My Black Sisters and Brothers:
I hear you. This week, I’ve heard you say:
“I’m exhausted.”
Silence. “I wasn’t ready to speak yet.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I’m more surprised when this stuff doesn’t happen.”
“What do I tell him now - don’t go outside?”
“It’s hard to look at white faces. It’s hard to look anyone in the face.”
“Who do I trust?”
“This grief is sacred. Don’t share it for white affirmation.”
“March with us.”
“This isn’t going to change. Until Jesus comes, this isn’t going to change.”
“Do you care any other time? Or only when social media says to?”
“I’m tired of talking about it. Do something.”
“It’s not safe to live.”
And along with your voices, I hear under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:9,10
God’s answer? And behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Revelation 6:12-14
Hail and fire, mixed with blood...were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7
That’s what your trauma is worth.
It’s worth ripping stars out of the sky over.
Tearing down mountains.
Setting fire to earth.
To God, that’s what your trauma is worth.
But this is imagery. We haven’t seen it in action yet. Isn’t this more what life feels like:
“The devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. ...Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:12,13,17
Is that what it feels like to be Black in this country? Like there’s an evil dragon big enough to slither through every street simultaneously, who hates who you are, who makes war against you and children? And sometimes the dragon delegates that war to humans with white faces and blind hearts.
Jesus, help us.
Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10
There’s a day coming.
There’s a day coming when those who do the devil’s work by abusing their power and privilege - NO, not just abusing power, but abusing YOU, cherished daughter or son of God Most High - will be torn down from their untouchable positions.
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful...hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Revelation 6:15,16
The angel says of Babylon, the nation representing all corrupt world powers who oppress God’s people and reject God Himself (since whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, Proverbs 14:31),
“Her sins are heaped as high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.’
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.” Revelation 18:5-8
Self-serving privilege will NOT always stand. I think we live in Babylon. If Revelation 18:7 doesn’t describe the attitudes of white supremacy, I’m not sure what does. This Babylonian queen is confident of her untouchable privilege while others suffer.
But a different day is coming.
Then the mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
and the light of the lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of the bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.” Revelation 18:21-24
You know how life keeps going after your trauma? After your people die? One day that will be no more. One day, the oppressive nation will carry on with indifferent comfort after your trauma NO MORE! God sees your blood. One day, the world will be indifferent no more.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like flames of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-13,16
A robe dipped in blood. Jesus is familiar with blood on the ground. Unjust blood on the ground. And He’s not afraid of violence. He has tasted it wrongly, and He will carry it out rightly. In righteousness he judges and makes war on your behalf, my sisters and brothers! Because of what you suffer, the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure will follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Revelation 19:14,15
This is imagery. But this is true.
And He will win. Our Jesus will win.
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Revelation 14:12
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgements are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
“Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgement for you against her!” Revelation 19:1,2, 18:20
And in the meantime, there’s an angel in heaven with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Revelation 8:3,4
Your prayers are in the presence of God. Your anger, your fear, your tears, your traumatized silence, your calls for help, your too-tired-to-call-out glances in God’s direction...it’s all in the presence of God. The angels use golden tools to touch your prayers. Your prayers are holy.
Our prayers are with you.
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
I’m eager for you to reign, Black sisters and brothers! For God to put power in your hands.
When will that day come?
Corinne has been a member of Northside Church since 2014. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida, while pursuing a counseling degree. She works remotely for NCR and has been so glad to also be able to worship remotely with you all for the past two months! In addition to social justice and emotional health, she loves sunshine, outdoor adventures, and pranks.
Thank you, friend.
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