两位见证人

11 有一根杆子赐给我当量尺,同时有声音吩咐我说:“起来,量一量上帝的殿和祭坛,并数点在殿里敬拜的人。 你不用量圣殿的外院,因为这部分已经给了外族人,他们要践踏圣城四十二个月。 我要赐权柄给我的两个见证人,他们将身穿麻衣,传道一千二百六十天。”

这两位见证人就是竖立在世界之主面前的那两棵橄榄树和两座灯台。 若有人要伤害他们,他们便从口中喷出火焰,烧灭敌人;若有人企图加害他们,必定会这样被杀。 他们拥有权能,在传道期间可以关闭天空使雨不降在地上,又有权使水变成血,并随时用各样的灾祸击打世界。

当他们做完见证以后,从无底坑上来的兽要和他们交战,并战胜他们,把他们杀掉。 他们便陈尸在大城的街上,这大城按寓意名叫所多玛,又名埃及,是他们的主被钉在十字架上的地方。 三天半之久,他们的尸体不得埋葬,各民族、各部落、各语言族群、各国家的人都观看他们的尸体。 10 地上万民便兴高采烈,互相送礼道贺,因为这两位先知曾使地上的人受苦。

11 三天半过后,上帝的生命之气进入二人里面,他们便站立起来。看见的人都害怕极了! 12 接着天上有大声音呼唤他们说:“上这里来!”他们就在敌人的注视下驾云升上天去。 13 就在那一刻,发生了强烈的地震,那座城的十分之一倒塌了,因地震死亡的共七千人,生还者都在恐惧中将荣耀归给天上的上帝。

14 第二样灾难过去了,第三样灾难又接踵而来!

第七位天使吹号

15 第七位天使吹响号角的时候,天上有大声音说:“世上的国度现在已经属于我们的主和祂所立的基督了。祂要做王,直到永永远远。” 16 在上帝面前,坐在自己座位上的二十四位长老都一同俯伏敬拜上帝,说:

17 “主啊!昔在、今在的全能上帝啊!
我们感谢你,
因你已施展大能做王了。
18 世上的列国曾向你发怒,
现在是你向他们发烈怒的日子了。
时候已到,你要审判死人,
你要赏赐你的奴仆、先知、圣徒
和一切不论尊卑敬畏你名的人,
你要毁灭那些毁坏世界的人。”

19 那时,天上上帝的圣殿敞开了,殿内的约柜清晰可见,又有闪电、巨响、雷鸣、地震和大冰雹。

妇人与巨龙

12 在天上出现了一个奇异的景象:有一个妇人,身披太阳,脚踏月亮,头戴有十二颗星的冠冕。 她怀了孕,正因产痛而呼叫。

这时天上出现了另一个奇异的景象:有一条红色巨龙出现,它有七头十角,每个头上都戴着冠冕。 它的尾巴将天上三分之一的星扫落到地上。巨龙站在那正要生产的妇人面前,等着要吃掉她生下来的婴孩。 妇人生下一个男婴,就是将来要用铁杖治理列国的。那男婴被提到了上帝的宝座那里, 妇人则逃到旷野,在上帝为她预备的地方安度一千二百六十天。

天上起了战争,米迦勒和他的天使出战巨龙。巨龙和它的天使极力抵抗, 那巨龙败下阵来,天上再没有它们的立足之地, 它和它的天使都一同从天上被摔到地上。巨龙就是那古蛇,又名魔鬼或撒旦,也就是那迷惑全人类的。

10 我听见天上有大响声说:“我们上帝的救赎、权能、国度和祂所立的基督的权柄现在来临了。因为那昼夜不停地在我们上帝面前控告我们弟兄的,已经被摔到地上了。 11 弟兄们是靠着羔羊的血和自己所见证的道战胜了它,他们甘愿牺牲,视死如归。 12 因此,诸天和其中的居民都要欢欣雀跃!但大地和海洋有祸了,因为魔鬼知道它的时日不多了,就怒气冲冲地下到你们那里。”

13 巨龙见自己被摔到地上,就迫害那先前产下男婴的妇人。 14 但那妇人得到一对巨鹰的翅膀,使她能飞到旷野,去上帝为她预备的地方避难,在那里被照顾三年半。 15 巨龙紧追不舍,张口吐出大量的水,如同江河一般,要冲走那妇人, 16 大地却帮助她,张口吞了巨龙口中吐出来的大水。 17 巨龙大怒,转而攻击她的其他儿女,就是那些坚守上帝的诫命、为耶稣做见证的人。 18 那时巨龙站在海边的沙地上。

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod(A) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court;(B) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.(C) They will trample on the holy city(D) for 42 months.(E) And I will appoint my two witnesses,(F) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,(G) clothed in sackcloth.”(H) They are “the two olive trees”(I) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[a](J) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.(K) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.(L) They have power to shut up the heavens(M) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;(N) and they have power to turn the waters into blood(O) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast(P) that comes up from the Abyss(Q) will attack them,(R) and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city(S)—which is figuratively called Sodom(T) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.(U) For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation(V) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.(W) 10 The inhabitants of the earth(X) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,(Y) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days(Z) the breath[b] of life from God entered them,(AA) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”(AB) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,(AC) while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake(AD) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory(AE) to the God of heaven.(AF)

14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.(AG)

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet,(AH) and there were loud voices(AI) in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,(AJ)
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”(AK)

16 And the twenty-four elders,(AL) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(AM) and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give thanks(AN) to you, Lord God Almighty,(AO)
    the One who is and who was,(AP)
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.(AQ)
18 The nations were angry,(AR)
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,(AS)
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets(AT)
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small(AU)
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple(AV) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.(AW) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,(AX) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.(AY)

The Woman and the Dragon

12 A great sign(AZ) appeared in heaven:(BA) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars(BB) on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain(BC) as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven:(BD) an enormous red dragon(BE) with seven heads(BF) and ten horns(BG) and seven crowns(BH) on its heads. Its tail swept a third(BI) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.(BJ) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child(BK) the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[c](BL) And her child was snatched up(BM) to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.(BN)

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael(BO) and his angels fought against the dragon,(BP) and the dragon and his angels(BQ) fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent(BR) called the devil,(BS) or Satan,(BT) who leads the whole world astray.(BU) He was hurled to the earth,(BV) and his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven(BW) say:

“Now have come the salvation(BX) and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,(BY)
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over(BZ) him
    by the blood of the Lamb(CA)
    and by the word of their testimony;(CB)
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.(CC)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens(CD)
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe(CE) to the earth and the sea,(CF)
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.”

13 When the dragon(CG) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(CH) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(CI) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(CJ) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(CK) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war(CL) against the rest of her offspring(CM)—those who keep God’s commands(CN) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(CO)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
  2. Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)
  3. Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:9

11 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.