Revelation 11:7-10 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earthwill gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
The two witnesses are killed in what seems to be Jerusalem where they have been testifying. The world gawks at their bodies for three and a half days. This is the type of response the world gives to those who speak forth the word of God. It will only get worse at that time in history. At the end of time, people will scoff at the word of God. As followers of Jesus, we should expect this response from those who live to please the flesh and have been deceived by the world and the devil.
The beast, whoever or whatever it is, represents the forces of evil that wage war against the children of God. This is the first mention of this beast which will again be the topic of 17:8. There are many beasts mentioned in Revelation. Several beasts will be described in chapter 13. The one here could be one of these beasts or a separate one. Beasts often represent leaders of nations. It is impossible to know if that is the case in this passage. The Abyss represents hell. This beast may be the devil personified or in control of a person.
These seems like a sad ending to the lives of these witnesses, but the story continues in the next passage. We must remember in all these stories of Revelation that God remains in control, even when the forces of evil seem to have the victory.
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