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. ² 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) 3} I will grant^[d] my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”^{(F) 4} These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord^[e] of the earth.^{(G) 5} 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. ⁶ 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

⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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)