Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Someone asked what our "changed life" should look like. Which involves a much bigger issue--that of the end.And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Many, in fact most consider the end spoken of in the Bible to be the end of the world. But they do so without understanding, without placing the end of the world where Jesus did, or where the scriptures actually do. And this is the cause of that "strong delusion" foretold by Paul.
But ironically, also foretold for these same times--which was literally promised and arranged by Jesus, is that we should be lead into "all truth."
Oh--how many threads will it take?!
Nonetheless, in the above passage Jesus reveals the actual end which many of the scriptures refer to rather than to the end of the world...or rather that they are the same, saying, "and they did not love their lives to the death." They overcame--what--sins, tribulations, death--and they did not love it?
But the distinction is this: "they did not love their lives to the death."
What death? The question then becomes--did they (those who have the testimony of Christ and are His) love their lives after that--after death? But of course they would--that is the promise of God! If we who are His, believe anything of the gospel and the promises of God...it is that it is good, and that God being love--we shall know and have love--forevermore.
So, then, what is the mark in time that Jesus has included in the above passage that would distinguish between hate (for lack of a better word) and love??
It is here:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
This visible change in those who are His, Jesus marked as "the end" which He referred to many times regarding much of what was to be--not so much as the end of the world as many believe, but marked the end with Himself ("the End"). The line of which--according to Jesus, is between "not loving" and "loving." Which He said regarding what should come after that end which is death to self and life to Christ.
Who then has experienced death to self and will define it just as Jesus has, and who will deny it in spite of what is written?
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