Revelation 11

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.

1I was given a measuring stick, like a long walking stick. An angel, a messenger from God, stood there and said this. "Get up. Measure God's temple, the special building where people worship him. Measure the altar too, and count the people worshiping there."

2But 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.

2"But leave out the open yard outside the temple. Do not measure that part. It has been handed over to the nations. They will walk all over the holy city for forty-two months."

3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

3"I will give power to my two witnesses. They will speak my words for 1,260 days. They will wear sackcloth, rough scratchy cloth people wore when they were very sad."

4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

4These two witnesses are the two olive trees. They are also the two lampstands. They stand in front of the God of the earth.

5And 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.

5If anyone wants to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths. The fire burns up their enemies. Anyone who wants to hurt them must die this way.

6These 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.

6These two have power to shut the sky so no rain falls. That lasts as long as they are speaking God's words. They can also turn water into blood. They can strike the earth with every kind of trouble, as often as they want.

7And 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.

7When the two witnesses finish telling their message, the beast will come. It comes up out of the deep pit that has no bottom. It will fight them, beat them, and kill them.

8And 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.

8Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city. As a picture, that city is called Sodom and Egypt. It is the same city where their Lord was killed on a cross.

NoteThe King James Bible says the city "spiritually is called" Sodom and Egypt. That means the names are used as a picture, not as the city's real name.

9And 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.

9For three and a half days, people will look at their dead bodies. They will come from every tribe, language, and nation. They will not let the bodies be buried.

NoteIn 1611, "suffer" meant "allow." So "shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves" means they will not let the bodies be buried.

10And 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.

10The people who live on earth will be glad that the two are dead. They will celebrate and send gifts to each other. They do this because these two prophets, men who told people what God said, had made them suffer.

11And 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.

11After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God went into them. The two witnesses stood up on their feet. Everyone who saw it was filled with fear.

12And 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.

12Then the two heard a loud voice from heaven say, "Come up here." They went up to heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched them go.

13And 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.

13At that very hour the ground shook hard. A tenth of the city fell down. Seven thousand people died in the shaking. The rest were frightened and gave honor to the God of heaven.

14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

14The second time of great trouble is over. Look, the third time of trouble is coming soon.

15And 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.

15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. Loud voices in heaven said this. "The kingdoms of this world now belong to our Lord and to his Christ, the king God promised. He will rule forever and ever."

16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

16The twenty-four elders, the leaders who sit on seats in front of God, were there. They bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.

17Saying, 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.

17They said, "We thank you, Lord God Almighty. You are here now. You were here long ago. You are the one who is coming. You have taken your great power and begun to rule."

18And 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.

18"The nations were angry, and now your anger has come. It is time to judge the people who have died. It is time to reward your servants the prophets. It is time to reward your holy people and all who honor your name, small and great. It is time to destroy those who destroy the earth."

19And 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.

19Then God's temple in heaven was opened. Inside it, people could see the ark of his covenant. That is the special chest that held the promise God made. There was lightning, rumbling, thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.