Given Authority

Reading in Rev 13.7, this morning. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them, and he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.

What strikes me here is that the text (NLT) says that the beast was given authority to rule. The beast doesn't take authority, though when it happens it may seem that way, he was given authority; given it by God. This fits neatly into the biblical theme of God's overriding sovereignty. Nothing happens outside of God's control and care. Even as we approach the true end of history (as opposed to Francis Fukuyama's now debunked theory), when it appears that the forces of evil are ascendant; their ascendancy is given to them by God for his good and wise purposes.

What are followers of Christ to do in light of this truth? God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful (Rev 13.10, NLT)