⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under^(A) the altar^(B) the souls of those who had been slain^(C) because of the word of God^(D) and the testimony they had maintained.

⁴ I saw thrones^(A) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(B) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(C) because of their testimony about Jesus^(D) and because of the word of God.^(E) They^[a] had not worshiped the beast^(F) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(G) They came to life and reigned^(H) with Christ a thousand years.

² They will put you out of the synagogue;^(A) in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.^(B)

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(A) your brother and companion in the suffering^(B) and kingdom^(C) and patient endurance^(D) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(E) and the testimony of Jesus.^(F)

¹³ When the dragon^(H) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^{(I) 14} The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(J) 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,^(K) out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent^(L) 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^(M) against the rest of her offspring^(N)—those who keep God’s commands^(O) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(P)

³ And I will appoint my two witnesses,^(A) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,^(B) clothed in sackcloth.”^{(C) 4} They are “the two olive trees”^(D) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”^{[a](E) 5} If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.^(F) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.^{(G) 6} They have power to shut up the heavens^(H) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;^(I) and they have power to turn the waters into blood^(J) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast^(K) that comes up from the Abyss^(L) will attack them,^(M) and overpower and kill them.

⁸ So do not be ashamed^(A) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(B) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(C) by the power of God.

⁷ And I heard the altar^(A) respond: