Prevailing

And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation (Revelation 13:7).

 Life often feels like a flood threatening to overwhelm us. Sometimes, it’s God overwhelming us. Other times, we are our own worst enemies. But sometimes, it’s the beast.

Back up two chapters to Revelation 11:7, and you’ll find the principle again: “Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.”

Daniel saw conquering beasts in his visions: “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them” (Daniel 7:21).

Huh?

I thought we were more than conquerors and called to overcome. Scratching my head a bit here. The psalmist describes the experience.

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. The cord of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.. . . Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord! (Psalm 69:1–2; 18:4–6; 130:1–2).

“Conquer” could also be translated “prevail” or “overcome.”

Prevailing

I didn’t always think or feel I was more than a conqueror. In my early spiritual life, I was saturated by a flood of wrong thoughts. The waters came up to my neck when a car accident left me bankrupt and with a so-called permanent disability. The enemy prevailed as I sunk into the miry depths of depression.

When I moved overseas, I lived among a conquered people—overcome by a host of circumstances and wrong choices. The church was a neglible force . The beast had rendered it toxic, corrupt, and abusive. At best, it was useless in a secular humanist society. The enemy had prevailed.

When I grew up spiritually, or so I thought, I would be more than a conqueror, spotting the dragon at the first whiff of his approach. I would slay him and move on without ruffling my spiky punky hairdo. Ha. I lost one job, then another, and the medical community cut me off of the painkillers for that accident. I was on the road to addiction.

Nevertheless, I did grow up. Because God prevails over Satan. When I read Revelation 13:7, it startled me awake to a new-for-me truth. The enemy can conquer me. And you. I have reframed my faith, ditched the arrogance and presumption, and abandoned my illusions of winning every battle. The Bible teaches that sometimes we’re the conquerors, and sometimes we’re the conquered.

But don’t let that scare you! This is a sobering truth, but there’s hope. 

Our Hope

Hope has a name: Jesus. The God of all hopes is the ultimate conquering king, who will establish his kingdom and end Satan’s rule on earth. Prevailing is a big word, but the name of Jesus is a bigger one. Who did the psalmist call for when the waters came up to his neck? Not Satan.

When we feel utterly consumed by life’s challenges, whether internal struggles or external battles, Jesus comes to the rescue. He pulls us from refining fires and overwhelming waters and out of the miry depths. He may take us home to be with him, or he may restore us and throw us back into the battle. He may leave us in suffering to accomplish his purposes, but he will deliver us.

I’m not suggesting we embrace a fatalistic or victim mentality but that we prepare ourselves for when the enemy prevails. God’s divine plan permits it for a reason. But the ultimate victory is in Christ. Until the Ancient of Days comes and pronounces judgment, we will struggle in earthly battles and sometimes lose. But Jesus wins. He will validate us as his holy people, and we will possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:22). In the meantime, we fight the good fight, ready to lose our lives if necessary, in order to find life.

In the meantime, may I suggest three survival tactics: white space, Sabbath, and a fallow year of rest. I’ll unpack them in the next few blog posts.