
The Church: Persecuted but Vindicated
September 13, 2026
Last week, in Revelation chapter 7, John gave us an interlude before the opening of the seventh seal. We saw the church sealed and protected, but not evacuated from the earth or spared from the tribulation of our time. God’s judgment does not fall on us, but we still follow in the footsteps of our Savior, who conquered through suffering. We also saw the church “coming out of the great tribulation,” glorious in white robes, having been washed in the blood of the Lamb—and they worshiped Him! In the same way, John provides an interlude in chapters 10 and 11 before the seventh trumpet is blown. Again, we learn more about the church in these days of tribulation that continue in our own day. We see that we have a prophetic voice to the nations that is bittersweet, as the gospel goes forth amid much suffering. In these dark days, we do not hide the light of God’s Word. We declare it boldly and will suffer for our testimony, yet rise triumphant by God’s power when “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” (11:15).