Revelation 11:9 Study Bible: From 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 placed in a tomb.

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◄ Revelation 11:9 ►

For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.

Study Bible

For three and a half days
This phrase signifies a specific, limited period of time, echoing the prophetic timeframes found elsewhere in Revelation and Daniel. The "three and a half" is often seen as a period of trial or judgment, half of the perfect number seven, symbolizing incompleteness and imperfection. Historically, this period reflects the time of Jesus' death and resurrection, suggesting a parallel of suffering followed by victory.

all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations
This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of the event. The Greek words used here, "laoi" (peoples), "phyla" (tribes), "glossai" (tongues), and "ethne" (nations), highlight the diversity and inclusivity of the audience. It underscores the global impact and the widespread attention that the event will command, reflecting the universal nature of the Gospel message and the reach of God's sovereignty.

will view their bodies
The Greek word "blepousin" (will view) suggests a deliberate and sustained observation. This indicates that the event is not hidden but is public and visible to all. The bodies of the two witnesses are a testimony to the world, and their exposure signifies the world's rejection and scorn. This public display serves as a stark reminder of the world's hostility towards God's messengers.

and will not permit their bodies to be laid in a tomb
The refusal to bury the bodies is an act of ultimate disrespect and desecration. In ancient cultures, burial was a sacred duty, and to deny it was to deny dignity and honor. This act reflects the depth of animosity towards the witnesses and symbolizes the world's rebellion against God. Theologically, it also sets the stage for God's vindication and the ultimate triumph of His witnesses, as their resurrection will be all the more powerful and undeniable.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Two Witnesses
Central figures in Revelation 11, these witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days and are eventually killed by the beast. Their bodies lie in the street for three and a half days.

2. Peoples, Tribes, Tongues, and Nations
This phrase emphasizes the global scope of the event, indicating that people from all over the world will witness the dead bodies of the two witnesses.

3. The Beast
The antagonist who kills the two witnesses. This figure represents opposition to God and His people.

4. Jerusalem (Symbolic)
While not explicitly named in this verse, the context of Revelation 11 suggests that the events occur in a place symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was crucified, often interpreted as Jerusalem.

5. Three and a Half Days
A specific period during which the bodies of the two witnesses remain unburied, symbolizing a temporary triumph of evil over good.

Teaching Points

Global Witness
The event's worldwide visibility underscores the universal nature of God's message and the global impact of His witnesses. Believers are called to be witnesses to all nations.

Temporary Triumph of Evil
The three and a half days symbolize a short-lived victory of evil. Christians can take comfort in knowing that any apparent triumph of evil is temporary and will be overcome by God's ultimate victory.

Perseverance in Faith
The endurance of the two witnesses serves as an example for believers to remain steadfast in their faith, even in the face of persecution and death.

Public Testimony
The refusal to bury the witnesses highlights the public nature of their testimony. Believers are encouraged to live out their faith openly and courageously.

Hope in Resurrection
The eventual resurrection of the witnesses (not covered in this verse but in the subsequent verses) points to the hope of resurrection for all believers, affirming the promise of eternal life.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the global attention given to the two witnesses in Revelation 11:9 challenge us to think about our role in sharing the Gospel today?

2. In what ways can the temporary triumph of evil, as seen in the three and a half days, encourage us to remain faithful during difficult times?

3. How does the public nature of the two witnesses' testimony inspire you to live out your faith more openly?

4. What connections can you draw between the perseverance of the two witnesses and the call to endure in James 1:12?

5. How does the hope of resurrection, as seen in the account of the two witnesses, influence your perspective on life and death?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Daniel 7:25
The "time, times, and half a time" mentioned in Daniel parallels the three and a half days in Revelation, symbolizing a period of persecution and trial.

Matthew 24:14
The global witness of the Gospel is echoed in the worldwide attention given to the two witnesses, highlighting the universal scope of God's message.

1 Kings 17:1 and James 5:17
Elijah's ministry, which involved a period of drought lasting three and a half years, mirrors the prophetic ministry and the period of the two witnesses.

Sermons

The Cause of Right on Earth	D. Thomas, D. D.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Cause of Right on Earth	D. Thomas	Revelation 11:1-19
The Extent and Limit of the True Church of God	C. Clemance, D. D.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Living Temple of Christ's Church and the Two Witnesses of the Word Written and the Sacraments	Bp. Grafton.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Measuring of the Temple	S. Conway, B. A.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Right Temple	James Wells.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Temple of God	G. Rogers.	Revelation 11:1-19
The True Church Reduced	Bp. Horsley.	Revelation 11:1-19
The Continuous Witness	R. Green.	Revelation 11:3-13
The Continuous Witness	R. Green	Revelation 11:3-13
The Preacher a Witness and a Prophet	J. Lathrop, D. D.	Revelation 11:3-13
The Two Witnesses	G. Rogers.	Revelation 11:3-13
The Two Witnesses	S. Conway	Revelation 11:3-13
The Two Witnesses, Their Testimony	W. Bridge, M. D.	Revelation 11:3-13

People

John

Places

Egypt, Patmos, Sodom

Topics

Allow, Behold, Belonging, Bodies, Body, Burial, Dead, Gaze, Graves, Half, Kindreds, Laid, Language, Languages, Nation, Nations, Peoples, Permit, Placed, Refuse, Sepulchre, Suffer, Tomb, Tombs, Tongues, Tribe, Tribes

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Revelation 11:9

5374 languages

Revelation 11:7-10

8450 martyrdom

Library

Worship
Eversley, September 4, 1870. Revelation xi. 16, 17. "And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." My dear friends,--I wish to speak a few plain words to you this morning, on a matter which has been on my mind ever since I returned from Chester, namely,--The duty of the congregation …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

Sermon at the Second Annual Meeting of the Missionary Council in Washington, D. C. , Nov. 13, 1888.
"/The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever/."--REVELATION xi. 15. THESE words are God's surety that the prayers, the trials and the labors of His Church shall be crowned with success. We are living in the great missionary age of the Church. Impenetrable barriers have been broken down. Fast-closed doors have been opened. There is no country where we may not carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Divine Providence has been …
H.B. Whipple—Five Sermons

The Extent of Messiah's Spiritual Kingdom
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever! T he Kingdom of our Lord in the heart, and in the world, is frequently compared to a building or house, of which He Himself is both the Foundation and the Architect (Isaiah 28:16 and 54:11, 12) . A building advances by degrees (I Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:20-22) , and while it is in an unfinished state, a stranger cannot, by viewing its present appearance, form an accurate judgment …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Time of the Evening.
The morning was of 270 years' duration. The first form of the apostasy lasted, as we have shown, 1260 years, bringing us to the Lutheran reformation in 1530. Now when we ascertain the duration of the second beast power we will know the time the sun, moon and stars reappear in the evening. One especial text that gives us information on this subject is found in Revelation. In speaking of the two witnesses the Revelator says: "And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

The Second vision "On Earth"
E^2, THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS (viii. 7 - xi. 14). A., The First Four Trumpets (viii. 7-12) Before we give the Structure of this section we must again call attention to the fact that the sixth Seal takes us on to the time of the end; and the seventh Seal takes us back and commences a new series of judgments initiated by the seven Trumpets and followed by the seven Vials. So that the whole of the rest of the Apocalypse comes under the seventh Seal. Whereas the seventh Trumpet issues in and contains …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Interest of his Biography.
"John, than which man a sadder or a greater Not till this day has been of woman born; John, like some iron peak by the Creator Fired with the red glow of the rushing morn. "This, when the sun shall rise and overcome it, Stands in his shining, desolate and bare; Yet not the less the inexorable summit Flamed him his signal to the happier air." F. W. H. MYERS. John and Jesus--Contemporary History--Anticipation of the Advent. The morning star, shining amid the brightening glow of dawn, is the fittest …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are
Rom. viii. s 7, 8.--"The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is not the least of man's evils, that he knows not how evil he is, therefore the Searcher of the heart of man gives the most perfect account of it, Jer. xvii. 12. "The heart is deceitful above all things," as well as "desperately wicked," two things superlative and excessive in it, bordering upon an infiniteness, such …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Almighty
This title is used nine times [12] in the Apocalypse, and only once elsewhere in the rest of the New Testament (2 Cor. vi. 18). [13] It is (...) (pantokrator) and means having dominion over all, and is used in the Old Testament as the Septuagint translation of "Lord of Hosts" (Heb., Jehovah, Sabaioth; see 2 Sam. v. 10; vii. 25, 27). In Revelation the title is used in i. 8; iv 8; xi. 17; xv. 3; xvi. 7, 14; xix. 6, 15, 22. "The Lord of Hosts" means Jehovah of the hosts in heaven above, and on the earth …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Third vision "In Heaven"
H3, xi. 15-19-. THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET. The Seventh Trumpet brings us back to Heaven and to the Third Vision seen there by John. For it is "in heaven" that the Trumpet is sounded. After it is sounded, we again hear the heavenly utterances which tell us of the design of this sounding. In xix. 1-16, heavenly voices again tell us of the completion of its effect. After it is sounded, and its object unfolded, there is a break; and an episode occupying chaps. xii., xiii. and xiv.; the effects …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Fourth
refers to the books of Numbers and Samuel. The promise is, "to him will give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star" (Rev. ii. 26-28). Here again the literary order in the Apocalypse goes forward with the historical order: for it is in the book of Numbers that we have the basis of this promise given to the same People, who were the subjects …
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
by John Bunyan, Licensed and entered according to order. London: Printed for, and sold by, R. Tookey, at his Printing House in St. Christopher's Court, in Threadneedle Street, behind the Royal Exchange, 1701. Advertisement by the Editor. Some degree of mystery hangs over these Divine Emblems for children, and many years' diligent researches have not enabled me completely to solve it. That they were written by Bunyan, there cannot be the slightest doubt. 'Manner and matter, too, are all his own.'[1] …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Sick Person Ought Now to Send for Some Godly and Religious Pastor.
In any wise remember, if conveniently it may be, to send for some godly and religious pastor, not only to pray for thee at thy death--for God in such a case hath promised to hear the prayers of the righteous prophets, and elders of the church (Gen. xx. 7; Jer. xviii. 20; xv. 1; 1 Sam. xii. 19, 23; James v. 14, 15, 16)--but also upon thy unfeigned repentance to declare to thee the absolution of thy sins. For as Christ hath given him a calling to baptize thee unto repentance for the remission of thy …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Water of Life;
OR, A DISCOURSE SHOWING THE RICHNESS AND GLORY OF THE GRACE AND SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL, AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE BY THIS TERM, THE WATER OF LIFE. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'--Revelation 22:17 London: Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Often, and in every age, the children of God have dared to doubt the sufficiency of divine grace; whether it was vast enough to reach their condition--to cleanse …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Conclusion.
"From Heaven He came and sought her To be His Holy Bride, With His own Blood He bought her, And for her life He died." "The Kingdom of Heaven," what is it? It is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ. It is that Kingdom which was prophetically set forth by our Lord in His parables; that Kingdom, the subjects of which were described in His teaching, and redeemed by His Blood to be His own "purchased possession" (Eph. i. 14); that Kingdom which was founded through the coming of the Holy …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

Opposition to Messiah in Vain
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. T he extent and efficacy [effects] of the depravity of mankind cannot be fully estimated by the conduct of heathens destitute of divine revelation. We may say of the Gospel, in one sense, what the Apostle says of the Law, It entered that sin might abound (Romans 5:20) . It afforded occasion for displaying the alienation of the heart of man from the blessed God, in the strongest light. The sensuality, oppression and …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
The fact of Covenanting, under the Old Testament dispensations, being approved of God, gives a proof that it was proper then, which is accompanied by the voice of prophecy, affording evidence that even in periods then future it should no less be proper. The argument for the service that is afforded by prophecy is peculiar, and, though corresponding with evidence from other sources, is independent. Because that God willed to make known truth through his servants the prophets, we should receive it …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

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