“If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.” Revelation 13:10
John had just revealed some disturbing information. At some point there will be a beast that will rise up in power and conquer the entire world. This is bad in itself, but he will also be given power to conquer God’s people.
As this beast gains this power and wages this war, everyone who does not believe in Jesus will worship him. In a simple way of putting it: it will be the entire world against a few believers.
Now John tells you that any person destined for captivity or death by the sword will go into captivity or die by the sword. No person really knows who is the one to go into captivity or to die by the sword. Not knowing this information each believer must now have patient endurance and faithfulness to God.
Patient endurance is quietly waiting on the Lord. Times will be hard. The danger will be extremely high. Evil will be everywhere at a level never before seen. Yet, the believer must not complain and endure it all.
Along with the patient endurance, the believer must be faithful to God. He must continue to worship God and God alone. He must continue to be His witness and do everything God directs him to do. This will put him at odds with the world, making him a target.
As a believer is put into captivity, he must remember that it was God who allowed it. If a believer is killed, again, he must remember that God allowed it. God is in control. Other believers must also watch and trust God through it all.
Although today, in America, the risk of going to jail or being killed for your belief in God is very slim, other dangers are still around. Being an open witness for God can bring opposition from the world. You may not get that job promotion; you may lose your job; you may be ridiculed; you may be falsely lied about; or may even be physically harmed some.
Today you must still have patient endurance and faithfulness. Do not allow the struggles of the day discourage you or change you. The devil and the world will not like you and will try to stop you from being His witness. Hang in there and be true to God. Doing this today will also strengthen you for tomorrow when things will get worse. Remember: God is in control.
I pray today that God will strengthen you for the battles coming in your life; that you will be patient; that you will endure the hardships; that you will be faithful to God; that God will make Himself more real to you; and that you will stay in the center of God’s will.
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