1 An angel gave me a measuring stick and said:Measure around God's temple. Be sure to include the altar and everyone worshipping there.
2 But don't measure the courtyard outside the temple building. Leave it out. It has been given to those people who don't know God, and they will trample all over the holy city for forty-two months.
3 My two witnesses will wear sackcloth, while I let them preach for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
4 These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord who rules the earth.
5 Any enemy who tries to harm them will be destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouths.
6 They have the power to lock up the sky and to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. And whenever they want to, they can turn water to blood and cause all kinds of terrible troubles on earth.
7 After the two witnesses have finished preaching God's message, the beast that lives in the deep pit will come up and fight against them. It will win the battle and kill them.