15, 16. (a) What further prophecy concerning our time shows that persecution can be expected because of our witnessing? (b) What questions are now raised for our consideration?

¹⁵ Later, Jesus indicated to the apostle John what His followers on earth could expect after the birth of the heavenly kingdom. Speaking in figurative language, he said: “Now when the dragon [identified in Re 12 verse 9 as “the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan”] saw that it was hurled down to the earth, it persecuted the woman [God’s universal organization] that gave birth to the male child [the kingdom with Christ as King].

Revelation 12:13,