Victor

The first six chapters of Revelation are a pep talk. Again and again, Jesus makes promises to the victors, those who overcome (nikao). They’ll get the tree of life, escape the second death, eat hidden manna, gain authority over the nations, receive a white robe, become pillars in the temple, get a place on Jesus’ throne.

Jesus can guarantee all this because He is the Lamb, the Lion of Judah, who overcomes (5:5), and who goes out as a rider on a white horse “conquering and to conquer” (6:2).

Eleven times John uses the word, and each time it’s upbeat. 

The twelfth use should bring the theme to its climax. Instead, it brings it to a screeching halt: “the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war on them, and overcome them, and kill them” (11:7; cf. 13:7). We move quickly back to the saints as the victors, but we’ve been shocked out of our complacency. Victory will never seem as clear-cut again.

Revelation 12:11 states the paradox concisely: Saints overcome when they bear witness, and when they do not love their life even to death. We overcome in being overcome. Just the path of victory we’d expect if we are called to follow the Crucified.