Revelation 11:11-14 (NKJV) 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
V11 “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.” Only God has the breath of life to create life from lifelessness. He does the same to our souls which are dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). To those who believe and trust in Jesus alone for forgiveness of sins, He will create a new soul (2 Corinthians 5:17). The breath of life is mentioned here and in Genesis 2:7, Acts 17:25, and Isaiah 42:5. God raised their soul, and they lived. Imagine the fear of those watching this. All of their joy and happiness that they had was gone. Do they fear revenge?
V12 “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.” Those who saw this happen by various means now hear a voice from heaven. This is God’s voice commanding the two witnesses to come up to heaven. They did so in a cloud (compare Acts 1:9). They rose into the atmosphere until they entered a cloud. Some believe this is the Shekinah glory cloud. Again, all the enemies saw this happen. The clouds are clouds, not angels.
V13 “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.” This shows God’s displeasure with the people who did not believe the 2 witnesses and killed them. God’s prophecies are always fulfilled to the letter. They all had to admit that this was God’s doing.
V14 “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” The three woes are Revelation 8:13, Revelation 9:12 (1st), Revelation 11:14 (2nd), and Revelation 11:15 (3rd-the 7th trumpet). Quickly = soon.
We learn:
- God warns about coming judgment.
- God gives judgment to those who do not believe in Him.
- God has the ability to give life.