Adventurous Living - The Meadow Springs Community Church Podcast

We are coming to the end of "The Great Conflict" section of Revelation in chapters 12-14. Chapter 14 offers a panoramic preview of the ultimate redemption and final judgement. Still heavy with fantastical imagery, all of it again serves to comfort faithful believers and warn the ungodly.

At the risk of sounding too simplistic, things are not going well. Or so it would appear... John concludes this section by calling for the patience and faith of the saints, echoing his previous words to the seven churches about their own obedience and faithfulness. Here, he warns that those destined for captivity or death will experience it, but the ultimate victory of believers lies in their steadfast endurance rather than earthly resistance.

The psalms are a collection of songs, poems and prayers that serve to direct God's people to Him in times of grief, joy, praise and lament. They serve as a tool box of sorts when we need to bring all the things to God... whatever all the things look like.But as for me, how good it is to be near to God!" vs. 28a

Power, position, status... this terrible beast is wreaking as much havoc as possible, but he’s on the clock and deception and lies are all he's got. Many will, in fact, be deceived. Given this ultimate evil and it's deadly outcome, how do believers discern where and how evil is present? In our lives? In the culture?

The book of Revelation, up to this point, has unveiled a cosmic war between good and evil that serves as the backstory of human history. Chapter 12 steps away from the war and toward the warriors. Who are these spiritual entities driving the conflict? They might begin to sound a bit familiar...

It's here... the seventh trumpet. "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever." Other than happily humming the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah, how does this make you feel? Relief? Finally... from the ancient promise of redemption and the ongoing battle between good and evil to the victory on the cross, resurrection and eternal life. A chorus of hallelujahs, indeed!

Cue the dramatic pause... It's the interlude between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets. This short but intense chapter shifts focus back to earth... it's a last chance. "There will be no more delay," God says, referring to His long-foretold plan for judgement upon the earth. In a world of constant upheaval, we often need to be reminded that God's prophetic message is still true and can be trusted. He hasn't forgotten us and we can be reassured that someday God will fully bring about both His goodness and His justice to our world.

One of the shortest chapters in the bible, Psalm 131 consists of just three verses. These verses, though, carry a profound message about contentment and quiet trust in God. Because we are human and God is, well, God... there are things about His reign over the earth that we will never understand. "I do not concern myself," David says, "with matters too great or awesome for me." Even as one of the great heroes of the faith whose relationship with God was true and deep, David knew he was never going to 'get' it all, and he trusted God enough to let that be ok.

The fifth and sixth trumpets sound and introduce severe demonic plagues upon the earth. The intensity of God's final judgement increases sharply from damage to the physical environment to direct, agonizing torment and mass casualties inflicted upon rebellious humanity. Even though they actually witness these terrible events, the folks that remain still refuse to repent. Go back and reread chapter 8, verse 13 - "Woe, woe, woe to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets."

Where is God in the cosmic chaos? Prayers seem to go unheard, and worse, unanswered. Justice rains down on the earth (hence the chaos) because he absolutely hears the prayers of His people and acts on their behalf. Often times, His answer is “wait”. Do not let your faith be wounded by prayers that are not answered in the “right way “or at the “right time”. God hears all of our prayers and He will answer them in accordance with his grace.

Revelation 7 is a 'time out' before the seventh seal and answers the question of 'who can stand' following the judgement of the whole world. God acknowledges those now in His presence, the saints who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb that are now serving and worshipping Him...dwelling with Him. Oh what a day that will be!

The first command in Psalm 37 is "do not worry...". What follows are forty verses that encourage believers not to fret over the temporary success of the wicked, but to trust in God's justice. It is a wisdom poem attributed to King David that offers counsel on how to respond when evil people seem to prosper while the righteous suffer.

Someone recently commented that Revelation 6 is a "pretty dreary chapter". And while it does depict the unfolding chaos of the end times—war, famine, death—it also affirms Christ's sovereignty over history and promises justice for martyrs. It shows that even amidst catastrophic judgment, God is in control. This is very good news for believers and a terrifying prospect for those that resist him.