I’ve been reading Revelation recently and came across an interesting verse. It was quite helpful, seeing Revelation can be quite difficult to follow and understand, to have John (the author) pause and give a quick verse of reflection. I pray this will be helpful for you as well:
“If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:9-10 LSB
Context
As always, context is crucial. Before you get to the above verse you have just read a symbolic account of a battle between a Dragon with seven heads and a Woman with her seed. You also read about a beast which rises up out of the sea (13:1) which is given power from the dragon and blasphemes God and fights against all His saints. As weird and complicated as it all might be it serves as a symbolic view of Genesis 3:15 in action and the beast coming from the sea pulls your mind to Daniel chapters 7-12 which represent human empires that have dark evil powers behind them that fight against God and His people.
The reason the context is important is because the claim that John is going to make in the above verse flows from this battle between the Snake/Serpent/Dragon and the seed of the Woman. And it’s important to remember that Revelation was written to church communities in the early Christian movement for their comfort and encouragement as they are currently being martyred for their faith by the human empire of their day: Rome. They can clearly see the Roman Empire as one of the Dragon’s beasts that fight against God’s saints. But to them it wasn’t just something to read about and ponder: it was real.
How You Live is How You Die
Now to explain the above verse. To lead people into captivity is to lead yourself captive. To kill with the sword is to be killed by the sword. Do you get it? Maybe James can help: “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy” James 2:13. John is showing that there is coming judgment for the Dragon, his beasts, and all who devote themselves to it. And that judgment will be them receiving what they dished out. If they lived their life taking advantage of the poor, killing with the sword, showing no mercy, and taking captive those who opposed them then that is exactly how they will be judged: they will be held captive, die by sword, be shown no mercy, and no pity given on their poor and helpless status. Further in Revelation, John: “heard the angel of the waters saying, ‘Righteous are You, who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.'” Rev 15:5-6. That is, how they lived is how they will die.
Patience and Faith of the Saints
John adds an interesting sentence after he makes that point: “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints” The saints, remember, were (and are) the ones being conquered by the beast (13:7). But they, in following their Messiah, willingly give themselves to death because they know to retaliate with the sword is to give in to exactly what the Dragon wants. This is why Jesus, when speaking to Pilate, says: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36.
It is precisely because we, as His saints, know that how you live is how you die that we choose to let the dragon kill us. And, even better, we have Jesus, the slain and resurrected Lamb, who showed us that there is life on the other side. Thus John later says: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” (Rev 14:13).
Conclusion
This was very real, raw, and helpful to the saints that John was writing to and there is no reason why it can’t be equally helpful for us today. You might not currently be under threat to die for your faith but nonetheless there is still a battle between the Dragon, his beast, and God’s saints. Also there are many saints that ARE currently under death threat for their faith in Christ. These saints need our prayers, encouragement, and support so they can fight the good fight of faith. Let us take courage in our God who is ultimately victorious over the serpent and his schemes. Let us not give in to his temptation and deception but rather daily ask our Father in Heaven: “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” Matt 6:13.
Action
1. Praise God for His coming final judgment on the Dragon and his beasts and that victory has been won through the Lamb that was Slain: Jesus Christ.
2. Confess to God times when you can given into the temptation of the dragon
3. Ask God to help you fight the good fight and live as a Kingdom of Heaven resident
4. Listen to this post’s song: I Will Wait for You