Revelation 11:7-13: a reflection

7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations, people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

In a vision of God's two faithful witnesses, they are, for a time, overcome and killed by the beast, their bodies left unburied in the street while their enemies rejoice and celebrate. It seems the total defeat of God's servants: killed, mocked, their enemies gloating. But this is not the end. After three and a half days, the breath of life from God enters into them, and they stand on their feet, and are called up into heaven; and great fear falls on those who saw them. The apparent defeat of God's faithful witnesses was not the final word; God raised them and vindicated them. This shows that the apparent defeat of God's faithful, even their death at the hands of their enemies, is not the last word; God can raise and vindicate his own. What looks like the total defeat of God's servants is not the end; God vindicates them. The apparent defeat of the faithful is not the final word, for God vindicates them. God can raise and vindicate his own, even after they seem defeated. The seeming defeat of God's faithful gives way to his vindication.

Notice the reversal in the vision: from the apparent defeat of God's witnesses to their vindication by God. For a time, they were overcome, killed, their bodies mocked, their enemies rejoicing; it seemed they had been utterly defeated. But God was not done. He raised them, gave them life, called them up, and vindicated them before their enemies, who were seized with fear. The apparent defeat was not the end; God had the last word, and it was vindication. This is a hope for God's faithful, who may seem, at times, to be defeated by their enemies, their cause mocked, their faithfulness apparently coming to nothing. But the apparent defeat of God's faithful is not the final word; God can and will vindicate his own. What looks like the triumph of the enemy over God's servants is not the end of the story; God's vindication follows. The faithful may seem to lose, but God will vindicate them in the end. To hold on through apparent defeat is to trust the God who vindicates his own. The enemy's apparent triumph is not the last word; God vindicates the faithful. God has the last word, and it is vindication for his own.

That is worth resting in, for the apparent defeat of God's faithful is not the final word; God can raise and vindicate his own. We can see God's faithful people, or ourselves, apparently defeated, our cause mocked, our faithfulness seeming to come to nothing, and conclude that the enemy has won; but the two witnesses, killed and mocked, were raised and vindicated by God. The apparent defeat of the faithful is not the end; God vindicates his own. When you see God's faithful apparently defeated, remember that God can raise and vindicate them, as he did the two witnesses. Rest in the truth that the apparent defeat of God's faithful, even their seeming total loss at the hands of their enemies, is not the final word, for God can raise and vindicate his own, as the two witnesses, overcome and killed and mocked, were raised by the breath of life from God and vindicated before their enemies; for what looks like the triumph of the enemy over God's servants, their faithfulness apparently coming to nothing, is not the end of the story, but God has the last word, and it is vindication, so that we can hold on through apparent defeat, trusting the God who vindicates his own and does not let the seeming triumph of the enemy over the faithful be the final word.

Lord, in a vision of your two faithful witnesses, they are, for a time, overcome and killed by the beast, their bodies left unburied in the street while their enemies rejoice and celebrate. It seems the total defeat of your servants: killed, mocked, their enemies gloating. But this is not the end. After three and a half days, the breath of life from you enters into them, and they stand on their feet, and are called up into heaven; and great fear falls on those who saw them. The apparent defeat of your faithful witnesses was not the final word; you raised them and vindicated them. Show me the reversal in the vision: from the apparent defeat of your witnesses to their vindication by you. For a time, they were overcome, killed, mocked, their enemies rejoicing; it seemed they had been utterly defeated. But you were not done. You raised them, called them up, and vindicated them before their enemies. The apparent defeat was not the end; you had the last word, and it was vindication. This is a hope for your faithful, who may seem, at times, to be defeated by their enemies, their cause mocked, their faithfulness apparently coming to nothing. But the apparent defeat of your faithful is not the final word; you can and will vindicate your own. Let me rest in that, for the apparent defeat of your faithful is not the final word; you can raise and vindicate your own. I can see your faithful people, or myself, apparently defeated, our faithfulness seeming to come to nothing, and conclude that the enemy has won; but the two witnesses, killed and mocked, were raised and vindicated by you. When I see your faithful apparently defeated, help me remember that you can raise and vindicate them, Lord, as you did the two witnesses, so that I hold on through apparent defeat, trusting that you have the last word and it is vindication for your own.