Misery loves company! For the original readers of Revelation, and for those undergoing persecution today, the thought of another time in the future where the hardships will be even more intense, is comforting. They are not the only ones who will have to suffer for their faith. They have a band of sisters and brothers through time, in their foxhole with them, to encourage them to faithfulness.
Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing! For us reading Revelation today, we can look forward with hope, as victory is assured and the defeat of the dragon is pre-determined. Yes, the beasts described in our scriptures today are excellent fodder for horror movies and heavy metal songs and nightmares. But when their allotted time is up, their fate is to be thrown into the lake of fire, as we will hear in detail next week....
Gracious God, give us strength to endure whatever suffering is necessary in our lives, large or small. Remove our fears of the future, with the confidence of the victory won by your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in his name we pray, amen.