“And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them” (Revelation 11:11).

Refer back to verse 9 for a discussion on the three and a half days. Commentators dance around this number and have few substantive remarks. God gave a final three and a half years to finish the work and for the wicked to persecute and thwart those efforts. God now steps in and, in a “mockery of hope,” says, “You’ve had three and a half years to vindicate yourselves. Your response was to hurt, persecute and kill. Those are My people. They are now going to be delivered in a ‘short time’ – truth, My name, My witnesses will come to life in just three and a half days!”

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:20-21).

The allusion of God’s “Spirit of life” entering the two witnesses goes with the story of the breath of life entering dead bones, making them alive so they could stand on their feet again (Ezekiel 37:5, 10; cf. II Kings 13:20-21). What could all this be referring to? This is an explicit description of the deliverance of God’s people! This ties specifically to Daniel 12:1-2 when the end of the “time, times, and an half” finishes (Daniel 12:7) – the 1260 days when persecution ceases. This is one of many links between Daniel and Revelation. In Revelation 10:6 time was no longer delayed. The 1260-day period of Daniel’s open book started. Here it now ends!

 “Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ’s patience. With sympathizing tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers. They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril. But they must wait yet a little longer.”[1]

“The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions. As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the Lord to work they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been too little exercised during their religious experience. Yet for the elect’s sake the time of trouble will be shortened. ‘Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him? ... I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.’ Luke 18:7, 8. The end will come more quickly than men expect.”[2]

“Glorious will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming and whose names are written in the book of life.”[3]

“Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. Their mocking cries die away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God’s covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness.”[4]

“It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have trampled upon God’s holy requirements.”[5]

“Now they are condemned by that law which they have despised. With awful distinctness they see that they are without excuse.”[6]

“Those who have sacrificed all for Christ are now secure, hidden as in the secret of the Lord’s pavilion. They have been tested, and before the world and the despisers of truth they have evinced their fidelity to Him who died for them. A marvelous change has come over those who have held fast their integrity in the very face of death. They have been suddenly delivered from the dark and terrible tyranny of men transformed to demons. Their faces, so lately pale, anxious, and haggard, are now aglow with wonder, faith, and love. Their voices rise in triumphant song: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.’ Psalm 46:1-3.”[7]

Expositor White was able to envision the unfolding of these great issues at the very end. When the witnesses return to their feet, the mockery and merrymaking of the wicked are silenced. Fear, terror and despair seize their every fiber. This echoes the fear experienced by the Egyptians over the plagues before the deliverance of God’s people (Psalm 105:38, Exodus 15:16).

The earlier tie to Ezekiel 37 was a dual prophecy. It is a prophecy of God’s restoration of Israel out of Babylon. It is also a deliverance prophecy at the end of the world. It portrays the restoration of spiritual Israel as “an exceedingly great army ... the whole house of Israel ... my people” (Ezekiel 37:10-13). These are God’s true people.

There is another amazing picture presented in this little verse. If both witnesses are given life – here eternal life – then the candlestick witnesses representing the martyred Smyrna church must be raised to life. This depicts then the time when martyred saints are resurrected. Jesus won’t come until the next verse. It must be a special resurrection. That, again, is alluded to in Daniel 12:2 and referenced in Revelation 1:7! Incredible as it may be, Ezekiel 37:12 says that at that time God would open these graves and bring His people out of them.

When the two witnesses were overpowered and killed, the wicked celebrated their “death.” Now terror strikes the wicked as the witnesses come back to celebrate life. There is a fascinating tie to the Jewish exodus. Egypt was glad when they left because the fear of Israel had fallen on them. The Song of Moses celebrated the “terror and dread” of the nations when the Israelites were delivered. This is exactly what is depicted here.

“Those who a little before were so reckless, so boastful and defiant, so exultant in their cruelty to God’s commandment-keeping people, are now overwhelmed with consternation and shuddering in fear. Their wails are heard above the sound of the elements. Demons acknowledge the deity of Christ and tremble before His power, while men are supplicating for mercy and groveling in abject terror. 

“Said the prophets of old, as they beheld in holy vision the day of God: ‘Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.’ Isaiah 13:6. ‘Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every­one that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.’ ‘In that day a man shall cast the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when

He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.’ Isaiah 2:10-12, 20, 21, margin.”[8]

What a story! In a thousand ways God is bringing hope to His people. His plan calls for a period of painful trial – the tribulation – then, after this final loyalty witnessing test, eternal life. The “Spirit of [eternal] life” fills each of God’s children.

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