And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Everyone living on earth is going to throw a huge celebration when these two prophets die. They'll party, exchange gifts, and basically treat it like Christmas, because these prophets had been calling them out and making their lives uncomfortable with the truth.
Sometimes people celebrate when the voices challenging them finally go quiet.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Revelation, written by the apostle John during a time of intense persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire in the late first century, this verse is part of a prophetic vision describing the two witnesses as God's faithful prophets who bring messages of judgment and perform miracles, tormenting those who reject God. The rejoicing and gift-giving by the earth's inhabitants symbolize a worldly celebration of victory over divine authority, much like ancient pagan festivals that mocked or opposed God's people. This imagery draws from Old Testament accounts of prophets like Elijah and Moses, highlighting the eternal struggle between God's truth and human rebellion.
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