The Two Witnesses

11 Then I was given a measuring reed^(A) like a rod,^[a] with these words: “Go^[b] and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. ² But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations,^[c] and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. ³ I will empower^[d] my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,^[e](B) dressed in sackcloth.”^{[f] 4} These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord^[g] of the earth.^{(C) 5} If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies;^(D) if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. ⁶ These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy.^(E) They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood^(F) and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.

The Witnesses Martyred

⁷ When they finish their testimony, the beast^[h](G) that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. ⁸ Their dead bodies^[i](H) will lie in the public square^[j] of the great city, which prophetically^[k] is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹ And representatives from^[l] the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations^(I) will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. ¹⁰ Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets brought judgment to those who live on the earth.

The Witnesses Resurrected

¹¹ But after 3½ days, the breath^[m] of life^(J) from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard^[n] a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.^(K)