Revelation 20
Have you ever heard the line, "It's not what you know but it's who you know?" I heard of a lady who carried that truth to the bitter end. This lady wanted to marry four different men in her lifetime. She said each one would help her with the four things she needed most. First, she wanted to marry a banker, second, a movie star, next a pastor, and finally, a funeral director. When asked why, she answered, "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go."
Everyone has a view about the future and how to prepare for it. The Bible teaches that the only person you need to know to get ahead is King Jesus. And there is no getting ahead without him.
Over the past week we saw the final chapters of human history. The final days are incredibly dark and violent. This is what happens when a culture abandons God and loses its ethical moorings. During this period of time a lot of bad things are going to happen to God's people. It would be easy to lose hope and despair. But then comes chapter 20 and we see the King passing his judgment on the world.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Make no mistake about it. This portrait of Jesus the King changes everything. At Christmas we see Jesus as a helpless, vulnerable infant. Here we see him as the Lion, the invincible conqueror. Behold his blazing wrath over injustice, evil, violence, corrupt politicians and the predators in Hollywood. (sorry just couldn't resist taking a shot).
When we see Jesus as the one who will come in the role of our champion it gives us hope to persevere. Keep your eyes on Jesus and do not lose hope. Jesus is coming again. Count on it. Live in the light of it.
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