The winner of the Polish marathon championship admitted that several times during the race she wanted to quit, and anyone who has taken Jesus’s mission seriously knows that temptation. This sermon walks us through the vision of the seven trumpets and the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 8-11), written for those who live for God in a world that does not want Him. It shows that suffering and obstacles are limited in time, and that the last word in history belongs to God. Listen and find out where to draw endurance from when you feel like giving up.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- The sermon compares Revelation to a sculpture viewed from different sides. How does the idea that the trumpets tell the same story as the seals, only from another angle, change the way you read Revelation 8:1-11:19?
- The trumpet plagues echo the plagues of Egypt, yet Revelation 9:20-21 says people still did not repent. According to the sermon, what are these disasters meant to accomplish, and what do they reveal about God?
- The sermon points out that idols are often good things: work, money, success, even family. What in your life most easily takes God's place, and how do you recognize it?
- The two witnesses resemble Moses, Elijah and Zerubbabel, and they also stand for all Christians. What does their story teach you about the cost of bearing witness to God in a world that does not want Him?
- The 42 months, 1260 days and three and a half days point to a limited time, and the seventh trumpet announces Christ's reign. How does knowing that God has the last word shape the way you face hardship?
- The Polish marathon champion thought several times about dropping out of the race. When are you tempted to give up speaking to others about God, and what concrete step can you take this week to persevere?
