Revelation 11:11
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Revelation 11:11
breath of life from God entered them
Breath is πνεῦμα [pneuma] , also rendered spirit. Here it speaks of the life-giving force which animates men’s bodies of clay (Gen. Gen. 2:7; Job Job 33:4). The return of the spirit by the power of God attended the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Luke Luke 8:54). Although there are significant parallels between the breath of life which animates the dead witnesses and that which will animate the nation of Israel (Eze. Eze. 37:5, Eze. 37:10), the spiritual restoration of the nation is not in view here. This is a literal resurrection of two individuals. The Jewish nation has not yet been spiritually revived as evidenced by the opposition to the witnesses by many residing in Jerusalem (Rev. Rev. 11:13+). At this point in the events of the end, the spiritual revival of the Jews is in progress, but not yet complete (Rom. Rom. 11:25-26). See commentary on Revelation 11:13.
great fear fell on those who saw them
Those who saw is θεωροῦντας [theōrountas] , a present tense participle, the ones presently observing them. The “peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations” were watching the bodies of the dead prophets for the entire period they lay in the street and now saw them stand as they watched! Their rejoicing is cut short as they witness the unthinkable—the two dead, partially decomposing corpses rise to their feet. What they see is manifestly impossible, yet impossible to deny. Unlike the resurrection of Jesus which was witnessed by relatively few, this resurrection is seen by an international audience of probably many more. The testimony to the superiority and victory of the beast unravels in a moment and exultation turns to great fear as the power of God is seen to overcome even the death inflicted by the beast. The demonstration of God’s power universally results in fear, especially for those who do not know Him (Jos. Jos. 2:9; Mtt. Mat. 27:54; Acts Acts 5:5, Acts 5:11). The phrase those who saw them seems to speak directly to the global community rather than denoting a subset of peoples who happen to be present in Jerusalem at the time of their resurrection. The implication is that their resurrection is seen as part of a global broadcast.
Breath is πνεῦμα [pneuma] , also rendered spirit. Here it speaks of the life-giving force which animates men’s bodies of clay (Gen. Gen. 2:7; Job Job 33:4). The return of the spirit by the power of God attended the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Luke Luke 8:54). Although there are significant parallels between the breath of life which animates the dead witnesses and that which will animate the nation of Israel (Eze. Eze. 37:5, Eze. 37:10), the spiritual restoration of the nation is not in view here. This is a literal resurrection of two individuals. The Jewish nation has not yet been spiritually revived as evidenced by the opposition to the witnesses by many residing in Jerusalem (Rev. Rev. 11:13+). At this point in the events of the end, the spiritual revival of the Jews is in progress, but not yet complete (Rom. Rom. 11:25-26). See commentary on Revelation 11:13.
great fear fell on those who saw them
Those who saw is θεωροῦντας [theōrountas] , a present tense participle, the ones presently observing them. The “peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations” were watching the bodies of the dead prophets for the entire period they lay in the street and now saw them stand as they watched! Their rejoicing is cut short as they witness the unthinkable—the two dead, partially decomposing corpses rise to their feet. What they see is manifestly impossible, yet impossible to deny. Unlike the resurrection of Jesus which was witnessed by relatively few, this resurrection is seen by an international audience of probably many more. The testimony to the superiority and victory of the beast unravels in a moment and exultation turns to great fear as the power of God is seen to overcome even the death inflicted by the beast. The demonstration of God’s power universally results in fear, especially for those who do not know Him (Jos. Jos. 2:9; Mtt. Mat. 27:54; Acts Acts 5:5, Acts 5:11). The phrase those who saw them seems to speak directly to the global community rather than denoting a subset of peoples who happen to be present in Jerusalem at the time of their resurrection. The implication is that their resurrection is seen as part of a global broadcast.