“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring — those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17, NIV)
The book of Revelation’s bold and graphic metaphors might discourage some of us from looking into it’s central message: The ultimate state of God’s creation.
The devil and his demons wage war against all that is of God. Scripture tells us that the devil’s goal is to kill, steal, and to destroy. He failed in his rebellion against God before the creation of the world. He failed again in his efforts to keep Jesus from His mission to be the Redeemer of God’s creation.
As we await the return and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (which is the the full title of the book we commonly know as “the book of Revelation”), the devil wages “war against the rest of her [the church’s] offspring”: Those who keep God’s commands and hold fast to their testimony about Jesus.
Each new day brings challenges to our commitment to obey God and to proclaim Jesus in deeds and in words. Do not fear. Do not fret. Stand firm for all that is true, and good, and worthy of the approval of our heavenly Father. – Luther
Daily Encouragement 