“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints (Revelation 13:10).

There is vast conflict as to what this verse means. The best view is simply to see it as a commentary insert, providing two divine missives:

1.     A statement regarding God’s justice

2.     An affirmation comment to the loyal saints

“he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword” (vs 10)

This serves as a warning to all persecutors (16:6; 18:2-3, 5-8, 20; 19:20). God’s people will be put into prison and even face martyrdom – but – He will deal with the perpetrators and persecutors. Clearly, the saints will join Jesus in the “fellowship of suffering” (Philippians 3:10). This corresponds to Matthew 26:52: “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” This is called “the law of retribution.” It reveals that God is just. But it is His judicial prerogative that He exercises at a precise time.

God had advised those in Smyrna: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Oposition and persecution to death have always been part of the risk of God’s faithful. John was on the prison Island of Patmos because of his “testimony” (1:9). In the revealing apocalyptic prophecy Jesus gave to His disciples just before the Cross, He noted that “you will be handed over and persecuted and put to death” (Matthew 24:9). This echoes the beautiful story of Esther before her daring appearance before King Ahasuerus. “If I perish, I perish”! (Esther 4:16).

Why does it become so cruel? The moral integrity of God’s government is being threatened. God is looking for subjects who will remain devoted and unwavering, even to the point of death. That loyalty is simply described in the rest of the verse.

“Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (vs 10)

Since persecution and trial are part of the end-time prophecy that God permits to happen, this amazing phrase is addressed to the “holy ones.” This suggests that they recognize the inevitable events and God’s sovereign will.[1] “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Peter 2:23).

That, in turn, is represented by the “faith” of the saints. Pistis – faith – a noun that constantly anticipates action. The endurance (hypomone) characterizes that action. Such patience God commended in the churches of Ephesus, Thyatira and Philadelphia (2:2-3, 19; 3:10).

Some expositors elaborate on the word “Here.” The Greek is hode and can be interpreted as “moreover” or “this demands.”[2] They see an ethical/legal issue related to the saints. “In spite of the rage lashing from the dragon and the beast, the faithful will have patience and trust.”

This was previously alluded to (12:17) and will once again be asserted at the end of the third angel’s message (14:12). The saints are characterized, defined and even described by “not loving their lives even to the point of death” (12:11) and by trusting God to ultimately defeat evil (6:11). The example of John the Baptist is a clarion lesson that rivets how the saints respond. In many ways his imprisonment and death are a painful and difficult story. But – John will be in the kingdom. Nothing exceeds that in importance.