As many of you know, we have quite the Bible study going on the Book of Revelation. We'll finish in August after almost a year (promise!). A member recently gave me a little book to read titled, “Jesus Wins!  A Study of Revelation” (by Lutheran pastor Mike Novotny). It was good, and short. It only took an hour or so for me to read. On Sundays, we go in-depth, touching on many things in God's Word.  But this little book gives you a “take home” summary: “It's bad. It's gets worse. Jesus wins!” That also could be a summary of the Bible!

            A good Creation, however, begins the story of the Bible! Then it gets bad, then worse, and finally, Jesus wins! Finally, at the End (when Jesus returns): Therefore (because Jesus—God-in-the-flesh was born and suffered in our place, died and rose)[the Father] hasexalted him and bestowed on himthe name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesusknee should bow,heaven and on earth and under the earth, andtongue confess that Jesus Christ is, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

            An in-depth study of Revelation can help us understand many things in the Bible that come before this last book. (We could also say that the more you know what comes before Revelation, the easier it is to understand it.) And, in-depth study of Revelation can also help us understand our lives today, and what happens in the world throughout time until the End.

            So for instance, Revelation can help us read and understand the Psalms as prayers of the church—OT and NT church—which is always centered in Jesus Christ. We learned explicitly from Revelation that satan and the two beasts he impels (a political and religious beast) are waging war against Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God—the Savior of the World—down here on earth (Revelation 17:14). They hate God and His Lamb...AND everyone who belongs to God/Jesus—that is, the baptized and believing saints on earth!

            It is key to understand that you, my Dear Christian Friends, are the enemies of satan and the beasts. That means, they are your enemies too! (St. James says you can't be friends with the “world” – which I've said in the Bible class stands for the two beasts of Revelation—and remain a friend of God. Cf. James 4:4)

            The beasts and satan are not the enemies that Jesus says we are to pray for and love (cf. Matthew 5:43-48). We love and pray for our human enemies, caught up in the deception of satan and the beasts. We pray they “come out”from that enemy camp! (cf. Revelation 18:4) And they only can do that when they are “defeated,” so to speak, by the 

Word of God: His Law that convicts them of their sin and impending eternal death; and His Gospel—the free gift of forgiveness and life through and in Jesus.

            We Christians do not fight these enemies with weapons of the world, but only the Word of God. (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 and especially Ephesians 6:10-15) And we do not take vengeance against the hardened enemies. Vengeance belongs to the Lord God, not us. (cf. Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19-21) Word and prayer and love belong to us.

            The saints are hated with a passion that will never end until the beasts and satan are permanently and eternally defeated and cast into hell/the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). Peace on earth will not happen until Jesus Christ returns and eradicates all that is evil and against God the Father and the Lamb. Then, the new earth and new heaven will be inaugurated—good once again, this time forever! We will rejoice in that day, and forever!

            As but one example of this in the Psalms, I would encourage you to read Psalm 9. It is a psalm of David. Yet, it doesn't only apply to David and his circumstances about 1000 years before Jesus was born. Remember, the main enemy of satan and the beasts is Jesus—the Lamb. And they attack His saints on earth. David was so attacked. We are attacked. In the Psalm, note the phrase “my enemies” and “the enemy” that is used. “It's bad.” That word enemy is used a lot in the book of Psalms!

            At times it looks like we will be overthrown by satan and the beasts. “It gets worse.” Verse 13 says: Have mercy on me, OLord. See my afflictions that are caused by those who hate me, and raise me up from the gates of death.” Jesus was crucified, dead and buried. But...you know what happened. “Jesus wins!” He rose! His enemies were defeated! And so, our enemies too were defeated! It's not by David's or our powers that the enemies are defeated. It's not our vengeance, but God's on our behalf.

            The LORD God is the One who does all the work on behalf of David, and us, all because Jesus entrusted Himself into the hands of His Father, our Father, who judges justly, in righteousness. The end of the enemies of God and the Lamb, of David and of we who believe, is permanent! As for the enemy, their destruction is complete and final (verse 6). Their names blotted out forever (verse 5), but those who trust in the LORD (verse 11) have their names written in the Lamb's book of Life (cf. Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15, and 21:27).

            There is also praise in this psalm at the overthrow and judgment of the enemies (vss 1-2, 11). Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints andapostles and prophets, forhas given judgment for you against her!” (Revelation 18:20) Yes, indeed! For God’s people there will be no sorrow at the demise of the old sinful world—under the authority of satan and the beasts. The only sorrowing will be done by those who love the sinful world, and who loved the lies of satan.

            But, for we who love the LORD, we who know and trust in His Name (that is above all names!), who have never been forgotten by Him, will thank and praise Him eternally.

It’s bad. It gets worse. Jesus wins! We thank Jesus for His Spirit that spoke through David in this Psalm, that we too pray now.  Come to worship, out of the world, and grow in your faith and love for God and His Saints.

Blessings in the assembly of God’s Saints—the church!     Pastor Engler