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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 11:11 - 11:13
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_11:11-13
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev_11:11 "the three and a half days" This is an allusion from Daniel and is a symbolic period of persecution. See full note at Rev_11:9.
▣ "the breath of life from God came into them" This is an allusion to Ezekiel 37, the valley of dry bones. This is a play on the Hebrew word "ruach" which meant breath, wind, and spirit (as does the Greek word pneuma).
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Rev_11:12 "And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here'" As some see the secret rapture of the Church in Rev_4:1 where John was summoned to heaven, others see here a mid-tribulation secret rapture of the Church as these two witnesses are called to heaven in this verse. Here again our presuppositions and theological grids drive the interpretation of symbolic, ambiguous texts!
▣ "Then they went up into heaven in the cloud" This is the divine transportation. The Messiah rode on the clouds of heaven in Dan_7:13. Jesus ascended to heaven in the clouds (cf Act_1:9). Jesus will return riding on the clouds of heaven (cf. Mat_24:30; Mat_26:64; Mar_13:26; 1Th_4:17; Rev_1:7; Rev_14:14).
Rev_11:13 "in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell" There are seven references in Revelation to earthquakes (cf. Rev_6:12; Rev_8:5; Rev_11:13; Rev_11:19; Rev_16:18). This shows the ongoing, continuing, limited judgments of God on unbelievers. This may be an allusion to Eze_38:17-23.
▣ "the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" There has been much discussion about the identity of term "the rest." It could refer to
1. the literal inhabitants of Jerusalem (cf. Zec_12:10) or Rome
2. those who are saved during the tribulation period, i.e.,those who truly repent
3. believing Jews, from Romans 11
4. people, like Nebuchadnezzer and Cyrus, who were awed by God's acts, but not truly converted.
Because of Rev_9:20-21; Rev_14:7-8; Rev_16:10; #Rev_16:4 is the best option.
However, in Rev_16:9, giving glory is related to repentance. It is surely possible that these (Jews or pagans) believed! This is the stated purpose of God's judgments (cf. Rev_9:20-21; Rev_16:9; Rev_16:11)