1 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

2 who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

4 …Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

6 who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

— Revelation 1:1-2; 4b-6

And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.”

— Revelation 14:7a

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, peace and joy from Christ to you.

When we see, historically or at present time, God’s people are slandered or harmed, or their lives are destroyed, we tend to wonder where is God? We may wonder how long God will allow such tragedy and wickedness? What hope can God offer when Satan and those who do his evil work create chaos and turmoil? Is there comfort for God’s people? How will ordinary believers like us find the strength to endure persecution? In Revelation God always directs John’s eyes away from the worldwide delusion brought by God’s enemies and answers these questions decisively—God and Christ still rule and reign.

When persecution or suffering shakes our confidence in God’s power and love, and when we are tempted to compromise our devotion to Christ, let’s turn our eyes to look away unto the Lamb and to start worshiping Him. Let’s be assured of the truth that persecution of Christians will not continue indefinitely. God will not permit those who do Satan’s wicked will to have the final word. The Lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will come and vindicate His faithful ones. We, Jesus’s redeemed people, will live in His presence forever, but those who reject Him will receive God’s fearful justice. This is the Christian’s certainty, even when things get worse before they get better. Only those saved by Christ will escape God’s wrath.