Revelation 11:8-19

From the perspective of earth, things look pretty bleak in Revelation chapter eleven. Judgments are being poured out on the earth, people are refusing God’s grace, the enemies of God are celebrating the death of the two prophets, and righteousness seems to be losing. But then comes the hopeful line, “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” When things look dark, look up. Christ is coming to reign. Behold, he comes quickly.

Revelation 12:1-6

The scene in heaven continues with two wonders: a woman and a dragon. The woman symbolizes Israel, bringing the Son of God into the world. And the dragon is the devil, the enemy of God who tries to destroy everything God has ordained. In the end, God lovingly protects his people by preparing a place for them in the wilderness similar to Elijah and David. We too can rest in the promise that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Psalm 42-43

In these two Psalms, we read admonitions to put our hope in God. The scene portrays an author who is parched for God’s presence, sorrowful unto tears in distress, swallowed up in grief, who feels forsaken by God and oppressed by his enemies, and he longs to put his hope in God. He cries out to God, reminds himself of God’s glory, and instructs himself to hope in God. One of the most beautiful aspects of the transparent struggle of this author is that the cycle happens three times; he oscillates between crying out, remembering, and admonishing himself repeatedly. But ultimately he lands on the fact that God is his God and he will yet praise Him. Let us do the same.