Revelation 11:12

“And they heard a great voice from heaven, etc.] The Complutensian edition reads, “I heard”, i.e. “John”; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; but the copies in general read “they”; not the enemies, but the witnesses: and this seems not to come from any Christian civil magistrate in the church, but from Christ himself; not but that Christ may make use of, such for the bringing of his people into a more glorious and comfortable state in this world: saying unto them, come up hither; as the angel said to John, (<660401>Revelation 4:1), and Christ will say to his people, though on another account, (<402534>Matthew 25:34). And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; which is to be understood not…”

“they--so A, C, and Vulgate. But B, Coptic, Syriac, and ANDREAS read, "I heard." a cloud--Greek, "the cloud"; which may be merely the generic expression for what we are familiar with, as we say "the clouds." But I prefer taking the article as definitely alluding to THE cloud which received Jesus at His ascension, Act 1:9 (where there is no article, as there is no allusion to a previous cloud, such as there is here). As they resembled Him in their three and a half years' witnessing, their three and a half days lying in death (though not for exactly the same time, nor put in a tomb as He was), so also in their ascension is the translation and transfiguration of the sealed of Israel (Rev 7:1-8),…”

“And they heard a great voice from heaven - Some manuscripts read, “I heard” - ἤκουσα ēkousa - but the more approved reading is that of the common text. John says that a voice was addressed to them calling them to ascend to heaven. Come up hither - To heaven. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud - So the Saviour ascended, Acts 1:9; and so probably Elijah, 2 Kings 2:11. And their enemies beheld them - That is, it was done openly, so that their enemies, who had put them to death, saw that they were approved of God, as if they had been publicly taken up to heaven. It is not necessary to suppose that this would literally occur. All this is, manifestly, mere symbol. The meaning is, that…”

“And I heard a great voice - Designed for all to hear. And they went up to heaven, and their enemies beheld them - who had not taken notice of their rising again; by which some had been convinced before. Revelation 11:13”

“11:12 they rose to heaven in a cloud: The event is reminiscent of the ascent of Jesus (see Acts 1:9) and others (see 2 Kgs 2:11-12; 1 Thes 4:17).”

“Come: Rev 4:1; Psa 15:1, Psa 24:3; Isa 40:31 And they: Rev 3:21, Rev 12:5; Kg2 2:11; Isa 14:13; Act 1:9; Rom 8:34-37; Eph 2:5, Eph 2:6 in: Isa 60:8; Act 1:9; Th1 4:17 and their: Exo 14:25; Kg2 2:1, Kg2 2:5, Kg2 2:7; Psa 86:17, Psa 112:10; Mal 3:18; Luk 16:23 Revelation 11:13”