Who are the ones who see the two witnesses' dead bodies in Revelation 11:9?
Those who see them are people, kindreds, tongues, and nations—the whole world, not merely Israel or the Middle East. The context identifies them with the revived Roman Empire and Antichrist’s government, who refuse burial. They view the bodies for three and a half days, enabled by television.
Les teaches that Revelation 11:9 identifies the observers as the peoples, kindreds, tongues, and nations that make up the revived Roman Empire, the government of the Antichrist. These are the ones who see the two witnesses’ dead bodies for three and a half days and do not permit them to be buried, letting them lie in the hot sun. He then connects this with verse 10, where those who dwell upon the earth—not just Israel or the Middle East, but the whole planet—rejoice, make merry, and send gifts to one another because the two prophets tormented them by pointing out their wickedness, iniquity, and the righteous judgment of God already upon them. When verse 11 says great fear fell on those who saw them, Les asks who sees them and answers: the whole world, explaining that television makes such global viewing commonplace today.
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
More Questions
Why are the two witnesses' dead bodies left in the street in Revelation 11:8?
The two witnesses' bodies will be left on Jerusalem's streets because of the people's mortal hatred for them.