BE WATCHFUL UNTIL THE END

BE WATCHFUL UNTIL THE END

THE CALL TO VIGILANCE

Key Scripture

📖 1 Peter 5:8–9 (NKJV)

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

📖 Revelation 12:10–11 (NKJV)

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.'"

Introduction

There is a danger that increases as the journey lengthens. It is the danger of growing complacent. It is the danger of letting down your guard. It is the danger of becoming so accustomed to the battle that you no longer feel its urgency. When you first became a Christian, you were alert. You watched for the enemy. You resisted temptation. You prayed without ceasing. You read the Word with hunger. You were vigilant. But as time passed, the urgency faded. The vigilance waned. The watchfulness diminished. And the enemy, who never sleeps, who never rests, who never stops seeking whom he may devour, found an open door.

The Apostle Peter understood this danger. He wrote to believers who were suffering persecution, facing opposition, and enduring trials. He did not tell them to relax. He did not tell them the battle was over. He said, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The Greek word for "sober" is nēphō, which means to be sober, to be watchful, to be clear-headed, or to be free from intoxication. The word for "vigilant" is grēgoreō, which means to watch, to be awake, to be alert, or to be on guard. The word for "adversary" is antidikos, which means an opponent, an enemy, or an accuser. The word for "devil" is diabolos, which means slanderer, accuser, or adversary. The word for "walks about" is peripateō, which means to walk around, to roam, or to prowl. The word for "roaring" is ōryomai, which means to roar, to howl, or to scream. The word for "seeking" is zēteō, which means to seek, to search for, or to desire. The word for "devour" is katapinō, which means to swallow, to consume, or to destroy.

Peter is saying, "Be alert. Be watchful. Be on guard. Because your enemy, the devil, is roaming around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He is not asleep. He is not passive. He is not indifferent. He is actively seeking to destroy you. He is actively seeking to devour you. He is actively seeking to devour your faith, your joy, your peace, your family, your calling, and your destiny."

And then Peter adds, "Resist him, steadfast in the faith." The Greek word for "resist" is anthistēmi, which means to stand against, to oppose, to withstand, or to resist. The phrase "steadfast in the faith" is stereos tē pistei, which means solid, firm, or strong in the faith. We are to resist the devil with a solid, firm, unshakable faith. And Peter adds a word of comfort: "Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." You are not alone. Your brothers and sisters around the world are fighting the same battle.

The Apostle John gives us a powerful picture of the victory in Revelation 12:10–11. He writes, "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.'"

The Greek word for "accuser" is katēgōr, which means an accuser, a prosecutor, or one who brings charges. The word for "brethren" is adelphos, which means brothers, believers, or the family of God. The word for "accused" is katēgoreō, which means to accuse, to bring charges, or to prosecute. The word for "overcame" is nikaō, which means to overcome, to conquer, to prevail, or to be victorious. The word for "blood" is haima, which refers to the blood of Christ, the atoning sacrifice. The word for "Lamb" is arnion, which refers to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The word for "word" is logos, which means a word, a message, or a testimony. The word for "testimony" is martyria, which means a testimony, a witness, or a declaration. The phrase "did not love their lives" is ouk agapaō tēn psychēn autōn, which means they did not love their own lives, they did not cling to their own lives, they did not put their own lives above Christ.

John is saying, "The accuser of the brethren has been cast down. He accused them before God day and night. But they overcame him. They conquered him. They prevailed against him. How? By the blood of the Lamb. By the word of their testimony. And by not loving their lives to the death. They overcame the enemy through the finished work of Christ, through their bold testimony, and through their willingness to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel."

This teaching is for everyone who is in the battle. It is for the one who has grown weary. It is for the one who has let down their guard. It is for the one who has become complacent. It is for the one who needs to be reminded to be watchful until the end. It is time to wake up. It is time to be sober. It is time to be vigilant. It is time to resist the devil. It is time to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. It is time to be watchful until the end.

Biblical Truth

1 Peter 5:8–9 and Revelation 12:10–11 together provide a powerful biblical framework for understanding the importance of watchfulness until the end. They reveal that we have a real enemy who seeks to devour us, and that we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and our willingness to lay down our lives.

1 Peter 5:8–9 is a wake-up call to every believer. Peter writes, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

The Greek word for "sober" is nēphō, which means to be sober, to be watchful, to be clear-headed, or to be free from intoxication. It is the opposite of being drunk, distracted, or spiritually dull. It is the picture of a soldier who is alert, focused, and ready for battle. Peter is saying, "Do not be drunk with the things of this world. Do not be distracted by the cares of this life. Do not be dulled by sin. Be sober. Be clear-headed. Be focused."

The Greek word for "vigilant" is grēgoreō, which means to watch, to be awake, to be alert, or to be on guard. It is the same word used in Matthew 24:42, where Jesus says, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." It is the same word used in Matthew 26:41, where Jesus says, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation." It is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 16:13, where Paul says, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." Peter is saying, "Be awake. Be alert. Be on guard. Do not be caught sleeping. Do not be caught off guard. The enemy is active. You must be active too."

The Greek word for "adversary" is antidikos, which means an opponent, an enemy, or an accuser. It is a legal term used for the opposing party in a lawsuit. The word for "devil" is diabolos, which means slanderer, accuser, or adversary. It is the same word used in Revelation 12:10, where John says, "The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." The devil is our adversary. He is our enemy. He is our accuser. He is not a myth. He is not a symbol. He is not a metaphor. He is a real, personal, malevolent being who hates God, hates His people, and seeks to destroy them.

The Greek word for "walks about" is peripateō, which means to walk around, to roam, or to prowl. It is a present tense verb, indicating ongoing action. The devil is not sitting still. He is not passive. He is not idle. He is roaming. He is prowling. He is seeking. The word for "seeking" is zēteō, which means to seek, to search for, or to desire. The devil is actively searching for someone to devour. He is looking for a weak spot. He is looking for an open door. He is looking for a vulnerable target.

The Greek word for "roaring" is ōryomai, which means to roar, to howl, or to scream. It is the picture of a lion that is hungry, aggressive, and dangerous. The devil is not a cuddly kitten. He is not a harmless house cat. He is a roaring lion. He is fierce. He is terrifying. He is deadly. And he is seeking to devour. The Greek word for "devour" is katapinō, which means to swallow, to consume, or to destroy. The devil wants to swallow you up. He wants to consume you. He wants to destroy you. He wants to destroy your faith. He wants to destroy your witness. He wants to destroy your family. He wants to destroy your destiny.

But Peter does not leave us without a command. He says, "Resist him, steadfast in the faith." The Greek word for "resist" is anthistēmi, which means to stand against, to oppose, to withstand, or to resist. It is an aorist imperative, indicating a decisive action. Peter is saying, "Stand against him. Oppose him. Resist him. Do not run from him. Do not yield to him. Do not compromise with him. Resist him." The phrase "steadfast in the faith" is stereos tē pistei, which means solid, firm, or strong in the faith. We are to resist the devil with a solid, firm, unshakable faith.

And then Peter adds a word of comfort: "Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." The Greek word for "sufferings" is pathēma, which means suffering, affliction, or passion. The word for "brotherhood" is adelphotēs, which means brotherhood, family, or community. Peter is saying, "You are not alone in your suffering. You are not the only one who is being attacked. Your brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same things. You are part of a family. You are part of a body. You are not alone."

Revelation 12:10–11 expands on this truth. John writes, "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.'"

The Greek word for "accuser" is katēgōr, which means an accuser, a prosecutor, or one who brings charges. It is the same word used in John 8:10, where the Pharisees brought the woman caught in adultery before Jesus. It is the same word used in Acts 23:35, where Paul's accusers were commanded to appear before Felix. The devil is the accuser. He accuses us before God day and night. He points out our sins. He reminds us of our failures. He condemns us. He tells us we are not worthy. He tells us we are not forgiven. He tells us we are not loved. He tells us we are not saved.

The Greek word for "accused" is katēgoreō, which means to accuse, to bring charges, or to prosecute. The devil is a prosecutor. He brings charges against us. He presents evidence of our guilt. He demands judgment. He demands condemnation. He demands punishment.

But John says, "They overcame him." The Greek word for "overcame" is nikaō, which means to overcome, to conquer, to prevail, or to be victorious. It is the same word used in John 16:33, where Jesus says, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." It is the same word used in Romans 8:37, where Paul says, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." It is the same word used in 1 John 5:4, where John says, "And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." They overcame him. They conquered him. They prevailed against him. They were victorious over him.

How did they overcome him? First, "by the blood of the Lamb." The Greek word for "blood" is haima, which refers to the blood of Christ, the atoning sacrifice. The word for "Lamb" is arnion, which refers to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The blood of Jesus is the foundation of our victory. It is the blood that cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). It is the blood that redeems us (Ephesians 1:7). It is the blood that justifies us (Romans 5:9). It is the blood that sanctifies us (Hebrews 13:12). It is the blood that gives us access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19). It is the blood that defeats the enemy (Colossians 2:15). The devil accuses us, but the blood of Jesus declares us forgiven. The devil condemns us, but the blood of Jesus declares us righteous. The devil points to our sins, but the blood of Jesus covers them all. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb.

Second, "by the word of their testimony." The Greek word for "word" is logos, which means a word, a message, or a testimony. The word for "testimony" is martyria, which means a testimony, a witness, or a declaration. We overcome by the word of our testimony. We declare what God has done for us. We declare that we are forgiven. We declare that we are redeemed. We declare that we are righteous in Christ. We declare that we are children of God. We declare that we are more than conquerors. We declare that the enemy is defeated. We declare that the victory is won. We speak the truth. We speak the Word of God. We speak our testimony. And the enemy flees.

Third, "and they did not love their lives to the death." The Greek phrase ouk agapaō tēn psychēn autōn means they did not love their own lives, they did not cling to their own lives, they did not put their own lives above Christ. They were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel. They were willing to die for their faith. They were willing to pay the ultimate price. They did not love their lives more than they loved Christ. They did not love their lives more than they loved the truth. They did not love their lives more than they loved the Kingdom. They were willing to die. And because they were willing to die, they could not be defeated. The enemy can kill the body, but he cannot kill the soul. The enemy can take your life, but he cannot take your salvation. The enemy can destroy your possessions, but he cannot destroy your reward. When you are willing to lay down your life, you are unshakeable. You are unbeatable. You are invincible.

The principle of watchfulness until the end is woven throughout Scripture. Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray (Matthew 26:41). He told them to be watchful for His return (Mark 13:33-37). He told them to be ready (Matthew 24:44). Paul told the Corinthians to watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). He told the Colossians to continue steadfastly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2). He told the Thessalonians to watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Peter told the believers to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). John told the churches to hold fast until I come (Revelation 2:25). The pattern is clear: the people of God are watchful. They are vigilant. They are alert. They are on guard. They do not sleep. They do not slumber. They do not become complacent. They watch until the end.

The example of Jesus is our ultimate model. Jesus was watchful until the end. He was watchful in the wilderness. He was watchful in His ministry. He was watchful in the garden. He was watchful on the cross. He did not let down His guard. He did not become complacent. He did not grow weary. He endured to the end. He finished the work. He overcame the world. And He calls us to be watchful until the end.

What We Often Get Wrong

The first and most common error is that we grow complacent. We start well. We begin with vigilance. We watch for the enemy. We resist temptation. We pray without ceasing. We read the Word with hunger. But as time passes, the urgency fades. The vigilance wanes. The watchfulness diminishes. We let down our guard. We become comfortable. We become distracted. We become dull. And the enemy, who never sleeps, finds an open door.

Second, we believe the battle is over. We think that once we are saved, once we are forgiven, once we are adopted into God's family, the war is over. We think that the enemy will leave us alone. We think that we can relax, coast, and enjoy the Christian life. But this is a lie. The battle does not end when you become a Christian. It begins when you become a Christian. The enemy is not going to leave you alone. He is going to attack you. He is going to tempt you. He is going to oppose you. He is going to try to destroy you. You must be watchful until the end.

Third, we are not sober. We are drunk with the things of this world. We are intoxicated with entertainment. We are distracted by the cares of this life. We are dulled by sin. We are not clear-headed. We are not focused. We are not alert. We are not ready for battle. Peter says, "Be sober." We must wake up. We must clear our heads. We must focus our minds. We must be ready for battle.

Fourth, we are not vigilant. We are asleep. We are slumbering. We are not watching. We are not praying. We are not on guard. We are not paying attention to the enemy's movements. We are not discerning his schemes. We are not watching for his attacks. Peter says, "Be vigilant." We must stay awake. We must watch. We must pray. We must be on guard.

Fifth, we do not resist the devil. When the devil attacks, we do not stand against him. We do not oppose him. We do not resist him. We run from him. We yield to him. We compromise with him. We give in to his temptations. But Peter says, "Resist him." We must stand against the devil. We must oppose him. We must resist him. We must not give him an inch.

Sixth, we do not overcome by the blood of the Lamb. We try to overcome the enemy in our own strength. We try to defeat him in our own power. We try to resist him in our own ability. But we cannot overcome the enemy in our own strength. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. We overcome by the finished work of Christ. We overcome by the victory that He has already won. We must rely on the blood. We must trust in the blood. We must plead the blood.

Seventh, we do not speak the word of our testimony. We do not declare what God has done for us. We do not testify of His goodness. We do not proclaim His faithfulness. We do not share our story. But we overcome by the word of our testimony. We must speak. We must declare. We must testify. We must proclaim. Our testimony is a weapon. Our testimony is a sword. Our testimony is a shield. We must use it.

God's Perspective

God views your watchfulness as a sign of your love for Him. When you are watchful, when you are vigilant, when you are on guard, you are demonstrating that you love God. You are demonstrating that you value your relationship with Him. You are demonstrating that you are not willing to let anything come between you and Him. Watchfulness is an act of love. And God honors those who love Him.

God's perspective is that He is your protector. He does not leave you to face the enemy alone. He does not leave you to fight the battle by yourself. He is your shield. He is your fortress. He is your refuge. He is your strength. He is your deliverer. He is the one who watches over you. He is the one who protects you. He is the one who keeps you. He never slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4). He is always watching over you. You are not alone. He is with you.

God sees your resistance as an act of faith. When you resist the devil, you are demonstrating that you trust God. You are demonstrating that you believe God is greater than the enemy. You are demonstrating that you believe God's Word is true. You are demonstrating that you believe God has already won the victory. Resistance is an act of faith. And God honors faith.

God's perspective is that the blood of Jesus is your victory. The blood of Jesus is the foundation of your salvation. It is the blood that cleanses you. It is the blood that redeems you. It is the blood that justifies you. It is the blood that sanctifies you. It is the blood that gives you access to the Father. It is the blood that defeats the enemy. The devil accuses you, but the blood of Jesus declares you forgiven. The devil condemns you, but the blood of Jesus declares you righteous. The devil points to your sins, but the blood of Jesus covers them all. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb.

God sees your testimony as a weapon against the enemy. Your testimony is not just a story. It is a weapon. It is a sword. It is a shield. When you declare what God has done for you, you are pushing back the darkness. When you testify of His goodness, you are silencing the accuser. When you proclaim His faithfulness, you are strengthening your brothers and sisters. Your testimony is powerful. Use it.

God's perspective is that He will give you the victory. The battle is not yours; it is His. He has already won. He has overcome the world. He has overcome sin. He has overcome death. He has overcome the devil. Trust Him for the victory. Trust Him to fight for you. Trust Him to bring you through. Trust Him. He is faithful. He will give you the victory.

Practical Application

Be Sober: Be clear-headed. Be focused. Be alert. Do not be intoxicated with the things of this world. Do not be distracted by the cares of this life. Do not be dulled by sin. Be sober. Be clear-headed. Be ready for battle.

Be Vigilant: Be awake. Be watchful. Be on guard. Do not sleep. Do not slumber. Do not be caught off guard. Watch. Pray. Pay attention to the enemy's movements. Discern his schemes. Be vigilant.

Resist the Devil: Stand against him. Oppose him. Resist him. Do not run from him. Do not yield to him. Do not compromise with him. Resist him with a solid, firm, unshakable faith. Resist him with the Word of God. Resist him in the name of Jesus. Resist him, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb: The blood of Jesus is your victory. Plead the blood. Trust in the blood. Rely on the blood. Declare that you are forgiven by the blood. Declare that you are redeemed by the blood. Declare that you are righteous by the blood. Declare that you are victorious by the blood. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb.

Speak the Word of Your Testimony: Do not be silent. Speak. Declare. Testify. Proclaim. Share your story. Tell others what God has done for you. Tell them how He saved you. Tell them how He delivered you. Tell them how He healed you. Tell them how He provided for you. Your testimony is a weapon. Use it.

Do Not Love Your Life to the Death: Be willing to lay down your life for the sake of the Gospel. Be willing to die for your faith. Be willing to pay the ultimate price. Do not love your life more than you love Christ. Do not love your life more than you love the truth. Do not love your life more than you love the Kingdom. When you are willing to die, you cannot be defeated.

Watch Until the End: Do not give up. Do not quit. Do not turn back. Do not become complacent. Do not let down your guard. Watch until the end. Be vigilant until the end. Resist until the end. Overcome until the end. Stand firm until the end. And when the end comes, you will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Ask Yourself

Am I watchful?

Am I sober?

Am I vigilant?

Am I resisting the devil?

Am I overcoming by the blood of the Lamb?

Am I speaking the word of my testimony?

Am I willing to lay down my life for the sake of the Gospel?

Am I watchful until the end?

Reflection

Be watchful until the end. This is the truth. This is the call. This is the invitation. There is a danger that increases as the journey lengthens. It is the danger of growing complacent. It is the danger of letting down your guard. It is the danger of becoming so accustomed to the battle that you no longer feel its urgency. When you first became a Christian, you were alert. You watched for the enemy. You resisted temptation. You prayed without ceasing. You read the Word with hunger. You were vigilant. But as time passed, the urgency faded. The vigilance waned. The watchfulness diminished. And the enemy, who never sleeps, who never rests, who never stops seeking whom he may devour, found an open door.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. This is the command. This is the call. This is the invitation. Be sober. Be vigilant. Resist the devil. Stand firm in the faith. You are not alone. Your brothers and sisters are fighting the same battle.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. This is the truth. This is the promise. This is the invitation. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb. You overcome by the word of your testimony. You overcome by not loving your life to the death. The blood of Jesus is your victory. Your testimony is your weapon. Your willingness to die is your strength. Overcome. Overcome. Overcome.

So be watchful until the end. Be sober. Be vigilant. Resist the devil. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Speak the word of your testimony. Do not love your life to the death. Watch until the end. And you will discover that when you are watchful until the end, when you resist the devil, when you overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, you will stand firm. You will be victorious. You will overcome. You will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." You will enter into the joy of your Lord. Be watchful until the end.

Prayer

Father, I confess that I have grown complacent. I have let down my guard. I have become distracted. I have become dull. I have not been sober. I have not been vigilant. I have not been resisting the devil. Forgive me. Today, I choose to be watchful. I choose to be sober. I choose to be vigilant. I choose to resist the devil. I choose to overcome by the blood of the Lamb. I choose to speak the word of my testimony. I choose to not love my life to the death. Help me to be watchful until the end. Help me to be sober. Help me to be vigilant. Help me to resist the devil. Help me to overcome. Help me to stand firm. I know that the enemy is active. I know that he is seeking to devour me. But I also know that You are greater. You are my protector. You are my shield. You are my fortress. You are my victory. I overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. I will be watchful until the end. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Declaration

I declare that I will be watchful until the end. I will be sober. I will be vigilant. I will resist the devil. I will stand firm in the faith. I will overcome by the blood of the Lamb. I will speak the word of my testimony. I will not love my life to the death. The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But I will not be devoured. I will resist him. I will stand against him. I will oppose him. I will withstand him. He will flee from me. I overcome by the blood of the Lamb. I overcome by the word of my testimony. I overcome by not loving my life to the death. I am watchful. I am sober. I am vigilant. I am alert. I am on guard. I am ready for battle. I will watch until the end. I will be vigilant until the end. I will resist until the end. I will overcome until the end. I will stand firm until the end. I will be watchful until the end. I will be watchful until the end. I will be watchful until the end.

Concluding Scripture

📖 Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

A Final Word

Be watchful until the end. This is the truth. This is the call. This is the invitation. There is a danger that increases as the journey lengthens. It is the danger of growing complacent. It is the danger of letting down your guard. It is the danger of becoming so accustomed to the battle that you no longer feel its urgency. When you first became a Christian, you were alert. You watched for the enemy. You resisted temptation. You prayed without ceasing. You read the Word with hunger. You were vigilant. But as time passed, the urgency faded. The vigilance waned. The watchfulness diminished. And the enemy, who never sleeps, who never rests, who never stops seeking whom he may devour, found an open door.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. This is the command. This is the call. This is the invitation. Be sober. Be vigilant. Resist the devil. Stand firm in the faith. You are not alone. Your brothers and sisters are fighting the same battle.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. This is the truth. This is the promise. This is the invitation. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb. You overcome by the word of your testimony. You overcome by not loving your life to the death. The blood of Jesus is your victory. Your testimony is your weapon. Your willingness to die is your strength. Overcome. Overcome. Overcome.

So be watchful until the end. Be sober. Be vigilant. Resist the devil. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Speak the word of your testimony. Do not love your life to the death. Watch until the end. And you will discover that when you are watchful until the end, when you resist the devil, when you overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, you will stand firm. You will be victorious. You will overcome. You will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." You will enter into the joy of your Lord. Be watchful until the end.