Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Study Note
Study Note
'And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death' — the three instruments of eschatological conquest identified in the context of the heavenly war (Revelation 12:7–12) invert all conventional warfare logic. Martyrdom is reframed as victory through the cross of Christ: the 'blood of the Lamb' is not the martyrs' own shed blood but the atoning death of Jesus that invalidates the accuser's legal claims. The 'word of their testimony' (logos tēs martyrias) positions prophetic witness as a weapon, consistent with the image of the sword from the rider's mouth (19:15) and the testimony of the two witnesses (chapter 11). The verse has been formative for Christian martyr theology: the willingness to die is not masochism but a refusal to grant death the final word, trusting that the Lamb's blood makes even death a site of conquest.
Other Translations
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
and they did overcome him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life--unto death;
And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witness; and loving not their lives they freely gave themselves up to death.
Cross References
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he …
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto …
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young …
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls …
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I …
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and …
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory …
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb …
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four …