Study Desk

The Two Witnesses

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.

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)

And I will appoint my two witnesses,^(f) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,^(g) clothed in sackcloth."^(h)

They are "the two olive trees"⁽ⁱ⁾ and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."^[a](j)

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)

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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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.

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)

The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.^(ag)

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)

And the twenty-four elders,^(al) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces^(am) and worshiped God,

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)

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."

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)