The two witnesses

1An angel gave me a measuring stick and said:11.1: Ez 40.3; Zec 2.1,2.

Measure around God's temple. Be sure to include the altar and everyone worshipping there. 2But don't measure the courtyard outside the temple building. Leave it out. It has been given to those people who don't know God, and they will trample all over the holy city for forty-two months.11.2: Lk 21.24. 3My two witnesses will wear sackcloth,11.3 sackcloth: See the note at 6.12. while I let them preach for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

4These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord who rules the earth.11.4: Zec 4.3,11-14. 5Any enemy who tries to harm them will be destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouths. 6They have the power to lock up the sky and to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. And whenever they want to, they can turn water to blood and cause all kinds of terrible troubles on earth.11.6: a 1 K 17.1; b Ex 7.17-19; c 1 S 4.8.

7After the two witnesses have finished preaching God's message, the beast that lives in the deep pit will come up and fight against them. It will win the battle and kill them.11.7: a Dn 7.7; Rev 13.5-7; 17.8; b Dn 7.21. 8Their bodies will be left lying in the streets of the same great city where their Lord was nailed to a cross. And that city is spiritually like the city of Sodom or the country of Egypt.11.8: Is 1.9,10.

9For three and a half days the people of every nation, tribe, language, and race will stare at the bodies of these two witnesses and refuse to let them be buried. 10Everyone on earth will celebrate and be happy. They will give gifts to each other, because of what happened to the two prophets who caused them so much trouble. 11But three and a half days later, God will breathe life into their bodies. They will stand up, and everyone who sees them will be terrified.11.11: Ez 37.10.

12The witnesses then heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, “Come up here.” And while their enemies were watching, they were taken up to heaven in a cloud.11.12: 2 K 2.11. 13At that same moment there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were frightened and praised the God who rules in heaven.11.13: Rev 6.12; 16.18.

14The second horrible thing has now happened! But the third one will be here soon.

The seventh trumpet

15At the sound of the seventh trumpet, loud voices were heard in heaven. They said,11.15: Ex 15.18; Dn 2.44; 7.14,27.

“Now the kingdom

of this world

belongs to our Lord

and to his Chosen One!

And he will rule

for ever and ever!”

16Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on thrones in God's presence, knelt down and worshipped him. 17They said,

“Lord God All-Powerful,

you are and you were,

and we thank you.

You used your great power

and started ruling.

18When the nations got angry,11.18: a Ps 2.5; 110.5; b Ps 115.13.

you became angry too!

Now the time has come

for the dead

to be judged.

It is time for you to reward

your servants the prophets

and all your people

who honour your name,

no matter who they are.

It is time to destroy everyone

who has destroyed

the earth.”

19The door to God's temple in heaven was then opened, and the sacred chest11.19 sacred chest: In Old Testament times the sacred chest was kept in the tent used for worship. It was the symbol of God's presence with his people and also of his agreement with them. could be seen inside the temple. I saw lightning and heard roars of thunder. The earth trembled and huge hailstones fell to the ground.11.19: a Rev 8.5; 16.18; b Rev 16.21.