Two Prophets, Three Days Dead and Rising
1Then someone gave me what looked like a walking stick with measurement markings on it. I got these instructions: “Go and measure God’s temple with its altar. Count the worshipers too. 2Skip the Courtyard of the Gentiles outside the temple sanctuary. It belongs to the rest of the world. They’ll overrun the holy city of Jerusalem and trample it for three and a half years. [1] 3I’m giving two of my witnesses [2] the authority to prophesy. They’ll wear clothes made from rough cloth traditionally associated with prophets. [3] And they’ll deliver my messages for 1,260 days.” [4]4These two prophets are the “two olive trees” [5] and the two menorah lampstands [6] that stand in the presence of the Lord who rules the earth. 5If anyone tries to hurt these witnesses, fire will fly. Fire will shoot out of the mouths of my witnesses, burning up their enemies. [7] If anyone tries to hurt them, this fire will kill the attacker. 6These two witnesses have the power to stop the rain while on this prophecy mission. [8] They can turn water into blood, as well. They can also use their discretion and strike the planet with any plague they want, as often as they want. [9]
7The two witnesses will give their testimony, delivering my message. When they’re done, the beast [10] from the abyss of punishment [11] will declare war on them, defeat them, and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the streets of an important city for three days. That city has a couple of code names, which are symbolic: Sodom and Egypt. [12] This important city is where the Lord was crucified. [13]
9No one wants to bury the two dead witnesses. So, their bodies lay in the street for three and a half days—on display for people everywhere, from every country, tribe, and language. 10When news gets out that the two witnesses are dead, the world celebrates. Some celebrate by passing out gifts. They’re happy because the two prophets had tormented them. Now both are dead and gone. 11Three and a half days dead, the witnesses come back to life. That’s because God breathed into them the breath of life. So, they stood up. That scared the dickens out of everyone who had been watching their corpses.
12Soon, both heard a loud voice from heaven telling them, “Come on up!” They started levitating. They rose off the ground and into a cloud that carried them to heaven. Their enemies saw it. 13Within the hour, an earthquake destroyed a tenth of the city, killing 7,000 people. Survivors were terrified. They reacted by acknowledging the powerful God in heaven. [14] 14The second terror is over. Up next, the finale.
Seventh Angel Blows Trumpet of Judgment
15When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, I heard loud voices in heaven. Together they said,“God’s kingdom has come.
This world belongs to our Lord and his Messiah.
The Lord’s in charge now. He’ll be in charge forever.”
“Thank you, Lord.
You are now and have always been Almighty God.
Today you invoke your authority
and begin ruling your entire kingdom.
But it’s time now to pass judgment. [15]
The dead will suffer the fury of this judgment too.
Time has come, as well, to reward your people,
the prophets, the devoted followers,
and those who respect you—famous and unknown.
It’s time to destroy those who destroy the people of this world.” 19Then I saw God’s temple in heaven. The doors opened. Inside I could see the chest that held the Ten Commandments. [16] Lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled. An earthquake shook the ground, as heavy hail rained through the sky.
