21 November 2020

But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and those who saw them were terrified. Then 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 watched them..
Apocalypse 11: 4-12, NRSV

This passage comes at the end of today’s long and graphic reading. At the beginning of the reading we are told of two of God’s  witnesses who are symbolised both as lampstands and as olive trees. Their various powers are then listed including their ability to pour fire onto their enemies. John then tells us of a mighty beast that attacks and kills the two witnesses and leaves them dead in the street for three and a half days while others look on their dead bodies. Then we have this dramatic event when the breath of God enters them restoring them to life before they are bodily taken up to heaven. No wonder the onlookers were terrified! The many and sometimes gruesome details of this part of John’s revelation should not obscure the great message of the promise of resurrection for all Christians.

• • Why did the witnesses have to suffer as they did ?
  • What difference can the promise of resurrection make to the life of a Christian?

Pray today for people who suffer persecution because of their religious beliefs.

Image – From The Tribulation Network – By Doug Krieger (Douglas W. Krieger)