6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to
proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and
people.
7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the
hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the
sea and the springs of water.” ~ Revelation 14:6-7
(For this month’s newsletter, I offer the following devotional thoughts that come from a fellow LCMS
Pastor. [Used by permission] ~ God’s blessings! Pastor Tuma)
The author of these words (above), John, lived in a time when emperors ruled the vast Roman
state. Sometimes the emperors were good and able rulers. Augustus and Tiberius had long and
stable reigns. Other emperors were unstable personally and the empire might be wracked with
unrest. John wrote these words in the days of Diocletian, a particularly unstable man who lashed out
at many people, including Christians.
When the emperor died a new emperor would be proclaimed. A herald would come into the community, blow a trumpet, and announce, “Good news – the reign of __ has begun.” The Bible
picks up that formula to describe Christian preaching. Paul, Peter, and the rest of the early church
apostles and preachers were heralds of a new king with a twist. Instead of announcing that the old
emperor had died, and a new rule had begun; they announced that Jesus had risen, and His eternal
reign had begun. They used much of the same language that the heralds of a new emperor used.
That Christian proclamation has continued through the rise and fall of republics, monarchies, empires,
and dictatorships. For 2000 years, Christians have gathered, heard words of absolution, participated in
heaven’s feast, and been welcomed into fellowship with God Himself. They have been citizens of
Christ’s kingdom.
I make no prognostications about elections or the consequences of victory for political parties. Too
often people imagine that the kingdom of God and the success of this or that party are the same
thing. There are better candidates and policies, but they all are human and fraught with human frailty.
Decisions do make a difference for some things in our lives, but the most important things remain unchanged, for they are under a different lordship altogether. They belong to Christ and His gracious
kingdom. Pray for our country, vote when you have the chance, and rest in the assurance that the
Kingdom of Christ has been proclaimed.