Revelations 12-14 talks about a lot of deep things. Rather than try to figure out what each image means, we could think about what we know for sure. Christians were certainly used to being persecuted. Regardless, it’s clear that being with Christ meant peace and joy, but it also meant that it wasn’t always going to be easy. Today, we can fall into the trap of dealing with the world around us and expecting God to take care of everything for us. For those of us who have grown up in America, we have spent a lot of time having support from the government (for the most part). Many people believe that might be changing and perhaps it is. However, we must be careful in believing that as governments change our walk with Christ changes. This is not to say we should not stand up for the Lord or our morals and principles. However, some people connect government with the Lord. We need to always be aware that governments, kings, etc. come and go. Some have walked with the Lord, and some have not. Some people in high positions (in the church and in other places) walk with the Lord and some pretend just to get the benefits and power. However, we should always focus on the Lord and not on the government. The truth is that the Lord is above governments and kings. He thrives when the leaders follow Him, and He thrives when they don’t. The early church was persecuted and that resulted in the spreading of the faith. We can grow fearful and worried because things change; we know that a government can certainly work against believers. We can also become prisoners of fear as a result. The Bible consistently shows us that trouble exists, but we follow One who is greater than the trouble. We should continually be on guard for the things that happen in our elections and government. We should also always remember that Christ came at a time when everyone wanted the government overthrown so they could worship properly, and they were sure He would do it. He had a greater kingdom in mind, though. So, if the events of our world wear on you, it’s good to fight for what we believe in. However, never let those events detract from your peace in Jesus!