“… with the sword he will be killed …”
He who has an ear, let him hear.
10 If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword he will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
(Revelation 13:9-10; NIV. Please read Revelation 13.)
The dragon – the ancient serpent, Satan – called forth his cohorts in chaos. A beast rises from out of the sea … a fierce beast with heads and horns, intending to destroy those who follow the Lamb. Another beast rises from the earth … a deceptive beast with little horns and a dragon’s breath, intending to deceive all the inhabitants of the earth.
These are frightening foes …
But if you are listening … then you will hear the reason to be patient and faithful.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Do you remember the things that scared you … as a child? The flying monkeys and the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz … the “blob” – the mummy – the alien in a number of horror movies … from Vader to Voldemort … whatever scared you – nothing compares to the true fearfulness of evil. So … when you are frightened in real life … find hope in the words that comforted those who were facing these beasts (the harlot that will follow). Find reason to be patient and faithful.
November 11, 2008 at 9:51 am
In this chapter I can find a reason to be patient and faithful. Over and over it states that the monsters were “given” power to do this, or “given” authority to do this. I know the One who gave that authority and power. I know the One that also takes that power away when the time comes. There is no power or authority on this earth that is not allowed or given by God. He reigns!!!
So any of my life monsters are the same way. God rules over them too. I think the reason that they seem so powerful to me is because I live as though they are more powerful than God. I live as though they can destroy me. They cannot. If I choose to follow the One that has all the power and authority and trust Him, then the things of this earth cannot defeat me … at least not eternally. There may be things that come into my life that hurt and seem horrible. It may look like satan is winning and like God does not care about me, but this is not the case. He promises. He and I together will overcome.
This is my reason for patient endurance and faithfulness.
November 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm
You did NOT have to go and mention the flying monkeys!
One thing that I notice is the beast will only get to exercise his authority for 42 monhts. He will not get to run rampant forever. Another thing I see is that the book of life belongs to the Lamb that was slain. He is in charge of life, death, water, beasts, dragons etc.
Yet even so, the saints will be attacked. Thus the patient endurance and faithfulness.
I need to have faith in the Lamb, when the “beasts” of my life attack. They cannot win, because I belong to the Lamb. They are limited because He has won this fight already. May my faith increase.
November 11, 2008 at 7:22 pm
When I was a child I can remember Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (I think thats the name) being on tv. I can still see the floating vampire hovering around some unfortunate fool’s window knocking. Every single time the stupid person would open the window and let that freaky vampire in. I was horrified! That image haunted me for years. Now not much scares me. I am not afraid of living alone, or the dark, or if I have locked all the doors in my house.
I think it is so easy to let the worries and fears of this world rob us of our confidence in God. The things that I worry about and fear now, are more of my own making. No worry I have will ever change the truth…that Jesus conquered Satan when he died and rose from the dead. Satan’s head was crushed, and Jesus was victorious.
I guess my job is to keep all of these things in perspective. If I keep reminding myself that the battle is already won, maybe I’ll actually catch on to it one day. But even if I don’t, it still doesn’t change the outcome. It’s a done deal!