Los dos testigos
1Se me dio una vara que servía para medir y se me ordenó: «Levántate y mide el templo de Dios y el altar, luego cuenta cuántos adoran allí. 2Pero no incluyas el atrio exterior del templo; no lo midas, porque ha sido entregado a los gentiles, los cuales pisotearán la ciudad santa durante cuarenta y dos meses. 3Por mi parte, yo encargaré a mis dos testigos que, vestidos de luto,11:3 luto. Lit. cilicio. profeticen durante mil doscientos sesenta días». 4Estos dos testigos son los dos olivos y los dos candelabros que permanecen delante del Señor de la tierra. 5Si alguien quiere hacerles daño, ellos lanzan fuego por la boca y consumen a sus enemigos. Así habrá de morir cualquiera que intente hacerles daño. 6Estos testigos tienen poder para cerrar el cielo a fin de que no llueva mientras estén profetizando; además, tienen poder para convertir las aguas en sangre y para azotar la tierra, cuantas veces quieran, con toda clase de plagas.
7Ahora bien, cuando hayan terminado de dar su testimonio, la bestia que sube del abismo les hará la guerra, los vencerá y los matará. 8Sus cadáveres quedarán tendidos en la plaza de la gran ciudad, llamada en sentido figurado Sodoma y Egipto, donde también fue crucificado su Señor. 9Y gente de todo pueblo, tribu, lengua y nación contemplará sus cadáveres por tres días y medio, y no permitirá que se les dé sepultura. 10Los habitantes de la tierra se alegrarán de su muerte y harán fiesta e intercambiarán regalos, porque estos dos profetas los atormentaban.
11Pasados los tres días y medio, entró en ellos un aliento de vida enviado por Dios; se pusieron de pie y quienes los observaban quedaron sobrecogidos de terror. 12Entonces los dos testigos oyeron una potente voz del cielo que decía: «Suban acá». Y subieron al cielo en una nube, a la vista de sus enemigos.
13En ese mismo instante se produjo un violento terremoto y se derrumbó la décima parte de la ciudad. Perecieron siete mil personas, pero los sobrevivientes, llenos de temor, dieron gloria al Dios del cielo.
14El segundo ¡ay! ya pasó, pero se acerca el tercero.
La séptima trompeta
15Tocó el séptimo ángel su trompeta y en el cielo resonaron fuertes voces que decían:
«El reino del mundo ha pasado a ser de nuestro Señor y de su Cristo,
y él reinará por los siglos de los siglos».
16Los veinticuatro ancianos que estaban sentados en sus tronos delante de Dios se postraron rostro en tierra y adoraron a Dios 17diciendo:
«Señor Dios Todopoderoso,
que eres y que eras,11:17 eras. Var. eras y que has de venir.
te damos gracias porque has asumido tu gran poder
y has comenzado a reinar.
18Las naciones se han enfurecido;
pero ha llegado tu ira,
el momento de juzgar a los muertos
y de recompensar a tus siervos los profetas,
a los que creyeron en ti y a los que temen tu nombre,
sean grandes o pequeños,
y de exterminar a los que destruyen la tierra».
19Entonces se abrió en el cielo el templo de Dios; allí se vio el arca de su pacto y hubo relámpagos, estruendos, truenos, un terremoto y una fuerte granizada.
The Two Witnesses
1I was given a long stick that looked like a measuring rod. I was told, “Go and measure the temple of God. And measure the altar where the people are worshiping. 2But do not measure the outer courtyard. That’s because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will take over the holy city for 42 months. 3I will appoint my two witnesses. And they will prophesy for 1,260 days. They will be dressed in the rough clothes people wear when they’re sad.” 4The witnesses are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands. And “they stand in front of the Lord of the earth.” (Zechariah 4:3,11,14) 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and eats up their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6These witnesses have power to close up the sky. Then it will not rain while they are prophesying. They also have power to turn the waters into blood. And they can strike the earth with every kind of plague. They can do this as often as they want to.
7When they have finished speaking, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them. He will overpower them and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the main street of the great city. It is also the city where their Lord was nailed to a cross. The city is sometimes compared to Sodom or Egypt. 9For three and a half days, people will stare at their bodies. These people will be from every tribe and nation, no matter what language they speak. They will refuse to bury them. 10Those who live on the earth will be happy about this. That’s because those two prophets had made them suffer. The people will celebrate by sending one another gifts.
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the witnesses. They both stood up. Terror struck those who saw them. 12Then the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven. It said to them, “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud. Their enemies watched it happen.
13At that same time there was a powerful earthquake. A tenth of the city crumbled and fell. In the earthquake, 7,000 people were killed. Those who lived through it were terrified. They gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second terrible judgment has passed. The third is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were loud voices in heaven. They said,
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah.
He will rule for ever and ever.”
16The 24 elders were sitting on their thrones in front of God. They fell on their faces and worshiped God. 17They said,
“Lord God who rules over all, we give thanks to you.
You are the God who is and who was.
We give you thanks.
That’s because you have begun to rule with your great power.
18The nations were angry,
and the time for your anger has come.
The time has come to judge the dead.
It is time to reward your servants the prophets
and your people who honor you.
There is a reward for all your people,
both great and small.
It is time to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. Inside it the wooden chest called the ark of his covenant could be seen. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
