Rev 13

[Abigail]

?And he is given power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast will even [appear to] speak, and cause those who do not bow down and worship the image of the beast to be put to death.?
Revelation‬ 13:15‬ AMP‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1588/rev.13.15.AMO
I was wondering about this scripture and what comes after it. if I read it it looks like it says you either don?t worship the beast (and be killed) or you do (and are off worse). Then there would only be beast-worshippers left. I don?t get hope out of such a view, so I assume I don?t understand it right. If I read a scripture and feel fearful, I am sure that?s not what God is speaking there.

I have been raised with the idea (not explicitly taught but more implicitly caught) that everything will get worse, we Christians are probably persecuted and killed but we have to endure, because if we deny Christ we go to hell. This has been the most basic fear of my childhood and later. Even though God revealed the ultimate reconciliation to me I still can?t read passages like this without feeling fearful.

I desire to have my mind renewed so there will not be any fear. Does any of you have revelation/insight about this passage and others in revelations that seem frightening? How to understand them in the light of hope God gives?

[Andrew]

Maybe you want to check out Chip Brogden's book on Revelation?

https://www.amazon.ca/Book-Revelation-One-Chip-Brogden/dp/B08NRVZ7MJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Chip+brogden+revelation&qid=1628004903&sr=8-1

[Ross]

I. M. O the preview of the events to come was when Israel came out of Egypt .
There were plagues and disasters- affected the Egyptian but not the Israeli
Also, in the desert the provisions came from God.
Will be pretty dramatic time .
Our God will supply ALL OUR NEEDS  according to His standards not ours.
If God is for us who can be against us.
The hearts that are hardened will not be aware of this information.
The reality of this being necessary to correct man's values seems to highlight the depth of the capacity of the flesh.
However, the spirit surpasses the flesh.
His love NEVER fails.
If we focus on what we see then that is like when Peter was walking on water until he was distracted by the surroundings.
Christ loves you.
God loves you because of what Christ did for you
May the Lord open your heart and mind to grasp the depth of His love.