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.

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” When the angels went away from them into the sky,

the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”