Revelation Chapter 12:11-17 Revelation 12:11-17 "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 to death. 12"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." 13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus”. 12:11 “They”: Those who are said to “overcome” in this book are Christians who are living on the earth (2:11). The word “they” in this verse also is connected with the term “brethren” in 12:10. 12:11 “Overcame him”: The “him” is Satan, the accuser of our brethren (12:10). The devil can be defeated and opposed by the Christian (James 4:7). The word “overcame” means to conquer and gain the victory. 12:11 “Because”: Here is the reason why the saints were victorious against the devil. Please note, man by himself will always lose this struggle with the devil (Romans 3:23). 12:11 “Of the blood of the Lamb”: Which removes our sins (Matthew 26:28), and therefore brings us out from underneath the bondage of sin and the fear of death and the afterlife. The tools that the devil uses to enslave people are often fear and guilt.
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