Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 14), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [2-3] The martyrs, having arrived in God’s presence and upon seeing preparations to judge their persecutors, make music and sing. They “conquered” the pressures of the beast to abandon Christ (the beast here being either Rome or the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem). For them, conquering the beast meant being killed by the beast, yet remaining faithful to Jesus. Can you imagine facing violent persecution and remaining faithful to Jesus? Can you imagine feeling like this was a triumph of your faith and testimony? Can you imagine being assured that, even though God was allowing this to happen, ultimately God is praiseworthy as just and true? Why is it difficult to believe or rejoice in God’s justice when so many of his people face brutal persecution for their faith?

• Biblical justice is a feature of our relationship with God—it is how we treat one another as created in God’s image, when/because we relate to God rightly. Sin (rebellion against God) corrupts our relationships so we treat one another unjustly, without reference to the Triune God. Do you think an unbeliever will have a biblical view of justice? Do you think an unbeliever will understand what a believer means when he/she praises God as “just and true”? What injustices have you seen in the news? What injustices have you seen in the lives of people you know? What injustices have you suffered? Does God address these injustices in his Word? Has God promised to do anything about these injustices? Do you believe him, that he is just and true to his Word, even when you might see or suffer much injustice in this life?

• [4] God’s righteous (the same Greek word is also translated “just”) acts will inspire the nations to worship him. Do you know people who have a desire for justice? Have you told them about God’s justice? Have you told them how the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you told them how God’s judgment will make all things right in the New Heavens and New Earth?