December 19, 2025 - Revelation 11-14

Lots more troubles here.  And twice the Lord’s people are told to persevere:  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (13:10) & “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (14:12).  And, of course, the saints are able persevere because “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (11:15).  Not only do the saints persevere; they also give thanks to the Lord God who defeats his enemies and saves his people:  “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.  The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth”  (11:17,18).  We often observe that we live in a fallen world, one that seems to fall more each and every day.  But we also often rehearse the thought, “We have hope and rejoice because we know the end of the story.”

Awake, my soul, and rise

    Amazed, and yonder see,

How hangs the mighty Saviour God,

    Upon a cursed tree!

How gloriously fulfilled

    Is that most ancient plan,

Contrived in the eternal Mind

    Before the world began!

Here free salvation reigns,

    And carries all before,

And this shall for the guilty race

    Be refuge evermore.   –William Williams (18^th century)