note: the third woe is coming quickly! Revelation 11:7-14

The witnesses were able to complete their testimony just as Jesus was able to complete His. No one was a le to harm Him until the right time and then He rose from the dead. What parallels are these?

Jerusalem has earned itself a bad name: Sodom (sexually immoral) and Egypt (where God's people had been slaves), however, as it was the same city where our Lord was crucified then we know it is Jerusalem.

The beast is a representative of Satan, he is a key player in the next few chapter and ultimately gets his just reward, the lake of fire.

It is interesting that the witnesses are left, almost as if everyone was waiting to see if something would happen. Did they foretell, just as Jesus had, their resurrection? There are so many similarities it is quite possible as all these events happen in Jerusalem before a Jewish audience. The gospel is preached to them for 3 1/2 years and now ultimate power is to be revealed. Jesus' ministry was for 3 1/2 years. He dies and was in the tomb 3 days. They were dead for 3 1/2 days. Then they rise from the dead and ascend into heaven.

At Jesus' death there was an earthquake but now at the resurrection of the witnesses there is an earthquake and 7,000 people die. How many come to believe? It says above 'the people were terrified and gave glory to God'.