08
Remain Faithful
Richard WaialealeRevelation 13:18 (NLT)
18 Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
Revelation 13 is a chapter about counterfeit gods and counterfeit faith and counterfeit worship. Revelation 13 is the book about worshipping Satan.
There probably have been hundreds and hundreds of explanations about the meaning of the number 666 and it is obvious that if the number refers to an individual it is not clear to whom it refers.
Reading Revelation 12 and 13, there’s a lot of evil. As the scripture says, “Wisdom is needed here,” because even though there’s a lot of evil, there’s also incredible hope. Satan is allowed to throw his worst at the world, and it’s not enough. It’s not enough to defeat those who believe in Christ. The dragon is defeated by Michael the archangel. It’s not enough. He doesn’t have the power to have victory in heaven or eventually on earth. The sea beast is resisted through our endurance and faithfulness as believers. He doesn’t have the power to defeat us and defeat our faith. And the beast of the land, we can’t figure it out. But it’s not so confusing that we can’t figure out that that's false and this is real.
What a great story! That although things get difficult they never get so difficult that we cannot have victory. That although things get dark they never get so dark that we can’t see the light. And although life – even life right now, even life before this happens gets very hard sometimes it never gets so hard that you and I cannot see the reality of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. That is good news! That’s God’s good news. The bottom line is, “Keep Your Eyes On Jesus.”
Father this really gets hard and confusing, but I know somehow, someway - Jesus is victorious. I must keep my heart and mind of Christ. I must not get so involved in numbers, pre-tribulation, post-tribulation that I lose sight of what’s most important. Keep my eye’s on Jesus. Amen.
