Revelation 13
November 9, 2022
“The beast was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world…This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.” (v7-8, 10b)
Although God’s people are ultimately victorious against Satan, we are warned that there will be times when the enemy will “conquer the saints” (v7). But even death is nothing to fear, because dying (if we know Christ) is simply the doorway to Paradise. That’s why more important than protecting ourselves from death is “patient endurance and faithfulness” (v10), while we live in this spiritual battleground, where there is a real enemy seeking to destroy us.
Father, I praise You that You are sovereign over the affairs of this world, including Satan and his attempts to get back at You by hurting us. Open my eyes to see the spiritual battle we’re in. Help me to remember that although Satan is wreaking havoc on us, You have him on a leash. That way, I won’t get discouraged when I see and feel his sabotage. Help me stay focused on how the victory is ultimately Yours, so that I “patiently endure” (v10), keeping my eyes fixed on You, and faithfully waiting for Your coming Kingdom.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
