Rev 12:11 And they overcame him (Antichrist) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Having understood the power of the message of the cross and the great deceptions of the Antichrist masquerading as the angel of light, then we must surrender our bodies to God as living sacrifices.
Rom 12:1 I-12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Heb 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
After the death of our Lord Jesus, He went to destroy the Devil, who had the power of death so that Christians no longer fear death because before any godly Christian tastes the horror of death (any knife, bullet, bomb or weapon touches the body), our Lord will empower him by making him oblivious to pains or take him back to heaven.
Mat 16:28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Mat 10:19-20 "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Before we are brought to judgment, our Lord will make our physical bodies oblivious to pain or take us home before any of our hair is lost.
Luke 21:16b-18 "and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost."
Martyrdom of Stephen
Act 7:56-58a and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.
When Stephen saw the Lord he became oblivious to pain before the multitudes ran at him and stoned him.
Faith of Paul in His words
2Tim 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, *there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness*, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul was stoned, scourged and beaten many times and these strengthened his faith to finish the race. Our Lord will reward all who love His appearing and fearless of death, with crowns of righteousness.
Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Heb 11:35b-36a Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Read Heb 11)
Brethren, can we have similar faith to Moses, the prophets and Jesus' disciples, who loved not their lives by giving up earthly comforts, riches and powers and willing to suffer for their eternal rewards?
