“Revelation 11:7-10”

Saturday, December 23, 2017

“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. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”

---End of Scripture verses---

Some horrid things are depicted in today’s verses about what will happen to God’s “two witnesses” once they have “finished their testimony” (verse 7). It may appear that the Truth has failed and God’s plan has been upended when the world sees the lifeless bodies of His witnesses lying “in the street” (verse 8), and those “who dwell on the earth” rejoicing “over them and” celebrating (verse 10), but nothing could be farther from the truth. The greatest and most uplifting takeaway from this vision is that nothing will stop the work of God’s servants from being “finished”! Once God’s word has been set in motion upon this earth it always accomplishes His perfect and powerful will! “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

To the original recipients of John’s Revelation, there can be little doubt that Rome, the seat of power and capital of the mighty Roman Empire, was the “great city” and center of the first century world. “Three descriptions are used here to describe the spiritual decadence and persecution power of Rome. To refer to Rome as ‘Sodom’ is to bring to remembrance that Old Testament city’s universal and everlasting reputation for base immorality (Gen. 19). Likewise, the reference that Rome was like ‘Egypt’ brings to mind the Pharaoh who knew not the God of Joseph and who detained God’s people in bondage (Exod. 1:8; 2:23-25). Since both ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt’ are figurative, the last description ‘where our Lord was crucified,’ must be figurative also. Although Jerusalem is the city where our Lord was crucified, to say that Rome is that city casts her in the same truth-rejecting mold as Jerusalem. Rome, ‘the great city,’ possesses the same attitude like Jerusalem who put to death the Author of truth.” (Harkrider)

As we end today’s reading with verse 10, the world is depicted as throwing a huge party over the death God’s servants and the apparent defeat of His plans. They no longer have to hear the horrid Truth that tormented their wicked souls and hardened hearts day after day. Like Felix, as they were convicted of “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come,” they “became frightened,” but they had no interest at all in hearing God’s message of salvation and condemnation at a “more convenient season” (Acts 24:25). Their fear led them to hatred and violence, and not godly sorrow and repentance. The light of truth only burns the eyes of the worldly wicked, and they are perfectly satisfied to remain shrouded in the darkness of ignorance and immersed in the sea of sin. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21)

Lord willing we will discuss Revelation 11:11-14 for tomorrow and see that it always ends well for God’s truth-practicing, light-loving, faithful servants!

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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