The Fourteen Promises For Overcomers

Uplook2 – December 2019 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Fourteen Promises For OVERCOMERS In Revelation 2-3

John had been a disciple of the Lord Jesus since his teenage years. Around the time when Peter and Paul were executed, John moved to the Roman province of Asia, in present day Turkey. There – in Ephesus and its surrounding area – he served the Lord as His “bondservant” (Rev. 1:2 NASB ). During a severe persecution of the Christians, John was arrested and banished to the island Patmos, where most individuals were forced to labor in mines. While John was on the island, the Lord Jesus presented Himself in His admirable greatness to John, who fell at His feet (vv.10-18). The Lord then instructed His disciple what to write (v.19) to seven of the churches started mainly because of Paul’s labors in Asia. The messages represent seven stages in the history of the Church from its beginning (Acts 2) up to its rapture (1 Th. 4:16-18).

When the Lord’s public reign comes, every knee will be forced to bow (Phil. 2:10), but now He is not yet publicly honored in the way God intends. Meanwhile, however, our Lord looks for a response from willing hearts, just as He received from John, who had been His faithful disciple since the day he first met Him (Jn. 1:9-39). After His death, resurrection and exaltation, Jesus met the fanatic Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, on the Damascus road while he was persecuting the Christians. Jesus received a similar response from him, for he too fell to the ground (Acts 22:7-11). The encounter entirely changed Saul (Phil. 3:4-14).

How about us today? Are we living in hardening and self-will, or are we attracted to Him through faith and love? The Lord Jesus feels it when true love for Him is not present, or when it has diminished in our lives. Does He have to tell us, too, that we have forsaken our first love for Him (Rev. 2:4)?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says” (v.11) is an instruction repeated seven times in Revelation 2–3. How is our ear tuned? Is it tuned to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice (Jn. 10:11-18,27-30)? What blessing and assurance we receive when we hear His voice because of “first love” meaning the Lord Jesus is everything for us. Without the Shepherd’s love and care the sheep would be lost, because without true love for the Lord Jesus – the Good Shepherd – the sheep have nothing. It is that critical for every generation!

“To overcome,” “overcomer,” “conqueror” and “victory” are from the same Greek root and occur a total of 28 times in the New Testament, mostly in John’s writings. The overcomer’s ears are tuned to what the Holy Spirit says through the Scriptures. God’s Word always goes with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit with the Word. This conviction will strengthen overcomers not to be afraid to suffer or be killed as martyrs.

Now, let’s briefly consider the 14 promises for overcomers along with a few aspects of the messages to the seven churches. They addressed special needs at the time and give important instructions for all believers, even today.

Promise 1: The Overcomer’s Fellowship
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. —Revelation 2:7 NKJV

John, the beloved disciple, was always following the Lord Jesus because He meant everything to him. The apostle was therefore concerned about the believers in Ephesus he had tutored and served, for the Lord showed John that their love for Him had diminished or was no longer present in their lives. What John wrote helps us to be overcomers, just as he had learned from the Lord Jesus to always give God His rightful place and truly love Him (Jn. 14:20,23). Jesus had told His disciples to follow Him and persevere, despite tribulation, opposition or temptations, just as He had overcome the world (16:33). John understood that overcoming the world goes together with loving the Lord Jesus, and that in a condition of “first love” (Rev. 2:4). He always followed the Lord Jesus, even when other disciples forsook Him.

If we love the Lord and keep following Him we will enjoy intimate communion with Him and be satisfied as we feed on the “tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (v.7). Such fellowship is for true overcomers, now and forever. The expression “tree of life” in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, is closely linked with its last book, Revelation. Both are severely attacked by the enemy because they show his defeat.

Promises 2-4: Forever With The Lord
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. —Revelation 2:10

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. —Revelation 2:10

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. —Revelation 2:11

During the ten intense persecutions – the “ten days” of verse 10 – under various Roman emperors, many believers were cast into prison and put to death. However, eternal life cannot be taken away by physical death. Such martyrs are sure to receive the crown of life (v.10) and will be forever with the Lord just as all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Th. 4:16-18). Those who only profess His name, whether in a creed or ceremony, without being born again will face “the second death” (Rev. 2:11) of eternal separation from God, in “the lake of fire” (20:12-15).

Besides referring to severe persecutions, the message to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) indicates that a strong movement towards ritualism and church control was developing. Through this, the Lord’s presence and leading tended to be replaced by human ideas and inventions.

Promises 5-6: Keeping Going
To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. —Revelation 2:17

I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. —Revelation 2:17

The enemy changed tactics: instead of attacking the Christians, he privileged them. The Roman emperor Constantine called “the great” changed the persecution of Christians into making them his friends. He realized that they were good citizens who could be trusted, and he gave them high-ranking offices. Because of such privileges, many Roman citizens wanted to become Christians and get baptized. Satan saw that he had failed by persecuting the Church, so he started to corrupt it from within. Just as Moab “invited” (Num. 25:2) the Israelites to the sacrifices of their gods, which had catastrophic consequences, so the adversary infiltrated the church at Pergamos. Although in a different setting, the enemy succeeded in introducing idolatry and fornication, putting the Church under the world’s influence. Satan even built a fortress inside the Church “where Satan dwells” (v.13). From there he attacked faithful believers like Antipas, how treacherous!

A movement toward official Church leadership was established to rule the laity the Lord called them “Nicolaitans” (vv.6,15), or “those who conquer the laity.” Instead of being true overcomers working with the Lord, these leaders were overcome by the enemy and his tactics. They introduced methods of strong human control, even though the Lord opposed them (vv.15-16).

Do we rely on our heavenly Leader – the Lord in heaven – and on the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Yet there were and are faithful disciples whom the Lord in heaven encourages to carry on. Do you belong among them? He promises to give them “of the hidden manna.” This means fellowship with the Lord, following Him as He walked on earth. Intimate communion with Him will keep us going, with His approval, even though this world and church leadership reject us.

Promises 7-8: Warnings And Rewards
He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations – “He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels.” —Revelation 2:26-27

I will give him the morning star. —Revelation 2:28

The developments in Pergamos continued, and the evaluation of the church of Thyatira gives us more details. Yet, no other church received as many compliments from the Lord as Thyatira (v.19).

The Lord severely criticized this assembly because it allowed horrible things. It accepted and promoted false teachings that were robbing Him of His glory while allowing evil and degrading practices to prosper. A radical turn was needed, to go back to what was given at the beginning, but the Lord knew there would no longer be a worldwide church revival. He addressed the individual faithful believers.

In contrast to these things, Abraham became the father of all believers (Rom. 4:11) as well as an example of such overcomers. He had been an idol worshiper (Josh. 24:2), but when the God of glory appeared to him and called him, Abram obeyed and left a culture marked by idolatry (Acts 7:2-4). Are you stuck in a yoke of idolatry of whatever form? You can still respond to His call by faith. We cannot go out of this world, but we can get out of idolatry as Abram did.

Another example is Rahab, who was a prostitute involved in some of the most degrading forms of idolatry from which she could not deliver herself. When she heard about a people that had been set free from bondage, led out of Egypt and about to enter the Promised Land, she wanted to belong to them. Rahab believed, put her trust in the God of wonders, and He worked miracles in her heart and life. Through her commitment, God also rescued her relatives from certain death (Josh. 6:25).

God, who did such things long ago, can do similar things today for and with you. He can rescue you from the bonds of drugs, sexual sin and other forms of idolatry. When you allow Him to set you free, He will use you to be a blessing for those around – just like Rahab – and in the world to come you will reign with Him. Meanwhile, you can rejoice in Him “the Morning Star” while this world lies in darkness and dissolution.

Promises 9-10: Strengthen What Remains
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. —Revelation 3:5

I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. —Revelation 3:5

After the amazing revival during the days of the Reformation stagnation occurred. Many churches fell into customs and traditions foreign to the Scriptures, even though many confessed Sola Scriptura, which is Latin, meaning “the Scriptures only.” The other solae grace, faith, Christ, God’s glory were excellent confessions, but in actual practice they were often reduced to empty shells. Nevertheless, God preserved a faithful remnant. These believers did not go along with the imposed rules and practices often various forms of legalism and were cast out or even killed, while their names were removed from the church registers.

In His message to Sardis, the Lord challenged believers, then and today, to wake up, strengthen what remains or is on the verge to die, and remember the earlier days. They should keep what He entrusted to them and repent. Repentance implies self-judgment, and a return to Him – which is always applicable. With Him are safety, security, fellowship and joy.

Promises 11-12: Balm For The Soul
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. —Revelation 3:12

I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. —Revelation 3:12

Verse 10 of this chapter says, “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing ... which is about to come upon the whole world” (NASB). We may be reminded that overcomers go against the stream of this world because they put Christ’s interests always first. They do this on a consistent basis, as they are marked by perseverance or patient endurance – mentioned seven times in Revelation, indicating the ability to keep going despite burdens (1:9, 2:2,3,19, 3:10, 13:10, 14:12).

The Lord Jesus, the great Overcomer, has done just that. He is our great Example and gives special promises that we may be faithful, and He will keep us from the hour of testing. This hour will surely come over the whole habitable earth, and that is why this promise is so important. The Lord’s confirmation that faithful believers will be taken by Him when He comes again is balm for the soul, as we are going through a world of turmoil, corruption and violence. Yet we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt. 5:13-14) while we wait for Him to come (1 Th. 4:16-18).

That is how we can be overcomers as we wait for Him, drawing our strength from Him for all that we need and to keep going. It also implies that we serve Him while waiting, just as the new believers in Thessalonica did (1:9). Indeed, this is the way to be overcomers, as we put Him and His interests always first. The reward is still future: to be a pillar in the temple of God! For this to happen, God wants to count on us now as we serve Him with devoted hearts and lives in the same world that rejected and crucified Him. Although His reward is future, we may already enjoy its foretaste as we are part of His temple and serve Him here (Eph. 2:19-21). Don’t you think this is a great privilege?

Promises 13-14: Sitting With Him
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. —Revelation 3:20 NKJV

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. —Revelation 3:21

Seven times in His messages to the seven churches, the Lord especially addressed the overcomer. How can one be an overcomer? It starts by putting our trust in Him: to be saved from this present evil age and to continually confide in Him for whatever issue we face. An “overcomer” is a believer for whom the Lord Jesus means everything. Therefore one can only become or be an overcomer as long as the Lord finds us in a condition of “first love” when He is our all and everything, not only for a moment but ongoingly. Then He can use us, for the Holy Spirit will have liberty and control.

Samson’s Example
We read that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson to enable him for a special challenge. His name means “little sun,” and he was to shine for the real “Sun” and so are we. However, when Samson put his trust in himself, he miserably failed (Jud. 16:19-21).

One of the reasons the church in Laodicea had become lukewarm was that they were trusting in themselves and in all kind of things besides the Lord. That is why the Lord presented Himself not in a selfish way but with real care! He is patient and full of compassion, wanting you to make the decision yourself. The Lord is not someone who takes control against our will, as do others through drugs, bad music, seduction, manipulation or violence. Instead, He kindly asks for our attention and gently waits to see whether we are attracted by His voice to respond by opening the door to Him.

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Rev. 3:18). The Lord is speaking. Study the Scriptures about His voice and you will be thrilled and “in a hurry” to open the door for Him to come in and have fellowship together. In His grace He will come in, on the level where you are, in whatever your need. Therefore you can have fellowship with Him and rejoice in Him.

In His marvelous grace, He will pull you up to His level, to enjoy Him as He is. That is, He brings you back to first love, to be a real overcomer. He knows that nothing can bring real satisfaction but Him alone. So let’s get rid of counterfeits and things that tend to replace Him, heeding the conclusion of John’s first epistle: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 Jn. 5:21).

By Alfred Bouter