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The beast was allowed to brag and claim to be God, and for 42 months it was allowed to rule. The beast cursed God, and it cursed the name of God. It even cursed the place where God lives, as well as everyone who lives in heaven with God. It was allowed to fight against God's people and defeat them. It was also given authority over the people of every tribe, nation, language, and race. The beast was worshiped by everyone whose name wasn't written before the time of creation in the book of the Lamb who was killed.
If you have ears,
then listen!
If you are doomed
to be captured,
you will be captured.
If you are doomed
to be killed by a sword,
you will be killed
by a sword.
This means God's people must learn to endure and be faithful!
Revelation 13:5-10
This is one of those "I think I will skip on to something more positive" passages. The scene described in the Book of Revelation includes a time when the Beast will defeat God's people! I thought in the End "We Win?" Well yes that is true, but winning the war does not mean that you win every battle. There will be a time when this "beast" will kill some of God's people and that time will be one during which we will have to learn to endure and be faithful. And as I'm sure you know there are Christians today dying for their faith in many parts of the world!
God does have a wonderful plan for your life, but that plan may include martyrdom. The list of memorable saints includes many that met the end of their lives by sword. I have thought for years that Christian parents must not only teach their children how to live a Christian life, but how to die a martyr's death! Unless you are ready and willing to die for Jesus it is really not possible to live totally for Him. Living for Jesus means that you are ready because of the Spirit's leading to walk into the arms of death itself if that is where He calls you to go!
I have a grandson who, when he is told to do something, wants to think about it for a while before responding. That kind of "tentative obedience" will never work if you are about to be martyred. When the Spirit says walk, you go that way without hesitation.
"Lord, I confess to You that I want to obey You unless it is dangerous or it hurts too much to walk the way You want me to go. Father I repent today of living with the purpose of holding on to this life no matter what. Help me Lord to be ready to die for You today, so I can truly live for You today as well. In Jesus Name, Amen!"
(Originally published March 1, 2013)
If you have ears,
then listen!
If you are doomed
to be captured,
you will be captured.
If you are doomed
to be killed by a sword,
you will be killed
by a sword.
This means God's people must learn to endure and be faithful!
Revelation 13:5-10
This is one of those "I think I will skip on to something more positive" passages. The scene described in the Book of Revelation includes a time when the Beast will defeat God's people! I thought in the End "We Win?" Well yes that is true, but winning the war does not mean that you win every battle. There will be a time when this "beast" will kill some of God's people and that time will be one during which we will have to learn to endure and be faithful. And as I'm sure you know there are Christians today dying for their faith in many parts of the world!
God does have a wonderful plan for your life, but that plan may include martyrdom. The list of memorable saints includes many that met the end of their lives by sword. I have thought for years that Christian parents must not only teach their children how to live a Christian life, but how to die a martyr's death! Unless you are ready and willing to die for Jesus it is really not possible to live totally for Him. Living for Jesus means that you are ready because of the Spirit's leading to walk into the arms of death itself if that is where He calls you to go!
I have a grandson who, when he is told to do something, wants to think about it for a while before responding. That kind of "tentative obedience" will never work if you are about to be martyred. When the Spirit says walk, you go that way without hesitation.
"Lord, I confess to You that I want to obey You unless it is dangerous or it hurts too much to walk the way You want me to go. Father I repent today of living with the purpose of holding on to this life no matter what. Help me Lord to be ready to die for You today, so I can truly live for You today as well. In Jesus Name, Amen!"
(Originally published March 1, 2013)
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