December 19, 2024 - Revelation 13

In chapter 13, John tells of the beast who arises from the sea, a terrifying description:  “I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (13:1).  The description does not get any more inviting:  “And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth” (13:2).  And so the vision proceeds, going from one frightful scene to another.  The beast speaks blasphemous words and demands that all fall before it and worship.  It was allowed to make “war on the saints and to conquer them” (13:7).  Terrible times!  Some taken captive.  Some slain with the sword.  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (13:10), a call that is not only for the time described in the chapter but for the saints of every age.  Satan is always going about to do harm and to attack.  Here’s the thing, though:  The martyrdom of believers might seem to be a defeat, but their faithfulness conquers the dragon and the beast.  Those whom the enemy accuses “have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (12:11).  In another place, John reports, “I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire -- and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands” (15:2).  Martin Luther got it right, didn’t he?

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

does seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.

And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God has willed

his truth to triumph through us.