Texts to Read for This Week: Rev. 11:3–6; Zech. 4:14; Rev. 12:5, 6, 14, 15; Dan. 7:25; Isa. 54:17; Ps. 119:89; Rev. 11:15–18.

Opening Question: “What happens to a person or even a whole society when the word of God is suppressed or ignored?”

The opening scripture passage for this week is Revelation 11:3-6, a selection of verses that speaks of two witnesses that will prophecy in sackcloth for a period of 1,260 days. Clearly, this is highly symbolic language that has to be interpreted if we are to gain any understanding of what is being spoken about.

Some parts of these ...