Revelation 11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Two Witnesses
11 Then I was given a measuring reed(A) like a rod,[a] with these words: “Go[b] 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,[c] and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 I will empower[d] my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,[e](B) dressed in sackcloth.”[f] 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord[g] of the earth.(C) 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies;(D) 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.(E) They also have power over the waters to turn them into blood(F) and to strike the earth with every plague whenever they want.
The Witnesses Martyred
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast[h](G) that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies[i](H) will lie in the public square[j] of the great city, which prophetically[k] is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And representatives from[l] the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations(I) 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 3½ days, the breath[m] of life(J) from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. So great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard[n] a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.(K) 13 At that moment a violent earthquake took place,(L) 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(M) has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming quickly!
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet,(N) and there were loud voices in heaven saying:
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of His Messiah,
and He will reign forever and ever!(O)
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,[o](P)
because You have taken Your great power
and have begun to reign.(Q)
18 The nations were angry,(R)
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,(S)
to the saints, and to those who fear Your name,
both small and great,(T)
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[p] appeared in His sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings of thunder,(U) an earthquake,[q] and severe hail.
Footnotes
- Revelation 11:1 Other mss add and the angel stood up
- Revelation 11:1 Lit Arise
- Revelation 11:2 Or Gentiles
- Revelation 11:3 Lit I will give to
- Revelation 11:3 = 3½ years of 30-day months
- Revelation 11:3 Mourning garment of coarse, often black, material
- Revelation 11:4 Other mss read God
- Revelation 11:7 Or wild animal
- Revelation 11:8 Lit Their corpse
- Revelation 11:8 Or lie on the broad street
- Revelation 11:8 Or spiritually, or symbolically
- Revelation 11:9 Lit And from
- Revelation 11:11 Or spirit
- Revelation 11:12 Other mss read Then I heard
- Revelation 11:17 Other mss add and who is to come
- Revelation 11:19 Other mss read ark of the covenant of the Lord
- Revelation 11:19 Other mss omit an earthquake
Revelation 11
English Standard Version
The Two Witnesses
11 Then I was given (A)a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure (B)the court outside the temple; leave that out, for (C)it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for (D)forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for (E)1,260 days, (F)clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are (G)the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, (H)fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, (I)this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power (J)to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and (K)to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, (L)the beast that rises from (M)the bottomless pit[a] (N)will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically[b] is called (O)Sodom and (P)Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and (Q)refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and (R)those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and (S)exchange presents, because these two prophets (T)had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days (U)a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, (V)“Come up here!” And (W)they went up to heaven (X)in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was (Y)a great earthquake, and (Z)a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and (AA)gave glory to (AB)the God of heaven.
14 (AC)The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 Then (AD)the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and (AE)there were loud voices in heaven, saying, (AF)“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of (AG)his Christ, and (AH)he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders (AI)who sit on their thrones before God (AJ)fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
(AK)who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and (AL)begun to reign.
18 The nations raged,
but (AM)your wrath came,
and (AN)the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and (AO)those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and (AP)for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then (AQ)God's temple in heaven was opened, and (AR)the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings,[c] peals of thunder, an earthquake, and (AS)heavy hail.
Footnotes
- Revelation 11:7 Or the abyss
- Revelation 11:8 Greek spiritually
- Revelation 11:19 Or voices, or sounds
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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
