Rolihlahla,
We must be Walking in the same part of the desert at this moment, because firstlly some days before you posted this thread I was asking the same question to God « Why did Jesus told this
? » and then here it is, you asked the same question that was twisting my brain ! Truely, we all are part of the same body : Christ’s body !
Secondly, tonight ( because it’s actrually 1 a.m here in France) I couldn’t sleep, and felt like reading the book of Revelation.
So I take the Bible and open it anywhere on Revelation. I fall on Chapter 12.
The spouse, described as clothed with the sun, the moon Under her feet, a crown of Twelve stars on her head. I said to myself : what a glory, isn’t it ?
Then boom : her great pain giving Birth, and furthermore : the dragon waiting to devour the child she’s about to deliver.
But : what a child ! Who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter, and above all, this son finds itself to be with God : what a Glory, isn’t it ?
And then boom ! the woman lands into the wilderness. But : God didn’t abandon her : He prepared a place there for her, and she is taken care of. Special divine place :
What a Glory, isn’t it ?
Well… « War broke out in Heaven »……. But the dragon looses the war against Michael and his angels and « Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah ». Heaven :1, Dragon :0. What a Glory, isn’t it ?
Boom n°4 I’m afraid : The dragon pursues the male child’s mother. But can’t catch her. She was given the two wings of a great eagle and she fled where the serpent could not reach her. What a Glory, isn’t it ?
Yes, another boom : « Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. »
Not this time, serpent : The earth intervenes in the battle and helps the woman by swallowing all the waters the dragon had spewed out of his mouth !
Isn’t it Glorious ?
Last boom, right before the end of chapter 12. Enraged dragon decides to make war against the rest of the woman’s offspring « those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus », with the deceiving beasts. But there comes the Lamb with the 144,000 singing a new song, and « no lie was found in their mouths ; they are blameless ». GLORIOUS !
Ray taught us that the book of Revelation is a constant reminder of the tribulations God’s elects shall come through. And the way I see it is like you said : Victory, then boom another bigger mountain arrives. It comes quickly. Like a thief, really. What we have to do ? Be prepared. Remember that God warns us in His Word. Watch while the others are asleep. It is part of the process, we learn to stay awake, more and more, taking Lesson from the last test we went through, and growing even stronger each time by the grace of Our Almighty God. Well, what a Glory, isn’t it ?....... 😉