December 20 Rev 11:1-19
A reed like a rod was
given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar,
and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the
temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They
will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. I will give power
to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty
days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lamp
stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm
them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone
desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to
shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy.
They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the
earth with every plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished
their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with
them, and overcome them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will be in the
street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where
also their Lord was crucified. From among the peoples, tribes, languages,
and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days,
and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Those who dwell
on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts
to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the
earth. After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered
into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw
them. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They
went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. In that day
there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand
people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave
glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe
comes quickly.
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