Revelation 11 7

Revelation 11:7 kjv

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7 nkjv

When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:7 niv

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

Revelation 11:7 esv

And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,

Revelation 11:7 nlt

When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.

Revelation 11 verses

Revelation 11 7 Meaning

Revelation 11:7 describes a pivotal moment in the ministry of the two witnesses. After fulfilling their divine commission of prophecy and testimony for a specified period, an evil entity, referred to as "the beast," emerges from "the abyss." This beast then wages war against these faithful witnesses, achieves a temporary victory by overcoming them, and subsequently causes their death. This verse signifies the climax of their earthly ministry and the intense opposition God's truth faces from demonic and worldly powers.

Revelation 11 7 Context

Revelation 11 is situated within the "seven trumpets" sequence, specifically as an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets. Before this verse, John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and its worshipers, indicating a preservation and sealing of God's true people. This is immediately followed by the introduction of the "two witnesses," who are empowered to prophesy for 1,260 days (42 months), a period signifying a time of intense but limited tribulation and divine testimony. Their powerful ministry includes striking the earth with plagues, shutting up the sky, and consuming those who attempt to harm them with fire. Their presence symbolizes God's continued prophetic voice in the midst of a world in rebellion. Verse 7 serves as the climactic point of their earthly mission, marking the moment when their God-appointed testimony is completed, opening the way for the forces of evil to seemingly triumph over them for a brief time before God intervens once more. The historical context for Revelation includes severe Roman persecution of early Christians under emperors like Domitian, who demanded emperor worship, directly challenging the believers' allegiance to Christ alone. This backdrop helps to understand the themes of faithfulness under duress, witness unto death, and the battle between divine authority and oppressive worldly powers, often animated by spiritual evil.

Revelation 11 7 Word analysis

• And when they have finished (ὅταν τελέσωσιν, hotan telesōsin):

  • Finished (τελέσωσιν, telesōsin): This is from the root teleō, meaning to complete, bring to an end, or fulfill. It signifies the successful execution and conclusion of a task or purpose. For the witnesses, it implies that they have perfectly accomplished their God-given prophetic ministry and "testimony," emphasizing divine timing and control over all events. Their death is not an interruption but a pre-ordained part of God's plan, occurring only after their mission is truly fulfilled.

• their testimony (τὴν μαρτυρίαν αὐτῶν, tēn martyrian autōn):

  • Testimony (μαρτυρίαν, martyrian): Refers to witness, evidence, or declaration of truth, particularly spiritual truth about God and Christ. In Revelation, martyria is profoundly linked to martyrdom (the word shares its root with martyr), suggesting a witness that often involves suffering and death for the sake of the truth. It encompasses both their spoken message and the faithfulness of their lives.

• the beast (τὸ θηρίον, to thērion):

  • Beast (θηρίον, thērion): A wild animal; here, it's a symbolic figure representing an oppressive, satanically-empowered political and religious force. This is the first direct appearance of the beast in Revelation as a primary antagonist in direct combat with God's servants. It embodies rebellious worldly authority aligned with demonic power, drawing on Old Testament imagery (e.g., Dan 7).

• that comes up from the abyss (τὸ ἀναβαῖνον ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου, to anabainon ek tēs abyssou):

  • Comes up (ἀναβαῖνον, anabainon): Active participle, emphasizing its active emergence and ascent.
  • Abyss (ἀβύσσου, abyssou): Literally "bottomless pit." Theologically, it represents the prison of demonic spirits and the realm of the dead in some Jewish and Christian thought (cf. Lk 8:31, Rev 9:1). This origin signals that the beast's power is not merely human or political but fundamentally demonic and directly tied to spiritual evil, distinguishing it from conventional worldly rulers.

• will make war on them (ποιήσει πόλεμον μετ᾽ αὐτῶν, poiēsei polemon met' autōn):

  • Make war (ποιήσει πόλεμον, poiēsei polemon): Signifies a deliberate, aggressive, and direct military conflict. This is a full-fledged attack, not merely persecution or passive resistance, showing the beast's determined hostility against God's truth.

• and conquer them (καὶ νικήσει αὐτούς, kai nikēsei autous):

  • Conquer (νικήσει, nikēsei): From nikaō, meaning to overcome, prevail, or gain a victory. Here, it denotes a real, though temporary, triumph of the beast over the witnesses. This is a shocking outcome, given their earlier power, underscoring the severity of the spiritual battle.

• and kill them (καὶ ἀποκτενεῖ αὐτούς, kai apoktenei autous):

  • Kill (ἀποκτενεῖ, apoktenei): To put to death, slay. The culmination of the beast's war, resulting in the literal death of the two witnesses. This act signifies the ultimate earthly victory of the satanic powers over God's faithful messengers, leading to their apparent defeat and martyrdom.

• When they have finished their testimony: This phrase highlights God's pre-ordained timing. The beast's power is constrained; it cannot act against the witnesses until their divinely appointed work is completed. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over both the ministry of His servants and the permitted activity of evil forces. It also sets up the ultimate vindication in later verses.

• the beast that comes up from the abyss: This is a crucial identifier, giving insight into the beast's nature and origin. It confirms that the beast is not merely an earthly political power, but one rooted in the deepest levels of demonic darkness and actively rising from the underworld realm. This distinguishes it as a uniquely spiritual-military-political adversary driven by infernal power, often linked with Satan himself.

• will make war on them and conquer them and kill them: This sequence describes the full extent of the beast's assault and its devastating earthly outcome. It progresses from open conflict to domination and then to literal demise. The triple verbs emphasize the beast's successful and ruthless power in this specific battle, presenting a clear picture of violent martyrdom at the climax of the witnesses' prophetic mission.

Revelation 11 7 Bonus section

The beast's origin "from the abyss" is crucial for understanding its unique nature in Revelation. Unlike other powers that may rise "from the sea" (Rev 13:1, signifying the nations or chaotic human societies) or "from the earth" (Rev 13:11, suggesting indigenous or religious power), this specific beast is identified with the prison-realm of fallen angels and demonic forces. This points to a supernatural, utterly depraved source of power, directly linked to Satan's authority, rather than merely human ambition or ideology. This beast, likely identified with the beast that "was, and is not, and is about to rise from the abyss" in Rev 17:8, possesses characteristics of earlier beasts but has a particularly terrifying spiritual dimension. The apparent victory of the beast over the witnesses also reinforces a consistent theme in biblical prophecy: that faithful witness often leads to persecution and even death, but this earthly "defeat" is merely a prelude to divine vindication and ultimate spiritual triumph. It showcases that the struggle is not just ideological but a full-scale spiritual warfare against principalities and powers of darkness.

Revelation 11 7 Commentary

Revelation 11:7 portrays a stark clash between divine witness and demonic power. The two witnesses, empowered by God and seemingly invincible throughout their prophetic ministry, meet their earthly end only after completing their divinely appointed task. This precise timing underscores God's absolute sovereignty; evil can only triumph temporarily and within His pre-determined boundaries. The emergence of "the beast from the abyss" indicates that the ultimate adversary of God's truth is not merely a human institution or political leader, but a being directly connected to and energized by the spiritual realm of profound evil and chaos. This beast is given specific permission to wage war and achieve victory, signifying that faithfulness in testifying to God's truth may, and often does, lead to suffering and martyrdom. The "conquer and kill" highlights the literal physical defeat and death of these bold messengers. This grim outcome serves as a powerful reminder that while God's ultimate victory is assured, the journey of His faithful servants may involve significant cost, persecution, and even earthly death, mirroring the sacrifice of Christ Himself. Yet, the temporary nature of this victory, implied by God's overarching plan in Revelation, offers a powerful hope beyond earthly suffering.