“When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.’
And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:7-13).
It’s important to consider the time sequence associated with the series of events that take place here in Revelation 11:7-13. This portion of Scripture begins with the “end of watch” (1) for the witnesses who were introduced to us earlier in verse three. Thus, we can say that these witnesses are invincible until God dismisses them from their divinely appointed task.
Revelation 11:7 identifies the entity that kills these witnesses as “the beast.” This is the first of over two dozen references to this being in the book of Revelation. Much like the antichrist mentioned earlier in our study of this chapter, we will discuss this being at greater length when we reach Revelation chapter thirteen.
Revelation 11:8 then continues by saying, “Their bodies will be left lying in the streets of the same great city where their Lord was nailed to a cross. And that city is spiritually like the city of Sodom or the country of Egypt” (CEV). Much like the “holy city” referenced earlier, we can associate the reference with the historic city of Jerusalem. But how does this relate to Sodom and Egypt?
We can address that question when we consider these references in a Biblical context. Sodom is traditionally linked with the concept of sexual immorality, while Egypt was a place of enslavement for the people of Israel. Taken together, these references provide us with the image of a populace that lives in a paradoxical state. While many will embrace the concept of sexual freedom and liberation, they will actually be enslaved by their own immoral behaviors.
(1) In modern parlance, “end of watch” signifies the time and date at which a law enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty.