The ultimate winner, beyond any election
Daily Scripture
Revelation 11:15-17, 17:5-9, 14; 18:2
Revelation 11
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ,
and he will rule forever and always.”
16 Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17 They said,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and was,
for you have taken your great power and enforced your rule.
Revelation 17
5 A name—a mystery—was written on her forehead: “Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and the vile things of the earth.” 6 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and the blood of Jesus’ witnesses. I was completely stunned when I saw her.
7 Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the seven-headed, ten-horned beast that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on earth, whose names haven’t been written in the scroll of life from the time the earth was made, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and will again be present. 9 This calls for an understanding mind. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, but the Lamb will emerge victorious, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
Revelation 18
2 He called out with a loud voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a home for demons and a lair for every unclean spirit. She is a lair for every unclean bird, and a lair for every unclean and disgusting beast.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Think today’s political climate is scary? Imagine living in the first-century Roman Empire, a reign of terror that called its emperor divine. Yet John boldly said God, not Caesar, was “Lord of Lords and King of kings.” “It is easy for modern readers to miss John’s audacity: banished… he recounts a funeral dirge over the most powerful empire the Mediterranean world had ever known. Rome was close to the height of its power; the church was growing but may have constituted less than 0.1% of the empire’s population.” *
- The apostle Paul said Christians can live differently from those “who don’t have any hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The Bible’s last book radiated hope. Rome scorned Christians, often killed them, and exiled Revelation’s visionary writer. Yet John confidently wrote about the Lamb’s final victory. John’s vision took the promise of eternal life from “just words” into potent, mind-stretching images. How can his audacious confidence give you courage no matter what happens on earth?
- “The basis for the Lamb’s victory in 17:14 is that ‘he is Lord of lords and King of kings’…. the Babylonian king [in Daniel 4] was addressed by this title, so the king of latter-day Babylon (Rome) in John’s day was similarly addressed…. The Lamb exposes as false the divine claims of the emperor and others like him.” ** Do you trust that Jesus is “king of kings” over any human ruler? Can you trust him as “our place of safety” (Psalm 46:11)?
Prayer
Jesus, under the nose of Roman emperors who claimed to be divine, John and the first Christians said you are truly Lord. I join in their allegiance to you and in their life-changing hope. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim serves as a pastor of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
I remember reading Revelation for the first time in middle school and wondering why these passages were in the Bible. They were frightening. My fear was furthered by reading The Left Behind Series which was popular at the time. I had nightmares because I couldn’t stop thinking of all the negative, fearful, and anxiety-provoking parts of these books. Reading passages like the ones from today can be confusing and even scary, especially when we focus on the images of beasts, demons, and destruction.
Yet, Revelation also reminds us that God’s is powerful, God works toward our restoration, Jesus Christ is for us, and “the worst thing is never the last thing.” We often repeat this quote from Frederick Buechner’s writings because we believe “the worst thing”–whether it is suffering, illness, broken relationships, or even anxiety and fear around the election–is truly never the last thing because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I overcame the nightmares because of my family and friends who reminded me that I don’t have to be afraid because of God’s love. Focusing on God’s empowering, all-inclusive, faithful, transformative, and grace-filled love made the nightmares stop. Now, when fear and anxiety come my way (because they do), I turn my eyes to Jesus. It isn’t always easy, and a lot of times I need help from others.
That is why I love our “do unto others” campaign! When you do unto others as you would have them do unto you, we help push back the darkness one person at a time. We remind one another that the “worst thing is never the last thing.” And we spread the hope of a love so powerful that it drives out fear. May it be so for all of us this week and always.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 11188). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
** G. K Beale and D. K. Carson, ed. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007, p. 1139.
