Revelation 11:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And when they have proclaimed all these things, they will fall by the sword, killed by the devil. They will complete their testimony, as Daniel also says of this. He foresaw that the beast ascending from the abyss would make war against them, that is, against Enoch, Elijah, and John. He would overcome them and kill them because they do not wish to give glory to the devil, that is, to the little horn that ascends. Having become puffed up in heart, he will finally begin to proclaim and glorify himself as God. At the same time, he will persecute the saints and blaspheme Christ (see Dan 7).

“These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth,” that is, in Paradise (cf. Zech 4:11-14). Thus, after many wounds have been inflicted upon the world, that which John designates by the words “the beast that comes up from the abyss” must be destroyed.

To confirm that he is about to come up from the abyss, we should bring forward many testimonies in this chapter. For example, Isaiah says: “Behold, Asshur was a cypress on Mount Lebanon.” Victorinus wrongly attributes this passage to Isaiah; see Ezek 31:3.

[...] and he will leave their bodies unburied in Jerusalem, ancient and desolated, where Christ suffered. In this city the antichrist will establish his kingdom and royal throne in imitation of David. According to the flesh, Christ, our true God, was David's Son. He will do this to show that he is the Christ who fulfills the prophecy: "I will raise up the fallen tabernacle of David, and rebuild its ruins" (Amos 9:11). The Jews, in their error, apply this prophecy to his coming.

They testify that this one is not Christ, but a liar, deceiver, and destroyer. Soon the Son of God will come, in Whom one must believe as Savior and God. He will come to benefit mankind, both those who appeared before and those now appearing.

It is said: “the beast that comes up from the abyss.” He calls the antichrist a beast because of his cruelty, inhumanity, and bloodthirstiness. He calls human life an abyss, bitter and salty from sins, and troubled by the assaults of the spirits of wickedness. For the sinner is not born from some other essence, but from our human nature. The antichrist will be a man, “whose coming is according to the working of Satan” (2 Thess 2:9), as was just said.

John openly shows that all this will happen before the final persecutions, saying: “when they have finished their testimony.” At least, that to which they bear witness will occur before the manifestation of the beast, who will come forth from the hearts of the ungodly.

Relying on this testimony, they will fiercely contend with their opponents. Yet, according to tradition, at that time the gift of perfection will be taken from the Church, while the adversary will openly shine with lying wonders. As the Lord says, “terror runs before him” (Job 41:14).

The bodies of these preachers of the coming of the Righteous Judge, after they are killed, will remain unburied for three and a half days. This corresponds to the number of years of their prophecy, and they will lie in the court of Jerusalem.

Their bodies remaining unburied and lying in the court of the city is a divine economy. Those who suffer evil for Christ will draw from it the fruit of consolation and encouragement. They will see such prophets of God put to death and dishonored by men for the love of God, yet glorified by the Rewarder. They will receive the Spirit of God and be taken up into the heavens.

If truth sometimes seems conquered for a time, and if its witnesses appear dishonored and destroyed, this is only so that truth may be given the opportunity to triumph. It will appear with new power, just as the Lord rose after being put to death on the Cross.

"It is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." This last definition compels one to see Jerusalem directly here. But Roman interpreters refer this expression to Rome, in whose domain Jesus Christ was crucified, or was being crucified in His members, the Christians. Yet no firm grounds are given for putting Rome in place of Jerusalem.