I am sure in most cases a martyr would rather live than die, just not at the cost of denying his faith.
By the way, being martyred is still being murdered. Jesus for instance, was a martyr, yet He was most certainly murdered (Acts 7:52). Had He had His way, He would have taken another way (Lk 22:42), but He desired that the Father's will be done over His own, so He chose martyrdom.
Many of the prophets were martyred, yet it is still said that they were murdered (Mat. 23:35).
Martyrdom is something done to a person by another person (or system, such as a wicked govt. or institution).
Let's look at some very similar statements from Revelation. I can interpret these all consistently.
Rev 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John was exiled "becuase of the word of God". He was "a fellow partaker" in some kind of tribulation. As we'll see below, the audience of this book, were also being persecuted.
Rev 6:9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
Rev 6:10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
These were slain "because of the word of God".
Rev 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
These were beheaded "because of the word of God".
In all three verses, these people have had something done to them, because there were others who did not like what they believed. They all stood firm in the word of God and chose exile, being slain, and being beheaded respectively. It only makes sense, to interpret (at least the latter two, since the first is not a vision, and should be taken litterally) as symbolizeing something similar the the things the visions contained. Namely being killed, or punished, "becuase of the word of God".
It needs to be made clear that part of the purpose of Revelation was to give encouragement to those being persecuted. See the following verses relevent to the topic of persecution.
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
In these three verses we see a group of believers who are gonig through
actual suffering and persecution as this is literal, and not part of any vision, but of the epistle section of the book.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, h
aving great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [-these verses are symbolic of the persecution of the remnant]
I have made my case biblically. Comparing this passage with others that are unmistakably about martyrdom. These verses all support the notion that Rev. 20:4, in keeping with the general theme of the book, and the fact that in at least two other cases, suffering and persecution were "becasue of the word", that "beheaded"
, is also about martyrdom/persecution. Hopefully you are willing to discuss Rev. 20 as part of Revelation. All of these things must be taken into account, as they are part of the context of the vision in chap. 20.
Each of us has a choice each day to deny Christ or live faithfully. Paul said, "I die daily" (1 Cor 15:31) reaffirming his [spiritual] martyrdom.
I don't think Paul is talking about "spiritual death" there. Look at the verse in it's context.
1Co 15:30 Why are we also in danger every hour?
1Co 15:31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.
Paul is saying that he faces death everyday. He faces
actual martyrdom.
He says a similar statement in Romans.
Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
Again, actual martyrdom is in view. Not spiritual martyrdom (whatever that is!).
God bless,
