What Old Testament events parallel the resurrection in Revelation 11:11? Setting the Scene: Revelation 11:11 “After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.” The Spirit-breathed resurrection of the two witnesses is not an isolated New Testament idea. God has painted similar pictures throughout the Old Testament, preparing us to recognize His power to raise the dead. Echoes on Mount Moriah: Isaac’s “Return” • Genesis 22:1-14 records the literal near-sacrifice of Isaac. • Though Isaac never physically died, Hebrews 11:19 says Abraham “reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a figurative sense, he did receive Isaac back.” • Pattern that matches Revelation 11:11: a beloved son laid out for death, a brief “waiting,” and a dramatic restoration that magnifies God before onlookers. Breath in a Valley of Bones • Ezekiel 37:1-14—Israel pictured as corpses. • v. 10: “Breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet.” • Parallels: – Corpses publicly visible. – Divine breath (rûaḥ) revives them. – Resurrection witnessed, producing awe and hope. Miraculous Resurrections in the Prophetic Era 1 Kings 17:17-24—Elijah and the widow’s son • v. 22: “The LORD listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life returned to him.” 2 Kings 4:18-37—Elisha and the Shunammite’s son • v. 35: “The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.” 2 Kings 13:20-21—A man revived by contact with Elisha’s bones • v. 21: “When the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.” Common threads: a lifeless body, God’s immediate intervention, the person stands, witnesses are startled—just as in Revelation 11. Prophetic Glimpses of National Resurrection • Isaiah 26:19—“Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.” • Daniel 12:2—“Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake.” These broad prophecies assure Israel of a future literal resurrection, foreshadowing the scene in Jerusalem when the two witnesses rise. Typological Deliverances Suggesting Resurrection • Jonah 1–2: Swallowed, “bars closed upon me forever” (2:6), yet delivered on the third day—anticipating death-to-life after a set period. • Daniel 6: Daniel emerges alive from the lions’ den at dawn, stunning the king—another living testimony after presumed death. Shared Elements that Tie the Texts Together – Real death or near-death, witnessed by many – A divinely appointed interval (often three days or distinct time marker) – God’s breath/word restores life – The resurrected stand on their feet – Spectators respond with fear or awe Revelation 11:11 gathers all these strands, showing that what God has done before on smaller stages He will do again on a worldwide platform. Why the Parallels Matter • They confirm God’s consistent character: He keeps His word and wields absolute power over life and death. • They validate the literal expectation of bodily resurrection for all believers (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). • They warn a watching world that rejection of His witnesses cannot silence His truth; resurrection will vindicate His servants. The Old Testament rehearsals lead us confidently to the climax in Revelation, where God once more breathes, the dead rise, and His glory is unmistakably displayed. |
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