“ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” Revelation 12:10

In Revelation 12:10 we read of the accuser of the brethren being cast down, and in the next verse we read how Satan was overcome: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their soul life even unto death." Evil and perilous days are upon us in increasing measures at we approach the end of this age towards the Lord's soon return. With this in view, one of our greatest needs is to know how to overcome the devil as he lauches repeated attacks against us. The shed blood of Jesus Christ is the foundation of all our victory over Satan – but we must have the faith that enables us to bear testimony to the power of that precious blood. We need testimony not just in words but in actions that attest to the blood of Christ as being the true foundation of our living – a life that is dead to self. Hence this verse ends with “... they did not love their soul life even unto death.”

In the Old Testament we see the types set forth in the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats, which could never take away sin. There was also the shedding of the blood of the Passover lamb and the placing of that blood on the door posts and lintels of the houses with the assurance that when God's judgment passed over Egypt it would pass over them (Exo 12:13). These types teach us many lessons about the great Antitype – our Lord Jesus Christ. But we will pass them by and study some of God's statements regarding the precious "blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Heb 12:24). When we begin to understand what the blood of Jesus does for us, we will testify to the power of His blood, and shall thus have power continually to overcome the enemy. It is worthy to note the basis and foundation of our salvation is that the blood of Jesus is the purchase price of our full salvation.

"Take heed...to feed the church of God, which He had purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:14).

"You know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:18,19).

And the "new song" in Heaven is still the same, "Thou art worthy to take the book...for Thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev 5:9).

How blessed is the assurance that we are not our own, but that we are "bought with a price," and that therefore we are called upon to glorify God in our body and in our spirit which are God's (1Cor. 6:20). As we continually recognize the purchase price, and yield our whole lives to Him that bought us, He is able to work in and through us His own good pleasure (Phi 2:13). Oh, this blessed purchase price makes us free from the world, sin, self, and from all forms of satanic bondage--free to serve our Lord, and to show forth His praise.

Having been redeemed, we are able to experience the purifying and cleansing power of the blood. We read in Revelation 1:5 an ascription of praise, "unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." This washing of the blood is also brought forth in 1 John 1:7, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Another gift that the blood of Christ brought us is peace. Look to the blood for He has "made peace through the blood of His Cross" (Col 1:20). Romans 5:9 also tells us: "Being now justified by His blood." Romans 5:1 shows us the consequence of being justified before God, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Do we feel distant from God because we have done something to breach the peace between us and God? Look to the Blood for His Word tells us that we are "made nigh by the blood" (Eph. 2:13).

Furthermore, it is the blood of Christ that enables us to lead a victorious, overcoming life, since we realized the impossibility of doing this in our own strength. For we read, "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Heb 13:12). To this place of companionship with Jesus we are also called: "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb 13:13). Due to the fact that the blood of Christ has paved the way for us into the Holiest of all – Hebrews 10:19-22: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest of all by the Blood of Jesus...let us draw near” -- we can constantly come before the throne of grace to receive mercy and and the sujpply of grace to live the overcoming life.

Last by not least: How can we appropriate the power of the blood that it will effectually silence and overcome our adversary, the devil?(1Pet. 5:8,9). First, we must remember that the blood has been carried into the most Holy Place by our blessed Redeemer Himself, and it is there where the Father always looks upon it. He says, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exo 12:13). He always sees it, and now we must ask Him to cause us always to see what He sees, the Blood of His dear Son. As we see the blood as it were with our spiritual eyes, we shall understand that our victory comes through His blood. As we testify to this fact, God will work in us, spirit, soul and body--the life more abundant, the holiness, the health of Jesus! Satan will stand by our side to distract us, to persecute us, to keep us out of our rights, but we must not heed him; we must testify to the power of the blood of Jesus! How many times I have realized that the enemy's power was completely broken because of my taking this firm stand on the authority of God's immutable Word and--in the all-powerful Name of Jesus, the Victor. We need to resist boldly the enemy, in the power of Jesus' victorious Name, and through the efficacy of His shed blood!

In short, we see that at every point we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb of God! Our redemption has already been purchased – by the Blood of Jesus Christ! It is up to each and every one of us to appropriate that which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has provided--bought--for us. On His Cross, Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED” (Jn 19:30). Let us accept ALL the so Great a Salvation – from sin to living an overcoming life to defeating the enemy – that He bought for us!