As the world moves towards the finality of this dispensation there is an acceleration of wickedness upon the earth. Satanic forces are manoeuvring and implementing their dark plans, which are unfolding in both the visible and invisible realms. The Bride must not be blind or unable to see the reality of what’s really going on around her. She must be aware of the battle being played out, and the nature of the warfare in which she is engaged. For she is not called to be a spectator. Neither is she an overcomer only, but she is called to be a warrior Bride and prophetess, to participate in the will and purpose of God in the last days. What will be the hallmark of the end-time warrior bride? Well, scripture gives us a great window into the future to see her qualities:
And they overcame him through the blood of the lamb, and through the word of their testimony, and they loved not their life even unto death. Rev 12:11
This well-known verse specifically mentions three qualities describing the end-time warrior bride. Firstly, they overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah! The context of this verse is that Satan – the accuser, has been hurled down to the earth to make accusation against the brethren before God day and night. But by the blood and only by the blood are our sins atoned for, and any accusation from Satan is answered most powerfully by the blood which has paid the debt in full and washed the sin away. The blood of Jesus will never lose its power, and speaks continually on our behalf in the same courtroom that Satan brings his accusations. Another quality of the overcomers listed in this verse is that they loved not their life even unto death. Jesus is their Lord, and their commitment to Him is total. They love Him more than they love life itself, and if the price for obedience and loyalty is their death, then their faith knows there is glory that awaits them beyond death’s veil, for death has lost its sting and serves only as the doorway through they will pass into immortality.
Now there is one other quality mentioned in Rev 12:11 which says they overcome Satan by “the word of their testimony”. We usually understand this as the story of our salvation, indeed when asked to give our testimony, that’s usually what we mean. But I believe there is more that we can glean from this phrase “the word of their testimony”. Let’s read what John writes later in this chapter:
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. Rev 12:17 ESV
There is a connection here between verse 11 and verse 17, between the “word of their testimony” and “the testimony of Jesus”. Whilst I am not saying that the word of their testimony is not the story of their salvation, I am suggesting it is more than this, and that the word of their testimony is the testimony of Jesus. There is precedent for this both with angels and man. Remember in Rev 22:16 Jesus says “I have sent my angel to testify to you these things”, you could say the word of the angel’s testimony was the testimony of Jesus. In Rev 1:9 John records he was exiled on Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. John’s testimony was the testimony of Jesus. In the same way, we have been given the Testimony of Jesus through which we are able to overcome our adversary. Remember the word ‘testimony’ has a legal connotation, as someone’s testimony before a judge of court of law, this is what we have been entrusted with, the Testimony of Jesus in which we are able to stand – a position of justification and redemption, yes, which is our defence, but the Testimony of Jesus is also our offence – the means to advance and to enforce legal jurisdiction. When we pray “in the name of Jesus” it is because the name of Jesus is supported by His testimony as in a court of law, and when His name is used and therefore His testimony invoked it gives the legal right for the matter to proceed in our favour.
