Reading for July 2nd

 Read Revelation 11.1-13. The temple and altar represent the inner reality of the community, which will be protected, even while the outer reality (polictical, social, and economic well-being) is at the mercy of  enemies.  In verse 2: Forty-two months is the period of evil; the same as 1,260 days or three and half years, As a half of seven, the period of evil is always incomplete, broken. In verses 3-4: The two witnessess dramatize what the temple scene symbolized. They both conquered and victorious. They represeent the people of God, characterized both as king and priest (the two olive trees; see Zech 4.12; Rev 1.6) and as the two final prophets. Moses (plagues; Ex 7) and Elijah (shutting the sky; 2 Kings 17). Their quality as two emphasizes their function as witnesses (Deut 19.15). In verse 5: The fire from their mouth is their testimony (see Sir 48.1). In verse 7: The beast is prematurely shown here but will be introduced in ch. 13. The war will become the theme of John's new prophecy (chs. 12-22; see 12.17). In verse 8: The great city is a complex symbol here it stand for Jerusalem, later it symbolizes Rome (17.18). It is prophetically called Sodom and Egypt, places of opposition to God. This is a spiritual or symbolic geography (as is all of John's geography). In verse 9: The three and half days is yet another symbol for the period of evil. In verse 11: The inward possession of breath of life (the spirit) is the final testimony. Comments or Questions..