The Good Fight!

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

Revelation 13:5-7

You may lose a battle, but still win the war! That is a fundamental principle of warfare. Losing a battle does not mean that you will be defeated in the conflict. When you go to war there will be casualties. There is a nasty reality of warfare that causes many veterans to never talk about it after they return from service.

In the narrative of Revelation 13 we are told that there will be a time when “the beast” will make war against the saints and conquer them! That doesn’t sound like a bunch of victorious Christians. It’s not just the ones who are weak and faithless that will be conquered. It simply says the beast will conquer the saints! That is pretty discouraging or is it?

The time line for this power is 42 months. That is only three and a half years.

Have you ever or do you right now feel defeated as a Christian? Do you look around and it appears that righteousness is losing on all fronts?

Remember this: Jesus is the Victor and He will win the war with all who oppose Him. There is no chance that walking with Jesus and following Him will end in defeat!

Will there be times of discouragement and setbacks in your walk with Him? Of course! This is a war not a walk in the park. No one can know for certain where they are on the timeline of human history until the trumpet sounds and puts it all into perspective. Praise Him when the battle is being won by righteousness, and praise Him when you are being conquered by the beast! In this war the Enemy can kill you but he can’t harm you. Heaven waits for everyone who has been born again and washed in the Blood of the Lamb!

Fight the good fight!