Revelation 14 12

Revelation 14:12 kjv

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 nkjv

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 niv

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 esv

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 nlt

This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14 verses

Revelation 14 12 Meaning

Revelation 14:12 concisely describes the unwavering characteristics of God's people who remain faithful amidst intense end-time tribulations. This verse emphasizes their patient endurance in suffering, their steadfast obedience to God's divine commands, and their deep, active loyalty to Jesus Christ. It sets them apart from those who succumb to the world's pressures and worship the Beast, serving as both an affirmation and an example of genuine Christian commitment under extreme duress.

Revelation 14 12 Context

Revelation 14:12 appears immediately following the urgent warning from the third angel (Rev 14:9-11), which details the severe, eternal consequences for those who worship the Beast and receive its mark. This grim pronouncement highlights the extreme spiritual battle taking place. In stark contrast to the dire fate of the Beast-worshippers, verse 12 describes the identifying characteristics of God's loyal followers. It serves as an encouraging beacon, revealing what true perseverance looks like for the saints in a world increasingly hostile to Christ. The chapter itself unfolds a series of contrasts: the redeemed 144,000 on Mount Zion (representing faithful believers) set against those devoted to the Beast. The angelic messages present the choice before humanity: worship the Creator or worship the Beast. Historically, for John's original audience facing Roman imperial cult pressure, the verse provided vital instruction on remaining faithful through enduring hardship, obeying God’s moral precepts, and holding firm to their allegiance to Jesus Christ in a society that demanded their loyalty to the Emperor. It countered contemporary pressures to compromise one’s faith for economic or social survival, affirming that ultimate loyalty belonged to God alone.

Revelation 14 12 Word analysis

• Ὠδε (Hōde): "Here is" / "Here are": An emphatic adverb, meaning "here," "this is where," or "at this point." It serves to draw strong attention to the description that follows, highlighting the defining qualities of the saints as critically important and clearly distinguishable from those who choose the Beast.
• ὑπομονή (hypomonē): "patience" / "endurance" / "perseverance": This Greek term denotes active, steadfast persistence and fortitude in the face of difficulties, suffering, and opposition. It is not passive resignation but courageous endurance that holds fast to conviction, reflecting a tenacious refusal to yield or abandon faith under pressure.
• τῶν ἁγίων (tōn hagiōn): "of the saints" / "of the holy ones": From hagios, meaning "holy," "set apart." It refers to those who are consecrated to God, separated from the world and dedicated to His service through Christ. In Revelation, "saints" specifically identifies God's faithful people who persevere despite intense persecution, standing in stark contrast to the unholy world system.
• οἱ τηροῦντες (hoi tērountes): "those who keep" / "the ones guarding": A present active participle of tēreō, which means "to watch over," "guard," "preserve," or "obey." This implies an active and continuous adherence to, and careful preservation of, God's commands, not just passive knowledge but lived obedience.
• τὰς ἐντολὰς (tas entolas): "the commandments": From entolē, referring to divine precepts, ordinances, and moral injunctions. This encompasses the whole revealed will of God, His ethical and spiritual standards for righteous living, applicable to New Testament believers as taught by Christ and the apostles.
• τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "of God": Specifies the divine origin and ultimate authority of these commandments, establishing them as absolute and binding for the faithful.
• καὶ (kai): "and": A crucial conjunction linking the two defining characteristics ("commandments of God" and "faith of Jesus"). It signifies that both are equally essential and interconnected aspects of true discipleship, implying that one cannot genuinely exist without the other in the life of a saint.
• τὴν πίστιν (tēn pistin): "the faith": From pistis, encompassing both belief, trust, and faithfulness. This phrase is critically interpreted in two ways:
  • Subjective Genitive: "Their faith in Jesus." The personal belief, trust, and reliance that the saints have in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
  • Objective Genitive: "The faithfulness of Jesus." Jesus' own steadfast loyalty and fidelity to God the Father, even unto death, which serves as both the object of our faith and the supreme model for our own faithfulness.In context, it likely carries the weight of both interpretations, signifying unwavering trust in who Jesus is and absolute allegiance to Him, demonstrating the same fidelity He showed.
• Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou): "Jesus": The specific name of the Lord Jesus Christ, underscoring that loyalty and trust are centered personally on Him as the object and source of this defining characteristic.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Here is the patience of the saints": This phrase serves as a pronouncement, identifying patient endurance as the preeminent, distinguishing mark of God's holy people in a time of testing. Their character is defined by this steadfast, active perseverance.
• "here are those who keep the commandments of God": This defines the saints by their ethical and moral conduct—their obedience to God's divine will. It demonstrates that their faith is not merely intellectual assent but is expressed through practical righteousness and a lifestyle aligned with divine standards, setting them apart from the Beast's lawlessness.
• "and the faith of Jesus": This critically links their obedience to their core relationship with Jesus. It means not only their saving trust in Jesus as Savior but also their resolute faithfulness to Him as Lord, reflecting His own ultimate loyalty to the Father. This twin characteristic—obedience flowing from faith in and faithfulness to Christ—empowers them to endure without compromising with the world system.

Revelation 14 12 Bonus section

• The dual emphasis on "commandments of God" and "faith of Jesus" highlights that biblical faithfulness is never just about rules, nor is it about an abstract faith devoid of action. It's a holistic devotion where theological conviction (faith) naturally expresses itself in practical living (obedience).
• This verse can be seen as echoing the core message of the First Angel (Rev 14:6-7) to "fear God and give him glory, and worship him who made heaven and earth," which fundamentally encapsulates keeping God's commandments (especially regarding idolatry) and recognizing His ultimate authority over all.
• The "patience" mentioned here is the essential virtue that allows believers to uphold both their obedience and their faith in Jesus in the face of life-threatening pressures, making it the practical outcome of their other two characteristics.

Revelation 14 12 Commentary

Revelation 14:12 stands as a pivotal verse, defining true believers amidst the end-time spiritual conflict described in the preceding passages. It follows a grave warning about the worship of the Beast, providing a powerful contrast and a clear delineation of those who remain loyal to God. The core of their identity rests on "patience" (hypomonē), an active endurance reflecting unwavering commitment despite suffering and persecution. This perseverance is intrinsically tied to two fundamental pillars of their faith: first, "keeping the commandments of God," which underscores that genuine faith involves practical, ethical obedience to God’s revealed will. This separates them from the moral compromise prevalent in a world that serves the Beast. Second, "the faith of Jesus," a crucial element meaning both their personal trust in Jesus for salvation and their active, unwavering faithfulness to Him as their Lord, even unto death. This fidelity mirrors Christ's own steadfastness. Therefore, the verse presents true discipleship as a harmonious blend of steadfast allegiance to Christ's person and sacrificial work, coupled with a life of active obedience to God's commands. It reassures and empowers those who remain faithful in times of tribulation, promising divine affirmation for their resolute stand against the forces of apostasy and worldly compromise.