8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints.
Revelation 13:7-10 NASB
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Revelation 12:11 NASB
The context of these passages (Rev 12:1-13:18) describe the 42 month period known as the "great tribulation." Chapter 12 tells of Satan being cast down to earth, and in a great rage he pursues the Jews to destroy them. We are also informed that he makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev13:17). In other words Christians.
Chapter 13 describes how Satan seeks to accomplish this. It is through a figure referred to as the beast, also known as the Antichrist. This individual is given authority by Satan for this purpose. Contrary to popular teaching, followers of Jesus will be on the earth, and will face this persecution. This is abundantly shown in scripture. Many are "secure" in the belief that we won't be here to experience this, but instead of resting in a false comfort, we need to reconcile with reality and prepare ourselves for what is to come.
When these dark days come upon the earth Christians will need endurance. In the above verses we read of perseverance in the midst of persecution. The temptation to cave in, to renounce our faith will be overwhelming. Yet to give up for the sake of some momentary safety will cost us in the end.
11. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12. Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:11-12 NASB
Again we see the necessity of perseverance or endurance, and faith. The faith mentioned here goes beyond mental assent to Biblical facts. This faith is better defined as loyalty. To take the mark is to give allegiance to the beast, and ultimately to the dragon or Satan who is the power behind the beast. To be faithful even unto death is the way to overcome Satan.
9. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?"
11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
Revelation 6:9-11 NASB
Here we read of martyrs who were put to death because of their faithfulness to the word of God, and the testimony that they maintained, even under the most severe conditions. The word martyr means witness. To die for your faith in Christ is the ultimate testimony to the world. It is sealed in blood.
In the old covenant sacrificial system the blood of the sacrifice was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). These martyrs placed their very lives upon the altar of sacrifice, and their souls were poured out in death. This is the picture we see described here.
In Revelation 7:9-17 John beheld a great multitude of people from every nationality standing before the throne and the Lamb. They also were wearing white robes and carrying palm branches. When asked who they were, and where the had come from, John had no answer.
14. I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
16. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat.
17. "for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:14-17 NASB
Earlier we saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar. Now we see the full number of martyrs standing before Jesus, apparently now in their glorified bodies. They no longer cry out for God to avenge them. Now they cry out in worship, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Rev 7:10). Their conflict is over and they are safely in the presence of Jesus, their robes have been washed in His blood, they maintained their testimony, and they did not cling to their lives when faced with death.
To be sure, there will be those who are alive and remain at Christ's second coming (1 Thess 4:17), but primarily, to come out of the great tribulation will be through death.
This is how we overcome Satan with his wrath against those who follow Jesus. It will be essential that we resolve now to be steadfast in the face of persecution. The scriptures are filled with warnings against deception, lawlessness, and persecution in the last days. These things will cause many to fall away from the faith. A great apostasy from the faith is foretold as a warning to us. We must be strong, we must steadfast, we must persevere.
2. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
3. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!
4. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For you alone are holy; for ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED. "
Revelation 15:2-4 NASB
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
To be victorious demands endurance. I do not mean that we pick ourselves up by the boot straps and exert all of our self effort, because we really are insufficient in and of ourselves. We read of a Church with little power, but who kept the word of Jesus and did not deny Him. They were given an open door, and kept from the hour of testing that is to come. This is not a pre-tribulational promise of rapure, but God's promise to those who are faithful. We read Jesus' words that He will be with us always, even to the end of the age (see Rev 3:7-12, Matt 28:20 John 17:15). We are called to overcome numerous times throughout scripture. Endurance is vital if we are to come out of this world victorious over everything that Satan throws at us, especially in Earth's final days.
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