The Revelation of St. John (1558) - Page 18

The beast of the abyss kills the two witnesses of God,
who lie unburied for three days; afterwards, they are
taken up into heaven in a cloud. An earthquake and
hail followed. Revelation 11.
original Latin: "Bestia abyssi occidit duos testes Dei, qui iacent triduo insepulti, postea nube in coelum assumuntur. Secuti terraemotus & grando. Apoc. 11."

The two witnesses of God are strangled by the
beast / they lie unburied / and are finally
led up into heaven in a cloud / Following this,
an earthquake and collapse occur. Revelation 11.
original German: "Die zwen zeugen Gottes vom thier erwürgt / ligen vnbegraben / endlich im wolcken zu himel vffgefürt / Darauff volget erdbidem vnd einfall. Apoc. 11."

This scene depicts one of the most dramatic moments in the Book of Revelation. The "Two Witnesses" are figures sent by God to prophesy; traditionally, many historical commentators identified them as Enoch and Elijah, two biblical figures who did not die natural deaths.

The "Beast of the Abyss" represents the emergence of a chaotic and evil power that temporarily triumphs over God's servants. The detail of them lying "unburied" for three days was intended to show the extreme contempt of their enemies, while their subsequent "ascension in a cloud" mirrors the ascension of Christ, signaling their vindication. The resulting earthquake and hail represent divine judgment falling upon the city that rejected them.