Revelation of John 11:7
When they shall have finished ( οταν τελεσωσιν ). Merely the first aorist active subjunctive of τελεω with οταν in an indefinite temporal clause with no futurum exactum (future perfect), "whenever they finish."The beast ( το θηριον ). "The wild beast comes out of the abyss" of 9:1f. He reappears in 13:1; 17:8. In Da 7:3 θηρια occurs. Nothing less than antichrist will satisfy the picture here. Some see the abomination of Da 7:7; Mt 24:15. Some see Nero redivivus.
He shall make war with them ( ποιησε μετ' αυτων πολεμον ). This same phrase occurs in 12:17 about the dragon's attack on the woman. It is more the picture of single combat (2:16).
He shall overcome them ( νικησε αυτους ). Future active of νικαω. The victory of the beast over the two witnesses is certain, as in Da 7:21.
And kill them ( κα αποκτενε ). Future active of αποκτεινω. Without attempting to apply this prophecy to specific individuals or times, one can agree with these words of Swete: "But his words cover in effect all the martyrdoms and massacres of history in which brute force has seemed to triumph over truth and righteousness."
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