Enduring Faith Amidst Conflict: A Revelation Perspective

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And what we see in the ending is not only that God is the power, the power that conquers, all other powers but that God's vision for the world's the kingdom that God is bringing brought about is so much greater than anything that the rulers of the world can promise or offer God is bringing about this kingdom not just for some but for all a kingdom where the former things the pain the sorrow the want of this world is no more where the doubts and the wondering who is in charge if God is there is gone because God is present in their midst this is the kingdom of God and all other kingdoms all other visions of the world's pale in comparison. [00:17:54] (55 seconds) Edit Clip


And we, as those who trust and place our faith in the Lamb who is bringing that world to be, who proclaimed in his ministry on earth, the kingdom of God is near, we are encouraged to endure, to hold fast to that vision of the world, to not settle for anything less, some shallow comparison that can be offered by the powers of the world, to trust that God will do what God promised God will do, that God will bring about the world that God promised is coming. [00:19:50] (46 seconds) Edit Clip


And so John writes this as a call for the churches to endure, even if it gets difficult, even when it would be easier to compromise with the world around them. John calls them to endure in keeping the commandments of God and holding to the faith in Jesus, to living in the way of Christ, not compromising with the ways of the world. [00:16:52] (29 seconds) Edit Clip


And again, it's a warning that we're warned to pay attention and to beware that there are forces in the world that oppose God, forces that will ask for our allegiance and our loyalty, and will ask us to live and follow a way that is antithetical to the way of Jesus, that does not align with the way of Christ. [00:13:44] (30 seconds) Edit Clip


That's the point, not to identify the singular beast or false prophets or harlot or dragon, but to recognize that these are forces in the world. And they have been back in Rome, and they continue to be today. [00:13:28] (16 seconds) Edit Clip


And the problem of viewing it as a prediction and looking out in the future is if we are looking for the beast that is to come, like there's this one singular one that we should be on alert for, if we're looking off into the future like that, we're likely going to miss the beasts all around us. [00:12:22] (21 seconds) Edit Clip


There are forces out there, dragons. and beasts and harlots and prophets that oppose the way of christ that oppose the truth of christ that oppose the life of christ then and now and the point of the book of revelation is to warn us to warn us to not give in to those powers and forces around us. [00:14:16] (24 seconds) Edit Clip


God is on the throne that's been clear from the beginning of the book of revelation god is the one god and the lamb jesus are the ones on the throne they are the one deserving of worship and glory that's been right there from the beginning. [00:15:09] (16 seconds) Edit Clip


So John brings us after all of the conflict and the warning to this beautiful inspiring image of what not only could be but what will be if there is a certain stick that comes from the conflict and the warnings here is the carrot this beautiful image of how God wants the world to be, that we even in the meantime are encouraged to live into, to hold fast to, to not settle for less. [00:18:49] (35 seconds) Edit Clip


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