Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
finished their testimony--The same verb is used of Paul's ending his ministry by a violent death.
the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit--Greek, "the wild beast . . . the abyss." This beast was not mentioned before, yet he is introduced as "the beast," because he had already been described by Daniel (Daniel 7:3, Daniel 7:11), and he is fully so in the subsequent part of the Apocalypse, namely, Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:8. Thus, John at once appropriates the Old Testament prophecies; and also, viewing his whole subject at a glance, mentions as familiar things (though not yet so to the reader) objects to be described hereafter by himself. It is a proof of the unity that pervades all Scripture.
make war against them--alluding to Daniel 7:21, where the same is said of the little horn that sprang up among the ten horns on the fourth beast.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Daniel 7:21
Malachi 4:5
2 Thessalonians 2:6
2 Timothy 3:9
1 John 2:18
Revelation 10:9
Revelation 11:3
Revelation 11:4
Revelation 11:14
Revelation 12:1
Revelation 12:17
Revelation 13:3
Revelation 13:11
Revelation 17:8
Revelation 18:3
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