Then the dragon was enraged and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is not the end.

Though the enemy is angry, he retreats for a time to restrategize a new plan.

It’s no time to gloat at victory but to prepare for the many battles still ahead of us.

The enemy is a clever beast possessing relentless armies of those who grow stronger with defeat.

Your reprieve is at hand but the war is still on.

This is not the end.

Every 5th grader who has ever been has had to write a ‘compare and contrast’ essay to demonstrate comprehension of opposing views, their similarities and differences.

Revelation offers such scenarios for those who truly understand the assignment.

1. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2. The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭9‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This set of revelations presented for John to record asks if you are smarter than a 5th grader.

This book is full of comparisons between consequences of a life lived in devotion to God versus the persistent rebellion of humanity even in light of its penalty.

It’s hard to imagine someone who clearly and continuously makes choices in violation of divine law. But they exist and will continue to up until the very end.

Be smarter than a 5th grader.
Understand the assignment. 

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

‘Just enough’ is good for cream in your coffee, but not your commitment to Christ.

Straddling the fence that divides this world from the one to come is all too common but isn’t as safe a place as you may think.

Because that fence is owned by Satan.

All in.

If I believe Jesus is all of who he said he is, if I believe in an omnipotent God who spoke everything into existence, I’m compelled to believe there’s something more and better to come deserving of my percent right now.

Living ‘just enough’ is an option off the table and the dire warning of this passage.

Bold and clear about our calling, we either live life hot as fire or chill to taking spiritual risks in territories which, for the moment, seem scary and foreign.

In-between there is no identity.

Choose now which master you will serve. Go all in or go figure out your life until you are.

The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Few of us have ever known the experience of war, the feeling of victory afterwards, or the knowledge that no more battles
will need to be fought ever again.

But this is exactly where we are now. The battle rages, victory is a promise, and eternal peace will be ours. We will need no further protection.

To be able to drop our guard at rest within the temple of God will enlist us into the community of former warriors whose eternity is assured.

Faith is the hope for things unseen or yet realized. We endure wounds of this battle hanging on the promises of a God who reclaims his property and makes us new all because of our faithfulness.

Until then, the battles rage on against us.

Soldiers who survive are always those whose vision sees beyond the current circumstances and whose focus remains solely upon the prize of victory.

My friend, you got this.