“I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them.” (Revelation 15:2, NLT)
“Patricia St. John, who has been described as an ordinary woman with an extraordinary faith, poured out her life ministering to people in the neediest places on our planet. She was in Sudan when war refugees flooded that country. They had suffered terribly and had lost everything, yet those among them who were Christians still gave thanks to God.
Patricia said that she stood one night in a crowded little Sudanese church listening to those uprooted believers singing joyfully. Suddenly a life-changing insight burned its way into her mind. “We would have changed their circumstances,” she said, “but we would not have changed them.” She realized that God “does not always lift people out of the situation. He Himself comes into the situation. . . He does not pluck them out of the darkness. He becomes the light in the darkness.”” (Our Daily Bread, August 19, 1997)
What Patricia St. John learned in that moment many have struggled to comprehend. A person with true faith will rise above their circumstances. Faithful ones will not let suffering or humiliation or trials or tribulation stop them from loving God and sharing the truth of the gospel. Those who want a relationship with God will always overcome their obstacles. They may not be healed or cured or have an easy life, but God’s joy will rule in their heart. They will cherish a deep and enduring love for God.
The devil hates that people can love God so deeply. He rages against people, sending temptation after temptation desiring only to separate them from God. He causes suffering (like he did to the prophet Job), believing that people will turn away from God in the process. He manipulates the masses. He is the proponent of lies. He tries to hide God’s truth. He fights against your salvation. He torments the faithful. He causes tribulations to overshadow the life of the truthful.
The book of Revelation speaks of at least three of the devil’s followers as beasts (Revelation 11:7; 13:1-15). The beasts lash out against the faithful causing all manner of suffering. They are accompanied by false prophets, liars, manipulators, and those who seek to separate people from God. They fight for the dragon, the devil, on earth. They hate God and those who would side with God.
Despite the best evil of the beasts, God is not phased. God’s love and the gospel continue to win out. Though some follow the beasts, the truly faithful remain even closer to God. They struggle and fight against the beasts and the lies and false prophets accompanying them. Their faith is strong. Their love of God does not waver despite suffering and trials and even death.
In Revelation 15:2, the scripture for today, we see what happens to those who side with God and fight against the beasts. They are given a place of honor in heaven. Each of those who fight the beast are given a harp by God. They play heavenly music that brings peace to heaven but surely causes great suffering to the ears of the devil. Revelation 15:2 teaches that their place of honor is because they “had been victorious over the beast”. In their struggles on earth, they fought the beast. In remaining true to God, they became victorious over the beast. In the end, God not only recognized their faithfulness unto death, but God also blessed their place in heaven for all eternity.
As I read about those victorious souls who overcame the beast of that age, I was inspired to speak to you today. You may think that the beasts will only exist in end times long distant. However, I believe that the devil sends beasts to torment the faithful and bring temptations to all souls throughout all human history. That means that right now you will be in a battle with a beast sent by the dragon, the devil. You are marked as a child of God. A spiritual target is on your back. Satan can see it. Satan’s beasts can see it. You are Satan’s enemy. God is your protector as long as you remain faithful. Satan will do everything in his power to destroy your faith or get you to believe his lies. You need to seek God’s truth and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. You need to use God’s protective armor (Ephesians 6:11) and expose the beasts’ lies.
I hope and pray that you are “victorious over the beast”. Be strong in the armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6). Be courageous in your fight (1 Corinthians 16:13). Be firm in your love of God and love of others. Someday, we will be in Heaven. The Lamb of God will be there. May it be forever known that you were also one who was victorious over the beasts of this age.
Patricia said that she stood one night in a crowded little Sudanese church listening to those uprooted believers singing joyfully. Suddenly a life-changing insight burned its way into her mind. “We would have changed their circumstances,” she said, “but we would not have changed them.” She realized that God “does not always lift people out of the situation. He Himself comes into the situation. . . He does not pluck them out of the darkness. He becomes the light in the darkness.”” (Our Daily Bread, August 19, 1997)
What Patricia St. John learned in that moment many have struggled to comprehend. A person with true faith will rise above their circumstances. Faithful ones will not let suffering or humiliation or trials or tribulation stop them from loving God and sharing the truth of the gospel. Those who want a relationship with God will always overcome their obstacles. They may not be healed or cured or have an easy life, but God’s joy will rule in their heart. They will cherish a deep and enduring love for God.
The devil hates that people can love God so deeply. He rages against people, sending temptation after temptation desiring only to separate them from God. He causes suffering (like he did to the prophet Job), believing that people will turn away from God in the process. He manipulates the masses. He is the proponent of lies. He tries to hide God’s truth. He fights against your salvation. He torments the faithful. He causes tribulations to overshadow the life of the truthful.
The book of Revelation speaks of at least three of the devil’s followers as beasts (Revelation 11:7; 13:1-15). The beasts lash out against the faithful causing all manner of suffering. They are accompanied by false prophets, liars, manipulators, and those who seek to separate people from God. They fight for the dragon, the devil, on earth. They hate God and those who would side with God.
Despite the best evil of the beasts, God is not phased. God’s love and the gospel continue to win out. Though some follow the beasts, the truly faithful remain even closer to God. They struggle and fight against the beasts and the lies and false prophets accompanying them. Their faith is strong. Their love of God does not waver despite suffering and trials and even death.
In Revelation 15:2, the scripture for today, we see what happens to those who side with God and fight against the beasts. They are given a place of honor in heaven. Each of those who fight the beast are given a harp by God. They play heavenly music that brings peace to heaven but surely causes great suffering to the ears of the devil. Revelation 15:2 teaches that their place of honor is because they “had been victorious over the beast”. In their struggles on earth, they fought the beast. In remaining true to God, they became victorious over the beast. In the end, God not only recognized their faithfulness unto death, but God also blessed their place in heaven for all eternity.
As I read about those victorious souls who overcame the beast of that age, I was inspired to speak to you today. You may think that the beasts will only exist in end times long distant. However, I believe that the devil sends beasts to torment the faithful and bring temptations to all souls throughout all human history. That means that right now you will be in a battle with a beast sent by the dragon, the devil. You are marked as a child of God. A spiritual target is on your back. Satan can see it. Satan’s beasts can see it. You are Satan’s enemy. God is your protector as long as you remain faithful. Satan will do everything in his power to destroy your faith or get you to believe his lies. You need to seek God’s truth and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. You need to use God’s protective armor (Ephesians 6:11) and expose the beasts’ lies.
I hope and pray that you are “victorious over the beast”. Be strong in the armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6). Be courageous in your fight (1 Corinthians 16:13). Be firm in your love of God and love of others. Someday, we will be in Heaven. The Lamb of God will be there. May it be forever known that you were also one who was victorious over the beasts of this age.