The Two Witnesses: Prophecy, Death, and Resurrection
Revelation 11:1-14
Rev.11.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- καλαμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ομοιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ραβδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- λεγων·Εγειρε: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,m,sg + VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- μετρησον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ναον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θυσιαστηριον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- προσκυνουντας: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,acc,m,pl
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Ezekiel 40:3 (verbal): A vision figure appears with a measuring reed/rod to measure a temple complex—the same reed/measuring imagery and act of measuring the sanctuary.
- Zechariah 2:1-2 (verbal): A man with a measuring line/measuring to survey Jerusalem—parallel prophetic motif of measuring a holy place/city to define divine boundary or protection.
- Revelation 21:15-17 (structural): Internal parallel in Revelation where an angel measures the New Jerusalem with a reed—same instrument and measuring action applied to a sacred space, linking temple measurement to eschatological judgment/ordering.
- Ezekiel 43:10-12 (thematic): Instructions about showing, measuring, and ordering the house of the Lord and the regulations for its holiness—connects the measuring of the temple with restoration, cultic order, and the separation of the holy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod, and the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there."
- Then there was given to me a reed like a measuring rod; and the angel stood, saying, "Rise, and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there."
Rev.11.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αυλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εξωθεν: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ναου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εκβαλε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εξωθεν: ADV
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- μετρησης: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εθνεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αγιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- πατησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- μηνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 21:24 (verbal): Explicitly parallels the idea that the holy city/Jerusalem will be trodden under foot by the Gentiles; both speak of Gentile domination of the city until a divinely appointed time.
- Revelation 13:5 (verbal): Gives the same chronological phrase (forty-two months) as the period of the beast's authority, linking Rev 11:2's 42 months to persecuting power in the vision.
- Revelation 11:3 (structural): In the same episode the two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days (equivalent to 42 months), tying the measured/unmeasured temple and the period of Gentile trampling to the witnesses' ministry.
- Revelation 12:6 (thematic): The woman is nourished in the wilderness for 1,260 days (same numerical period), reflecting a recurrent motif of 3½ years/1260 days of protection/persecution in Revelation.
- Daniel 7:25 (allusion): Speaks of 'a time and times and half a time' (3½ years) during which hostile power opposes the saints—an Old Testament analogue to Revelation's 42 months/1260 days motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- But leave out the court that is outside the temple; do not measure it, for it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
- But leave out the court outside the temple; measure it not, for it has been given over to the nations, and the holy city they will tread under foot for forty-two months.
Rev.11.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- δωσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- δυσιν: NUM,dat,pl,m
- μαρτυσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- προφητευσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- χιλιας: NUM,acc,pl,f
- διακοσιας: NUM,acc,pl,f
- εξηκοντα: NUM,acc,pl,n
- περιβεβλημενοι: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,nom,pl,m
- σακκους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Daniel 12:7 (verbal): Same prophetic time frame—Daniel’s “time, times, and half a time”/1,260 days corresponds to the 1,260-day period of the witnesses.
- Revelation 12:6 (verbal): Uses the identical 1,260-day period (the woman in the wilderness), linking Revelation’s motifs of sustained prophetic witness/persecution and divine protection.
- Matthew 17:3 (allusion): Moses and Elijah appearing together with Jesus; the twofold pair evokes the composite figure of two witnesses (law and prophets/the prophetic pair) in Revelation 11.
- Jonah 3:5 (thematic): Nineveh’s response of fasting and putting on sackcloth parallels the sackcloth attire of the witnesses, associating their prophecy with mourning, repentance, and urgent warning.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
- And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev.11.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουτοι: DEM,nom,pl,m
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ελαιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- λυχνιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- ενωπιον: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εστωτες: PART,perf,act,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Zechariah 4:2-3 (quotation): The vision in Zechariah describes a golden lampstand with two olive trees beside it—precisely the imagery echoed in Revelation 11:4.
- Zechariah 4:11-14 (quotation): Zechariah explains the two olive trees as the 'two anointed ones' who stand by the Lord of the whole earth, paralleling both the imagery and the wording in Rev 11:4.
- Zechariah 4:6 (thematic): The phrase 'not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' (Zech 4:6) provides the theological context for how the two symbolic figures in Rev 11 exercise their witness.
- Revelation 1:20 (thematic): In Revelation 1:20 the lampstands are explicitly interpreted as representing the churches, shedding light on the symbolic significance of 'lampstands' in Rev 11:4.
- Revelation 11:3 (structural): Verse 11:3 first introduces 'two witnesses'; verse 11:4 then identifies them metaphorically as the two olive trees and two lampstands, forming an immediate narrative parallel.
Alternative generated candidates
- These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
- These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
Rev.11.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- θελει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αδικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εκπορευεται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- στοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κατεσθιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εχθρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτων·και: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- θεληση: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αδικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ουτως: ADV
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- αποκτανθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
Parallels
- 2 Kings 1:10-12 (allusion): Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume the king’s captains; Revelation’s witnesses’ fire-from-mouth image echoes Elijah’s authority to execute divine judgment.
- Isaiah 11:4 (verbal): Isaiah says the Messiah will 'slay the wicked with the breath of his lips'—a close verbal parallel to killing/proceeding judgment issuing from the mouth.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (verbal): Paul speaks of the lawless one being destroyed 'by the breath of his mouth' (or 'spirit of his mouth'), thematically and verbally resembling Revelation’s mouth‑issued destructive power.
- Revelation 1:16 (structural): In Revelation the Son of Man has a sharp two‑edged sword coming from his mouth; both verses use the motif of judgment emanating from the mouth as a means of executing divine wrath.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone would harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their foes; and if anyone would harm them, thus must he be killed.
- If anyone seeks to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone should attack them, thus must he be killed.
Rev.11.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κλεισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- υετος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- βρεχη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- προφητειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- επι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υδατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- στρεφειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- αιμα: NOUN,nom,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- παταξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- πληγη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- οσακις: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- θελησωσιν: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,pl
Parallels
- 1 Kings 17:1 (allusion): Elijah declares a drought by ‘shutting up the heavens,’ directly parallels the power here to close heaven so that it does not rain.
- James 5:17–18 (quotation): James cites Elijah’s prayer that stopped the rain and later brought it back, explicitly echoing the motif of prophetic control over weather.
- Exodus 7:17–21 (verbal): Moses’ miracle of turning the Nile and waters into blood parallels the statement that these witnesses can turn waters into blood.
- Revelation 16:3 (structural): One of the seven bowls turns the sea into blood and brings widespread death, reflecting the same motif of water as a target of divine/judgmental violence within Revelation’s judgment sequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- They have power 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 to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they will.
- They have authority to shut up the heavens, that no rain fall during the days of their prophecy; and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they will.
Rev.11.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- οταν: CONJ
- τελεσωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μαρτυριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θηριον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αναβαινον: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,sg,n
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αβυσσου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ποιησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- πολεμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- νικησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αποκτενει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 13:7 (verbal): The beast is given authority 'to make war with the saints and to overcome them,' using virtually the same language about warring against and prevailing over God's witnesses/people.
- Daniel 7:21,25 (verbal): The little horn 'made war with the saints and prevailed' (7:21) and persecuted them for a time (7:25), a direct antecedent to Revelation's motif of a hostile power warring against God's people.
- Revelation 17:8 (allusion): Speaks of the beast 'ascending from the bottomless pit' and later coming to destruction—parallels Rev 11:7's description of a beast that ascends out of the abyss to act against God's witnesses.
- Revelation 9:11 (allusion): Identifies the abyss's ruler (Apollyon/Abaddon) and links hostile forces to the abyss, echoing Rev 11:7's imagery of a destructive power rising from the abyss to wage war.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they have completed their testimony, the beast that rises from the abyss will make war on them, overcome them, and kill them.
- And when they have completed their testimony, the beast that rises from the abyss will make war against them, overpower them and kill them.
Rev.11.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πτωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πλατειας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μεγαλης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- καλειται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- πνευματικως: ADV
- Σοδομα: NOUN,nom,sg,n,prop
- και: CONJ
- Αιγυπτος: NOUN,nom,sg,f,prop
- οπου: ADV,rel
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εσταυρωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 19:17-18 (thematic): Explicit account of Jesus' crucifixion in Jerusalem; connects with Revelation's phrase 'where also their Lord was crucified,' locating the death of the Lord in the city.
- Isaiah 1:9 (allusion): Isaiah likens Judah to Sodom (and Gomorrah) as a figure of divine judgment; parallels Revelation's use of 'Sodom' to characterize a sinful, condemned city.
- Ezekiel 16:46 (allusion): Ezekiel explicitly compares Jerusalem (and its sisters) to Sodom, using the Sodom motif to depict Jerusalem's sexual and moral corruption—the same prophetic imagery echoed in Revelation's labeling of the great city as 'Sodom.'
- Matthew 10:14-15 (thematic): Jesus contrasts unrepentant towns with Sodom ('it will be more tolerable for Sodom...'), using Sodom as the archetype of judgment—parallel to Revelation's symbolic use of 'Sodom' to denote a city deserving condemnation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city—which in spirit is called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.
- Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city—which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.
Rev.11.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- βλεπουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- λαων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- φυλων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- γλωσσων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πτωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- ημισυ: NUM,part,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πτωματα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- αφιουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τεθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- εις: PREP
- μνημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 11:7-10 (structural): Immediate context: the beast makes war on the two witnesses; their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city for three and a half days and people gloat over them.
- Revelation 11:3-6 (structural): Background to v.9: the calling, ministry and miraculous power of the two witnesses, which explains why the beast kills them and their corpses are left exposed.
- Daniel 12:7 (verbal): Uses the same symbolic temporal phrase 'time, times and half a time' (equivalent to 3½) linking Revelation's 3½ motif to Danielic apocalyptic chronology.
- 1 Samuel 31:10-13 (thematic): Narrative parallel of dishonor: bodies of Saul and his sons were exposed/hung and later retrieved and buried—resonates with the motif of corpses left publicly exposed as disgrace.
- Matthew 12:40 (thematic): Christ's 'three days' in the tomb (cf. Jonah) invokes the motif of death followed by a sign of vindication after a set number of days—Revelation's 3½ days similarly frames death and impending vindication/resurrection of the witnesses.
Alternative generated candidates
- For three and a half days men from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.
- And those of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will gaze at their dead bodies for three and a half days and will not allow their bodies to be laid in a tomb.
Rev.11.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- κατοικουντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- χαιρουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- επ᾽αυτοις: PREP,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ευφραινονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- δωρα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πεμψουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- αλληλοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- προφηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εβασανισαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κατοικουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Zechariah 4:11-14 (allusion): Zechariah’s vision of two olive trees ('the two anointed ones') is an Old Testament background for Revelation’s 'two witnesses'—both texts pair two prophetic figures who stand for God’s presence and ministry on earth.
- Exodus 7:17-21 (verbal): Moses turning the Nile to blood resonates with motifs ascribed to the two witnesses (Rev 11:6): miraculous signs and plagues that 'torment' the inhabitants of the land, linking the witnesses to Mosaic signs.
- 1 Kings 19:1-2 (thematic): Elijah’s persecution (Jezebel’s threat) illustrates how a prophet’s ministry provokes lethal hostility; thematically similar to Revelation’s depiction of prophets who are hated, attacked, and ultimately killed by earth-dwellers.
- Revelation 16:9-11 (structural): The repeated formula 'those who dwell on the earth' and their hostile, blaspheming response to divine judgment parallels Rev 11:10’s picture of earth-dwellers rejoicing and exchanging gifts over the prophets’ suffering.
Alternative generated candidates
- Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
- And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry; they will exchange gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Rev.11.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- μετα: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- ημισυ: NUM,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ζωης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- και: CONJ
- εστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επι: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- φοβος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- επεπεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- θεωρουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- αυτους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Ezekiel 37:5-10 (verbal): Gives the same breath/spirit imagery — 'Come, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live' — God’s Spirit enters the dead and they stand up.
- Genesis 2:7 (verbal): God 'breathed into his nostrils the breath of life' so that man became living — the language of life coming directly from God's breath echoes Rev 11:11.
- Matthew 27:52-53 (thematic): At Jesus’ resurrection many holy ones were raised and appeared to people — a sudden, public resurrection that astonishes onlookers, as in Rev 11:11.
- John 11:43-44 (thematic): Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb and he comes forth alive; a divine command/result of life from God and an observable standing of the once-dead.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (structural): Eschatological resurrection language — 'the dead in Christ will rise' — parallels the end-time raising of the two witnesses by divine power.
Alternative generated candidates
- But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
- But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet; great fear fell upon those who saw them.
Rev.11.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηκουσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- φωνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μεγαλης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- λεγουσης: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,f
- αυτοις·Αναβατε: PRON,dat,pl,m + VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- ωδε: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ανεβησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- νεφελη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εθεωρησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εχθροι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 1:9 (thematic): Jesus is taken up into heaven and a cloud receives him — the same ascension-in-a-cloud motif and public visibility to onlookers as the two witnesses' ascent.
- 2 Kings 2:11 (allusion): Elijah's being taken up by a whirlwind into heaven serves as the Old Testament prototype for a prophetic ascent into heaven, echoed in Revelation's cloud-ascent imagery.
- Rev.4:1 (verbal): A heavenly voice tells John 'Come up here' (ἄναβηθι ὧδε) — the same verbal summons to ascend that appears when the two witnesses are told 'Αναβατε ωδε'.
- Matt.17:5 (verbal): At the Transfiguration a bright cloud overshadows them and a voice from the cloud speaks — parallels the combined motif of a heavenly voice and cloud in Rev 11:12.
- Rev.12:5 (thematic): The male child 'was caught up to God and to his throne' — another instance in Revelation of a vindicated figure being taken up to God while adversaries remain, thematically parallel to the witnesses' ascension.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
- Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
Rev.11.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- εκεινη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- σεισμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- δεκατον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- απεκτανθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σεισμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ονοματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- χιλιαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- λοιποι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εμφοβοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εγενοντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- εδωκαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- δοξαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
Parallels
- Revelation 6:12-17 (thematic): Cosmic disturbances (sun darkened, moon like blood, stars fall) and widespread terror as people recognize divine wrath—similar language of earthquake and public fear/glorification of God.
- Revelation 16:18-19 (structural): A great eschatological earthquake accompanies divine judgment and results in the breaking/splitting and affliction of a city (Babylon); parallels the city’s collapse and catastrophic earthquake in 11:13.
- Matthew 27:51-54 (thematic): An earthquake at the time of Jesus’ death produces awe and leads witnesses to glorify God/recognize divine action (the centurion’s confession), echoing 11:13’s link between quake, terror, and giving glory to God.
- Acts 16:25-26 (verbal): A sudden, powerful earthquake occurs as an act of God that dramatically changes circumstances—verbal parallel in the sudden seismic act as divine intervention (though the outcome differs).
- Zechariah 14:4-5 (allusion): An eschatological earthquake associated with the Lord’s coming that alters the landscape and affects the city—background for Revelation’s use of earthquake imagery in final judgment contexts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were slain in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- At that hour 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.
Rev.11.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Η: ART,nom,sg,fem
- ουαι: INTJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δευτερα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- απηλθεν·ιδου: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+INTJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ουαι: INTJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τριτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ταχυ: ADV
Parallels
- Rev.9.12 (verbal): Uses the same woe-formula and sequence language (one woe past; more woes to come), echoing the trumpet/woe framework.
- Rev.8.13 (structural): Announces the woe motif at the opening of the trumpet judgments (‘Woe, woe, woe’) and frames the series in which 11:14 occurs.
- Rev.12.12 (thematic): Declares a woe against earth/sea inhabitants in the context of cosmic conflict, sharing the theme of impending calamity encapsulated by ‘woe.’
- Rev.18.10 (allusion): A double-woe lament over a great city; parallels the prophetic cry of judgment and the literary use of οὐαὶ as an announcement of doom.
Alternative generated candidates
- The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
- The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Then there was given to me 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. But leave out the court that is outside the temple; do not measure it, for it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their adversaries; and if anyone would harm them, thus must he be slain.
They have authority to shut up the heavens, so that no rain falls during the days of their prophesying; and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they will. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the Abyss will make war on them, overcome them, and kill them.
Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city—which is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.
Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look upon their dead bodies for three and a half days, and they will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a torment to them. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.
At that very hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand persons were slain in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.