10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
It is generally true that people of a city or nation are glad when things go well for the righteous and they celebrate when the wicked are removed. As the upright are blessed, the whole is made exalted for a number of reasons.
The upright influence the culture, and this creates a people that is also upright. A nation of upright people can be free because they are self-governing, and a free people can pursue a prosperous life without fear of the wicked taking everything they have. A nation led by upright people will prosper, generally speaking, because those who lead have the best interest of the nation at heart.
This was once the aim of our nation, but it seems as though the mouth of the wicked will overthrow it. Before long, the proverb is turned on its head and the opposite become true.
What manner of time do we live in when the wicked prosper and the people rejoice, and when the righteous perish, there is celebration? What manner of time do we live in when a people is exalted by the wicked, and the mouth of the righteous have to speak out against them, knowing that they are considered to be the wicked ones?
That is the time we see in Revelation 11, and it is not so difficult to imagine. As evil becomes good and good becomes evil, all things are out of sorts. Yet, God is in control of it all and one day He will set it right.
Before all of this, the Wicked One must be revealed. He must come and attempt to establish his rule and all who refuse to worship him are cast out as evil, rounded up, and slaughtered. He will seem to overcome the saints of God, and the people will be glad because they think that the wicked perish, but Jesus will soon come and destroy them all with the sword of His mouth and the brightness of His coming.
It is good to get to know Jesus because as He said, “many will kill you thinking they do God’s service, and these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor me.”
No matter how backwards things get, we can look to Jesus. He will make it so that we can see what is good and true. In Him we find the strength to take our stand with Him no matter what the rest of the world is doing.
One day, there will be a city in which righteousness dwells and Jesus is the King of the whole earth. Before that day, there is darkness as He has said, but we are not left without the Light of the World and the undying hope of His return that will make all things right.
When Jesus returns and His holy city is established, the people of that city rejoice. When the wicked are removed, there is celebration. By the blessing of the saints the people of the earth are enriched, and there will be none that can stand against God’s people anymore.
Jesus Alone 