Revelation 13:5-8, 10 NIV “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world……This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.” https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.13.10.NIV
Before the return of Jesus to rule the world, the Church will be defeated for a time by satan and his minions. The defeat of the Church will be like the defeat of Jesus on the cross. What appears to be the final loss is God’s means for ultimate victory. The Church today that preaches power and prosperity will be sorely disappointed when God’s will for His people to suffer violently for His Name’s sake is fully implemented among His people. God allows evil short-term wins to demonstrate His justice, prove His power, and increase the reward of His faithful people. The greatest of all in the kingdom of God is the least of all in the world’s ways and opinions. The greatest reward of all is given to those who suffer death for standing with Jesus, just as Jesus suffered death for doing the will of God. We cannot fear man and fear God. There is no value in trying to please men except for serving and loving them to open their eyes to the love of God and to open their ears to hear His love for them. We have too long hidden our affection for God, allowing society to dictate truth and morality, creating a culture of crisis, conflict, and death. The faithful Church lives for Jesus and speaks of Jesus always so that all people can come to know Jesus and be reconciled to Him. The kingdom of God is for all those, but only those who are loyal to Jesus all their days, from reconciliation to final restoration. When the earth’s final days come, it will be hard for the Church, but it will be harder for those who deny Jesus their Lord, for they will suffer eternal condemnation.
