Dead Bodies Seen Three and One Half Days Revelation 11:9

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” In chapter eleven and verse nine of Revelation John shared how all people “shall see their dead bodies three days and an half” where we read:

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

The verse reads, “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, ...” John began with the words, “and they” which means “the people who are living at that time” “of the people” or “pertaining to the tribe, nation and all those who are of the same stock and language” “and kindreds” which refers to “races, clans and tribes” “and tongues” which means “the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations” “and nations” or “companies, troops or people groups” “shall see” which means “will look upon, discern with the bodily eye and observe” “their dead bodies” or “the two witnesses' fallen and slain corpses” “three days and a half” which refers to “for three and one half days”. The “dead bodies” of the “two witnesses” will lie in the street in Jerusalem for three and one half days and all people shall see them.

The verse continues, “... and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.” John added the words, “and shall not suffer” which means “and will not allow or permit” “their dead bodies” or “the two witnesses' fallen and slain corpses” “to be put” which means “to be set, lain, fixed or established” “in graves” or “within sepulchers, tombs or memorials to perpetuate the member of the two witnesses”. John was told that the “two witnesses' dead bodies” were not allowed to be “buried” or “memorialized”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we might wonder why the “two witnesses” were not allowed to be buried or memorialized, however, when we remember all the troubles they caused for people upon the earth, we understand. The people of the world were “rejoicing” over their deaths, and because we have news throughout the world twenty four hours a day, it will be easy for people to view their “dead bodies” lying in the street. When these events cause us to wonder, we must remember God has all things in His control, and that is why He desires for everyone to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Let all who read these words ask themselves, “do I want to be among those looking upon the two witnesses”?

Next time John shares how, “they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and make merry” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.