The Vision of the Two Witnesses

1Then I was given a stick like a measuring rod. I was told, “Stand up and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and counta those who worship there. 2But don’t measure the courtyard outside the Temple. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the Holy Cityb for 42 months. 3I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.”

4These witnessesc are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone should want to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed in this manner. 6These witnessesd have authority to close the heavens in order to keep rain from falling while they aree prophesying. They also have authority to turn bodies of water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague, as often as they desire.

7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pitf will wage war against them, conquer them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some members of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be placed in a tomb. 10Those living on earth will gloat over them, celebrate, and send gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.

The Resurrection of the Witnesses

11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Those who watched them were terrified. 12Then the witnessesg heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, “Come up here!” So they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14The second catastrophe is over. The third catastrophe is coming very soon.

The Vision of the Seventh Angel Blowing His Trumpet

15When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

“The world’s kingdom has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,h

and he will rule forever and ever.”

16Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in God’s presence fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17They said,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

and have begun to rule.

18The nations were angry,

but the time fori your wrath has come.

It is time for the dead to be judged—

to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name,

both unimportant and important,

and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen inside his Temple. There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.