Measuring the Temple and the Two Witnesses
Study note
John is given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple and altar but to exclude the outer court, which is given to the Gentiles who will trample the holy city for forty-two months. Two witnesses, described as olive trees and lampstands, are given power to prophesy for 1,260 days in sackcloth. They can call down fire on their enemies, shut the sky to prevent rain, and turn water to blood, recalling the powers of Elijah and Moses.
1 I was handed a measuring stick that looked like a rod. The angel said, "Get up and measure God's temple and the altar, and count the people who worship there." And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 "But skip the outer courtyard -- do not measure it. It has been handed over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months." But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 "I will give power to my two witnesses. They will share my message for 1,260 days. They will wear rough clothes as a sign of sadness." And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 If anyone tries to hurt them, fire shoots out of their mouths and burns up their enemies. Anyone who tries to harm them will be killed this way. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 They have the power to shut off the rain during the entire time they are prophesying. They can turn water into blood and strike the earth with any kind of disaster whenever they choose. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
The Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Witnesses
Study note
When their testimony is complete, the beast from the abyss kills the two witnesses. Their bodies lie in the street of the great city for three and a half days while the world celebrates. Then God's breath of life enters them, they stand up in full view of their terrified enemies, and a voice calls them up to heaven in a cloud. A great earthquake follows, killing seven thousand people, and the survivors give glory to God.
7 When they finish sharing their message, the beast from the bottomless pit will attack them. It will overpower them and kill them. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city. That city stands for Sodom and Egypt. It is also where their Lord was nailed to a cross. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language, and nation will stare at their bodies. Nobody will allow them to be buried. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 People who live on the earth will celebrate and throw parties. They will exchange gifts because these two prophets had caused them so much trouble. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 But after three and a half days, God breathed life back into them and they stood up on their feet. Everyone who saw it was terrified. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 Then a loud voice from heaven called to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies stood watching. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 At that very moment, a powerful earthquake struck. A tenth of the city crumbled. Seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second disaster has passed. But the third one is coming fast! The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
The Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
Study note
The seventh trumpet sounds, and loud voices in heaven declare that the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of the Lord and his Christ. The twenty-four elders worship God, thanking him for taking his great power and beginning to reign. The time has come for judging the dead, rewarding the faithful, and destroying those who destroy the earth. The heavenly temple opens, revealing the ark of the covenant amid dramatic signs.
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. Powerful voices in heaven announced, "The world's kingdom now belongs to our Lord and to his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell face down and worshiped God. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 They said, "We thank you, Lord God Almighty -- the one who is and who was and who is coming. You have stepped in with your great power and begun your reign." Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 "The nations raged against you, but now your anger has arrived. The time has come to judge the dead and to hand out rewards to your servants the prophets, to your holy people, and to everyone who honors your name, whether small or great. The time has come to destroy those who have been destroying the earth." And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 Then God's temple in heaven swung open, and I could see the ark of his covenant inside. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed, the ground shook, and huge hailstones fell. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.