There are stark contrasts in these three chapters. A beast rises out of the sea, filled with the power of the dragon, and apparently having been hit with a death-blow from which it had nevertheless recovered (Revelation 13:1-3). This astonished everyone in the world, leading people to worship the dragon and the beast: “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (13:4). This beast “was allowed to make war on the saints and conquer them,” and gained authority over “every tribe and people and language and nation” (13:7) – the same range from which Jesus had redeemed everyone (5:9).

So the whole earth worshiped the beast (13:8), and yet an angel flew in mid-heaven, proclaiming the eternal gospel “to those who live on earth – to every nation and tribe and language and people” (14:6). Even when people have received the mark of the beast (13:16, 14:9), and must therefore “drink the wine of God’s wrath” and suffer torment without rest (14:10-11), they are still called by God’s messenger to heed the gospel.

And this is a “call for the endurance of the saints” (13:10, 14:12). It will not be automatic or guaranteed that the saints will remain faithful, in the midst of the trials they face; they will need to endure the persecution and stay strong. Nor will it be automatic or guaranteed that the reprobate will remain unredeemed; the gospel will be proclaimed to them, and they may yet respond by fearing God and worshiping him as creator of all things (14:7)

In the midst of these vivid contrasts between the redeemed and the lost, John reports that he heard a voice from heaven telling him to write this: “Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.” And then he heard this response: “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them” (14:13). In the severe persecution of John’s era – and perhaps in our own time as well – to die in the Lord is a blessed thing: leading to rest from earthly struggle, and the ongoing testimony of the faithful deeds done in obedience to God’s call.

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We really want to be able to sort it all out, Lord, to show that we are the faithful ones whom you have saved, while those others are the damned who will receive the eternal punishment that they deserve. But that’s not really what your word teaches, is it, as it shows us multitudes of the redeemed who nevertheless have to endure, and multitudes of the lost who might yet heed the gospel’s call. Teach us humility, and repentance, and endurance.

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