But the revelry and the merry-making will not last long. Three and a half days, the text says, the bodies of these witnesses lie in the streets. Not three and a half years, but three and a half days. That is, a cut short portion of what is already cut short. After a little while, a brief while, the church is then resurrected from the dead:
And after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. Revelation 11:11–12, KJV
This is a reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead at the very, very end. The church will rise first at the end. And the world that is alive when Christ returns, which had abused the church unto her death, will watch! They will behold as the church is called up into the air for the preparation of the end of all things. One can only imagine what will be going through the minds of the people of the world at that point, watching that take place. When they see Christ come back again on the clouds of glory and all the church rise right in front of them. No greater torrent of rain could ever be poured on anyone’s parade. It is going to be shocking. The time for judgment, that they deep down always knew was coming, will be here.1
Cory Griess
11 Après les trois jours et demi, un esprit de vie, venant de Dieu, entra en eux, et ils se tinrent sur leurs pieds; et une grande crainte s'empara de ceux qui les voyaient.