Justice: God is the God of justice. If the earthly king is “an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Rom. 13:1-4), much more shall the “King of the nations” (15:3) and “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (1:5) punish all who corrupt^[1] the earth (11:18). Whether it is Satan and his angels, the beast and his false prophet, or those who worship the beast and receive his mark, the King of kings will sharpen His sword (Ps. 7:12) and bring those wretches to their wretched end (Mt. 25:41; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:10). Both in this age and in the one to come, God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished (Ex. 34:7) but will repay everyone according to their deeds (Mt. 16:27; Rom. 2:5-6). Mercy in the blood of Jesus is for all who repent and follow Him (14:4; Is. 55:7).

Overcomers: Satan enrages the nations against the saints who follow Christ on the earth (14:8; 17:2, 6). He first tries to persecute Israel. But when he fails (12:13-16), he goes after the remnant of Israel, the saints, who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus (12:17; 14:12). He sends two human deputies to harass and harm faithful believers: the antichrist and his false prophet. But the saints resist and overcome them (12:11). They neither believe their signs and wonders (13:3, 13), nor do they succumb to their massive worldwide power (13:2, 12). Whether in captivity, sword, or economic pressure (13:10, 17), they persevere and remain faithful to their Savior even unto death (12:11). Through death, they gain their lives (Mk. 8:35; Jn. 12:25) and bear God’s name (14:1). We are to take heed and become overcomers in Christ like them (13:9), redeemed by His blood (14:4; 5:9), shepherded and led by Him (14:4), obedient to His commandments (12:17; 14:12).

^[1] “Destroy” in Rev. 11:18 is διαφθείρω, which has the double meaning of destroy and corrupt, as it is here.