Read Revelation 12:7–12
Today’s passage has one of the few verses in Revelation that most Christians actually like to quote: “They
conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (12:11a). Typically, it is used as evidence for the importance of sharing your personal experience of conversion (your “testimony”). And people often consider the word of their testimony to be just as important as the blood of the Lamb for overcoming the power of the devil. While that is a very popular interpretation, I want to offer an alternative for your consideration. What if the testimony in mind here is not about your personal experience? Is there something else this passage could be referring to?
Notice how the phrase “their testimony” is worded. It is not “their testimonies” or “his/her testimony.” If it were, then we might be talking about the personal experience of an individual. That is typically what we think of when we talk about someone’s testimony. But the phrase “their testimony” means that we are talking about the singular testimony of a group of people. It might sound like a minor difference, but it leads to some interesting questions.
What is the singular testimony that this group would share? What are they testifying to? It seems like their endurance is based not on what they have done but on what Jesus has done for them. The testimony by which
they conquer Satan is their testimony about the Lamb. Again, this might sound like an insignificant detail. But
if we are to endure spiritual persecution faithfully, if we are going to stand against Satan’s accusations, then we need to understand how to do so. It is not by relying on what we have done or experienced but by remembering and testifying to the life and sacrifice of Jesus. So when you feel like you are under spiritual
attack—that Satan is bringing accusations of your sinfulness and unworthiness against you—do not look
to yourself for endurance. Look to the God who has paid for all your sins and has declared you as worthy.
That is how you conquer the accuser.
