We have seen so far how the beast, Satan, has tried to lure or destroy God’s people. These visions picture the persecutions that the early church was suffering. It may have seemed to the early Christians at times that they were losing and that the church would indeed be crushed. They needed hope, and hope is what Jesus gives them in these revelations. Yes, there will be great trouble for Christians in this world but there will be infinitely greater trouble for those who stand against them. And the church will be victorious. In vision after vision throughout Revelation we see the people of God portrayed in a great victory parade as we see here in chapter 15. It would have encouraged these Christians to persevere in their faith because it would have drawn their focus onto the prize. Their situation may have looked like defeat from an earthly point of view but, in the sight of heaven, what seemed like defeat, was victory. The death of Jesus also looked like defeat from an earthly point of view, but, in the sight of heaven, it was a great victory. The greatest victories in life are won through trials and hardships. It is often when we are at the point of apparent defeat that we are actually closest to winning the victory. So, if you face hardships of any kind, focus on what God is doing and persevere with him through it. There is something great to be gained through hardships for those who hold fast in faith.
Ask God to keep you secure and lead you through whatever you are facing.
Read Revelation 15.
