Please read the passage before reading the commentary.
The book of Revelation is the book of the Church. It describes the ultimate victory of the Church. We are going to win. We are going to gather a great multitude of which no one could count from every nation, race, people, and tongue. Our salvation comes from our God and from the Lamb of God.
Now, however, loife is hard and dangerous, like a desert, like a river in its wild current, like the biggest struggle one can imagine. Now there is pain, sorrow, sadness and worry. Afterwards, there will be joy, gladness and glory.
We think of the great holy people of every age, place, and times throughout the world. We are joined with them. The Lord promises glory for us. The strength of the Lord covers our weakness and God saves us.
As we remember all the heroes of all ages, we do well to remember that our salvation is certain, promised by God in Jesus Christ, who came to call sinners to save us despite our weaknesses and whose divine weakness gives us strength in our humanness.