Keraia
Revelation 11

Revelation 11:8

The Witnesses Killed and Raised · Revelation 11:7–14
Read Revelation 11

Translations

Modern
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.
Traditional
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Literal
And their body will be upon the street of the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Latin
Et corpora eorum jacebunt in plateis civitatis magnæ, quæ vocatur spiritualiter Sodoma, et Ægyptus, ubi et Dominus eorum crucifixus est.

Original

Greek
English
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.

Notes

Revelation 11:8

  • Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city: Evil is so vengeful that it even dishonors the dead.

  • the great city: The name “the great city” would have immediately suggested Rome to early readers (Revelation 16:19; 17:18; 18:10, 16, 18–19, 21). However, John also describes it as the city where their Lord was crucified, as well as Sodom and Egypt—all places hostile to God and his people (see also Revelation 17:5, 9).

  • where their Lord was also crucified: There is a direct connection between how evil forces treated the Lord and the experiences of persecuted Christians (see Acts 9:5).

Revelation 11:7–8

After the witnesses complete their testimony, the scene changes dramatically. The beast (compare Revelation 13:1) appears for the first time. It is linked to the bottomless pit. Like all enemies of God, the beast fights against God’s witnesses and kills them.

Revelation 11:1–13

  • This section shows people choosing to ignore God's call to repent. Attempts to silence his messengers fail, and God wins.

  • Many have tried to identify the two witnesses in this chapter. Moses and Elijah, who appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30), are likely candidates (see Revelation 11:6). They represent the law and the prophets. Others suggest Enoch and Elijah because they did not die (see Genesis 5:21–24; 2 Kings 2:11–12). Some think of Peter and Paul, or James and John.

    More important than their identities is their role in confirming God's message through the testimony of two or three witnesses (see Deuteronomy 17:6). God provides a dual witness to the world about the coming judgment, making it clear that his word will come true (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:15–16).

Revelation 10:1–11:14

This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets has two parts:

  1. the seven thunders and the small scroll (Revelation 10:1–11), and

  2. the two witnesses (Revelation 11:1–13).

The interlude ends with the announcement that the second terror is over (Revelation 11:14).

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah The Purpose of the Judgments Visions

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Sodom: Wicked city destroyed by God for its sins

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Elijah Numbers and Numerology Sodom and Gomorrah

Topics

Egypt: The Country of: Symbolical Martyrdom: General Scriptures Concerning The Twin Towers Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Two Witnesses