The Two Witnesses

1Then I was given a measuring reeda like a rod,A with these words: “GoB and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2But exclude the courtyard outside the temple.a Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations,a b and they will trample the holy cityc for forty-two months.d 3I will grantA my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”a 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the LordA of the earth.a 5If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies;a if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6They have authority to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy.a They also have power over the waters to turn them into bloodb and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.c

The Witnesses Martyred

7When they finish their testimony, the beasta that comes up out of the abyssb will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodiesa a will lie in the main streetB of the great city,b which figurativelyC is called Sodomc and Egypt,d where also their Lord was crucified. 9And some ofA the peoples, tribes, languages, and nationsa will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.b 10Those who live on the earth will gloata 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

11But after three and a half days, the breathA of lifea from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12Then they heardA a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.a 13At that moment a violent earthquake took place,a a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14The second woea has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!

The Seventh Trumpet

15The seventh angel blew his trumpet,a and there were loud voices in heaven saying,

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom

of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he will reign forever and ever.b

16The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17saying,

We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,

who is and who was,a a

because you have taken your great power

and have begun to reign.b

18The nations were angry,a

but your wrath has come.

The time has come

for the dead to be judged

and to give the reward

to your servants the prophets,b

to the saints, and to those who fear your name,

both small and great,c

and the time has come to destroy

those who destroy the earth.

19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenantA appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder,a an earthquake,B and severe hail.