Revelation 11:10-11; Make Merry and Send Gifts

Revelation 11:10-11 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 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. 

Now the utter depravity of the dwellers on earth is manifested. They refuse decent burial for the witnesses; but even more, they want to celebrate the cessation of that witness which was so irksome and tormenting to them in their incorrigible godlessness. [Feinberg]

The merriment over the death of the two witnesses is widespread. “They that dwell upon the earth” is an apocalyptic formula for the unbelieving world. A global spanning interest in these two deaths is anticipated. The international celebration is short-lived, however. The resurrection of the two witnesses ends it. [Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody Press, 1995, 96]

The partying and gift giving of “Dead Witnesses Day” will be suddenly and dramatically halted by a most shocking event. After the three and a half days during which their bodies lay in disgrace on a Jerusalem street, the breath of life from God (cf. Gen. 2:7) came into the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet. Needless to say, great fear fell upon those who were watching them. Panic will seize the unregenerate world as their hated and reviled tormentors suddenly spring to life. If this is viewed on television, it will be replayed repeatedly. They no doubt expected the two resurrected witnesses to resume their ministry of preaching and working miracles, but God had other plans. There came a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” This is likely the voice of the Lord, who summoned John to heaven in 4:1. Then the two preachers went up into heaven in the cloud, as their enemies watched them in awe. This two-man Rapture will no doubt also be replayed endlessly for the entire world to see. It is reminiscent of the ascension of Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) and the mysterious death and burial of Moses (Deut. 34:5–6).

2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeareda chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 

Deuteronomy 34:5-6 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1999). Revelation 1–11 (pp. 304–305). Chicago: Moody Press.

An interesting parallel can be drawn between the two prophets who represent God and the false prophet who represents Satan. Here is the paradigm.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 336). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.