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11 Then kai a measuring rod kalamos like homoios a staff rhabdos was given didōmi to me egō; and someone said legō, “ Rise egeirō and kai measure metreō the ho temple naos of ho God theos and kai the ho altar thusiastērion and kai those ho who worship proskyneō there en autos, but kai exclude ekballō the ho court aulē that ho is outside exōthen the ho temple naos; · kai do metreō not measure metreō it autos because hoti it has been given didōmi to the ho nations ethnos. And kai they will trample pateō the ho holy hagios city polis · ho for forty-two tesserakonta months mēn. · kai And kai I will give power didōmi to ho my egō two dyo witnesses martys, and kai they will prophesy prophēteuō for one thousand chilioi two hundred diakosioi and sixty hexēkonta days hēmera, clothed periballō in sackcloth sakkos.” ( These houtos are eimi the ho two dyo olive trees elaia and kai the ho two dyo lampstands lychnia that ho stand histēmi before enōpion the ho Lord kyrios of the ho earth .) And kai if ei anyone tis tries thelō to harm adikeō them autos, fire pyr comes ekporeuomai out of ek · ho their autos mouth stoma and kai devours katesthiō · ho their autos enemies echthros. And kai if ei anyone tis tries thelō to harm adikeō them autos, he autos must dei be killed apokteinō in this way houtōs. These houtos two witnesses have echō the ho power exousia to shut kleiō the ho sky ouranos so that hina no rain hyetos will fall brechō during the ho days hēmera of ho their autos prophesying prophēteia, and kai they have echō power exousia over epi the ho waters hydōr to turn strephō them autos into eis blood haima and kai to strike patassō the ho earth with en every pas kind of plague plēgē, as often as hosakis they wish thelō.

· kai When hotan they have finished teleō · ho their autos testimony martyria, the ho beast thērion that ho comes up anabainō from ek the ho abyss abyssos will make poieō war polemos on meta them autos and kai conquer nikaō them autos and kai kill apokteinō them autos, and kai · ho their autos dead bodies ptōma will lie in epi the ho street platys of the ho great megas city polis, · ho which hostis symbolically pneumatikōs is called kaleō Sodom Sodoma, or kai Egypt Aigyptos, where hopou also kai · ho their autos Lord kyrios was crucified stauroō. · kai For hēmera three treis and kai a half hēmisys days hēmera those from ek every ho people laos and kai tribe phylē and kai language glōssa and kai nation ethnos will gaze at blepō · ho their autos dead bodies ptōma and kai refuse to let ou · ho them autos be placed tithēmi in eis a tomb mnēma. 10 And kai those ho who dwell katoikeō on epi the ho earth will rejoice chairō over epi them autos and kai celebrate euphrainō and kai send pempō gifts dōron to one another allēlōn, because hoti these houtos · ho two dyo prophets prophētēs had tormented basanizō those ho who dwell katoikeō on epi the ho earth .

11 But kai after meta the ho three treis and kai a half hēmisys days hēmera, the breath pneuma of life zōē from ek · ho God theos entered eiserchomai en them autos and kai they stood histēmi on epi · ho their autos feet pous; and kai great megas fear phobos fell epipiptō on epi those ho who were watching theōreō them autos. 12 Then kai they heard akouō a loud megas voice phōnē from ek · ho heaven ouranos, saying legō to them autos, “ Come up anabainō here hōde!” And kai they arose anabainō to eis · ho heaven ouranos in en a ho cloud nephelē, and kai their autos enemies echthros watched theōreō them autos. · ho 13 And kai at en that ekeinos very ho hour hōra there was ginomai a great megas earthquake seismos, and kai a ho tenth dekatos of the ho city polis fell piptō. · kai Seven hepta thousand chilias people anthrōpos were killed apokteinō in en the ho earthquake seismos, and kai the ho rest loipos were ginomai terrified emphobos and kai gave didōmi glory doxa to the ho God theos of ho heaven ouranos. 14 The ho second deuteros woe ouai · ho has passed aperchomai; the ho third tritos woe ouai · ho is coming erchomai soon tachus.

15 Then kai the ho seventh hebdomos angel angelos blew his trumpet salpizō, and kai there were ginomai loud megas voices phōnē in en · ho heaven ouranos, saying legō, “ The ho kingdom basileia of the ho world kosmos has become ginomai the kingdom of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios and kai of ho his autos Christ Christos, and kai he will reign basileuō for eis all ho time aiōn ho.” · ho 16 Then kai the ho twenty-four eikosi tessares elders presbyteros who ho were seated kathēmai on epi their autos thrones thronos before enōpion · ho God theos · ho fell piptō on epi · ho their autos faces prosōpon and kai worshiped proskyneō · ho God theos, 17 saying legō, “ We give thanks eucharisteō to you sy, Lord kyrios · ho God theos · ho Almighty pantokratōr, who ho is eimi and kai who ho was eimi, because hoti you have taken lambanō · ho your sy great megas power dynamis · ho and kai begun to reign basileuō. 18 · kai The ho nations ethnos raged orgizō, but kai your sy wrath orgē came erchomai; · ho and kai the ho time kairos for the ho dead nekros to be judged krinō, and kai the time to reward didōmi · ho · ho your sy servants, the ho prophets prophētēs and kai · ho saints hagios, and kai those ho who fear phobeomai · ho your sy name onoma, both · ho small mikros and kai · ho great megas, and kai the time to destroy diaphtheirō the ho destroyers diaphtheirō of the ho earth .” 19 Then kai the ho temple naos of ho God theos, which ho is in en · ho heaven ouranos, was opened anoigō, and kai the ho ark kibōtos of ho his autos covenant diathēkē was seen horaō within en · ho his autos temple naos; and kai there were ginomai flashes of lightning astrapē, · kai rumblings phōnē, · kai peals of thunder brontē, · kai an earthquake seismos, and kai heavy megas hail chalaza.

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.

Chapter 11

The Two Witnesses and the Fate of Jerusalem.[a] I was next given a staff to use as a measuring rod, and I was told, “Go forth and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the people who are worshiping there. However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.[b] I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire pours forth from their mouths and consumes their enemies. Anyone who attempts to harm them will surely be killed in this manner. They have the power to shut up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They also have the power to turn water into blood and to afflict the earth with every type of plague as often as they desire.

When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and overpower and kill them. Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city, known by the symbolic names of Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

People of every race, tribe, nation, and language will gaze at their corpses for three and a half days and refuse to allow them to be buried. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them as they celebrate and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a source of torment to them.

11 However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them. 12 Then I heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here,” and while their enemies were watching, they went up to heaven in a cloud.

13 At that very hour there was a violent earthquake, and a tenth of the city was destroyed. Seven thousand people were killed during the earthquake. Those who survived were overcome with fear and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe has passed, but the third will come quickly.

15 The Seventh Trumpet: the Third Woe.[c] The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and voices in heaven were heard crying loudly:

“The kingdom of the world belongs
    to our Lord and his Messiah,
    and he will reign forever and ever.”

16 Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones in the presence of God prostrated themselves and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,
    who are and who were.
For you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.
18 The nations rose in rage,
    but now your wrath has come.
It is the time for judging the dead
    and for rewarding your servants the Prophets,
as well as the saints who revere your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant[d] was seen within his temple. There followed flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 11:1 The holy city is crushed under the blows of Titus, but in the Church, the new Israel, everything that the temple, the altar, and the worshipers represent will not cease; true worship will continue. In a hostile world, the witnesses of Christ will continue to spread the Word of God, despite persecutions, until the Second Coming.
    Let us try to see a bit more clearly into the details of the symbols used by the author to impart this certitude to believers subjected to torture. Measuring Jerusalem calls to mind—since Ezekiel (40:3) and Zechariah (2:5-6)—protection and reconstruction. But only the reserved part of the temple is spared, i.e., while the Church will be persecuted and even give forth martyrs, the saints will never be harmed. While the bodies of the holy ones (represented by the exterior of the temple) are crushed, their souls (represented by the interior of the temple) are safe in God’s hands.
    The two witnesses—perhaps Peter and Paul—combine the traits of several persons, especially Moses and Elijah (of whom Judaism of that time mentions the ascension: v. 11) and one of whom changed water into blood (Ex 7:17; 10:11), while the other predicted a drought (1 Kgs 17:1). The Gospel places both at the side of Christ during the Transfiguration (Mk 9:2-8). Next come two mysterious personalities who, according to Zechariah (4:3, 14) cited in v. 4 of our text, represent the priesthood and the Kingdom uniting their efforts to guide the people of God. These are also Christian figures, of Christ first and then of the apostles—tradition names Peter and Paul, the two champions of the early Church, who died at Rome under Nero in A.D. 64 or 67. Finally, these mysterious figures stand for the whole Church bearing witness to her faith and suffering for the sake of the Gospel even until martyrdom. It is not permitted to put their bones in the grave (v. 9), i.e., the testimony of the martyr Church cannot disappear into oblivion.
    Just as the dry bones of the people of the Old Testament came to life in the eyes of the Prophet Ezekiel (37:5, 10), so the Christian martyrs are destined for resurrection and glorification.
    The great city is symbolic of the high places of infidelity according to the Bible. In Rev 16:19; 17:18; 18:10, it is Rome; here, it is Rome or Jerusalem or any other city that makes itself omnipotent.
    The beast cited in v. 7 (see Dan 7:21) represents the imperial power, destructive power, that claimed to be divine. Speaking of survivors (v. 13), the author thinks, perhaps, as did Paul (Rom 11:13-27), of a conversion of the Jewish people preceding Christ’s Return.
  2. Revelation 11:2 Forty-two months . . . twelve hundred and sixty days . . . three and a half days . . . a year, two years, and a half year (12:14): symbolic durations, designating typical periods of persecution according to Dan 7:25.
  3. Revelation 11:15 The seventh trumpet sounds to announce the definitive restoration of the Kingdom of God and Christ. With the resurrection of the dead, Israel sees the completion of its promises of salvation: there will be reward for true worshipers and condemnation for rebels. The thanksgiving of the elders can rise before the throne of God.
    According to a Jewish tradition, allusions to which are found in the Second Book of Maccabees (2:5-8), the Ark of the Covenant, which was destroyed by the fire in the temple in 587 B.C., was to reappear in the last times; the hour for this has come.
    A new Sinai arises in heaven forever. The hour of judgment is, in the final analysis, the judgment of the definitive and perfect Covenant. Certainly, the earthly temple is destroyed, but the true and complete worship takes place in heaven.
  4. Revelation 11:19 Ark of his covenant: the ark of the Old Testament was a chest of acacia wood (see Deut 10:1f) that symbolized God’s throne and his presence among his people. It was probably destroyed during Neburazadan’s destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (see 2 Ki 25:8-10). The New Testament writers use it to symbolize God’s faithfulness to the Covenant made with his people.