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Revelation 11
New English Translation

The Fate of the Two Witnesses

11 Then[a] a measuring rod[b] like a staff was given to me, and I was told,[c] “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. 2 But[d] do not measure the outer courtyard[e] of the temple; leave it out,[f] because it has been given to the Gentiles,[g] and they will trample on the holy city[h] for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant my two witnesses authority[i] to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)[j] 5 If[k] anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths[l] and completely consumes[m] their enemies. If[n] anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. 6 These two have the power[o] to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time[p] they are prophesying. They[q] have power[r] to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want. 7 When[s] they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer[t] them and kill them. 8 Their[u] corpses will lie in the street[v] of the great city that is symbolically[w] called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. 9 For three and a half days those from every[x] people, tribe,[y] nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.[z] 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But[aa] after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized[ab] those who were watching them. 12 Then[ac] they[ad] heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: “Come up here!” So the two prophets[ae] went up to heaven in a cloud while[af] their enemies stared at them. 13 Just then[ag] a major earthquake took place and a tenth of the city collapsed; seven thousand people[ah] were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has come and gone;[ai] the third is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet

15 Then[aj] the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:

“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Christ,[ak]
and he will reign for ever and ever.”

16 Then[al] the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground[am] and worshiped God 17 with these words:[an]

“We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful,[ao]
the one who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.[ap]
18 The[aq] nations[ar] were enraged,
but[as] your wrath has come,
and the time has come for the dead to be judged,
and the time has come to give to your servants,[at]
the prophets, their reward,
as well as to the saints
and to those who revere[au] your name, both small and great,
and the time has come[av] to destroy those who destroy[aw] the earth.”

19 Then[ax] the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring,[ay] crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.[az]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 11:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
  2. Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “a reed” (but these were used for measuring). Cf. Ezek 40:3ff.
  3. Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “saying.”
  4. Revelation 11:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  5. Revelation 11:2 tn On the term αὐλήν (aulēn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”
  6. Revelation 11:2 tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exōthen) is difficult to determine.
  7. Revelation 11:2 tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
  8. Revelation 11:2 sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.
  9. Revelation 11:3 tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.
  10. Revelation 11:4 sn This description is parenthetical in nature.
  11. Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  12. Revelation 11:5 tn This is a collective singular in Greek.
  13. Revelation 11:5 tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesthiō) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”
  14. Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  15. Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
  16. Revelation 11:6 tn Grk “the days.”
  17. Revelation 11:6 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  18. Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
  19. Revelation 11:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  20. Revelation 11:7 tn Or “be victorious over”; traditionally, “overcome.”
  21. Revelation 11:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  22. Revelation 11:8 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
  23. Revelation 11:8 tn Grk “spiritually.”
  24. Revelation 11:9 tn The word “every” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the following list.
  25. Revelation 11:9 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated before this and the following items in the list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
  26. Revelation 11:9 tn Or “to be buried.”
  27. Revelation 11:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  28. Revelation 11:11 tn Grk “fell upon.”
  29. Revelation 11:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  30. Revelation 11:12 tn Though the nearest antecedent to the subject of ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) is the people (“those who were watching them”), it could also be (based on what immediately follows) that the two prophets are the ones who heard the voice.
  31. Revelation 11:12 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the two prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  32. Revelation 11:12 tn The conjunction καί (kai) seems to be introducing a temporal clause contemporaneous in time with the preceding clause.
  33. Revelation 11:13 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  34. Revelation 11:13 tn Grk “seven thousand names of men.”
  35. Revelation 11:14 tn Grk “has passed.”
  36. Revelation 11:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  37. Revelation 11:15 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
  38. Revelation 11:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  39. Revelation 11:16 tn Grk “they fell down on their faces.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
  40. Revelation 11:17 tn Grk “saying.”
  41. Revelation 11:17 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
  42. Revelation 11:17 tn The aorist verb ἐβασίλευσας (ebasileusas) has been translated ingressively.
  43. Revelation 11:18 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  44. Revelation 11:18 tn Or “The Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
  45. Revelation 11:18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  46. Revelation 11:18 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  47. Revelation 11:18 tn Grk “who fear.”
  48. Revelation 11:18 tn The words “the time has come” do not occur except at the beginning of the verse; the phrase has been repeated for emphasis and contrast. The Greek has one finite verb (“has come”) with a compound subject (“your wrath,” “the time”), followed by three infinitive clauses (“to be judged,” “to give,” “to destroy”). The rhetorical power of the repetition of the finite verb in English thus emulates the rhetorical power of its lone instance in Greek.
  49. Revelation 11:18 tn Or “who deprave.” There is a possible wordplay here on two meanings for διαφθείρω (diaphtheirō), with the first meaning “destroy” and the second meaning either “to ruin” or “to make morally corrupt.” See L&N 20.40.
  50. Revelation 11:19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  51. Revelation 11:19 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
  52. Revelation 11:19 tn Although BDAG 1075 s.v. χάλαζα gives the meaning “hail” here, it is not clear whether the adjective μεγάλη (megalē) refers to the intensity of the storm or the size of the individual hailstones, or both.
Close EXB

Revelation 11
Expanded Bible

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a ·measuring stick [C a reed or cane used for measuring] like a ·rod [staff; walking stick], and I was told, ·Go [Get up] and measure the temple of God and the altar, ·and count [or including] the people worshiping there [C probably to show God’s control and protection of his people; Ezek. 40:3, 5]. 2 But do not measure the ·yard [courtyard] outside the temple. Leave it ·alone [out], because it has been given to ·those who are not God’s people [the Gentiles; the nations]. And they will trample on the holy city [C Jerusalem] for forty-two months [C a period of oppression—either literal or symbolic—equal to three and a half years; see Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11–12]. 3 And I will ·give power to [or appoint; L give to] my two witnesses to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days [C 42 months reckoned as 30 days each], ·and they will be dressed in rough cloth to show their sadness [L dressed in sackcloth; C mourning clothes].”

4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth [C reminiscent of Zerubbabel and Joshua whom God used to build the second temple in spite of opposition; Zech. 4:2–6]. 5 And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them, fire comes from their mouths and ·kills [consumes; devours] their enemies [Jer. 5:14]. And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them in whatever way, in that same way that person ·will [or must] die. 6 These witnesses have the ·power [authority] to ·stop the sky [close the heavens] from raining during the time they are prophesying [1 Kin. 17:1]. And they have ·power [authority] to make the waters become blood [8:8; 16:3–4; Ex. 7:17–21], and they have ·power [authority] to send every kind of ·trouble [plague] to the earth as many times as they want.

7 When the two witnesses have finished ·telling their message [giving their witness/testimony], the beast [C probably the Antichrist; 13:1; 17:8; Dan. 7] that comes up from the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; 9:1] will fight a war against them. He will ·defeat [conquer] them and kill them. 8 The ·bodies [corpses] of the two witnesses will lie in the ·street [public square; C to be left unburied as a sign of disdain] of the great city where the Lord was ·killed [L crucified; C Jerusalem, perhaps here symbolic of the world’s opposition to God]. ·This city is named Sodom and Egypt, which has a spiritual meaning [L …which is figuratively/symbolically/spiritually called Sodom and Egypt; C Jerusalem is symbolically named after places judged by God for wickedness (Sodom) and for oppressing God’s people (Egypt); Gen. 19; Ex. 7—12]. 9 Those from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and one-half days, and they will ·refuse to bury them [L not let them be placed in a tomb]. 10 People who live on the earth will rejoice and ·be happy [celebrate] because these two are dead. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets brought much ·suffering [torment] to those who live on the earth.

11 But after [L the] three and one-half days, ·God put the breath of life into the two prophets again [L a breath/spirit of life from God entered them; Gen. 2:7]. They stood on their feet, and everyone who saw them became very afraid. 12 Then the two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here!” And they went up into heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

13 In the same hour there was a ·great [violent] earthquake, and a tenth of the city ·was destroyed [collapsed; L fell]. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and those who did not die were very afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven [Ezek. 38:19–20; Zech. 14:4].

14 The second ·trouble [L woe] is finished. ·Pay attention [Look; T Behold]: The third ·trouble [L woe] is coming ·soon [quickly; 8:13].

The Seventh Trumpet

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying:

“·The power to rule the world now belongs to [or The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of] our Lord and his Christ [C Greek for Messiah or Anointed One],
    and he will ·rule [reign] forever and ever [2 Sam. 7:16; Dan. 7:14, 18; Luke 1:32–33].”

16 Then the twenty-four elders [4:4], who sit on their thrones before God, ·bowed down [fell] on their faces and worshiped God. 17 They said:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful],
    [the One] who is and [the One] who was [C in contrast with 1:4, 8; 4:8, this lacks the future reference, “who is coming,” because here God has commenced his future reign],
because you have ·used [or taken; or received] your great power
    and have begun to rule!
18 The ·people of the world [nations; Gentiles] were angry [Ps. 2:1],
    but your ·anger [wrath] has come.
The time has come to judge the dead [Dan. 12:2],
    and to reward your servants the prophets
and your ·holy people [T saints],
    ·all who respect you [L those who fear your name], small and great.
The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth!”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The ·Ark that holds the agreement God gave to his people [L Ark of his Covenant] could be seen in his temple. Then there were flashes of lightning, ·noises, thunder [rumbling thunder], an earthquake, and a great hailstorm [C typical accompaniments to the arrival of God; 4:5].

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