Revelation 11:12

Voice from heaven. The speaker is not identified, but presumably he is God.

Come up hither. Not only are the witnesses resurrected by God; they are bidden to enter heaven. Thus while “their enemies” behold “them” they are completely vindicated from the outrages they had suffered, and the truth of the prophecy they had faithfully proclaimed for 1260 days is demonstrated to all. The voice of God Himself has welcomed them to heaven, before the very eyes of those who had sought to destroy them.

This exaltation of the witnesses has been understood as symbolizing the remarkable popularity that the Scriptures have enjoyed since the early 19th century. Soon after the French Revolution various national Bible societies were established. Particularly notable among these were the British and Foreign Bible Society, founded in 1804, and the American Bible Society, organized in 1816. These societies, with others, have circulated Scripture portions in more than 1,500 languages. Thus in the last century and a half, the Bible, rather than being relegated to oblivion as a spiritual guide, has come to enjoy its widest circulation.

Ascended … in a cloud. As Jesus bade His disciples farewell, a cloud “received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). So also the two witnesses are carried to heaven in a cloud. The figure fittingly describes the exaltation of the Scriptures in the period following their suppression in France (see on Rev. 11:9; cf. Dan. 4:22).

Enemies beheld them. See the foregoing on “come up hither.”