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Answer
In each of the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor recorded in Revelation, there are promises to those who overcome. Jesus is the giver of these promises, and the overcomer is the one who remains steadfast through trials, holding fast to faith in Christ until the end.
The church at Ephesus is given a promise to those who overcome, that they will be granted to eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”, (Revelation 2:7). The promise to those who overcome in the church at Smyrna is that they will not be hurt by the second death “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”, (Revelation 2:11). In the church at Pergamum, the overcomer will receive manna from heaven and a white stone with a new name written on it “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”, (Revelation 2:17). Those who overcome in the church at Thyatira are promised to rule with Christ in His kingdom “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:”, (Revelation 2:26). For the church at Sardis, the one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments, and his name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”, (Revelation 3:5).
I will be clothed in white garments and will not have my name erased from the book of life; moreover, Jesus will acknowledge my name before the angels and the Father “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”, (Revelation 3:5). To the church at Philadelphia, the victor will become a pillar in the temple of God “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”, (Revelation 3:12). To the church at Laodicea, the one who prevails will sit with Christ on His throne “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”, (Revelation 3:21). These are the assurances in Revelation for the one who conquers.
Throughout the book of Revelation, it is evident that Christ is ultimately the One who conquers. He is the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, who has triumphed “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”, (Revelation 5:5), and He will defeat the ten kings of the beast because He is the King of kings “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen.”, (Revelation 17:14).In Revelation 17:14, John writes that whoever is born of God overcomes the world. In 1 John 5:4a, he also mentions that the victory over the world is through our faith. This victory, or overcoming, is achieved through our belief in Him, as stated in 1 John 5:4b. John further clarifies in 1 John 5:5 that the one who overcomes is the one who believes in Jesus. This clarification is crucial in understanding that believers in Christ have also overcome because Christ has overcome.
This context is significant as it elucidates to the reader of Revelation that believers in Christ can anticipate receiving the promises made to those who overcome:
– To be unharmed by the second death (the second death is the judgment of being separated from God and sentenced to hell, as seen in Revelation 20:6, 14; 21:8)
– To receive manna from heaven
– To receive a white stone with a new name inscribed on it
– To reign with Christ in His forthcoming kingdom
– To be adorned in white garments
– To have their name eternally inscribed in the Book of Life, never to be erased
– To have Jesus confirm their victory
Confess the overcomer’s name before the angels and the Father
— To become a pillar in the temple of God
— To sit with Christ on His throne
