He will make war with the saints

Revelation 13:7-10: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

This world is in rebellion to God and His laws. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) This world has a god, which is satan. The lust, pleasure, excess, debauchery, and wickedness that have saturated this world are from the evil one. That wickedness has been embraced by this world. The “Just do it” and “What happens in Vegas” attitudes that we often hear are the direct result of an open rebellion to God and His word. Young people doing and being subjected to the most disturbing things that can be imagined, because the world has said it is ok. Behavior that was once outlawed and deemed “abnormal” is championed today. Our world is not getting more “civilized” or “Cultured”, it is getting more sinful and disturbing.

As Christ-followers, we live in this world; however, we are not to live like this world. Our lives are to be lived in contrast to what this world says is ok. By doing this and living our lives trying to model Christ we will upset this world. There is a reason why Christians are persecuted for their faith. The world hates our message and us, because we do not look like the rest of the world, we do not worship the god of this world, and the pleasures that come with bowing down to him.

This scripture says that the all who dwell on the earth, who are not Christians worship satan, the god of this world. Those whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life will be on satan’s side. In this scripture the devil is granted to make war and overcome the saints. This will be a time of great persecution because Christ-followers will refuse to bow down and worship the beast. These martyrs will be doing the same things that Christians have been doing for thousands of years, rebelling against the beast and his world. Being a Christian means that we are to follow God at all costs. Our world is a worshipping world. Every single person worships something. Some worship the one true God. However, some worship other things, such as their career, lust, pleasure, bank accounts, their bodies, and celebrities. Most do not bow down to a little stone god; however, they worship false things all the time. What or who are you worshipping today?

Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: Habak 1-3 New Testament Rev. 14