Overcomers
| Those who overcome... (Revelation2:11) |
Each letter contains the phrase: "Those who overcome..."
- Those who overcome will have the right to eat from the tree of life (2:7)
- Those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. (2:11)
- Those who overcome will receive the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name (2:17)
- Those who overcome (and does my will to the end) I will give authority over the nations (2:26)
- Those who overcome will be dressed in white and their name will remain in the book of life. (3:5)
- Those who overcome will become a permanent pillar in God's temple and have God's name and the name of God's city written on them (3:12)
- Those who overcome will have the right to sit with Jesus on His throne (3:21)
There is not time or space here to explore what each of the promised rewards mean (and some are easier to understand than others...) but there are three significant general truths that emerge from these promises:
- Overcoming is necessary: The different churches are in different contexts, some poor, some rich, some persecuted, some comfortable, but all will have to overcome the temptations and challenges they face. We are not promised an easy life.
- God knows that overcoming is hard. This is why these letters are here - to encourage, guide and correct us so that we can finish the race.
- God will reward our overcoming. While we don't necessarily understand what each of the rewards listed above means, the point is clear, God sees and God knows and God will reward and comfort us when the race is run.
During tough times we have to develop the mindset of overcomers. We have to align ourselves with the famous speech of Sir Winston Churchill:
"Never never never never give up!"
