Jesus sent a message to each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. There was one overriding theme in each message-overcommg.
To Ephesus He said (2:7),
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the mids·t of the paradise of God. ” Remember, He could not allow Adam and Eve to continue eating from the tree of life after their fall, for that would have perpetuated sin. Only those who overcome sin can be granted access to the tree of life.
To Smyrna He said (2: 11 ),
“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. “
To Pergamos He said (2: 17),
“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.”
To Thyatira He said (2:26-28),
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of’ iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they he broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. “
To Sardis He said (3 :5),
“He that overcome the 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.”
To Philadelphia He said (3: 12),
“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. “
And to Laodicea He said (3:21), ”
“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.”
Overcoming is accomplished by faith. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4. This is the faith of Jesus. This is the kind of faith the remnant will possess.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ” Revelation 14: 12. These are so connected to Christ and filled with the fullness of God that they would rather die than sin. You can be among that number if you will fully surrender your life to the blessed Savior, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” “perfecting holiness in the fear of’God.” Philippians 3:14, II Corinthians 7:1.
References:
1. Christ Our Righteousness, E..1. Waggoner, p. 8.
2. Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, E.W. Bullinger
3. Sin Shall Not Have Dominion Over You, Charles Fitch, p. 11.
4. Strongs Concordance
5. The Consecrated Way, A.T. Jones, p. 59.
6. Ibid, p. 58.
7. Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, E.W. Bullinger
8. Our High Calling, F.G. White, p.369.
By Susan Moore
- How do we overcome - November 10, 2019
