It happened when I was a young teenager. I’ll never forget. After 5 long years of war, the Japanese surrendered. There was no internet or 24/7 TV news. We heard it on our radios. We all came out in the streets and celebrated the victory. That day was named “V-J” Day. Some folks now in their 80s will remember it. 


But for the Christian, there’s coming another “V-J” day: the once-and-for-all “Victory in Jesus.” Revelation 15-16 celebrates that victory—a glorious scene in Heaven where victory-winning saints have something to show us. You’re going to see victory in three steps.


Step One: Victory depends on standing on the enduring Word of God.


The “Sea of Glass” in Revelation 15 depicts the Word of God which cleanses from all sin. Ephesians 5:26 mentions the cleansing power of water and its symbolic relationship to the Word: “That He [the Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest] might sanctify and cleanse her [the Church] with the washing of water by the Word.”


If you want to live in victory—not some day in Heaven, not in the sweet by and by, but in the nasty now and now, in your office tomorrow, when you go back to school, in your neighborhood—you must learn to stand upon the solid Word of God. When Joshua went into Canaan, God gave him a formula for victory, as fresh as tomorrow’s newspaper. 


This Book of the Law [the Bible] shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)


The Word in Your Mouth

If someone were to eavesdrop on your conversation, would it lead them to Christ? 


The Word in Your Mind

You’re thinking God’s thoughts after Him, finding wisdom as you meditate on the Word.


The Word in Your Manner of Life

When God gives you a command to obey, make up your mind: “I will obey the Word of God.” When you obey the Word, God becomes real to you. Anything less is just religious talk.


Step Two: Victory sings the redeeming works of God.


The first recorded song in the Bible (Exodus 15) is the song of Moses, when God freed the Israelites from Egypt. The last song is this one, the song of the Lamb. 


When Paul and Silas were thrown into the Philippian jail, they sang and praised God. The jailer and his entire household came to redemption. You talk about jailhouse rock—God sent an earthquake and set the prisoners free! 


Celebrate the Lord Jesus! Sing of His works. Praising God precedes and follows every victory.


Step Three: The wrath of God—His righteous judgment.

 

You wouldn’t expect to see judgment as a principle of gaining and celebrating victory, but it is. We gain victory when we know not one sin will ever go unpunished. You say, “I see so much wickedness! Where is God?” On His throne. Every sin will be punished. The only question is: who’s going to bear that punishment? Your sin will be pardoned in Christ or punished in Hell, but it will never be overlooked. No one’s ever is. 


In His righteous judgment, God puts the final period on the final page of history. Sin will be dealt with. Apart from His righteous judgment, there’ll be no ultimate victory. 


If you will trust God, you’ll gain and celebrate victory by 


  • standing on the Word of God, 

  • singing of the redeeming works of God, 

  • seeing the righteous judgment of God.


Stand. Praise. Obey. See His judgment. Rejoice. These are your steps to victory.


Read more about gaining and celebrating victory.