The Two Witnesses

11 Then I was given a measuring reed(A) like a rod,[a] with these words: “Go[b] and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. But exclude the courtyard outside the temple.(B) Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations,[c](C) and they will trample the holy city(D) for forty-two months.(E) I will grant[d] my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”(F) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord[e] of the earth.(G) If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies;(H) if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy.(I) They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood(J) and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.(K)

The Witnesses Martyred

When they finish their testimony, the beast(L) that comes up out of the abyss(M) will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. Their dead bodies[f](N) will lie in the main street[g] of the great city,(O) which figuratively[h] is called Sodom(P) and Egypt,(Q) where also their Lord was crucified. And some of[i] the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations(R) will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.(S) 10 Those who live on the earth will gloat(T) over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

The Witnesses Resurrected

11 But after three and a half days, the breath[j] of life(U) from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard[k] a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.(V) 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place,(W) a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe(X) has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet,(Y) and there were loud voices in heaven saying,

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign forever and ever.(Z)

16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying,

We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,
who is and who was,[l](AA)
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.(AB)
18 The nations were angry,(AC)
but your wrath has come.
The time has come
for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward
to your servants the prophets,(AD)
to the saints, and to those who fear your name,
both small and great,(AE)
and the time has come to destroy
those who destroy the earth.

19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant[m] appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder,(AF) an earthquake,[n] and severe hail.

Footnotes

  1. 11:1 Other mss add and the angel stood up
  2. 11:1 Lit “Arise
  3. 11:2 Or Gentiles
  4. 11:3 Or I will give to
  5. 11:4 Other mss read God
  6. 11:8 Or Their corpse
  7. 11:8 Or lie on the broad street
  8. 11:8 Or spiritually
  9. 11:9 Lit And from
  10. 11:11 Or spirit
  11. 11:12 Other mss read Then I heard
  12. 11:17 Other mss add and who is to come
  13. 11:19 Other mss read ark of the covenant of the Lord
  14. 11:19 Other mss omit an earthquake

The Two Witnesses

11 Then there was given to me a [a](A)measuring rod like a staff; [b]and (B)someone said, “Get up and measure the [c]temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. [d]Leave out the (C)courtyard which is outside the [e]temple and do not measure it, because (D)it has been given to the nations; and they will (E)trample (F)the holy city for (G)forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two (H)witnesses, and they will prophesy for (I)1,260 days, clothed in (J)sackcloth.” These are the (K)two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, (L)fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, (M)he must be killed in this way. These have the power to (N)shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during (O)the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to (P)turn them into blood, and (Q)to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

When they have finished their testimony, (R)the beast that comes up out of the (S)abyss will (T)make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the (U)great city which [f]spiritually is called (V)Sodom and (W)Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from (X)the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead [g]bodies for three and a half days, and [h](Y)will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And (Z)those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will (AA)send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented (AB)those who live on the earth.

11 And after the three and a half days, (AC)the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “(AD)Come up here.” And they (AE)went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And [i]at that time there was a great (AF)earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; [j]seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and (AG)gave glory to the (AH)God of heaven.

14 The second (AI)woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet: Christ’s Reign Foreseen

15 Then the (AJ)seventh angel sounded; and there were (AK)loud voices in heaven, saying,

(AL)The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of (AM)His [k]Christ; and (AN)He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who (AO)sit on their thrones before God, (AP)fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,

“We give You thanks, (AQ)Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to (AR)reign. 18 And (AS)the nations were enraged, and (AT)Your wrath came, and (AU)the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to [l]reward Your (AV)bond-servants the prophets and the [m]saints and those who fear Your name, (AW)the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19 And (AX)the [n]temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and (AY)the ark of His covenant appeared in His [o]temple, and there were flashes of (AZ)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a (BA)great [p]hailstorm.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 11:1 Lit reed
  2. Revelation 11:1 Lit saying
  3. Revelation 11:1 Or sanctuary
  4. Revelation 11:2 Lit Throw out
  5. Revelation 11:2 Or sanctuary
  6. Revelation 11:8 I.e., from the viewpoint of the Holy Spirit
  7. Revelation 11:9 Lit body
  8. Revelation 11:9 Lit do not permit
  9. Revelation 11:13 Or in that hour
  10. Revelation 11:13 Lit names of people, seven thousand
  11. Revelation 11:15 I.e., Messiah
  12. Revelation 11:18 Lit give the reward to
  13. Revelation 11:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  14. Revelation 11:19 Or sanctuary
  15. Revelation 11:19 Or sanctuary
  16. Revelation 11:19 Lit hail