In verses 7-8, when the two witnesses had “ finished their testimony,” and the “ days” of their prophesying were completed, the “ beast” from abyss would “ make war against them” and “ overcome them” and “ kill them.” This agrees with the description of the “ end” after the “ gospel of the kingdom” had been preached “ in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” Neither earthly nor hadean power could prevail against them until their testimony was finished, but when this was accomplished, the beast of the abyss would overcome them. This introduces the beast which will be described in the following chapters, personified ‘ in the persecuting emperor, or power, which though as yet had not appeared in the form of the beast, was symbolized in “ the angel” of the abyss of chapter 9:11. The “ king” leader of chapter 9:11 was “ the angel of the bottomless pit,” and from that the bottomless pit this beast ascended also. He was the “ Destroyer,” the persecutor, they were identical. The beast should overcome and kill the two witnesses. He was where they were, and where they became representatives of the persecuted church, and the martyrs, described in the following chapters. The beast could have been no other than the Roman power, for even when the Jews by their own law demanded capital punishment, it was necessarily executed by Roman authority. The unbelieving Jews were themselves the instigators of these persecutions but the Roman emperor was the executing power, and was the beast which made war, overcame, and killed the witnesses-- the cause they represented. But it was for a time only, for the witnesses should rise up and live again.