The interpretation timeline

Rev 11:11

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

5 Patristic · 1 Medieval

Patristic before A.D. 750
390
A.D.
Ticonius
d. A.D. 390
“"And they went up to heaven in a cloud." The apostle spoke of this, saying, "We will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ in the air." It is written that this cannot happen to anyone before the coming of the Lord, since at his coming all flesh is approved to arise from their graves. And so the faulty idea of those is excluded who think that these two witnesses are only two men who ascend on the clouds before the coming of Christ. For how could those "who dwell on the earth" rejoice at the death of two men if they died in only one city? Or how do they "exchange presents" if in a short period of time those who threw their bodies in the streets were disquieted by their resurrection although shortly beforehand they were rejoicing at their death? Their courage and reason were stupefied because throughout the earth the announcement came not of their death but of their resurrection. What kind of joy would it be, or what kind of pleasure for those who are feasting would it be, if along with the feast there was the stench of the dead? "And a great fear fell on those who saw them." He says this of those who are alive when they see the resurrection of those who sleep and are shaken by a horrible fear. "And their enemies saw them [ascend]." Here he separates the unrighteous from the righteous and those who were steadfast in faith from those who were timid.”
247 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
637
A.D.
735
A.D.
735
A.D.
Medieval c. 750 – 1100
804
A.D.
Alcuin of York
c. A.D. 735–804
“And after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God entered into them. And they stood upon their feet. In this place is declared the general resurrection of all the saints after that last persecution. The spirit of life from God entering into them does not mean that they will receive another spirit, but that they will get back the same that they had. Standing upon one's feet means not staggering with any changeableness of spiritual things any more. So, let us hear what happens to the reprobates when the saints awaken: and great fear fell upon them that saw them. It is not surprising if fear seizes the reprobates, since even the elect themselves will be scared, albeit with a serene fear.”
Undated date unknown
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.