Revelation 11:7; The Beast Make War Against Them

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Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 

Sinful men will try desperately and unsuccessfully to get rid of the two witnesses throughout their ministry in a kind of kamikaze effort that results in their own incineration. God, however, will protect them until they have finished their testimony, having achieved His purpose during the time He sovereignly determined for their ministry.

At the end of that time, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them. This is the first of thirty-six references in Revelation to the beast and anticipates the more detailed information about him to come in chapters 13 and 17. He is introduced here with emphasis on his origin. He is said to come up out of the abyss (bottomless pit), indicating that he is empowered by Satan. Since Satan is depicted as a dragon (12:3, 9), this figure is not Satan.

The revelation about him in chapter 13 indicates that the beast is a world ruler (often called Antichrist) who imitates the true Christ, rules over the people of the world, and demands their worship (13:1–8). The abyss is the prison for certain demons (see the discussion of 9:1–2 in chapter 20 of this volume). Though he is a man, the beast is energized by the demonic presence and power coming from the abyss. To the great joy and relief of the sinful world, the beast (Antichrist) will finally overcome the two witnesses and kill them (cf. his other successful assaults in 12:17; 13:7).

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1999). Revelation 1–11 (p. 303). Chicago: Moody Press.

Once the testimony of the witnesses is completed, they will glorify God even in death, being slain by the beast. He actually carries on warfare against them until they are martyred. Evidently, the populace will assent to the work of the beast, because in their anger against the two witnesses they do not allow the corpses to be buried, an indignity of immense proportions in the East. With satanic cunning and deception, the beast from the abyss has won over the masses to his position. [Feinberg]

Indeed, when our labours are over, that will be glory. Charles H. Gabriel wrote the hymn “O that will be Glory”. I have a hymn book that the late Rev Dr Tow Siang Hwa marked this hymn, a fitting enblem of rest for God’s servants.

  1. When all my labors and trials are o’er,
    And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
    Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
    Will through the ages be glory for me.
    • Refrain:
      Oh, that will be glory for me,
      Glory for me, glory for me,
      When by His grace I shall look on His face,
      That will be glory, be glory for me.
  2. When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
    I am accorded in heaven a place,
    Just to be there and to look on His face,
    Will through the ages be glory for me.
  3. Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
    Joy like a river around me will flow;
    Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
    Will through the ages be glory for me.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished mycourse, I have kept the faith: 

May the Lord empower the saints in this generation to fulfil their work for Him to His glory. Amen.