The Beast is Captured

Revelation 19 ends with a messy battlefield.

The Beast finally loses his battle against the Lord.

There’s been speculation through the ages who this beast might be. The Reformers thought it was the Roman Catholic church. In modern times, we might include evolutionists, abortionists, liberals, fundamentalists, Pharisees, and hipsters.

The list could include anyone whose views differ from yours.

What’s important here are two things.

First, we don’t need to expend endless energy as Christians storing anger against our enemies. We won’t change them by venting. The problem is that we end up equating the people with their belief systems.

Jesus didn’t just die for belief systems. He died to save sinners, and all of us are sinners.

Let me make this distinction before we go further. It’s important as a Christian to stand for what is really true. The eternal verities of Scripture are worth standing for, and we certainly should. But we also have to remember that we’re not Home yet. Yes, we are getting better day-by-day. But the truth is that God is still at work in our hearts too.

The fact that God is working on us, though we’re messed up, should give us great hope that He can redeem the most hardened sinners no matter what belief system has them held captive.

The second thing to remember is to stand for truth, but do it with a loving attitude. This means you remember that you could easily struggle with truth too. There are sins that especially tempt you. You have secrets that if anyone found out, you’d rather die than face the humiliation.  That hardened Pharisee you’re dealing with at work is much the same as you are. He or she needs Jesus and wants to know what’s really true.

If you think you can’t do it, you can’t convince anyone, you’re right. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. Pray for His intervention and consciously submit to be used by Him when dealing with others.

The battlefield is littered with defeated enemies. Christ wins in the end. No matter the stripe the lie takes, Christ will win. The aftermath is a picture of God’s enemies eating the fruit of their rebellion. Rejecting such a great salvation, one that will redeem all that was lost and restore all that is broken in humanity is not only foolish, it’s deadly.

Now go love somebody.