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)

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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

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.

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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