Sometimes I think that we don't read the Book of Revelation often enough. Some people seem to fear reading it and yet it was written as a book of hope and consolation.
At the time it was written, the Christians were being persecuted by the Romans because they would not bow to the Emperor as a god. By claiming to be a god, he had earned the name of "beast" as well as the number "666" which was his designation for claiming to be God and falling short.
In this passage, those who had died under this persecution are seen in Heaven praising God with a version of the hymn of victory that Moses led after escaping Egypt and successfully crossing through the sea on dry ground while the Egyptian chariots and charioteers perished. These Christians who had died had passed through the Valley of Death and were now safe with God in heaven. Their song of victory echoing Moses song, was a message to all those who were still suffering under the persecution that eventually God would prevail.
Other messages throughout the Book of Revelation speak to the need for people to hold firm and not to give in to the temptation to save their lives by bowing to the Emperor and worshiping him as a god.
I can't ever imagine having to make this decision. I know that there are people in some parts of the world who make this decision every day and I admire and pray for them. I hope that they can take comfort from the promises of Christ and remain firm.
But what about us who do give in to the temptations which come our way to turn our backs on God without any threat of harm, let alone death. We need to do better.
