Worship in what sense? In the sense of putting love of country ahead of love of God. Most people love the land of their birth. As good citizens, true Christians also respect the rulers and the emblems of the country where they reside, obey the laws, and make a positive contribution to the welfare of their community and their neighbors. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:14-17) They cannot, however, give blind devotion to one country as against all others. "Our country right or wrong" is not a Christian teaching. So Christians who worship Jehovah God cannot share in giving prideful patriotic worship to any part of the wild beast, this would amount to worshiping the dragon-the source of authority of the wild beast. They cannot ask admiringly: "Who is like the wild beast?" Rather, they follow the example of Michael-his name meaning "Who is like God?"-as they uphold Jehovah's universal sovereignty. At God's appointed time, the Michael, Christ Jesus, will do battle with the wild beast and conquer it, even as he triumphed in expelling Satan.
Next time: Chapter Twenty-Eight/Contending With Two Ferocious Beasts - Waging War Against the Holy Ones
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