“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;’”
– Revelation 18:21

God’s judgment is coming and when it does, it will be sudden and decisive. His judgment will be just, righteous, and terrible to see. It will bring Him praise and glory, even as it brings sorrow to everyone connected to those experiencing it. But what is the Revelation talking about? What is Babylon? What will God one day judge and destroy?

The physical city of Babylon hadn’t existed for centuries before the Revelation was given. In Revelation, Babylon is a symbol. A symbol of sinful, corrupt, greedy, oppressive, exploitative powers and systems that oppose and persecute the followers of Jesus. It represents the cities, empires, and powers throughout the ages and around the world that happily trade in people, and their suffering, rather than pursuing holiness. That serve money rather than God. That delight in the suffering of God’s people that fuels their wealth and power. Babylon is every corrupt city and center of influence, wealth, and power that stands opposed to Christ in its core.

Make no mistake, Babylon will fall. God is patient, wanting to give all the ethnic peoples of the world the opportunity to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But eventually this day will come. When it does, it will be shocking. The systems and empires of the world will fall. Those used to be on top of the world will suddenly find themselves overthrown by the Lord Himself. When that day comes, both heaven and earth will rejoice. As terrible as it will be to witness, God’s people will understand that God’s perfect, holy justice will have been done. So, hold firm to the righteousness of Christ. Resist the temptation of joining in with your own local Babylon. #FollowJesus

“I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
– Isaiah 45:5-6

Isaiah 45 is a wonderful reminder that even when world events look dramatic, chaotic, or frightening, God is in control. Through Isaiah, God declared His intention to raise up a pagan king, Cyrus of Persia, to sweep across the ancient world, toppling established empires. Why? To free the faithful remnant of Israel from captivity in Babylon. Why? To rebuild Jerusalem and restore worship in a rebuilt Temple. Why? So that people from every nation, tribe, and ethnic group on Earth will know and someday worship the One True God!

God is sovereign over the empires and nations of the world. He causes them to rise and fall to suit His purpose of redemption and glorification. To accomplish His missionary will, the Great Commission. Even the most evil of nations can reveal God’s glory through their unexpected fall or by the ways they unintentionally serve His purposes. Cyrus of Persia was no gentle lover of peace but he was still God’s instrument. Remember this when bombs are falling and missiles are flying.

Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done. Pray for Him to be glorified in times of fear, uncertainty, and violence. Trust in the Lord rather than the opinions of human experts. Stay focused on the work God has prepared and appointed for you to do. Make disciples. #FollowJesus

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” – Revelation 14:12

Christians often have mixed feelings about the book of Revelation. There’s so much dramatic, vivid, and strange imagery that can be hard to understand. Many Christians say that Revelation frightens them. Perhaps it frightens you. That is certainly not God’s intent in giving it to us. This verse is arguably the key point of the entire book! The Revelation was given so that we would understand the deeper spiritual realities behind the often terrifying and discouraging headlines we read about the world. That we would understand that no matter what we see, the unseen reality is that God is on His throne, the Lamb is the Lord of the universe, and the devil is a loser who will soon suffer an eternity in the lake of fire. So will those who persecute Christians for their faith!

The Book of Revelation isn’t a detailed chronology of future history. It’s a call for followers of Jesus to faithfully endure the hardships of life on earth, confident in their salvation in Christ. Confident in God’s sovereign power, justice, and ultimate victory. Confident that their sufferings for the Lord will end and be rewarded. Confident that no matter how bad things get on earth, it will all get infinitely better in the presence of the Lord. Confident that all the terrible things begun in Genesis 3 with mankind’s fall into sin will be reversed with the renewal of Creation in Revelation 21.

Whether you understand a lot or a little from Revelation, understand this point! Hold firmly to your faith in Jesus. Obey the commands of Scripture. Proclaim the goodness of God in Christ with urgency. Love God and your neighbors with wholehearted zeal, regardless of the cost. Endure any and all opposition and persecution for your faith with a joyful heart. You are loved by the Lord and will spend eternity with Him. #FollowJesus

“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord,
‘and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior.’”
– Isaiah 43:10-11

This is the testimony of Scripture, from beginning to end. There aren’t many gods. There is only one True and Living God. There aren’t many ways to reach Him. There is only one Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved through knowing and believing the good news of Jesus Christ. Scripture is focused on presenting and demonstrating the truth of this from beginning to end. It is freely given to all who would receive it.

The Bible describes how God has been graciously choosing witnesses and servants for thousands of years. Witnesses who get to taste and see that the Lord is good. To see the miracles, hear the words, and bear witness to Jesus, the Lamb Who was slain for the sins of the world. God wants you to be one of them. To know and believe that He is the One. If you believe, then He has equipped and empowered you to bear witness to these truths to those whom you know or meet on the journey of life.

If you know and believe in Jesus, are you serving and bearing witness? Are you inviting people to explore the testimony of history and Scripture, that Jesus is Lord of all? Are you offering the words of life and hope to those who desperately need them? There is no other god. There is no other way. God wants everyone everywhere to know this and you are part of His plan for telling them. Know it. Believe it. Understand it. Do it! #FollowJesus

“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” – Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12 celebrates the coming of Jesus and the defeat of Satan. It commemorates the casting out of the devil from God’s presence. He can no longer make accusations about God’s people before the throne of God. Think carefully about the implications of this… The devil can never speak lies and accusations against you to God! However, he can certainly make trouble on earth, whispering lies and accusations against you to yourself. That’s exactly what he does. He lies to the followers of Jesus, trying to get us to believe things about ourselves that aren’t true. Trying to stir up feelings of guilt and shame in our minds that would cause us to draw away from the Lord.

Don’t believe those lies about yourself! Remember what this verse says defeated the devil… The blood of the Lamb and the testimony of your life as a follower of Jesus. Satan’s defeat was sealed at the cross. When Jesus, the eternal Son of God, gave Himself over to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, Satan was defeated. Why? Because now God’s people are forgiven, made holy, adopted into God’s family, and united with Christ living in them. The death and resurrection of Jesus guaranteed the devil’s defeat. Though he can certainly do scary things, he has no power compared to the infinite power of Jesus, the Lamb of God. He has been conquered by the blood of the Lamb.

The devil is further humiliated by the testimony of those who devote themselves to Jesus. Those who live lives of faithful obedience. Those who choose the Lord over comfort, convenience, or safety. The devil is a loser. He certainly can be effective in whispering lies to people, but God doesn’t listen to him at all and neither should you. The devil is a loser. He was crushed by Jesus at the cross. The devil is a loser. He can tempt and he can frighten, but he can’t overcome or erase the testimony of those who hold firmly to Lord Jesus. Be wary of the devil’s lies and tricks, but trust the infinitely greater power of Christ Who lives in you! #FollowJesus