The term “conquered” was a key word in the seven letters Jesus had sent to the churches (Revelation 2:1–29, Revelation 3:1–22); it appeared at the end of each letter in the context of the reward the Lord would give to each person who “conquered.” The term appeared again concerning Jesus Christ when he took the scroll from God’s hand (Revelation 5:5), as well as in relation to the vision of Christ riding forth on the white horse (Revelation 6:2). In Revelation 12:11 the “brothers” “have conquered” the dragon. In line with those passages, John can now characterize the saints in heaven as persons who “conquered” the beast. The point of the term is that they refused to worship the beast, and that refusal, even to death, expresses victory over the beast.
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.