RevelationChapter 11
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1Then I was given a measuring stick like a walking staff. I was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count the people who worship there. 2But leave out the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it. It has been given to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth." 4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands. They stand before the Lord of the earth. 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths. It burns up their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. 6These witnesses have power to shut up the sky. Then no rain will fall during the days they prophesy. They have power to turn the waters into blood. They can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. 7When the two witnesses have finished telling their message, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will fight against them. It will beat them and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city. That city is called Sodom and Egypt as a picture of what it is like. It is where their Lord was crucified too. 9For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language, and nation will stare at their bodies. They will not let anyone bury them in a tomb. 10The people who live on the earth will be glad they are dead. They will party and send each other gifts. For these two prophets had tormented them. 11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into the two witnesses. They stood up on their feet. Great fear fell on everyone who saw them. 12Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven say, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched. 13At that very hour there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city fell down. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The rest were terrified, and they gave glory to the God of heaven. 14The second terror is over. Look, the third terror is coming soon. 15The seventh angel blew his trumpet. Loud voices in heaven called out:
"The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
And he will rule forever and ever." 16The twenty-four elders sit on their thrones before God. They fell on their faces and worshiped God. 17They said:
"We thank you, Lord God Almighty.
You are the one who is and who was.
You have taken your great power,
and you have begun to rule. 18The nations were angry,
and now your anger has come.
The time has come to judge the dead.
It is time to reward your servants the prophets,
your people, and those who honor your name,
both small and great.
It is time to destroy those who destroy the earth." 19Then God's temple in heaven was opened. The ark of his covenant could be seen in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumbling sounds, claps of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.