11 Someone gave me a stick, like the sticks that people use to measure things. He told me, ‘Go and measure the size of the temple and the altar. Also count the number of people who worship God there. 2 But do not measure the yard that is outside God's house. Do not measure it, because God has given that yard to Gentiles who do not believe in him. They will stamp all over God's own city for 42 months and they will destroy it.
3 I will give authority to my two servants who speak my message clearly. They will tell people my messages for 1,260 days. They will wear rough clothes made from goats' hair.’ [ a ]
4 These servants are the two olive trees and the two lampstands. [ b ] They stand in front of God who is the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to hurt them, fire comes out of the servants' mouths. This fire destroys their enemies. Anyone who wants to hurt the two servants must die in this way. 6 These servants of God have authority to shut up the sky. Then there will be no rain during the time that they tell their messages from God. They also have authority to cause the water on earth to become blood. They can cause many different kinds of trouble to happen on the earth. They can do this as often as they want to.
7 When these two servants of God have finished speaking God's messages, a wild animal will attack them. This is the animal that lives in the deep hole. [ c ] It will come up out of the hole. It will be stronger than the two servants and it will kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city where people killed their Lord on a cross. [ d ] This city should be called Sodom or Egypt, because it is as bad as those places. [ e ]
9 People from everywhere in the world will look at the servants' dead bodies for three and a half days. Those are people from every nation, from every tribe and from every language. They will not agree to bury the bodies. 10 The people who live on the earth will be very happy because the two servants of God are now dead. They will send gifts to each other because they are so happy. These two prophets of God had caused bad trouble for them, but now they have died.
11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life into those dead bodies. They stood up. The people who saw them were very afraid. 12 Then God's two servants heard a loud voice that came from heaven. The voice said, ‘Come up here.’ They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. [ f ]
13 At the same time the ground shook with a strong earthquake. One in every ten buildings in the city fell down. 7,000 people died because of the earthquake. The people who were still alive became very afraid. They praised the God of heaven and said that he is very powerful.
14 That is the second great trouble and it has now finished. But the third great trouble will come soon.
15 The seventh angel made a sound with his trumpet. Then there was the sound of loud voices in heaven. They shouted:
‘Our Lord God and his Messiah now have all authority!
The whole world has become their kingdom.
God will rule as King for ever!’
16 The 24 leaders were sitting on their thrones in front of God. Now they threw themselves down on their faces and they worshipped God. 17 They said:
‘We thank you, Lord God, because you have all authority!
You are alive now and you have always been alive.
You have great power and now you have begun to rule the whole world!
18 The nations of the world were very angry.
But now it is time for you to be angry with them.
Now you will judge all the people who have died.
You will give good things to your servants, the prophets,
and to all your people.
You will bless everyone who respects and obeys you,
whether they are important people or not.
But you will destroy all those people who destroy the earth.
The time has now come for all this to happen.’
19 Then the door of the temple in heaven became open. Inside it, I saw God's Covenant Box. [ g ] There was a great storm with bright lightning and the loud noise of thunder. There was an earthquake and strong rain with stones of ice fell from the sky.
11 Then I was given a measuring rod as long as a walking stick. I was told, “Go and measure the temple [ a ] of God and the altar, and count the people worshiping there. 2 But don’t measure the yard outside the temple. Leave it alone. It has been given to those who are not God’s people. They will show their power over the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses. And they will prophesy for 1260 days. They will be dressed in sackcloth.”
4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to hurt the witnesses, fire comes from the mouths of the witnesses and kills their enemies. Anyone who tries to hurt them will die like this. 6 These witnesses have the power to stop the sky from raining during the time they are prophesying. These witnesses have power to make the water become blood. They have power to send every kind of plague to the earth. They can do this as many times as they want.
7 When the two witnesses have finished telling their message, the beast will fight against them. This is the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit. It will defeat and kill them. 8 The bodies of the two witnesses will lie in the street of the great city. This city is named Sodom and Egypt. These names for the city have a special meaning. This is the city where the Lord was killed. 9 People from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and a half days. The people will refuse to bury them. 10 Everyone on the earth will be happy because these two are dead. They will have parties and send each other gifts. They will do this because these two prophets brought much suffering to the people living on earth.
11 But after three and a half days, God let life enter the two witnesses again. They stood on their feet. All those who saw them were filled with fear. 12 Then the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven say, “Come up here!” And both of them went up into heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched them go.
13 At that same time there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city was destroyed. And 7000 people were killed in the earthquake. Those who did not die were very afraid. They gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second terror is now past. The third terror is coming soon.
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. Then there were loud voices in heaven. The voices said,
“The kingdom of the world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah.
And he will rule forever and ever.”
16 Then the 24 elders bowed down on their faces and worshiped God. These are the elders who sit on their thrones before God. 17 The elders said,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God All-Powerful.
You are the one who is and who always was.
We thank you because you have used your great power
and have begun to rule.
18 The people of the world were angry,
but now is the time for your anger.
Now is the time for the dead to be judged.
It is time to reward your servants, the prophets,
and to reward your holy people,
the people, great and small, who respect you.
It is time to destroy those people who destroy the earth!”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The Box of the Agreement [ b ] could be seen in his temple. Then there were flashes of lightning, noises, thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
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.
2 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.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
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. 2 [ 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. 3 And I will grant authority to my two ( H ) witnesses, and they will prophesy for ( I ) 1,260 days, clothed in ( J ) sackcloth.” 4 These are the ( K ) two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 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. 6 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.
7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 13 And [ i ] at that time there was a great ( AF ) earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; [ j ] seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and ( AG ) gave glory to the ( AH ) God of heaven.
14 The second ( AI ) woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
15 Then the ( AJ ) seventh angel sounded; and there were ( AK ) loud voices in heaven, saying,
“ ( AL ) The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of ( AM ) His [ k ] Christ; and ( AN ) He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who ( AO ) sit on their thrones before God, ( AP ) fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give You thanks, ( AQ ) Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to ( AR ) reign. 18 And ( AS ) the nations were enraged, and ( AT ) Your wrath came, and ( AU ) the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to [ l ] reward Your ( AV ) bond-servants the prophets and the [ m ] saints and those who fear Your name, ( AW ) the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 And ( AX ) the [ n ] temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and ( AY ) the ark of His covenant appeared in His [ o ] temple, and there were flashes of ( AZ ) lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a ( BA ) great [ p ] hailstorm.
11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod ( A ) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; ( B ) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. ( C ) They will trample on the holy city ( D ) for 42 months. ( E ) 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, ( F ) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, ( G ) clothed in sackcloth.” ( H ) 4 They are “the two olive trees” ( I ) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” [ a ] ( J ) 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. ( K ) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ( L ) 6 They have power to shut up the heavens ( M ) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; ( N ) and they have power to turn the waters into blood ( O ) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast ( P ) that comes up from the Abyss ( Q ) will attack them, ( R ) and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city ( S ) —which is figuratively called Sodom ( T ) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. ( U ) 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation ( V ) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ( W ) 10 The inhabitants of the earth ( X ) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, ( Y ) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days ( Z ) the breath [ b ] of life from God entered them, ( AA ) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” ( AB ) And they went up to heaven in a cloud, ( AC ) while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake ( AD ) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory ( AE ) to the God of heaven. ( AF )
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. ( AG )
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, ( AH ) and there were loud voices ( AI ) in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, ( AJ )
and he will reign for ever and ever.” ( AK )
16 And the twenty-four elders, ( AL ) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces ( AM ) and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks ( AN ) to you, Lord God Almighty, ( AO )
the One who is and who was, ( AP )
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign. ( AQ )
18 The nations were angry, ( AR )
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, ( AS )
and for rewarding your servants the prophets ( AT )
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small ( AU ) —
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple ( AV ) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. ( AW ) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, ( AX ) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. ( AY )
