Rev 11 | HCSB | STEP | Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod , with these words : “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar , and count those who worship there.

Revelation of John 11

The Two Witnesses

1 Then I was given a measuring reed ^a like a rod, ^{▼▼Other mss add and the angel stood up} with these words: “Go ^{▼▼Lit Arise} and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the sanctuary. Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations, ^{▼▼Or Gentiles} and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will empower ^{▼▼Lit I will give to} my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, ^{▼▼= 3¹/₂ years of 30-day months
,} ^g dressed in ^{▼▼sackcloth: Garment made of poor quality material and worn as a sign of grief and mourning}sackcloth.” ^{▼▼Mourning garment of coarse, often black, material} 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord ^{▼▼Other mss read God} of the earth. ^k 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; ^l if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. ^m They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood ⁿ and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.

The Witnesses Martyred

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast ^{▼▼Or wild animal
,} ^p that comes up out of the ^{▼▼abyss: The bottomless pit or the depths (of the sea); the prison for Satan and the demons}abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies ^{▼▼Lit Their corpse
,} ^s will lie in the public square ^{▼▼Or lie on the broad street} of the great city, which prophetically ^{▼▼Or spiritually, or symbolically} is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And representatives from ^{▼▼Lit And from} the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations ^w will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb. 10 Those who live on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send gifts to one another because these two prophets brought judgment to those who live on the earth.

The Witnesses Resurrected

11 But after 3 ¹/₂days, the breath ^{▼▼Or spirit} of life ^y from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard ^{▼▼Other mss read Then I heard} a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. ^aa 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place, ^ab a tenth of the city fell, and 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe ^ac has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming quickly!

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, ^ad and there were loud voices in heaven saying:

The kingdom of the ^{▼▼world: The organized Satanic system that is opposed to God and hostile to Jesus and His followers. The non-Christian culture including governments, educational systems, and businesses}world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of His ^{▼▼Messiah: Or the Christ; the Greek word Christos means "the anointed one".}Messiah,
and He will reign forever and ever! ^ag

16 The 24 elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying:

We thank You, Lord God, the Almighty,
who is and who was, ^{▼▼Other mss add and who is to come
,} ^ai
because You have taken Your great power
and have begun to reign. ^aj
18 The nations were angry, ^ak
but Your wrath has come.
The time has come
for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward
to Your servants the prophets, ^al
to the ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}saints, and to those who fear Your name,
both small and great, ^an
and the time has come to destroy
those who destroy the earth.

19 God’s sanctuary in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant ^{▼▼Other mss read ark of the covenant of the Lord} appeared in His sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings of thunder, ^ap an earthquake, ^{▼▼Other mss omit an earthquake} and severe hail.