Apocalipsis 11:1-14

Los dos testigos

1 Se me dio una caña que servía para medir, y se me ordenó: «Levántate y mide el templo de Dios y el altar, y calcula cuántos pueden adorar allí.

2 Pero no incluyas el atrio exterior del templo; no lo midas, porque ha sido entregado a las naciones paganas, las cuales pisotearán la ciudad santa durante cuarenta y dos meses.

3 Por mi parte, yo encargaré a mis dos testigos que, vestidos de luto,^[a] profeticen durante mil doscientos sesenta días».

4 Estos dos testigos son los dos olivos y los dos candelabros que permanecen delante del Señor de la tierra.

5 Si alguien quiere hacerles daño, ellos lanzan fuego por la boca y consumen a sus enemigos. Así habrá de morir cualquiera que intente hacerles daño.

6 Estos testigos tienen poder para cerrar el cielo a fin de que no llueva mientras estén profetizando; y tienen poder para convertir las aguas en sangre y para azotar la tierra, cuantas veces quieran, con toda clase de plagas.

7 Ahora bien, cuando hayan terminado de dar su testimonio, la bestia que sube del abismo les hará la guerra, los vencerá y los matará.

8 Sus cadáveres quedarán tendidos en la plaza de la gran ciudad, llamada en sentido figurado^[b] Sodoma y Egipto, donde también fue crucificado su Señor.

9 Y gente de todo pueblo, tribu, lengua y nación contemplará sus cadáveres por tres días y medio, y no permitirá que se les dé sepultura.

10 Los habitantes de la tierra se alegrarán de su muerte y harán fiesta e intercambiarán regalos, porque estos dos profetas les estaban haciendo la vida imposible.

11 Pasados los tres días y medio, entró en ellos un aliento de vida enviado por Dios, y se pusieron de pie, y quienes los observaban quedaron sobrecogidos de terror.

12 Entonces los dos testigos oyeron una potente voz del cielo que les decía: «Suban acá». Y subieron al cielo en una nube, a la vista de sus enemigos.

13 En 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.

14 El segundo ¡ay! ya pasó, pero se acerca el tercero.

Apocalipsis 11:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 11

This chapter contains the order to measure the temple of God; an account of the two witnesses, their prophesying: and power, their slaying, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, with what followed upon it; and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and the effects of that. A measuring rod is given to John, with an order to rise and measure the temple, altar, and worshippers, and to leave out the outer court, which was to be given to the Gentiles, who tread the holy city under foot forty and two months, Re 11:1,2, the same date with the 1260 days the witnesses prophesy in sackcloth, Re 11:3, who are compared to two olive trees and to two candlesticks, and are said to stand before God, Re 11:4, and who are further described by their power to destroy those that hurt them with fire that proceeds out of their mouths; to shut the heaven, that it rain not during their prophecy; to turn water into blood, and smite the earth with all manner of plagues at pleasure, Re 11:5,6; but when the time of their prophecy and testimony is expired, their enemies will have the advantage of them; the antichristian beast of Rome, described by the place of his ascent, the bottomless pit, will fight against them, overcome, and kill them; their dead bodies will be exposed publicly within the Roman jurisdiction, and not suffered to be interred; and their enemies will make a public and general rejoicing over them, Re 11:7-10; but after a short space of time they will revive, and stand upon their feet, to the surprise of all spectators; and being invited by a voice from heaven, will ascend thither, in the sight of their enemies; upon which will be an earthquake, in which the tenth part of the city of Rome will fall, and seven thousand men be slain; which will cause consternation in the rest, and put them upon giving glory to God, Re 11:11-13; and this will put an end to the second woe, and the third will quickly follow, Re 11:14, which is the sounding of the seventh trumpet; the effects of which are, voices heard in heaven, declaring that the kingdoms of the world are become Christ's, and that he shall reign for ever and ever, Re 11:15; upon which the four and twenty elders, that sat on their seats before God, congratulate him, worship, and give thanks unto him, at the Lord God Almighty and eternal; partly because of his visible power and kingdom he now takes to himself; and partly because the time of avenging his people that had suffered for him upon the nations, which makes them angry, was now come; as also because now would be given rewards to all his prophets, saints, and those that feared him, as well as antichrist and his followers would be destroyed, Re 11:16-18; and other effects of this trumpet are, the opening of the temple of God in heaven, a sight of the ark of the testament, lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail, Re 11:9.

Footnotes

• [a]. "luto" . Lit. "cilicio" .
• [b]. "en sentido figurado" . Lit. "espiritualmente" .