Revelation 13:10
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This verse isn't just a poetic prediction of future retribution; it's a profound reminder that suffering isn't random. The phrasing suggests that God has appointed these trials, not as punishments for the saints, but as tests of their endurance and faith.
If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John is describing the terrifying power of the beast that rises from the sea, which has authority over all peoples and demands worship. This verse serves as a somber instruction to believers facing persecution from this beastly empire, warning them against retaliating with violence and instead calling them to patient endurance. The passage emphasizes that those who inflict suffering will ultimately face divine judgment themselves, highlighting the steadfast faith required of God's people.
When facing intense pressure and persecution, it's natural to wonder about justice. Revelation 13:10 speaks directly to this, offering a stark warning to those who inflict suffering.
The first part of this verse is a powerful declaration of divine retribution. It states, 'He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.' This isn't just a saying; it's a principle woven into God's justice. It echoes the ancient principle of 'an eye for an eye' but on a cosmic scale.
This means that those who aggressively oppress, imprison, and kill God's people will ultimately face a similar fate. Their own actions will rebound upon them. This isn't about believers taking vengeance into their own hands, but about God ensuring that justice is served and that violence ultimately consumes the violent.
Think of it as a boomerang effect. The forces that seek to destroy and enslave will themselves be overthrown and brought down. This assurance is crucial for those experiencing severe hardship.
In the face of overwhelming power and brutal persecution, what is the believer's response? Revelation 13:10 gives us the answer, and it might surprise you.
Right after the declaration of judgment on oppressors, the verse pivots to the response of God's people: 'Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.' This is the core command for believers caught in the crossfire.
It's a call to endurance – not passive resignation, but a steadfast, persistent holding on, even when suffering intensifies. It's about continuing to trust God and live faithfully despite immense pressure to conform or give up.
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It's also a call to faith. This means believing in God's ultimate sovereignty, His promises, and His power to save, even when circumstances look hopeless. It's a faith that doesn't rely on worldly power or violence, but on God's unseen reality and His plan.
This verse teaches that the true victory for the saints isn't in fighting back with the world's weapons, but in demonstrating unwavering faith and patient endurance. Their resilience is their witness and their ultimate triumph.
Understand the original words
hypomone · Greek Noun
The steadfast, patient, and persistent hope-filled perseverance of the believer in the face of suffering, opposition, or trial.
pistis · Greek Noun
A confident, active trust in the reliability, promises, and faithfulness of God, which serves as the foundation for the Christian life.
This verse speaks to believers facing intense persecution, reminding them that their oppressors will ultimately face divine judgment, just as their own suffering is part of a divinely ordained path of endurance and faith, echoing Old Testament prophecies and Jesus' own teachings.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian Exile. This event is referenced in Jeremiah 15:2 as a precursor to future suffering.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and a large portion of the remaining population is exiled. Jeremiah's prophecies, including those about inevitable captivity and death by the sword, are acutely relevant.
c. AD 33
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified by Roman authorities. His own words, 'all who draw the sword will die by the sword,' echo the sentiment of this verse and underscore the path of suffering.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome. Emperor Nero blames the Christians, initiating the first major state-sponsored persecution against them.
c. AD 90-96— this verse
Domitian's Persecution
Emperor Domitian intensifies persecution against Christians and Jewish Christians who refuse to worship him as 'Lord and God.' This period of intense pressure tests the faith and endurance of believers.
c. AD 110-117
Trajan's Persecution
Under Emperor Trajan, Christians are still subject to persecution, though his policy is to punish only those accused and convicted, without actively seeking them out. This continued pressure demands sustained faith.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment that individuals will face the fate appointed to them, whether it be death, the sword, famine, or captivity, underscoring the idea of divinely ordained outcomes for different circumstances.
Matthew 26:52Jesus' own words here provide a strong parallel, warning that those who 'take the sword shall perish with the sword,' directly aligning with the principle of retribution mentioned in Revelation 13:10.
Romans 12:19This verse encourages believers not to take vengeance themselves but to leave it to God, which resonates with the call for endurance and faith in Revelation 13:10, trusting God for ultimate justice rather than resorting to worldly methods.
2 Timothy 2:3Paul calls believers to endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ, a concept that directly ties into the 'endurance and faith of the saints' mentioned in Revelation 13:10, highlighting the call to steadfastness in the face of suffering.
Revelation 14:12This passage describes the characteristics of the saints in contrast to those who follow the beast, emphasizing their perseverance in keeping God's commands and their faith in Jesus, mirroring the 'patience and faith' called for in verse 10.
ellicottRevelation 13:10: "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."
(10) This verse may read: If any one ( is ) for captivity, into captivity he goeth; if any one to be hilled by the sword, he should by the sword be killed. If we read the verse thus, it is generally understood to be a caution to the suffering saints that there is nothing for them but to endure, just as Jeremia…
pulpitRevelation 13:10: "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."
Verse 10. - 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. There is a twofold difficulty in this verse: first, as to the correct text; secondly, as to the meaning. There are two chief readin…
This verse isn't just a poetic prediction of future retribution; it's a profound reminder that suffering isn't random. The phrasing suggests that God has appointed these trials, not as punishments for the saints, but as tests of their endurance and faith.
John is describing the terrifying power of the beast that rises from the sea, which has authority over all peoples and demands worship. This verse serves as a somber instruction to believers facing persecution from this beastly empire, warning them against retaliating with violence and instead calling them to patient endurance. The passage emphasizes that those who inflict suffering will ultimately face divine judgment themselves, highlighting the steadfast faith required of God's people.
John is describing the terrifying power of the beast that rises from the sea, which has authority over all peoples and demands worship. This verse serves as a somber instruction to believers facing persecution from this beastly empire, warning them against retaliating with violence and instead calling them to patient endurance. The passage emphasizes that those who inflict suffering will ultimately face divine judgment themselves, highlighting the steadfast faith required of God's people.
"If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.
Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints." — This verse isn't just a poetic prediction of future retribution; it's a profound reminder that suffering isn't random. The phrasing suggests that God has *appointed* these trials, not as punishments…
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Last reviewed October 2026