Revelation 11:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Jews and Gentiles, deceived by the false wonders of the antichrist and having written his name indelibly in their hearts, will not allow the bodies of the saints to be buried. They will rejoice that they have escaped and been freed from the chastisements they endured for their own correction.

They do not understand that “the Lord chastens whom He loves, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:6). With bit and bridle He draws to Himself those who do not draw near to Him (Ps 31:9), so that even by compulsion they may return to the right path, from which they strayed through deception.

Those deceived by the antichrist from every tribe, seeing the murder of the witnesses, will rejoice that their king has conquered them. The sending of gifts to one another is a sign of joy and happiness. It is said: "because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth." The prophets tormented them not sensibly, but spiritually, mocking and rebuking their sins and bringing their deception into the light.

The desires were exposed by which the impious strove to remove the Church of Christ from the world, as the psalm says: "that the name of Israel may be remembered no more" (Ps 82:5). Although they were unable to accomplish this, they nevertheless revealed their harmful desire.

They will rejoice at the murder of the holy prophets and will honor one another with gifts as on a feast. They hate those who admonish them to refrain from evil, as the inhabitants of Sodom hated righteous Lot when he exhorted them. They also vex those who bear witness to the true Christ, as the Egyptians vexed Moses and Aaron when they proclaimed what God had commanded.

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.