As I’ve been reading Samuel Rutherford’s Letters I have been struck with how he uses the language of Revelation to encourage and exhort his friends and parishioners. A lot of us approach Revelation as a puzzle to solve, but it’s actually a picture of the drama we’re all called to participate in as we go through this world. Will we patiently endure as followers of the Lamb or will we be seduced by the temptations of Babylon? In this excerpt of a letter to his friend John Ewart, Rutherford uses the imagery of Revelation to exhort him to steadfast faith until Christ comes.

It were good that we prisoners of hope know of our stronghold to run to, before the storm come on; therefore, Sir, I beseech you by the mercies of God, and comforts of His spirit, by the blood of your Saviour, and by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world, keep your garments clean, and stand for the truth of Christ, which ye profess. When the time shall come that your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, your breath grow cold, and this house of clay shall totter, and your one foot shall be over the march, in eternity, it will be your comfort and joy that ye gave your name to Christ.