Revelation 11
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Two Witnesses
11 [a]Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months.[b] 3 And I will grant my two witnesses[c] power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if any one would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; if any one would harm them, thus he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war upon them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city[d] which is allegorically[e] called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three days and a half men from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up hither!” And in the sight of their foes they went up to heaven in a cloud. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 Then 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, and he shall reign for ever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to thee, Lord God Almighty, who art and who wast,
that thou hast taken thy great power and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged, but thy wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
for rewarding thy servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear thy name, both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Footnotes
- 11.1-19 The Jerusalem here described stands for the church, that is to be persecuted by the Romans.
- 11.2 The three and a half years’ persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes, 168–165 b.c, had become the standard time of a persecution. Three and a half years equals 42 months equals 1,260 days (verse 3).
- 11.3 two witnesses: As they have yet to die, possibly they are Elijah and Enoch.
- 11.8 the great city: i.e., Rome.
- Revelation 11:8 Greek spiritually
Revelation 11
New King James Version
The Two Witnesses
11 Then I was given (A)a reed like a measuring rod. [a]And the angel stood, saying, (B)“Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out (C)the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, (D)for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will (E)tread the holy city underfoot for (F)forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two (G)witnesses, (H)and they will prophesy (I)one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the (J)two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the [b]God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, (K)fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. (L)And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These (M)have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they (N)finish their testimony, (O)the beast that ascends (P)out of the bottomless pit (Q)will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of (R)the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, (S)where also [c]our Lord was crucified. 9 (T)Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations [d]will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, (U)and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 (V)And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, (W)and send gifts to one another, (X)because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 (Y)Now after the three-and-a-half days (Z)the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And [e]they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” (AA)And they ascended to heaven (AB)in a cloud, (AC)and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour (AD)there was a great earthquake, (AE)and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid (AF)and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 (AG)The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 Then (AH)the seventh angel sounded: (AI)And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, (AJ)“The [f]kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, (AK)and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And (AL)the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and (AM)worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One (AN)who is and who was [g]and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power (AO)and reigned.
18 The nations were (AP)angry, and Your [h]wrath has come,
And the time of the (AQ)dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then (AR)the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of [i]His covenant was seen in His temple. And (AS)there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, (AT)and great hail.
Footnotes
- Revelation 11:1 NU, M omit And the angel stood
- Revelation 11:4 NU, M Lord
- Revelation 11:8 NU, M their
- Revelation 11:9 NU, M see . . . and will not allow
- Revelation 11:12 M I
- Revelation 11:15 NU, M kingdom . . . has become the kingdom
- Revelation 11:17 NU, M omit and who is to come
- Revelation 11:18 anger
- Revelation 11:19 M the covenant of the Lord
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
