THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, AND THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY.
By John Matteson
TEXT.— “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Rev. xii, 11. This portion of Scripture contains a graphic description of the means whereby Christians gain the victory, and also presents a prominent characteristic of the true followers of Jesus. 1. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. The pronoun “they,” refers evidently to the brethren mentioned in verse 10. Mighty voices in Heaven sing of salvation, strength, and the kingdom of God, which has been purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus has given his precious life. He has tasted death for every man. He has risen in triumph from the grave. He has ascended on high, and brought a multitude of captives with him to the Father’s throne. He has obtained for himself, a precious, royal diadem of living stones. They are his joy and crown of rejoicing. Out of these, four and twenty elders are made representatives of the whole ransomed host who are to people the new earth. They are represented in chap. xi, sitting before God on their seats, falling upon their faces before the great Majesty of Heaven. They worship him who liveth for ever and ever. They rejoice, “for the accuser of our brethren is cast down.” When they were on earth, they overcame by faith in the Son of God, and now they manifest the deepest interest in their brethren as they see them gaining victories over Satan, by faith in the atoning blood, that has been so freely shed for them. This song of salvation in Heaven is not a song that is sung once for all. It is not an animated strain that fills Heaven with rapture for a moment, and then dies away. No, no; again and again the mighty song of salvation fills the heavenly arches. The apostles and their contemporaries overcame the Devil by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. They were persecuted, and many gave up their lives for Christ. A dark record appeared on earth: loss of property, friends, and life itself; tribulation, and scorn, and division; but a bright record in Heaven; joyful and triumphant songs there. Thousands of angels help to swell the chorus. Then come the dark ages, the great tribulation, the streams of blood from faithful martyrs, dying songs of praise from sisters and brethren who feed the flames. Thousands of golden, heavenly, eternal, crowns were thus gained; “for they loved not their lives unto the death.” Immortality was secured by the sacrifice of all in this world. Darkness covers the earth. Mighty billows of hatred, and envy, and murder, roll over the people of God. They are almost swallowed up in the flood from the mouth of the dragon. On earth, all is gloom, terror, and confusion. But hark! hear the mighty shouts of glory in Heaven. Hear the hallelujahs roll through Heaven’s high dome. Hear the heavenly strains of sweetest melody. Oh! how sweet. Our brethren overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. They are sealed for Heaven. Soon they shall join us in the high praises of God. White robes are given them; but they must rest yet for a little season, until the number of their brethren, that shall be killed as they, shall be fulfilled. Then comes the time of the Reformation. New light shines on the pathway of God’s people. In Germany a rich harvest of souls is gathered. England is awakened. Men and women are dragged into prison, and executed for reading the Bible in their own language. France is marred with the blood of faithful souls; but the light of God’s holy word shines clearer and clearer. Thousands of precious souls that sit in darkness have seen the light appear. And is there no joy in Heaven? Yes, verily. Every orphan, every poor widow, every distressed soul that overcomes by the blood of the Lamb, shall reign with Jesus and wear the heavenly crown to all eternity, and over such there is joy in Heaven. This verse is also applicable to the remnant of God’s people. Our brethren in Heaven are no less interested in our present warfare and final overcoming than they have been in ages past. Brethren, we are living in a drowsy hour. The poisonous miasma from the stagnant waters of the stagnant pool of iniquity, has made us stupid. It works like opium. Let us shake ourselves from this deathlike stupor. Let us try to get a glimpse of the heavenly things. Behold what a cloud of witnesses we have around us. The great God himself is interested in our salvation. Christ and holy angels are deeply interested. Glorified brethren in Heaven wait to sing songs of our victories. Millions of saints will soon arise from their dusty beds, and join us, robed in immortality. Angels will carry us home to the mansions of light and glory. Jesus is still willing to plead his blood for us. We can overcome by the blood of the Lamb, as well as they, who have gone before us, have overcome. But it is no use to be discouraged, and stop trying. Let us confess, and turn away from our sins. Let us pray much to God for help. If something stands in the way of our prayer, so that we cannot exercise faith, let us stop and consider what that can be; and when we find the beam in our eye, let us calmly and carefully lay our plans, as God has directed in his word, so that we can resist the enemy. Let us not rest until we get that thing out of the way, which stands between us and God, whether it be the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eye, or the pride of life. We can do it by the help of Jesus. The Devil is cunning; the world is mighty; the flesh has a strong influence over us; but Jesus is mightier than all these. He has gained a decided victory over them all. He can also help all that come unto him, and I know he will do it with the greatest pleasure; for of this he has given us assurance again and again. Let us then seek him diligently, and trust him, that we may also overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb. 2. They overcame him . . . by the word of their testimony. This testimony is called, in verse 17, “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” And in chap. xix, 10, it is explained to be “the spirit of prophecy.” In the Old Testament the ten commandments are called the testimony more than twenty times. But that was the testimony of God the Father. It is, in verse 17, called the commandments of God, and is distinct from the testimony of the Son. The testimony of Jesus, in its full sense, seems to signify the entire work and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, since Christ ascended to the Father. Rev. vi, 9; Acts xiv, 3; 1 Cor. i, 6; 2 Tim. i, 8; Rev. i, 2, 9. This Spirit came mightily upon the apostles, and every true follower of Jesus has a share in its operations more or less; for no one can be saved except they are sanctified and their bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. But beside this work, common to the believers, there have been special gifts bestowed upon individuals, for the general good of the church. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; . . . . . to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another prophecy;” &c. 1 Cor. xii. There were special manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the early church. And through these that church obtained the testimony of Jesus, by which they overcame. The same Spirit has worked with God’s people until this day. There are many professors who deny this, and of course know nothing about it; for as long as they disbelieve such manifestations they can never have them. We have but very little reliable history of the people of God through the dark ages; yet a few gleanings here and there tell us that God manifested himself to his people in the same manner during that period. And now as we have come down to the last days, and242are numbered with the remnant of God’s people, we have reason to be truly thankful that God has remembered us in great mercy, and that we have the manifestations of the spirit of prophecy. I do not understand that “the word of their testimony” embraces anything more than the spirit of prophecy. But the visions and testimonies from the Lord, now given to us, as a people, form an important part of the testimony of Jesus. In the words of our text are evidently embraced all the means of grace which flow from these two great sources, Christ and the Spirit. The bleeding Lamb on Calvary who made reconciliation for the world, and placed us in a position where it was made possible for us to return unto God, and the living Spirit who has worked through the written and spoken word. “That Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (pledge) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.” Eph. i. These are the two great moving forces whereby we are enabled to overcome. The sacrifice atones for our past sins, the Spirit creates a clean heart within, and leads on to perfection. We cannot be saved by either one of these operations alone. We must have both. Christ and the Comforter will go together. Justification and sanctification must go hand in hand. And although Christ now lives, and works for us in Heaven, yet he is not personally present with us upon earth. The Spirit is his representative, and holy angels his agents. When we grieve them we grieve Christ. When we drive them away from us, our hope in Christ is vain. The Lord has in mercy visited his people. Hundreds of personal testimonies are scattered among us, and general testimonies printed. These are of such a nature that they will prove a great blessing to all who regard and obey the warnings and instructions given. “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.” The counsel of the faithful witness is, “Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see;” “And put away thy stains from thee,” the hymn reads. This certainly is the object of all the testimonies: that we may put away our sins. I have also been favored with instruction in that direction, for which I feel thankful to God. If followed out, it will lead me nearer to Jesus; if rejected, or laid aside, the enemy will gain upon me, and destroy my peace and final salvation. Brethren, the saints who have gone before us, overcame the Devil by the word of their testimony. We can also overcome by the same. And now, as the Lord graciously points out the way before us, let us try to love the narrow way. It leads to the kingdom. No other road leads there. There are many reasons why we should love it. Jesus has left his footprints all along the road. He gave up the riches of Heaven and became poor. Glory and honor he left behind, and was exposed to scorn and derision. Comfort and convenience he did not prefer, but was often without a shelter. This road is marked with the prints of his knees. Sometimes his face was bowed to the ground, in token of deepest humility. Is the servant above his Master? There, I see his tears, how they have fallen frequently all along the road. Yea, the warm blood from that loving heart has marked the narrow road. No jesting, no joking, no yielding to sin; but the deepest solemnity, often sobs, broken cries, and agonizing prayers. No selfish speculation, but the purest, most disinterested love ever flowing out to others. There, the road is marked by the cross; there hangs the sacrifice, the loving, bleeding Lamb of God. Then comes the grave, and finally the resurrection and glory. Is this the narrow road? Yes, this is the road that Jesus went, the only road that leads to glory. Glory is what I want; then this is the road I want to take: a road of self-denial, humility, living for others, laboring for others, turning away from every sin, a road of prayer, and tears, and agony. Yes, I want to go that road. Good-by honor, and riches, and pleasure, and vain friends. I am bound for the kingdom. I want Jesus. I look for him. I will wait and watch until he shall appear to give me the incorruptible inheritance. Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and holy men of old, have walked in this road. Their deeds of faith are recorded. Monument after monument is raised along this route. They were flesh and blood as we are; yet they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Then we can also overcome by the same. Yes, take courage, brother, sister. Cheer up, lonely pilgrim. Lean on Jesus, aged father and mother. Youth and children, trust in God. Look at the crown, the harp, the tree of life, immortality in the kingdom of Jesus. We can have them. But it is the last watch. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must watch and pray. “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” 3. They loved not their lives unto the death. This means that they were willing to sacrifice their life in the cause of God. Some were not called upon to do so; but many did do it. Now we must have that same strong love to Jesus and his cause, that we can willingly lay down our life, if required to do so. This we can never do as long as we love the world, and the things that are in the world. If we get this strong, undying love to Jesus, we will not hesitate long to let a thousand dollars go [if we were men of property], and then another thousand, yes, and finally the last cent, when God shall require us to do so, and when it can be for his glory, and the advancement of his cause. What is our life? We may say our life is made up of our thoughts, and words, and actions. Then if we are willing to give our lives for Jesus, our words and actions must tell for the advancement of his cause. Otherwise we do not give our lives for the cause. And if I did not thus live, what would it profit the cause if I should give my life unto death for the truth’s sake? Nothing at all. Our lives must tell for Jesus, if our death should tell for him. “If I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits nothing.” Oh! for this pure and heavenly love to be the moving cause of all our actions. Oh! for the Spirit of God to search our hearts, that we may stand the test of the Judgment. Oh! for living faith and constant diligence that we may lay hold of all the means of grace, and finally overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony.