Overcomer in Christ- messages to the 7 churches (for today- each individual believer!)

 Let’s examine these seven Divine Incentives to the Overcomer and allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. May He teach us the How and the Hunger to become overcomers for the glory of His name.

 I. THE INCENTIVE OF IMMORTALITY(Revelation 2:7) 

A. The Ephesian church was busy for God, but they had fallen out of love with Jesus. He calls upon them to remember where they had once been with Jesus and to get back to the place where He was number one in their lives.

B. Jesus promises overcomers a glorious eternity in His presence. They have passed from death unto life. What the first Adam took from them, Jesus has restored to them (Rom. 5:12, 19) and we are promised a home in heaven

C. Salvation, restoration of fellowship with God, a home in heaven, everlasting life, these are all great incentives for living the best life possible! 

II. THE INCENTIVE OF INVINCIBILITY(Revelation 2:11) 

A. Smyrna was a church that was undergoing severe persecution which included being hounded, imprisonment and death by their persecutors. Jesus encourages them to remain faithful unto death, and He will reward them.

B. The Overcomers were promised deliverance from the second death, is eternal separation from God in a burning lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15.). Overcomers – those who have been redeemed – do not need to worry about Hell, even after having lost their lives on earth. Through Jesus’ blood, they have been delivered from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9).

C. For us as believers, this mean that while we may face death one day if Jesus tarries, but we need not fear. After all, Jesus has conquered death and removed its sting (1 Cor. 15:42-57). We will never go to Hell if we are saved and walking daily with him. 

III. THE INCENTIVE OF INTIMACY(Revelation 2:17)

A. The church at Pergamos also endured intense persecution. It was located in the center of satanic activity. A number of their members had been martyred for Jesus’ sake in Pergamos. Additionally, there was sin in the camp! Jesus calls them to come back, or He comes to them in judgment.

B. Still, there was a faithful remnant in that church to whom Jesus makes two promises. First, to give them the “hidden manna”, like Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus would nourish these faithful ones. He also promises to give them a white stone. During that time in the past, court cases were determined using black and white stones where a white stone means acquittal, and black means condemned. 

In another perspective friends would often take a stone called “tessera“, and they would break it in half and engrave unique words or nicknames. Each person would carry the half engraved stone to remind them of their friendship and mutual love. 

Finally, faithful and productive citizens in a city are given one of these white stones.

C. For us, this means that Jesus is going to nourish and support us through the wilderness of this world. He will give us “a stone” to signify our acceptance into heaven, the victory we have in Him, our standing as a citizen of glory, and to reflect the intimacy of our relationship with Him. 

IV. THE INCENTIVE OF INVOLVEMENT(Revelation 2:26-28)

A. The church in Thyatira was active. They were busy, and the Lord recognized their works. However, they got condemned for allowing a wicked woman to dominate their worship and work as a church. She led Thyatira’s Church down the path of paganism and idolatry, and Jesus promised to deal with her and her accomplice with swift and sure judgment.

B. Even in a hotbed of iniquity like Thyatira, there were still faithful members (as shown throughout the New Testament in Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:4). They are promised that when He returns, we are coming with Him (Rev. 19:14)!

They are also promised the “morning star” which appears during the darkest part of the night, signaling morning is coming. Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16) and Jesus promises that while it may look dark in the world, but keep looking to the sky, for I am coming to get you one day (1 Thes. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

C. His children will reign with Him one day, but before that ever happens, He will return to this earth to receive us unto Himself and take us away to be with Him, John 14:1-3. It is a glorious incentive to be faithful to Him!

V. THE INCENTIVE OF IDENTIFICATION (Revelation 3:5)

A. While this church thought all was well, Jesus placed His finger on their pulse and pronounced them dead. He challenges them to hold on to the few things they still have going for them. They are to remember how things were and are supposed to be, and they are to repent. Otherwise, they will face Him in judgment.

B. Even in a dead church, there are still those with the life of God in their souls! Jesus promised to clothe them in white robes, which speak of righteousness (Rev. 19:8). In referring to the “book of life“, it is a book that contains the names of all the redeemed.

C. One day, Jesus Himself will lead us past the pearly gates of glory, through the jasper walls, silent ranks of angels, down the golden street of heaven, and into the very throne room of God Himself. There He will publicly proclaim us to be one of His Own! He knows our name, (John 10:3), and He is not ashamed to admit that we are His (Heb. 11:16).

VI. THE INCENTIVE OF ILLUMINATION (Revelation 3:12)

A. The church in Philadelphia was blessed! They were little in strength but reaching the world for Jesus. The Lord has nothing but praise for this church and promised them open doors and blessings.

B. Filled with overcomers, this church is promised several great blessings. 

First, they are to be set as pillars in the Lord’s temple in heaven. The city of Philadelphia recognizes outstanding citizens with their names engraved on the pillar alongside the names of their officials. It stood as a permanent reminder that this person was someone of note in the community. Although the Philadelphian Church was unrecognized, God said, “I see what you are doing, and I will honor you when you get home!“

Second, the phrase, “Shall go out no more“, is important. It is in reference to the fact that Philadelphia is an active volcano and earthquake-ridden zone often causing the citizens being forced to flee. An earthquake shook the city in 17 B.C. and destroyed many temples. Afterwards, people refused to return to the city. But Jesus reminds them that they are headed to a place of safety in heaven. The world may be dangerous on every hand, but the righteous will find a place of eternal safety, peace, and rest.

Finally, these people would get marked as belonging to the Lord. 

VII. THE INCENTIVE OF INSPIRATION(Revelation 3:21)

A. The church at Laodicea was a self-centered, materialistic congregation. They felt that they were self-sufficient and did not need the Lord. Here, Jesus is pictured as being outside the church desiring to enter the presence of the family for which He died. He tells them that their attitude and self-righteous posture makes Him sick to His stomach and challenges them to seek Him and open the door to Him.

B. Still there are overcomers in this wicked church. The Lord’s promise to them is that they will join Him in His throne, which is also His Father’s throne. Today, we are seated with Him in Heaven, spiritually speaking (Eph. 2:6). He will invite His people to join Him in His glory and His exaltation when we get there. We do not deserve that kind of love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace, but it is ours through Him!

Conc: Would you like to be an overcomer? The first step is coming to Him by faith, getting down before Him, and asking Him for His help. I need to do that! How about you? If you want to be all He has saved you to be, then this altar is open to receive you into His presence at the throne of grace.

When someone mentions the book of Revelation, what comes to mind? For many, the book conjures thoughts of the end of the world, the Antichrist, and complex symbolism. No doubt, Revelation is a deeply prophetic book that gives us the most comprehensive image of the Last Days anywhere in Scripture. Still, there is much more to it than apocalyptic imagery. Revelation is filled with promises from start to finish, and it is the only book that promises a special blessing for those who read it (Revelation 1:3; 22:7).

The overriding theme of Revelation is Jesus Christ’s victorious return to defeat all evil and establish His reign. Written to seven literal churches experiencing persecution, the Revelation of Jesus Christ is an indispensable guidebook for handling the problems we face as Christians. In every trial and circumstance, it reminds us that God’s people are overcomers.

Revelation contains seven letters from Christ to the seven churches. His words carried direct meaning for those churches, but the warnings and promises apply to every believer. In each one, Jesus declares, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). The New Living Translation says, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” These letters are as applicable to you and me as to the believers at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. So, let’s examine seven rock-solid promises from the risen Savior.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus gives seven promises to every Christian:

1. Access to eternal life
2. Avoidance of spiritual death
3. Intimacy with Christ
4. Authority in the Millennial Kingdom
5. New life in Christ
6. Exclusion from the Tribulation and endless fellowship with God
7. Adoption into God’s Family

These promises allow us to live in victory!

1

Access to Eternal Life

The last time mankind had access to the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Lord drove them out of His garden (Genesis 3:24). Their perfect, unending fellowship with God gave way to regret, pain, conflict, sweat, and death (Job 14:1; Romans 8:20-22). When Christ returns to rule and reign at the end of the Tribulation, the New Jerusalem will descend to earth from heaven, and we will once again have access to the tree of life (Revelation 2:7; 22:2).

Claiming the Promise of Prophecy

Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for being determined and disciplined. They were committed to service and were willing to suffer for it. But their love for God had grown cold because of unrepented sin and false teaching. Christ urged them to repent and serve Him with the intensity that often characterizes new believers. To anyone who would heed His warning, He promised eternal life.

THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS LOST ITS LOVE FOR CHRIST

In God’s restored creation, the tree of life will welcome His children to their inheritance. Revelation 22:14 says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” Obedience is at the heart of all that God wants for His children.

2

Avoidance of Spiritual Death

When Jesus revealed the events of Revelation to John, every Roman citizen was expected to worship the emperor, and Smyrna was at the epicenter. Christians who refused to participate were tortured on the rack, crucified, burned to death, or thrown to the lions in the Colosseum. John spent months in exile for his commitment to the Gospel. In this environment, remaining faithful to God meant a life of pressure, poverty, and persecution.

JESUS' MESSAGE TO A CHURCH FACING PERSECUTION

Against this backdrop of suffering, Jesus assured the faithful believers at Smyrna that no matter what might happen in this life, they would receive “the crown of life” and “not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10, 11). Except for those still alive when the Lord Jesus returns, we will all experience the death of our physical body, which separates body and soul. But God’s people will never go through the second death, which is spiritual separation from God. The Christians in Smyrna—and persecuted believers of any era—do not need to fear martyrdom. Nothing can separate us “from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

3

Intimacy With Christ

Blending worldly rituals with Christianity in the name of “tolerance” has tripped up God’s people for millennia. The church at Pergamos was no different. Although the believers were willing to die for the Gospel, compromising doctrines had crept into their way of thinking. Instead of maintaining a distinct identity as God’s holy people, they began to adopt the world’s standards.

If the church would repent, Jesus promised two things: “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And 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). In John’s Gospel, Jesus explains that He is the manna (John 6:31-35, 48-51). Those who stand up for the Gospel never stand alone because the Lord Jesus Christ is with them, and He will provide for every need.

SATAN'S THRONE IN THE CITY OF PERGAMOS

There are several theories about the significance of the white stone and the new name. Commentator John Phillipssuggests that the stone is “a symbol of changeless purity” for those who keep themselves from immorality. He continues, “And to those who kept themselves from infidelity, the Lord [gave] a new name—knowledge of Himself that no one else can share.”¹Anyone looking for intimacy can find it with the Lord Jesus.

4

Authority in the Millennial Kingdom

The church at Thyatira had everything going for it, except for holiness. Jesus commended their “works, love, service, faith, and [their] patience” (Revelation 2:19). Still, He painted a startling picture of their immorality and the judgment that would follow if they did not repent: Although this church had started well, it allowed sin to spread like cancer. Its members needed to repent if they wanted to finish strong. “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…, and I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:26, 28; emphasis added). This promise to Thyatira is the only one of the seven that describes what it means to overcome.

For those who remained pure, Jesus encouraged them, “Hold fast what you have till I come” (Revelation 2:25). According to 1 Corinthians 6:2, everyone who faithfully obeys His commands will receive a responsible position of authority in the Millennial Kingdom. His reference to the “morning star” sounds mysterious (Revelation 2:28), but Revelation 22:16 makes the meaning plain: “I, Jesus, …am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” One day Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, will appear in the sky and dispel all darkness from the earth.

5

New Life in Christ

Outwardly, the church at Sardisseemed vibrant, but it was dead inside. In Matthew 23:27, Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that they were “like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” His warning to Sardis was similar: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). Physical death involves the separation of the body from the soul. But the church at Sardis died spiritually because its members removed the Holy Spirit from any position of interest or influence.

JESUS' AUTOPSY REPORT ON A DEAD CHURCH

For those who overcome the culture of compromise and embrace new life in Christ, the Lord promises white garments, which symbolize righteousness (Revelation 19:8). As Roman citizens, the people of Sardis also would have associated white clothing with victory and the Roman Day of Triumph. Jesus wanted them—and us—to envision a day when we will walk with Him in victory. He also promises to write our names in heaven and never allow them to be blotted out of the Book of Life. Finally, to all who confess Him as their Lord and Savior, Jesus promises to defend them before the heavenly tribunal (Revelation 3:5).

6

Exclusion From the Rapture and Endless Fellowship With God

If I could have been at any one of the seven churches on the day Christ’s letter arrived, I would have chosen the church in Philadelphia. Besides Smyrna, this is the only church that Christ did not reprimand.

Verse after verse, Christ Jesus gave assurances of His commitment to empower the church at Philadelphia and protect it. Because they relied on Him, Jesus gave them an “open door” of opportunity that no one could shut (Revelation 3:8). He pledged to vindicate the church for their faithful testimony and humiliate their enemies (Revelation 3:9). For their perseverance amid persecution, Jesus promised to keep them “from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth” (Revelation 3:10).

This statement in verse ten is one of the most pivotal teachings in Revelation. The Tribulation period is the “hour of trial” from which Jesus will keep God’s people. So, according to the red-letter words of Jesus Christ, true believers will not experience the Tribulation! Although the Church will walk through flames of persecution, Christ Jesus will stand with His people and rapture them before the end comes. Until then, we rest in His promise to return “quickly” (Revelation 3:11). With the help of 1 Corinthians 15:52, we can understand this to mean “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Other events may take place before Christ returns, but nothing must happen. This could be the day!

PHILADELPHIA REMAINED FAITHFUL TO GOD'S WORD

Finally, to those who overcome trials and remain faithful to the end, Christ Jesus promises honor, security, and a permanent dwelling place in God’s presence. “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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).

7

Adoption Into God’s Family

Standing in direct contrast to the letter to Smyrna, Christ’s letter to Laodicea is the only one of the seven letters that says nothing positive about its recipients. In fact, Jesus told the church that it made Him sick (Revelation 3:16). Rich in material wealth, its members had become complacent and spiritually impoverished. They were compromising, conceited, and Christless. The Laodicean church—and by extension, elements of the modern Church—failed to point people to Christ as the way to eternal salvation.

WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR FAITH?

Despite the severity of His criticism, Christ assured the Laodicean believers that He loved them and wanted to heal their spiritual condition. “Be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:19-20). This letter reminds us that God doesn’t love us only when we do the right things. He loves us all the time, and that is why He wants us to repent when we sin. God loves us too much to leave us spiritually destitute.

Anyone who heeds Christ’s call to repentance can claim the promise that follows: “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). If you have ever longed for deeper, more meaningful relationships, consider this invitation from the Son of God. The same One who assured the repentant thief, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), wants to share His throne—His power and glory and abundance—with you and me! Will you accept His invitation?

Living in Victory

Every individual who has overcome the world by faith (1 John 5:4-5) will inherit all seven benefits promised in Revelation. Are you encouraged by the things you could have as an overcomer?

Theologically and positionally, anyone in Christ has already overcome the world. But there is more to living in victory than positional overcoming. These promises are about practicalovercoming and walking with Christ as a victor. Two additional passages in Revelation speak to overcoming in Jesus’ Name, and they tie all this together.

Speaking about the martyrs in Revelation 12, John reports, “And they overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (verse 11). In the ultimate spiritual battle, John saw the martyrs of Christ defeat the devil using three strategies available to us today.

We can overcome Satan by:

1. The blood of the Lamb. It is impossible to achieve spiritual victory apart from new life in Christ.
2. The word of our testimony. People who share the Gospel live with an uncommon sense of victory in their life.
3. The perspective of eternity. Living in victory requires us to set our sights on heaven rather than this earth.

After John’s description of the Tribulation and the Great White Throne Judgment, we find a final promise to those who overcome in God’s Name: “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:6-7).

Revelation portrays the despised Carpenter of Nazareth as the object of all heaven’s worship, the supreme Judge of heaven and earth, the King of kings upon His throne. The Gospels and epistles describe His humiliation and suffering, but only here do we get a glimpse of His glory. If the Bible ended at Jude, we would have enough information to understand God’s love for us and His will for our life, but we would miss the happy ending. Revelation gives us the glorious hope that we will share in Jesus’ triumph one day, and it offers the perspective to live in victory today.

Sources:

¹John Phillips, Exploring Revelation(Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1987), 55.

Ephesus.

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

a. To the angel: As discussed under Revelation 1:20, this angelmay be the pastor of the church at Ephesus, or an angel looking in on the workings of the church at Ephesus. In some way, this angelrepresents this church; but the letter isn’t written just to the representative, but to the whole church.

i. “I consider what is spoken to this angel as spoken to the whole Church; and that it is not his particular state that is described, but the states of the people in general under his care.” (Clarke)

b. Ephesus: This was a famous city in the ancient world, with an equally famous church. Paul ministered in Ephesus for three years (Acts 19:1, Acts 19:10, Acts 20:31). Aquila and Priscilla, with Apollos served there (Acts 18:24-28). Paul’s close associate Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3) worked in Ephesus. According to strong and consistent historic tradition, the Apostle John also ministered there.

i. “Surely it was a place of great privilege, of great preaching.” (Robertson)

c. Ephesus: This great city was also world-famous as a religious, cultural, and economic center of the region. Ephesus had the notable temple of Diana, a fertility goddess worshipped with immoral sex. This tremendous temple to Diana in Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each pillar 60 feet tall, and it was adorned with great sculptures.

i. “The Temple of Artemis was also a major treasury and bank of the ancient world, where merchants, kings, and even cities made deposits, and where their money could be kept safe under the protection of deity.” (Longenecker in his commentary on Acts)

ii. “Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practised. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city.” (Gaebelein in his commentary on Acts)

2. (1b) Jesus describes Himself to the church at Ephesus.

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

a. He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: These images were taken from John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1. They emphasize the authority of Jesus in the Church (He holds the seven stars) and His immediate presence in the Church (He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands). This introduction stresses that Jesus is central to the church, and should be recognized as central to the church.

b. Holds: This is the ancient Greek word kratein, and is an emphatic and complete word. Jesus has these churches, and holds them securely. The churches belong to Jesus, not to the leaders of the churches or to the people of the churches. He holds them.

3. (2-3) What Jesus knows about the Christians of Ephesus.

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

a. I know your works: Jesus looked at His church, and He knew its condition. It was no mystery to Him. There may be sin or corruption hidden in a congregation, but it isn’t hidden to Jesus. He would say the same thing to us today, both as individuals and as a congregation: I know your works.

i. “There are also working Christians who do not approach to laboring; yet a lifetime of such work as theirs would not exhaust a butterfly. Now, when a man works for Christ he should work with all his might.” (Spurgeon)

b. Your works, your labor, your patience: Jesus knew what this church did right. They worked hard for the Lord and they had godly endurance. Patience is the great ancient Greek word hupomone, which means “steadfast endurance.” In this sense, the church in Ephesus was rock-solid.

c. You cannot bear those who are evil: The Ephesian church pursued doctrinal purity. Paul warned the Ephesians in Acts 20:29-31: For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. From this commendation of Jesus, we know that the Ephesians took Paul’s warning seriously.

i. The church today, like the Ephesian church then, must vigorously test those who claim to be messengers from God – especially those who say they are apostles, because deceivers will speak well of themselves. The greater the evil, the more deceptive its cloak.

ii. “This was grand of them: it showed a backbone of truth. I wish some of the churches of this age had a little of this holy decision about them; for nowadays, if a man be clever; he may preach the vilest lie that was ever vomited from the mouth of hell, and it will go down with some.” (Spurgeon)

d. You have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary: Also, the Ephesian church continued doing these things without becoming weary. They showed a godly perseverance that we should imitate. By all outward appearances, this was a solid church that worked hard, had great outreach, and protected the integrity of the gospel.

4. (4) What Jesus has againstthe church at Ephesus.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

a. Nevertheless I have this against you: Jesus used a sobering word – nevertheless, which means “despite all that.” Jesus took into full account all the good in the Ephesian church, yet despite all that, He had something against them.

i. Nevertheless means that all the good in the Ephesian church did not cancel out the bad Jesus is about to describe.

b. You have left your first love: Despite all the good in the Ephesian church, there is something seriously wrong. They have left – not lost – their first love. They once had a love that they don’t have anymore. This can be described as “a definite and sad departure.” (Robertson)

i. The distinction between leaving and losing is important. Something can be lost quite by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act, though it may not happen suddenly. As well, when we lose something we don’t know where to find it; but when we leave something, we know where to find it

ii. Though they had left their first love, everything looked great on the outside. If you would have attended a service of the church at Ephesus, you might have thought, “This is a happening church. They are doing so much, and they really guard the truth.” At the same time, you might have had a vague, uneasy feeling – yet it would probably be hard to pin down. It wasn’t hard for Jesus to see the problem, even though everything probably looked wonderful on the outside.

iii. The problem was serious. Without love, all is vain. No wonder Jesus said, “Nevertheless I have this against you.” “A church has no reason for being a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.” (Spurgeon)

c. Left your first love: What lovedid they leave? As Christians, we are told to love God and to love one another. Did they leave their love for God? Did they leave their love for one another? Probably both are in mind, because the two loves go together. You can’t say you love God and not love His family, and you can’t really love His family without loving Him first.

i. The Ephesian church was a working church. Sometimes a focus on working for Jesus will eclipse a love relationship with Him. We can put what we do for Jesus before who we are in Him. We can leave Jesus in the temple, just as the parents of Jesus did (Luke 2:45-46).

ii. The Ephesian church was a doctrinally pure church. Sometimes a focus on doctrinal purity will make a congregation cold, suspicious, and intolerant of diversity. “When love dies orthodox doctrine becomes a corpse, a powerless formalism. Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart.” (Spurgeon)

d. First love: There is a definite, sure difference in their relationship with Jesus. Things aren’t as they used to be. It isn’t that we expect that we should have the exact same excitement we had when everything was brand new in the Christian life, but the newness should transition into a depth that makes the first loveeven stronger.

i. A couple that has been married for a long time doesn’t always have the same thrill of excitement they had when they first dated. That is to be expected, and is fine – if that excitement has matured into a depth of love that makes it even better than the first love.

ii. There is nothing wrong with that initial excitement, or wanting it to remain or be restored. “When we were in our first love, what would we do for Christ; now how little will we do. Some of the actions which we performed when we were young Christians, but just converted, when we look back upon them, seem to have been wild and like idle tales.” (Spurgeon)

5. (5-6) What Jesus wants the church at Ephesus to do.

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

a. Remember therefore from where you have fallen: The first step in restoration for the Ephesian church is for them to remember. They need to remember from where you have fallen. This means remembering where they used to be in their love for the Lord and for one another.

i. When the Prodigal Son was in the pigpen, the first step in restoration was remembering what life was like back in his father’s home (Luke 15:17-19). This is always the first step in getting back to where we should be with the Lord.

b. Repent: This is not a command to feel sorry, or really to feelanything. It means to change your direction, to go a different way. It is an “urgent appeal for instant change of attitude and conduct, before it is too late.” (Robertson)

c. Do the first works: This means that they must go back to the basics, to the very first things they did when you first fell in love with Jesus. These are the things that we never grow beyond.

i. What are the first works?

· Remember how you used to spend time in His Word?

· Remember how you used to pray?

· Remember the joy in getting together with other Christians?

· Remember how excited you were about telling others about Jesus?

ii. We might say that Satan does a masterful job in creating a sense of general dissatisfaction with these first works. Christians will run after almost every new, strange method or program for growth and stability. Our shortened attention spans make us easily bored with the truest excitement. Sometimes we will do almost anything except the first works.

d. Or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place: Jesus gave them a stern warning. Unless they repent, He will remove their light and His presence. When their lampstandwas removed, they could continue as an organization, but no longer as a true church of Jesus Christ. It would be the church of Ichabod, where the glory had departed (1 Samuel 4:21).

i. Apparently, at least in the short term, the Ephesians heeded this warning. In the early second century (not too long after John wrote), Ignatius praised the love and the doctrinal purity of the Ephesians. “You, who are of the most holy Church of the Ephesians, which is so famous and celebrated throughout the world… you, being full of the Holy Spirit, do nothing according to the flesh, but all things according to the Spirit. You are complete in Christ Jesus.” (Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, Chapter 8. From the Ante Nicean Fathers Volume 1, page 52)

ii. From what Ignatius wrote, it seems that the Ephesians returned to their first lovewithout compromising doctrinal purity. That isn’t always an easy balance to keep, but the Ephesians apparently kept it, at least for a time.

e. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate: Jesus – probably so the Ephesians would not be overly discouraged – gave this church another compliment. They were complimented because they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans – but who were the Nicolaitans and what were their deeds? The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is also condemned in Revelation 2:15, and in that passage it is related to immorality and idolatry.

i. Irenaeus (writing in the late second century) described what he knew of the Nicolaitans: “The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrifice to idols.” (Against Heresies, book 1, chapter 26. From the Ante Nicean Fathers Volume 1, page 352)

ii. Hippolytus, a student of Irenaeus (writing in the early third century) associated the Nicolaitans with the Gnostics: “There are, however, among the Gnostics diversities of opinion… But Nicolaus has been a cause of the wide-spread combination of these wicked men. [He] departed from correct doctrine, and was in the habit of inculcating indifferency of both life and food.” (Refutation of all Heresies, book 7, chapter 24; ANF volume 5, page 115)

iii. Others have emphasized the root meanings of the words that make up the name Nicolaitans. Nikao-laosmeans literally “to conquer the people.” Based on this, some point to presumptuous claims of apostolic authority and to the heart that sets up hierarchies and separates the “clergy” from the “laity.” Perhaps the Nicolaitansfulfilled all these aspects, being both an idolatrous immorality and a presumptuous, hierarchical, “hidden mysteries” system typical of Gnosticism.

iv. The Nicolaitans, like all deceivers that come from the body of Christ, claimed “not that they were destroying Christianity, but that they were presenting an improved and modernized version of it.” (Barclay)

f. Which I also hate: These are powerful words, in that they came from our Savior who is so rich in love. Whoever exactly the Nicolaitans were, and whatever exactly they did and taught, we learn something from Jesus’ opinion of them. We learn that the God of love hates sin, and wants His people to also hate sin.

6. (7a) A general exhortation to all whom will hear.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

a. He who has an ear: This qualifies everyone – or at least everyone who will listen. This letter was not only written to the church at Ephesus in the Apostle John’s day. It is written to us, and to all Christians throughout the centuries.

b. Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: Each one of these seven letters apply to all churches. We must hear what the Spirit says to the churches – not just to one church. These letters – each of them – were meant to speak to you, if you will only have an ear to hear what the Spirit says.

i. “There were not seven books written, but one book in which these seven epistles were, out of which each church, or the church in it several periods, might learn what concerned it.” (Poole)

ii. “The churches of the land are sprinkled all over with bald-headed old sinners whose hair has been worn off by the constant friction of countless sermons that have been aimed at them and glanced off and hit the man in the pew behind.” (H.W. Beecher)

7. (7b) The promise of a reward.

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

a. To him who overcomes: Jesus made this promise to him who overcomes – but what does this overcomer overcome? We usually think of overcoming in dramatic terms of overcoming sin and in spiritual warfare, but here Jesus seems to speak of overcoming their coldness of heart and lack of love marked by leaving their first love.

b. I will give to eat from the tree of life: The promise for these overcomers was a return to Eden, a restoration, and eternal life. This was meant first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a church threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence. It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse rolled back in our own lives though walking in Jesus’ redeeming love.

c. In the midst of the Paradise of God: Originally, the word Paradise meant “a garden of delight.” Eventually, it came to mean “the place where God lives.” Where God is, that is Paradise!

B. Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna.

1. (8a) The character of the city of Smyrna.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

a. Smyrna: This was a large, beautiful, and proud city. It was a center of learning and culture, and was proud of its standing as a city. “Smyrna was an outstandingly beautiful city. It claimed to be the ‘Glory of Asia.’” (Barclay)

b. Smyrna: This was a rich city. “Smyrna was a great trade city… Smyrna stood at the end of the road which served the valley of the river Hermus, and all the trade of that valley flowed into its markets and found an outlet through its harbor. It had a specially rich trade in wines. Smyrna, like Ephesus, was a city of wealth and commercial greatness.” (Barclay)

c. Smyrna: We also know from history that it was a city deeply committed to idolatry and the worship of the Roman Emperor. On one famous street in Smyrna, called the “Golden Street,” stood magnificent temples to Cybele, Apollo, Asklepios, Aphrodite, and a great temple to Zeus – but the worship of those pagan gods was dying out. The real focus was on the worship of the Roman Emperor.

i. In 196 B.C. Smyrna built the first temple to Dea Roma– the goddess of Rome, the spiritual symbol of the Roman Empire. Once the “spirit” of Rome was worshipped, it wasn’t much of a step to worship the dead Emperors of Rome. Then it was only another small step to worship the living Emperors, and then to demand such worship as an evidence of political allegiance and civic pride.

ii. In A.D. 23 Smyrna won the privilege (over 11 other cities) to build the first temple to worship the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Smyrna was a leading city in the Roman cult of Emperor worship.

iii. The Roman Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) was the first to demand worship under the title “Lord” from the people of the Roman Empire as a test of political loyalty. According to ancient church history, it was under the reign of Domitian that John was banished to the Island of Patmos where he received this vision.

iv. “Emperor worship had begun as spontaneous demonstration of gratitude to Rome; but toward the end of the first century, in the days of Domitian, the final step was taken and Caesar worship became compulsory. Once a year the Roman citizen must burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty.” (Barclay)

v. “All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not even formally conform.” (Barclay)

2. (8b) Jesus describes Himself to the church at Smyrna.

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

a. The First and the Last: Jesus chose this title from His initial appearance to John (Revelation 1:11, 1:17) to speak of His eternal character. The First and the Last are titles that belong only to the LORD, Yahweh, according to Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12.

b. Who was dead, and came to life: Jesus chose this title from His initial appearance to John (Revelation 1:18) to remind the Christians in Smyrna that they served the risen Lord, victorious over death. Death could not hold Jesus, and it cannot hold His people.

i. The association with death – and the victory of resurrection – is throughout this letter. The name Smyrnacomes from the word myrrh, a sweet-smelling perfume used in embalming dead bodies.

3. (9) What Jesus knows about the Christians in Smyrna.

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

a. I know your works: Jesus knew the works of the church in Ephesus also (Revelation 2:2). In Smyrna, Jesus also knew their works, tribulation, and poverty. He knows these hardships both in the sense that He saw what happened to them, and in the sense that He knew their hardships by His personal experience.

i. Poverty: According to history, Smyrna was a prosperous city. Yet the Christians there were poor. “The word used for ‘poverty’ is the word for abject poverty. They were not just poor.” (Walvoord)

ii. The Christians of Smyrna knew poverty because they were robbed and fired from jobs in persecution for the gospel. Early Christians joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven(Hebrews 10:34). This kind of economic persecution was one important reason why Christians were poor in Smyrna. Even today, this is a common form of persecution against Christians.

b. I know the blasphemy: Jesus knew the abuse these Christians endured at the hands of “religious” men, those who say they are Jews and are not.

i. Historically, we are told there was a large and hostile community of Jews in Smyrna, but this tells us that a true Jew is one who trusts God and believes in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:3). Others may be Jews ethnically – which still has its place before God – but they are not Jews spiritually before God.

c. I know… I know: In midst of this kind of affliction, it is easy to think God has forgotten – but Jesus knows.

4. (9) What Jesus thinks about the church in Smyrna.

But you are rich.

a. Rich: Every outward circumstance said that the Christians in Smyrna were poor, even destitute, but Jesus saw through the circumstances to see that they were really rich. “Sweet smelling Smyrna, the poorest but purest of the seven.” (Trapp)

b. Rich: This is what Jesus thought of them, and if Jesus considered them rich, then they were rich. Our estimation of ourselves is far less important than God’s estimation of us.

i. In contrast, the Christians at Laodicea thought they were rich, but they were really poor (Revelation 3:17). Laodicea was a poor rich church. Smyrna was a rich poor church. Better to be a rich poor church than a poor rich church.

c. And poverty (but you are rich): The contrast between material poverty and spiritual riches of the Christians in Smyrna reminds us that there is nothing inherently spiritual in being rich. Nevertheless, there is also nothing inherently spiritual in poverty.

i. Material riches are an obstacle to the Kingdom of God, an obstacle that some do not overcome (Mark 10:23-25). There is nothing wrong with having money; the trouble is that money so easily “has” us.

ii. Often, material riches are acquired and maintained at the expense of true spiritual riches. A story is told of the glory days of the Renaissance Papacy, when a man walked with the Pope and marveled at the splendors and riches of the Vatican. The Pope told him, “We no longer have to say what Peter told the lame man: ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” His companion replied, “But neither can you say, ‘rise up and walk.’”

d. Rich: The church at Smyrna was also rich in leadership. One of the pastors of that church was named Polycarp. He was one of the Apostle John’s disciples and served at Smyrna until A.D. 155 when he died heroically as a martyr.

5. (10) What Jesus wants the Christians in Smyrna to do.

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. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

a. Do not fear: Literally, this is better translated “stop being afraid.” The Christians in Smyrna suffered under persecution, and they were afraid. Sometimes we think that Christians who endure persecution are almost super-human, and we sometimes don’t appreciate the depths of fear they struggle with. There were things which they were about to suffer, and Jesus wanted them ready to stand against those things.

b. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison: Here, Jesus described the nature of the persecution that would come against the Christians in Smyrna. Apparently, they would be imprisoned, and for a specific period of time (you will have tribulation ten days).

i. According to Jesus, the persecution about to come against the Christians of Smyrna was from the devil. At the same time it was measured and limited by God. Surely, the devilwanted to imprison them for a longer time, but God limited the tribulation to ten days.

ii. Being thrown into prisonwas severe persecution. In that day, prison was never used to rehabilitate someone, and rarely used to punish someone. Normally, you were thrown into prison as you awaited trial and execution.

iii. “For a man to become a Christian anywhere was to become an outlaw. In Smyrna above all places, for a man to enter the Christian Church was literally to take his life in his hands. In Smyrna the church was a place for heroes.” (Barclay)

iv. “This ‘tribulation’ does not mean the common trials to which all flesh is heir. Some dear souls think they are bearing their cross every time they have a headache. The tribulation mentioned here is trouble they would not have had if they had not been Christians.” (Havner)

c. You will have tribulation ten days: Commentators on the Book of Revelation have long debated the meaning of these ten days.

i. Some think that Jesus really meant ten years of persecution. “As the days in this book are what is commonly called prophetic days, each answering to a year, the ten years of tribulation may denote ten years of persecution; and this was precisely the duration of the persecution under Diocletian, during which all the Asiatic Churches were grievously afflicted.” (Clarke)

ii. Others think that Jesus really meant persecution over the reign of ten Roman Emperors. “The first under Nero, A.D. 54; the secondunder Domitian, A.D. 81; the third under Trajan, A.D. 98; the fourth under Adrian [Hadrian], A.D. 117; the fifthunder Septimus Severus, A.D. 193; the sixth under Maximin, A.D. 235; the seventh under Decius, A.D. 249; the eighth under Valerian, A.D. 254; the ninthunder Aurelian, A.D. 270; the tenth under Diocletian, A.D. 284.” (White, cited in Walvoord)

iii. Still others take strange and confusing approaches: “Others observe, that in ten days are two hundred and forty hours, which make up the number of years from 85, when the second persecution began, (under which John at this time was) to 325, when all the persecutions ceased.” (Poole)

iv. Others say that ten daysis simply an expression of speech: “The expression ten days is not to be taken literally; it is the normal Greek expression for a short time.” (Barclay)

v. However, there is no compelling reason to believe it means anything other than ten days of severe persecution, with an emphasis on the idea that it is a limited time.

d. That you may be tested: If this attack came from the devil, then why couldn’t these Christians in Smyrna just rebuke Satan, and stop the attack? Because God had a purpose in their suffering, and so He allowed it. God uses suffering to purify (1 Peter 1:6-7), to make us like Jesus (Romans 8:17), and to makes us truly witnesses of Him. In all ages, the blood of the martyrs has been seed for the church.

i. “The saints at Smyrna had not been given a pep-talk on ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People.’ They had no testimony on ‘How Faith Made Me Mayor of Smyrna.’ They were not promised deliverance from tribulation, poverty and reviling. In fact, the worst was yet to come.” (Havner)

ii. Most specifically in this case, God allowed this attack so that they may be tested, in the sense of being proven. Through their suffering, God displayed the true riches of the church in Smyrna to everyone, including themselves – even though Heknew they were rich already.

iii. The Christians in Smyrna would be tested, but they passed the test. This church, compared to the other six, has no evil spoken against it. Only this church among the seven survives today, and it has survived through centuries of Roman and Muslim persecution.

iv. That you may be tested: God is also interested in testing us. We may not have the same opportunity to suffer for Jesus that the Christians in Smyrna had, but we can have their same heart. We may never be in a place to die a martyr’s death, but we can all live a martyr’s life. Sadly, many Christians avoid persecution of any kind by conforming so much to the world that they are no longer distinctively Christians. This wasn’t the case with the Christians in Smyrna. They were tested and they passed the test.

e. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life: What Jesus said to this church is important, but what He didn’t sayis also important. Jesus didn’t have a single word of rebuke or correction for the Christians in Smyrna. All He had was the promise of a crown – and the encouragement to be faithful until death, which is literally “become faithful until death.” (Walvoord)

i. There are two different words for crown in the ancient Greek language. One described the kind of crown a king would wear, a crown of royalty. The other kind of crown – the stephanos, used here – is given as a trophy to a winning athlete. Jesus looks at the Christians of Smyrna, and says to them: “You are My winners. You deserve a trophy.”

ii. The stephanos was also the crown worn at marriages and special celebrations. The picture is of Jesus and His bride, each wearing their crowns.

obscure note in the world; but Christ seeth and taketh notice of those little ones who belong to him, though the world overlooks them.” (Poole)

ii. Antipas lived where Satan’s throne was. Yet he stood against the attacks and the evil around him. He fulfilled the meaning of his name, because Antipasmeans “Against All.”

iii. Martyr is the ancient Greek word martus. “Martusis a most interesting and suggestive word. In classical Greek martus never means a martyr in our sense of the term. It always means a witness. A martus was one who said: ‘This is true, and I know it.’ It is not until New Testament times that martusever means martyr.” (Barclay)

4. (14-15) What Jesus has against the Christians in Pergamos.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

a. I have a few things against you: The Christians in Pergamos were rightly praised for holding fast to the name of Jesus and keeping his faith. At the same time, their difficult environment did not excuse the few thingsJesus had against them.

b. You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam: Balaam was a prototype of all corrupt teachers. According to Numbers 22-24 and 31, Balaam combined the sins of immorality and idolatry to please Balak, the king of Moab, because he could not curse Israel directly.

i. When Balaam counseled Balak, he taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel. The stumbling blockwas connected with idolatry (to eat things sacrificed to idols) and sexual immorality. If the church in Pergamos had those who did hold the doctrine of Balaam, it showed they had tendencies towards both idolatry and immorality.

ii. Sexual immorality marked the whole culture of the ancient Roman Empire. It was simply taken for granted, and the person who lived by Biblical standards of purity was considered strange. To paraphrase the Roman statesman Cicero, cited in Barclay: “If there is anyone who thinks that young men should not be allowed the love of many women, he is extremely severe. I am not able to deny the principle he stands on. But he contradicts, not only with the freedom our age allows, but also with the customs and allowances of our ancestors. When indeed was this not done? When did anyone find fault with it? When was such permission denied? When was it that what is now allowed was not allowed?” To keep from sexual immorality in that culture, you really had to swim against the current.

c. You also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans: In Revelation 2:6, Jesus praised the Ephesian Christians because they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. But the Nicolaitans also had their doctrine, and some among the Christians of Pergamos held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

i. What is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans? The title Nico-laitans has the idea of a proud authority and a hierarchical separatism. The name Nikao-laos literally means “to conquer the people.” According to ancient commentators, the Nicolaitans also approved of immorality.

d. You have those there… you also have those: The rebuke was not only against those who hold the doctrines of Balaamand those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The rebuke was also against those who allowed them to continue (you have there those… you have those).

i. The Christians of Pergamos were like the Christians of Corinth as Paul wrote to them in 1 Corinthians 5:1-9. They were too tolerant and accepting of false doctrines and immoral living, and Jesus had to rebuke them. Satan couldn’t accomplish much by persecution, because many did hold fast, like Antipas. So Satan tried to accomplish his goals by using deception. The strategy was first violence, then alliance.

ii. A difficult environment never justifies compromise. It is easy for a church in such difficulty to justify this compromise in the name of “we need all the help we can get” – but no church needs that kind of help.

5. (16) What Jesus wants the church at Pergamos to do.

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

a. Repent: The simple word repent stands out. Five of the seven churches are commanded to repent. Repent is a command that applies to Christians, not only to those who first come to Jesus.

b. Or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth: Unless they do repent, the Christians of Pergamos would face the Jesus who has the two-edged sword. Judgment will begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

i. The sword of My mouth: When Jesus came againstthe Christians of Pergamos, He will confront them with His Word.

6. (17a) A general exhortation to all whom will hear.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

a. He who has an ear: The danger of false teaching and immoral conduct still faces the church today. So does the danger of allowing false teaching and immorality, as was the problem with the Christians in Pergamos.

7. (17b) The promise of a reward.

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

a. To him who overcomes: The one who overcomes this spirit of accommodation to false teaching and living will receive hidden manna. This is God’s perfect provision, the true bread from heaven (John 6:41).

b. And I will give him a white stone: In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.

i. Adam Clarke wrote: “Others suppose there is an allusion here to conquerors in the public games, who were not only conducted with great pomp into the city to which they belonged, but had a white stone given to them, with their name inscribed on it; which badge entitled them, during their whole life, to be maintained at the pubic expense… These were called tesserae among the Romans, and of these there were several kinds.” Clarke then gives examples of the different kinds: “Tesserae conviviales, which answered exactly to our cards of invitation, or tickets of admission to a public feast or banquet; when the person invited produced his tesserahe was admitted… But the most remarkable of these instruments were the Tesserae hospitales, which were given as badges of friendship and alliance, and on which some device was engraved, as a testimony that a contract of friendship had been made between the parties.”

c. And on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it: What is the meaning of this new, secret namepromised to him who overcomes? Is it God’s name, or is it the believer’s name? This is probably the believer’s new name, and the name itself is probably more important than the stone itself.

i. One idea behind this new, secret name is that it shows what an intimate relationship we have with God. When a couple is close, they often have “pet names” for each other. This is probably the same idea.

ii. Another idea associated with the new name is simply the assurance it gives of our heavenly destination. Your name is there, waiting for you. It is as if your “reservation” in heaven is made.

D. Jesus’ letter to the church at Thyatira.

1. (18a) The character of the city of Thyatira.

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

a. Thyatira: This was the smallest and least important of the seven cities Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 and 3. In history, we have no record that the Christians of Thyatira suffered any significant political or religious persecution.

i. “The elder Pliny dismissed Thyatira with the almost contemptuous phrase ‘Thyatira and other unimportant cities.’” (Barclay)

b. Thyatira: Still, this city was a center of business and trade. It had many active trade guilds, each having their own patron deity from the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods.

i. Acts 16:14-15 mentions Lydia of Thyatira, who was a seller of purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. “Thyatira was famous for the manufacture of a purple dye, and numerous references are found in secular literature of the period to the trade guilds which manufactured cloth.” (Walvoord)

ii. “From the inscriptions which have been found in the neighborhood it is clear that Thyatira possessed more trade guilds than any other town of its size in Asia.” (Barclay)

2. (18b) Jesus describes Himself to the church at Thyatira.

‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

a. These things says the Son of God: Jesus first described Himself with a title that emphasized His deity. In Jewish thought, to be the son of a thing meant you had the nature of that thing. The sons of the sorceress(Isaiah 57:3) had the nature of the sorceress. The sons of thunder(Mark 3:17) had a nature like thunder. So the Son of God has the divine nature, the nature of God.

b. Who has eyes like a flame of fire: Jesus chose this description of Himself from the presentation in Revelation 1:14 to emphasize the idea that His eyes looked with penetrating judgment.

c. His feet like fine brass: Jesus chose this description of Himself from Revelation 1:15 to emphasize His purity because brass is pure and highly refined in the fire. It also emphasized His steadfastness, because brasswas the strongest known metal in the ancient world, and feet like fine brass would be strong and unmovable.

3. (19) What Jesus knows about the Christians in Thyatira.

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

a. I know your works: Thyatira was the least significant city among the seven cities Jesus addressed, yet they were not hidden to Jesus. Like each one of the churches, Jesus said to the church at Thyatira “I know your works.”

b. Love, service, faith, and your patience: In many ways, the church at Thyatira was a model church. They had four great essential qualities. They had love, both for the Lord and for one another. They knew service, and had faith and patience worth mentioning.

c. As for your works, the last are more than the first: This was another compliment to the church at Thyatira. Not only did they have these works, but they had them in increasing measure – they were growing in love, service, faith, and patience.

4. (20-21) What Jesus has against the church at Thyatira.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

a. Nevertheless: Despite all the good Jesus saw in the church at Thyatira, there were significant problems. The problems were big enough for Jesus to say nevertheless, which meant “Despite all the good, I have a few things against you.”

b. Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira was a woman Jesus called Jezebel. This may not have been her literal name, but a title that clearly represented a self-styled prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37).

i. The name Jezebel had a powerful association. If we call someone a Judas or a Hitler it means something strong. It was also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel. “She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal… Jezebel herself had a most unenviable record of evil.” (Walvoord)

ii. Some ancient Greek manuscripts state the phrase that woman Jezebel as your woman Jezebel or your wife Jezebel. Based on this, some (like Dean Alford) think that Jezebel was the pastor’s wife, or that Jesus meant Jezebel was the pastor’s “woman” in a symbolic sense.

c. Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one. Yet, it seems the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that is why Jesus gave them this warning.

i. Jesus said this would happen in Matthew 24:11: Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.Those words were first spoken with a view to the end times, but there have always been those who call themselves prophets in the church, but are not.

d. To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols: Here, Jesus described the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodlyinfluence on others, and led others into sin. Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.

i. Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idolswas probably connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds. Perhaps a Christian was invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo. “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the man to go – perhaps even using a “prophetic” word – and when the man went, he fell into immorality and idolatry.

ii. The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful. “No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild.” (Barclay) Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure. One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry. A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied, Vivere ergo habes? “Must you live?”

iii. My servants: This shows how terrible Jezebel’s sin was. She corrupted the servants of Jesus, and they belong to Him. Jesus said, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea (Mark 9:42).

e. Later in this letter, Jesus would also reveal a link to the work of Jezebel and false doctrine: this doctrine… the depths of Satan, as they say (Revelation 2:24). It seems that this Jezebel led others in the church at Thyatira to discover depths of Satan.

i. In the days of the New Testament, many non-Christian religions (such as the Ophites and various Gnostic groups) said they knew the “deep things of Satan.” The ancient Christian writer Tertullian said if you asked a Gnostic about their cosmic mysteries, they furrowed their brow and said, “It is deep.” It may be deep – but deep into a dangerous pit.

ii. How could Christians ever fall for the depths of Satan? Perhaps the deceptive reasoning went this way: “To effectively confront Satan, you must enter his strongholds, and learn his depths in order to conquer him.” People use similar reasoning in misguided spiritual warfare today.

f. And I gave her time to repent… and she did not repent: Jesus’ greatest accusation was that this “Jezebel” did not repent. She apparently rejected the work of the Holy Spirit in her heart, calling her to repentance.

i. In these words we see both the mercy and judgment of our Lord. Time to repentshows mercy. God gives us time to repent, we should deal with others the same way. And she did not repentspeaks to the judgment of God. God gives time to repent, but it is not an unlimited time. There is a time when God says, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever (Genesis 6:3). This means that when God gives us time to repent, we must take advantage of that time.

ii. “‘In space comes grace’ proves not always a true proverb.” (Trapp)

g. Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira. On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, andpatience. Yet there was significant corruption inside the church. The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.

i. It wasn’t necessarily a large group following Jezebel. A little leaven affects a whole lump of dough, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church – especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did.

5. (22-25) What Jesus wants the church at Thyatira to do.

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.

a. I will cast her into a sickbed: Before Jesus told the Christians in Thyatira what they must do, He first told them what He would do. Jesus would chastise this Jezebel, and cast her into a sickbed, along with those who commit adultery with her.

i. The reference to adulteryis important. It speaks of both sexual adulteryand spiritual adultery. When these Christians honored other gods, they were unfaithful to the Lord who saved them.

ii. For this reason, the figure of a sickbed is fitting. They were guilty of adultery, both sexual and spiritual. It is as if Jesus said, “You love an unclean bed. Here, I will give you one, and cast you into a sickbed.”

iii. What was the sickbed? It could simply be an image of affliction, or it could be literal sickness that Jesus allowed in the lives of Jezebel and her followers as chastisement. We know from passages of Scripture such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 that God can use sickness as a way to chastise His people when they are in sin.

iv. The ancient Greek word used here for bed “is also the word for a banqueting couch; and if that meaning is taken, the meaning is: ‘I will strike her down as she sits at her forbidden feasts.’” (Barclay)

b. Unless they repent of their deeds: Jesus revealed the purpose for this chastening. First, it was to draw them to repent of their deeds. They wouldn’t listen to Jesus before, so He had to speak louder through the sickbed. Second, it was to give an example of holiness to other churches: and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.

i. Minds and hearts is literally “hearts and kidneys.” In the mind of the ancient Jews, the heart was the place of intellect, and the kidneyswere the place of emotion. Jesus said, “I know your every thought and your every feeling.”

c. I will kill her children with death: “All men die, but all are not killed with death… Oh, it is a woeful thing to be killed with death.” (Trapp)

d. Hold fast what you have till I come: There were many faithful, uncompromising Christians in Thyatira. To them, Jesus simply said, “hold fast.” They must not stop doing what is good. They must not become distracted or discouraged from what Jesus wants them to be and to do.

i. Jesus also told them how long to hold fast: till I come. We are to hang in there and stand strong for Jesus until He comes. It is only then that the battle will be over.

6. (26-28) The promise of a reward.

And 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’—

as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

a. He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcomeand keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His overcomers.

b. To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people will reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offered a share in His own kingdom.

i. He shall rule them with a rod of iron: This quotation from Psalm 2 speaks of the authority of the Messiah when He rules over the earth. In that day, righteousness will be enforced, and those who rebel against Jesus will be dashed to pieces like a clay pot hit with an iron bar. Jesus includes this here to give hope to the faithful Christians of Thyatira, who felt overwhelmed by the immorality and idolatry all around them. Jesus reminds them, “You’re on My winning team.”

ii. “The word for ‘rule’ (Gr. poimanei) means literally ‘to shepherd.’ Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction.” (Walvoord)

c. I will give him the morning star: Jesus offered them a reward greater than the kingdom. He offered them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

7. (29) A general exhortation to all whom will hear.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

a. He who has an ear: This is a letter that applies to everyone. It applies to those who are like Jezebel, who lead others into sin. It applies to those who follow the teaching of a Jezebel, and follow others into sin. It applies to those who permit a Jezebel to work her wickedness. Finally, it applies to the faithful who must hold fast.

1. Eating from the tree of life. Partaking of the divine nature using the promises in the written Word (Rev. 2:7, 2Pet. 1:4).

2. Not being hurt by the second death. Not going to hell (Rev. 2:11; Rev.20:14).

3. Hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name. Receiving revelation from the Word of God that leads to personal inner purity (Rev 2:17, Mt. 16:17-18).

4. Power to rule over nations and the morning star. Wielding spiritual authority over nations through prayer and intercession like Daniel (Rev. 2:26-28; Dan. 4.17).

5. Clothed with white garments.
A condition in which all the sin nature in the physical body has been cleansed out by the divine nature (Rev. 3:5; 2Cor. 5:4; 7:1).

6. Made a permanent pillar in the temple of God. This speaks of a permanent operation in the mature love of God which makes our election sure (Rev. 3:12; 1Jn. 4:8; Gal. 2:9).

7. Sit with the Lord Jesus on His throne.
Experiencing the same spiritual Kingly power the Lord Jesus operated when He was on the earth (Rev. 3:21-22; Jn. 14:12).

These rewards are revealed using primarily symbolic language and are a foretaste of the powers of the age to come that overcoming Christians can experience now in this dispensation (Heb. 6:5).

Christ Himself progressively inherited these rewards. An overcomer cannot afford to retrogress in the things of the Spirit: we must continue to increase in our commitment and diligence in the things of the Spirit.

You may fall and stumble but you must rise again and continue to move forward in spiritual matters (Pr. 24:16).

Otherwise, if after receiving reward no. 2 you retrogress, God in His mercy and love, will cut you off physically, so you will certainly go to heaven but lose some of the other rewards and some of your destiny (2Jn. 8; 1Cor. 5:5).

We become overcomers and so inherit these rewards (not gifts!) by faith and patience in walking in the love of God with increasing diligence and efficiency, until we attain the perfection and fullness of Christ (Heb. 6:12).

Then after Pentecost/Shavuot/the gift of the Holy Spirit was given and received; He sent them out to make disciples…to lead people to imitate them, by obeying Yeshua/Jesus. Yeshua/Jesus calls us to be His talmidim and to know God’s Word and Yeshua/Jesus’ interpretation of it. 

We must be passionate in our devotion to that Word and to His example, then, when we are filled with His Spirit, we must be filled with the desire to become like Him as far as is humanly possible.

This means that the present day talmid /disciple, must be no less focused on the rabbi. 

We must be with Him in His Word, 

we must follow Him even if we are not sure of the final destination, 

we must live by His teaching; which means we must know those teachings well; 

and we must imitate Himwhenever we can.

In other words everything becomes secondary in life to being like Him. 

When they had observed and learned for a time they were sent out to begin to practice being like the teacher (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-24)

This is one of the most significant concepts of the New Testament. Jesus, the divine Messiah Yeshua, chose the rabbi-talmid system. 

He taught like a rabbi in real life situations, using the most brilliant methods ever devised, (e.g. using parables). 

He interpreted God’s Word and completed it. 

He demonstrated obedience to it.

He says to us today, you are…

In Revelation we read that Messiah’s Bride is CALLED, CHOSEN and FAITHFUL:

Revelation/Chazown 17:14 

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Master of masters, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

14. Ve•hem yi•la•cha•moo et-ha•Seh ve•ha•Seh yig•bar aley•hem ki hoo Adon ha•a•do•nim oo•Me•lech ha•m`la•chim ootz•va•av ee•mo k`ri•ey El be•chi•rav ve•ne•e•ma•nav.

יד. וְהֵם יִלָּחֲמוּ אֶת-הַשֶּׂה וְהַשֶּׂה יִגְבַּר עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי הוּא אֲדוֹן הָאֲדֹנִים וּמֶלֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים וּצְבָאָיו עִמּוֹ קְרִיאֵי אֵל בְּחִירָיו וְנֶאֱמָנָיו:

Why 3 CALLED, CHOSEN and FAITHFUL?

Matt 22;14 holds a clue those who are CALLED then those who are CALLED ANDCHOSEN; and finally in Rev. 17:15 CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL. 

Seems like there are 3 stages here.   

There are also 3 groups at the Wedding of the Lamb. 

The guests who are CALLED

The 5 of the 10 bridal attendants who are CHOSEN 

and

The bride who is FAITHFUL.

However Jesus/Yeshua asks the critical ?

and continued to make it clear in Matthew 22

What is our identity as grafted in believers? Are we Called, Chosen, Faithful, Hebrews, Israelites, Jews or Gentiles?

The terms Hebrew, Israelite and Jew, originated through 3 different biblical personalities:

The first Hebrew was Abraham.The word Hebrew/Ibriym means ‘one who crosses over,’ as Abraham crossed over from paganism into a set-apart life with YHWH (YaHuWaH). Therefore, Abraham was the first one to become a ‘Hebrew.’ He was ‘CALLED’ and he obeyed the call.

The first Israelite was Jacob. 

He was the first one to be called ‘Yisra’EL,’ which means ‘one who prevails or overcomes with Elohiym.’ 

He was ’CHOSEN’ over his twin brother Esau.

And the first one to be called a Jew/Yahuwdiy was Judah.Jacob (ISRAEL), and Leah named their 4th son Judah/Yahuwdah; from where we derive the term ‘Jew’ and it means ‘I will praise YaHuWaH.’

Judah was ultimately ‘FAITHFUL’ because he honored his promise to his father Jacob when he promised to ’bear the blame forever’ if something bad happened to Benjamin. (Gen. 43:9). Judah is the tribe that volunteered to become the scapegoat. And ultimately why Messiah was born into that Tribe because as the scapegoat, He was the sinless lamb who took the punishment for guilty sinners.

Hebrew = called out (Genesis 12:1; Revelation 18:4).

וָאֶשְׁמַע קוֹל אַחֵר מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם קֹרֵא צְאוּ מִתּוֹכָהּ עַמִּי פֶּן-תִּגְּעוּ בְחַטֹּאתֶיהָ וְדָבְקוּ בָכֶם תַּחֲלֻאֶיהָ:

4. Va•esh•ma kol a•cher min-ha•sha•ma•yim ko•re tze•oo mi•to•cha ami pen-tig•oo ve•cha•to•te•ha ve•dav•koo va•chem ta•cha•loo•e•ha.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Could it be said that when we are saved/born-again, we begin as a Hebrew, because we obey the CALLING to come out of paganism and the sinfulness of this present world and cross over into our new life?

Yisra’el means an overcomer, or one who prevails. (Gen. 32:28; Rev. 3:12). 

Then, we become like Jacob, an Israelite/Yisraelite when we wrestle with Elohiym to find our identity in Him. Like Jacob, we prevail against the enemy of our soul when we conquer the sinful nature (Rom. 8:37). This is what qualified Jacob/Ya’aqob to have his name changed to Israel/Yisra’EL. 

Likewise our names will be changed as seen in 

Rev 3:12,

17. Mee asher-oz•na•yim lo yak•shiv et asher ha•Roo•ach ma•gid la•k`hi•lot lam•na•tze•ach e•ten min-ha•man ha•sha•moor ve•na•ta•ti lo even le•va•na ve•al-ha•e•ven cha•kook shem cha•dash asher eesh lo yi•ko•ve•noo bil•tee ha•m`ka•bel.

18. 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.

The scripture says that those who receive a new name, are those who overcome, or in other words, they prevail with Elohiym!

Jew/Yahuwdiy means one who praises YHWH. (Gen. 29:35; Rev.19:5).

Do we finally become a Jew/Yahuwdiy when we learn to praise YaHuWaH no matter what the circumstances are? This would seem to be the mark of a mature believer who is ready to be the bride!

The Hebrew Strong’s Concordance shows the definition of the name Judah as follows: 

#3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw from 3034; celebrated; praised; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory, Judah.

It stems from another root word: 

#3034 yadah yaw-daw’ a primitive root; used only as denominative from 3027; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):–cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, give thanks; thanksgiving; thankful.

#3064 Yhuwdiy yeh-hoo-dee’ patronymically from 3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):–Jew.

By the definitions above, the name Judah/Yahuwdah means one who praises YaHuWaH.

Remember everything is connected!

Many are CALLED (Hebrews) but few are CHOSEN (Israel/Yisra’el). 

And of those who are CHOSEN, only the FAITHFUL (Yahuwdiy) are the ones who praise YaHuWaH!

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the term Jew/Yahuwdiy. The term Jew or Yahuwdiy comes from the Tribe of Judah /Yahuwdah. Melchizedek is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Hebrews 7:14).

(Remember the Priests of Jesus/Yeshua’s day were corrupt: click link below to see relevant post.)

https://www.minimannamoments.com/why-was-the-priest-in-the-water-conclusion-of-the-mystery

Paul uses the term Jew/Yahuwdiy in Romans 2:28, to describe those whose hearts are circumcised. Why does he use the term Jew to define somebody who has a circumcised heart? Why does he not use the terms Hebrew or Yisraelite? 

Could it be because a bride joins the tribe of her bridegroom when she marries him. 

So to be called a Jew/Yahuwdiy, means that you have reached the place of maturity where you are ready to be called Messiah’s bride?

In a previous post about Ruth the scripture records that she was a Moabite, and Torah/Towrah says that no Moabite may enter the congregation of Israel/Yisra’el forever (Deuteronomy 23:3; Nehemiah 13:1).

So how was she able to marry Boaz who was from the Tribe of Judah? She ‘crossed over’ when she followed Naomi to Bethlehem, Judah and she said ‘Your God/Elohiym is my God/Elohiym, and your people shall be my people’.

in Ezek. 47:21-22 where any stranger may join the tribe of their choosing simply by ‘sojourning‘ with that tribe, and they would also inherit land with that tribe; so the principle is clearly referenced here too.

If, as believers in Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, we are ‘walking with’, or ‘sojourning with‘, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah/Yahuwdah (Rev.5:5); should it not follow that those who are His bride are going to be married into His tribe? 

Followers of Messiah are called a royal priesthood. (1Peter 2:9). This royal priesthood is the priesthood of Melchizedek, and Melchizedek is the King of Salem. Salem is the ancient name for Jerusalem, and according to Hebrews 7:14 Melchizedek also sprang out of Judah/Yahuwdah. Followers of Messiah are therefore part of this priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.

See last 2 posts for more of on Melchizedek.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-mystery-why-was-the-priest-in-the-water/

However we must still have our hearts circumcised in order to be counted as a Jew/Yahuwdiy by our Messiah. (Rom. 2:28-29; Rev.2:9 & 3:9).

Another amazing point to note is in the paleo Hebrew, alef bet, there is only one letter different from the name YaHuWaH

to YaHuWDaH.

The difference is the letter Dalet in the middle of the name Judah/ YaHuWDaH. 

The letter Dalet means the Door! 

Also meaning (by the definitions above,) the name Judah/Yahuwdah means one who praises YaHuWaH.

Click link below for more on the alef bet

https://www.minimannamoments.com/alef-bet-alphabet/

Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is the DALET/DOOR to the Father (John 10:7-9)and 

He came from the Tribe of Judah/YaHuWDaH (Rev. 5:5).

The only tribe that bears the Father’s name is Judah/YaHuWDaH!

Messiah’s name is Yeshua and can be written and said YaHuWShuWA which means YaHuWaH is Salvation, as seen in 

Hebrew Strong’s Concordance:#3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo’-ah or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo’-ah}; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:–Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare both 1954, 3442.

Now it makes sense as to why our Messiah came from the Tribe of Judah/Yahuwdah , and why He told the Samaritan woman at the well that Salvation is of the Jews/Yahuwdiy (John 4:22).

It’s because the Levite Priesthood could not act as the permanent Kinsman Redeemer* for Israel/Yisra’el.

For the simple reason that they would eventually die because they were mortals. However in the scriptures we are told that Melchizedek, who sprang out of Judah/YaHuWDaH has an endless life, and he never dies behind the veil. (Hebrews 7:14-16).

(Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer*, a type of Messiah, offering to redeem her and marry her, (covenant), and it took place located right on Mt. Moriah where Yeshua was crucified)!

Those who are the bride of Messiah are part of His ‘Royal Priesthood’ (1Pet.2:9), and they bear the Father’s name, YaHuWaH, just like Ruth we have crossed over.

Crossing over and entering the narrow WAY through The Door/Daletof Yahuwdah/Judah, praising the Father YHWH, in every circumstance, appears to mean that we have reached the place of maturity where we are ready to be called Messiah’s bride?

The bride also is married into the Tribe, YaHuWDaH. The five wise virgins in Matt 25 will enter into the bridegroom’s chamber and the door will be shut!

The key of David which qualifies the bride to enter into the chamber is only open to those whose hearts are circumcised for they have kept His Word/Torah/Towrah and have not denied his name (Rev 3:8).

Remember Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah who called their 4^th son Judah In Gen. 29:16-25, we learn that Jacob loved Rachel because she was beautiful, but her sister Leah was not very attractive.

The same thing happened with our Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua orYahuwshuwa. In Matthew 15:24, Yeshua/Yahuwshuwa said that He had come for only the lost sheep of the House of Yisra’el. Like Jacob who only loved Rachel, our Messiah only wanted to remarry His divorced bride, Israel/Yisra’el (Jer. 3:8; Hos. 2:19-20; Rom. 7:4).

The leadership in Israel/Yisra’el however, did not accept Him as their Messiah, and the gentiles were the ones who accepted Him.

Leah typifies the gentiles who were not the favored ones, and Rachel typifies Israel/Yisra’el who was favored by Messiah. Surely Messiah was disappointed in the same way Jacob was. He had come for his beloved Israel/Yisra’el, but instead, He was married to the gentiles who accepted His message, and thus, they were grafted into the olive tree of Israel/Yisra’el (Romans 11:17-25).  There were also many 1000’s who accepted Him at Pentecost who were not gentiles.

John/Yahuwchanon 1:11 

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Leah typifies the bride of Messiah who first comes into the understanding of her salvation when she gives birth to a son (1Timothy 2:15). Leah was CALLED to be the bride of Jacob/Ya’aqob and she accepted the call to be married to him. 

This means that she was CHOSEN by YaHuWaH.

Leah typifies the person who is called, then chosen. However, once she is chosen, she goes through affliction and testing.

Leah represents the bride of Messiah who will be married to Him first, just as Leah was the first to marry Jacob. in the future, possibly on a Feast of Trumpets /Yom Teruah, the faithful bride, typified by Leah, will be taken for seven days to the New Jerusalem for the wedding. Then she will return with Messiah in her new resurrected body riding white horses (Rev.19). 

This event could take place on a future Yom Kippur, and could be when Messiah will meet the other bride who typifies Rachel, the House of Judah. 

They will look upon Him whom they have pierced as His feet touch the Mount of Olives 

they will mourn for him as one mourns his only son. (Zech. 12:10; 14:4).

Mount of Olives was and is,

Ha Makem nitsachon/the place of victory.

Ha Makem-The Place-המקום

Instructions are given in Lev. 16:18, for what the High Priest/Kohen ha’Gadowl has to do on Yom Kippur.

He is commanded to combine the blood of the goat with the blood of the bullock and to sprinkle that mixed blood on the altar. 

What is this representing? 

The Hebrew origin of Rachel’s name means ‘LAMB‘,’Ewe,’ or ‘female sheep’, and Leah’s, meaning ‘Gazelle’ which is ‘beauty and grace’,’contented One,’ ‘also worthy COW‘, as in the biblical days cows were very valuable and treasured.

This means that both brides shall combine and become one bride on a future Yom Kippur, under our High PriestJesus the Messiah/Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach.

Leah’s faithfulness to YHWH/YaHuWaH caused her sorrow and rejection to be turned into happiness, for she was rewarded with fruitfulness.

Faithfulness is doing what we need to do regardless of feelings or personal preferences, our desires need to be His desires then we make the right choices.

There is a prophetic picture of Messiah and His FAITHFUL bride told in the story of Leah & Jacob. Leah was willing to die to her own selfish desires in order to please her husband. 

Similarly, those who follow the lamb wherever he goes (Rev. 14:4) are the ones who are ready to die and be buried with him:

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

הֲלֹא הֵם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נְגֹאֲלוּ בְנָשִׁים כִּי בְתֻמָּתָם הֵם כִּבְתוּלוֹת וְהֹלְכִים אַחֲרֵי הַשֶּׂה אֶל-אֲשֶׁר יֵלֵךְ וּפְדוּיִם הֵם מִקֶּרֶב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם כְּבִכּוּרִים לֵאלֹהִים וְלַשֶּׂה:

4. Ha•lo hem asher lo-n`go•a•loo ve•na•shim ki ve•too•ma•tam hem kiv•too•lot ve•hol•chim a•cha•rey ha•Seh el-asher ye•lech oof•doo•yim hem mi•ke•rev b`ney ha•a•dam ke•vi•koo•rim le•Elohim ve•la•Seh.

Romans/Romiym 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah/Mashiyach was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Leah finally found contentment in her circumstances when she trusted in YaHuWaH and praised him. This is what made her a faithful bride to Jacob

Leah symbolizes the gentile who begins with an uncircumcised heart (Romans 2:26), but learns to place their trust in God. 

Rachel symbolizes the one who only appears to be a Jew/Yahuwdiy externally, or in other words only beautiful outwardly (Rom. 2:28). 

Those whose hearts are circumcised inwardly are true Jews/Yahuwdiy for they are the ones who faithfully offer up praises to God/YaHuWaH:

Romans/Romiym 2:29 But he is a Jew/Yahuwdiy, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohiym.

A chosen remnant of Israel survives today namely those who have received Jesus/Yeshua, their promised Messiah, as the 3000 did on the day of the first Pentecost/Shavuot.

To the Jew first and then to the Gentile/Greek. Rom.1:16

Over the centuries Gentiles/ גּוֹי/ Goy (go’-ee)
Goyim/Nations, have been made partakers of the grace given to this remnant of Israel. Rom. 11:2–5

Israel is compared to the Olive tree because of unbelief. Many of the Olives branches had been broken off and wild Olive branches had been grafted into the stock.

Click link below for more on the Olive tree:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/grafted-in-to-the-olive-tree/

This is an unnatural act, performed by the sovereign hand of God. As gentiles we are to be humble, because we are grafted in on the basis of our faith and not by any merit we have in ourselves. We should be mindful not to boast in our position even as grafted in believers, since we are supported by the root, (Abraham and his family); and not by means of our own lineage or merit. 

The root supports us. 

ALWAYS. 

Romans 11:9

Whether natural descendents or Gentile, the picture of the Olive tree illustrates that the branches are those who come To the Lord by trusting in His promises of deliverance, just as father Abraham did. 

May our faith in Him be solid and unwavering.

Receiving The Hidden Manna And The White Stone. Rev. 2:17

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Once again, like the previous CALLINGS, the one who hears is CALLED to OBEY. 

Hebrew has no word for obedience. The word SHEMA or SH’MA means HEAR and OBEY.To hear someone means to obey him. He who obeys is described as conqueror and overcomer. To this particular overcomer, Messiah is promising something very special – hidden manna and a white stone with a new secret name.

Manna is a symbol of God’s sustenance and provision for the people of Israel in the wilderness; as they came out/crossed over the Reed Sea, leaving Egypt in obedience to God’s call, risking their own lives to go by faith, to a land they would only later be shown.

When Jesus/Yeshua spoke with the Samaritan Israelite woman (John 4), His Judean, Israelite disciples were returning from a nearby town with food acceptable for consumption by the Judeans (Ioudaioi). The disciples asked among themselves if someone already had brought food to Him. He then answered them that He had something that, in the passage in Revelation, also being promised to the one who overcomes – the hidden manna. 

He said: I have food to eat that you do not know about. (Jn.4:32) 

This secret food that ‘the rest’ did not know about is nothing less than, divine energy of Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, who is able to provide sustenance in the most unimaginable and perilous circumstances. This characterized what was soon to become a reality for believers in Pergamum. Jesus/Yeshua promised this power/energy/dunamis, to the one who obeys God’s Words. This is why the one who obeys also is the one who overcomes.

The Identity of the White Stone. 

Among the most-likely interpretations that may fit the context is a suggestion that the white stones, with names of the recipients inscribed, were given to contest winners of the Roman sport races. The white stone inscribed with a personal name presumably served as a pass to a prestigious banquet only attended by the winners.

Symbolic of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the need to have a robe of righteousness, that would be the pass into the banquet.

This stone would have been received upon completion of the race. While this is not a particularly Jewish cultural reference, we do know of many biblical examples of the use of Greco-Roman cultural references as illustrations for and by the Jews. For example, the Apostle Paul used many Roman sports metaphors to make his points (Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). 

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews also employed Roman sport imagery of running a race and receiving a winner’s wreath (See also Heb. 12:1). This kind of imagery was well known in Judea where there were elaborate sports arenas. The analogy much more closely matches the culture of the Roman city of Pergamum. 

No doubt the persecuted believers, both Jewish and former pagans, were aware of this practice and the elaborate banquets of honor for the overcomers/winners of the race. Most of the believers did not take part in these games by the virtue of the fact that the games included a dedication to the Roman gods. Jesus/Yeshua tells them that in all reality they have not missed out on anything. The real race is the race of perseverance dedicated to the God of Israel. Whoever perseveres in this race and overcomes will receive ‘a pass’ into the heavenly banquet of eternal honor.

Another intriguing possibility continues with the theme of priestly attire as was already used in Revelation. The High Priest’s robe had 12 stones with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. 

One of the stones was actually WHITE – Yahalom 

(it was WHITE stone number 6), 

signifying the 6th son of Leah – Zebulun. What’s Important About Zebulun?

We read in Is. 9:1-7, quoted in Matt. 4:15 that:

“In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan. 

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

According to this interpretation, the sacred WHITE STONE is a symbol of Greco-Romans residing in Galilee who would receive light through the birth of Messiah.

Could the secret here be Messiah Himself? 

Could the white stone point to Jesus/Yeshua through the yahalom stone once adorning the breast of the High Priest of Israel? … Perhaps.

As believers we are not called to force or make people receive salvation but rather to make DISCIPLES of those who have been CALLED and CHOSEN and have shown themselves FAITHFUL.

So the question we must ask ourselves is, are we true DISCIPLES and if we are

CALLED and CHOSEN

are we being FAITHFUL in following Him?

And

Have you heard the calling? 

And did you answer?

Will our names be inscribed on a white stone?

Those who are with Him areCALLED CHOSEN andFAITHFUL.

ee mo k ri-ey El be-chi-rav ve-ne-e-ma-nav.

Don’t let anyone or anything take your crown!

Yes we are predestined in Father’s plan.. however, we still have a free will to CHOOSE! Choose this day and Choose LIFE, The Way and Truth.

Shalom!

PLEASE Don’t leave this page without making that life-saving decision – time is running out. Don’t miss the day of your visitation!

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…Don’t put it off one more moment…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You are now Born Again by the Holy Spirit of the Living God and you are part of the ever growing family of believers. You will never be the same again!

Rev 2:12-17 KJV (12)  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; (13)  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (14)  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (15)  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (17)  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.

THE INTRODUCTION:

From our previous lesson, we saw a very basic summary of the contents of these letters include:

Church Location	Name Meaning	Areas of Faithfulness	Areas of Unfaithfulness	Possible Punishment	Reward To Overcomers (proof of genuine salvation)
Ephesus	Desired or Allowed	Many areas of faithful outward service.  Hate doctrine of Nicolaitanes.	Left first love (Christ)Service not motivated by love for Christ.	Removal of candlestick (church no longer enjoying fellowship w God)	Eat of Tree of Life in Paradise
Smyrna	Myrrh	Spiritually rich	N/A	N/A	Not hurt by second death
Pergamos	Fortified Tower	Faithfulness in face of persecution	Allowing doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans(physical and spiritual fornication)	Will war against those who hold false teaching	Be given hidden manna and white stone with new name
Thyatira	Sacrifice, Offering, Corpse	Works of love, service, faith, patience	False Prophetess in midst. (sexual immorality and idol worship)	Sickness, tribulation and death upon her and her followers.	Be given power over the nations
Sardis	Depart, Escape, Exit	A few faithful areas of service remain. A few faithful members remain.	Testimony that they are spiritually alive but really dead.  Their works not “perfect” before God.	Will come upon them as a thief (implied removing anything of value leaving spiritually destitute)	White garments.  Name not blotted out of book, confess his name before the Father
Philadelphia	Love Of The Brethren	Kept Word not denied name of Christ. Persevered in trials	N/A	N/A	Permanent pillar in temple of God.  Name of God and New Jerusalem upon them. New name given to them
Laodicea	Judgment Of The People	N/A	Lukewarm service.  Blinded to their spiritual destitution.	Spew out of Lord’s mouth. Rebuking and chastening from Lord.	Sit with Christ in throne.

Beginning in chapter 2 through chapter 3, John writes personalized messages to the 7 churches.  Each message contains four basic parts:

1. Description of Christ
2. Commendation for faithfulness and consequences
3. Exposing unfaithfulness and consequences
4. Promise to Overcomers

The first of these personalized messages is written to the church at Pergamos.

1. Description of Christ (v 12)

2. Commendation for faithfulness and consequences (v 13)

3. Exposing unfaithfulness and consequences (v 14-16)

4. Promise to Overcomers (v 17)

THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:  

Revelation 2: –    

(12)  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; 

This letter is addressed to the members of the local church at Pergamos. Pergamos was filled with citizens that worshipped the sun God Zeus (which had begun with Egypt with the worship of RA and then in Babylon with the worship of Baal).  The altar dedicated to Zeus was located in the city.

It is believed by many that the pagans of Pergamos choose to gradually assimilate themselves (and their beliefs) into the church at Pergamos instead of opposing the church and seeking to overcome it with violence.  Based upon the contents of this letter, it seems that they were successful in joining with the church, but unsuccessful in persuading the church to join them in their idolatrous beliefs and practices.   

These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Christ describes himself as “he which hath a sharp sword with two edges”.  This points us to Christ’s Word and its ability to destroy the enemies of Christ.  We find Christ using this sword in Revelation to judge and devour His enemies in Rev 19:11-21.

Many times we think of the Word as being an instrument used by the Lord to deliver salvation to His people.  However, we need to also realize that, the very same Word that saves us from our sins is also a tool of judgment that is used by our Lord to destroy His enemies (Isaiah 11:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:8).  This is the symbolism of the sword found in this letter (v 16).

The very same powerful Word that spoke all of creation into existence, is the same powerful Word that can work salvation into the hardest of man’s hearts and is the same Word that can defeat the most wicked of those who oppose Christ.  This is the basic principle behind the Lord’s Word being pictured as a two-edged sword.  

(13)  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

The Lord now lists for the church several areas of faithfulness that they are exhibiting in their service to Him:

1. works, – their acts of service to Christ

2. where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: – they were located at the seat the sun worship of Babylon and Egypt

3. thou holdest fast my name, –  they retained the name of Christ and continued to associate themselves with Him even though efforts were being made to persuade them to worship Zeus.

4. hast not denied my faith,…who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. – They not only kept the name of Christ but also continued to keep the Bible truths and practices.

Antipas (“against all”) was a man who was willing to stand fast against all of the false worship taking place in the city.  Because of that, he gave his life for the cause of Christ and the furtherance of the truths of God’s Word.    

(14)  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Christ now exposes the sin that existed in their midst.  They were allowing those who had never repented of their worship of Zeus to join and then continue in their membership.  Instead of exercising church discipline to remove them from their membership, they allowed them to stay and continue in their heathen beliefs and practices.

Please note: the pagan worshippers are described as: 1. them that hold the doctrine of Balaam (“destroyer of the people”) – Balaam deceived the Israelite men (through use of Moabite women) to worship idols at Baal-Peor, leading them astray from the true God. (Numbers 25:1-18 and Numbers 31:16) 2. who taught Balac – Balac was the king who had been counseled by Balaam in the idolatry of Baal-Peor (Nums

1. to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, – the teachings of these pagans was intended to “trip up” the Christians at Pergamos
2. to eat things sacrificed unto idols, – the church at Pergamos was to abstain from eating meats sacrificed to idols due to their location among idol worshippers. By eating the meat, it would APPEAR as if they were approving of idol-worship and actually partaking of idol worship.  This would serve to confuse those around them and trip up weaker Christians in their midst. (1 Corinthians 8:4-13)  This is why the pagans were trying to persuade them to eat of the meat.
3. to commit fornication. – to commit fornication with the temple prostitutes as a part of the idolatry. Also, by worshipping false Gods, the pagans would be enticing the Christians to commit acts of spiritual uncleanness.

(15)  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Nicolaitan (“conqueror of the people”), was the NT version of the OT Baalam.  In both cases, the promotion of the idolatrous worship and teachings is in view.  Those who believed in this sinful doctrine were included in the membership of the church.  Instead of dealing with them, by removing them from the membership, they put up with them in their membership.    

(16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The Lord’s instructions to them was to “repent”, this includes changing their minds about those idolatrous members, then forsaking their sin by disciplining them in a Scriptural fashion, and finally determining in their hearts to properly guard their membership from this point forward. The Lord further explained that, if they ignore repentance for this grave sin, the Lord would take matters in His own hands. By doing this, He is saying He would deal with both the believing and unbelieving members of the assembly.

He describes His dealings with the believing members as “coming unto” the church, in other words, He would send His chastening hand upon them in discipline to bring them back to obedience. He describes His dealings with the idolatrous unbelievers as “I will fight against them”, in other words, He would actively oppose and judge them using the power of His Word.  (Perhaps, this is speaking of the Lord raising up Godly teachers who would reveal their heresies which would eventually drive them out of the assembly.)

(17)  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.

The wonderful promise given to the believing members of the church… For those who are victorious over the dark forces of the world, the Lord will give to them “hidden manna”.   This is speaking of the Lord giving to His people a type of nourishment that cannot be seen in this temporal world…. a more intimate relationship with Him.  In other words, in eternity the Lord will give to His people a much greater knowledge of Himself and a much greater communion with Himself (1 Cor 13:12).

He will also give to the overcomers a “white stone” with a “new name” written upon it.   White and black stones were used to vote or choose.  (Note In Acts 26:10 – “voice” is word for pebble). The white stone was a sign of acceptance, selection, or acquittal… the black stone rejection, to cast off, or guilty. In this case, the white stone given to the overcomer is an outward declaration he has been chosen by God to salvation and is given admission to eternal glory.

The “new name” is probably speaking of a new name for Christ, the One who selected and invited us into glory.  It is displaying who “owned” or cast this vote.  The name represents new titles for (truths about) Christ being revealed to His people in eternity. (Rev 19:12-13).  He is given a new name in eternity as the veil is taken off our eyes and we see Him as He truly is (1 John 3:2).

Another popular view is that the “new name” is the name of the recipient of the stone.  It would be the name of the one who has overcome.  If this is the case, then it would be described as a “new name” that only the recipient knew because a person’s true spiritual standing before God can only be known by that person and God Himself.  A person’s salvation can NEVER be known with CERTAINTY by another individual.    

CHRIST REVEALED: In this section of Scripture, we can see Christ, as the ultimate Judge and Warrior who promises to come back to the earth someday judging the evil that is committed. We can also see Christ as the Holy One who cannot overlook evil, but deals with wickedness in the lives of the lost through His hand of wrath and in the lives of the saved by His hand of chastening.    

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)

Our Lord hates wickedness, we can see that through His promised dealings among the lost and saved in the church at Pergamos.  Because of His hatred of sin, it is very important that His people are on constant guard to not allow it in our lives.   But sadly, because we are fallen creatures, sin will slip into our lives.  When it does, the Lord has given us repentance as the means with which to deal with that sin. May we all hate sin, reject it, and when it slips into our lives, repent of it.  By doing these things, we can have confidence that the Lord’s hand of chastening will not come upon us.   

May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.  

Who are those who “Overcome”?

“To him who overcomes. . .” Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21 

“Overcomes” is from the Greek word developed from nikh “nika” which means “conquest, victory” and is used once in the NT in 1 Jn. 5:4.  The word in Revelation for “overcome” is the word nikaw “nikao” and means “to subdue.”  It is translated 24x as “overcome”, 2x as “conquer”, 1x as “prevail” and 1x as “get the victory,”  It is used in reference to God in Romans 3:4 and to Christ in John 16:33, Rev. 3:21, 5:5 and 17:4.  In reference to the believer it is used in Romans 12:21; 1 John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; and Rev. 12:11; 15:2; 21:7.  In Rev. 2:7 “overcome” means “to be the victor, to gain a victory, to be victorious.”  This seems to be a term applicable to all believers rather than to a limited or special group When we study John’s use of it and the promises here in Revelation 2 and 3.  

John uses it 7x in John and First John and 16x in Revelation.  To John faith manifested itself in victory.  The Believer/Conqueror prevails over evil through his faithfulness to Christ.  In Revelation the victor is the martyr.  

“To him who overcomes. . .” could then be translated “To the victor. . .” or “To the conqueror. . .”

1 John 5:1, 4,  “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. . .Everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

To believe in Christ means you have overcome the unbelief and sin of the world. 

The overcomers are not a special group of believers who surpass others in performance.  This is a general description of normal believers.  

John uses the word “overcomes” for the believer/conqueror because he expects a believer in Christ to have victory  over the world.

The victory we achieve is like the victory Jesus achieved: “Just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev. 3:21)

In the use of “overcome” in John’s writing there is a tension between positional truth and achieved rewards.  Even the white clothes are:   a)  a result of being washed in the blood of the lamb, (Rev. 7:13,14)  b)  described as being “the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev. 19:8)   So, all believers have all the rewards mentioned to the seven churches, though some believers will expand and increase the victory from this position as an overcomer.

Those who do not overcome:  “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This will be the second death.”

Repeated blessings are promised in the Bible for “overcomers.”  Who is the “overcomer”?  Oftentimes believers are confused as to whom these blessings belong because they do not know “Who is the overcomer?”

     Who is the overcomer?  The overcomer is the truly born-again-one, who has been redeemed through faith in Christ's blood.  What I am saying is that all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are the overcomers in the Bible.

     Presently, there is only one perfect overcomer.  He could say, “I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne (Revelation 3:21).”  All other overcomers are such by virtue of their position in Him.  Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

     Please notice I John 5:4-5, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  Notice how the overcomer is he that has been born again.  This is an automatic experience that takes place at the moment of salvation for the individual who puts his trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour.  There is no other way a man or a woman can become an overcomer.

     Faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour not only makes us God's children, but overcomers as well.  The day we trusted Christ was a day of victory for the Christian, because it was the day we overcame the world.  “But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57).”

     John comments further on the subject of overcoming.  “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).”  Look also in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.”

     Unfortunately, many have been blinded to think works are a part of salvation.  These individuals often think that an overcomer is one who overcomes on the basis of works.  God says that is impossible, (Matthew 19:26), because our most righteous works are as filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6).  All are sinners, (Romans 3:23), and none have kept God's laws, (John 7:19); therefore, we need a Saviour.  Jesus alone can save (John 14:6).

     Seven wonderful blessings are promised in Revelation chapters two and three to those who have overcome.  (Revelation 2:7,11,17,26-29; 3:5,12,21.)

     One: “…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 paradise (heaven) of God and the tree of life will be shared by all who are in Christ.  All believers will enter heaven and will be given the privilege of eating of the tree of life.

     Two: “…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Revelation 2:11).”  We learn that to be cast into the lake of fire, the eternal hell, is the second death.  “And death and hell (Hades) were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death (Revelation 20:14).”  The believer in Jesus Christ has the wonderful promise that he will never go to hell.  Hell is a place where unbelievers “…Shall be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).”  Praise the Lord the believer will never go to hell.

     Three: “…To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I 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).”  Evidently a brilliant diamond will be given to each believer with a new heavenly name inscribed upon it, also, the privilege of eating of the manna that God once fed the children of Israel in the wilderness.

     Four: “…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 be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.  And I will give him the morning star (Revelation 2:26-28).”  A distinction must be made between salvation and reward.  For being an overcomer (believer), the promise is, “I will give him the morning star.”  Jesus Christ becomes ours just as we are his, and reward is promised for service to Christ–such as power over the nations.

     Five: “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).”  This is the promise of a garment of salvation to every believer.  Isaiah 61:10 says, “…for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.”  Also God promises your name will never be taken out of the book of life.  The names that are erased are names belonging to those who were never saved by trusting Christ as Saviour.  This book was well known to Moses as containing the names of both the forgiven and the unforgiven–the believer and the unbeliever.  Moses was willing to forfeit his eternal life for those who as yet were not forgiven.  He prayed, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written (Exodus 32:32).”  If you die as an unbeliever, then God will blot out your name.  If you are a believer, your name will never be blotted out.

     Six: “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 the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name (Revelation 3:21).”  The promise of an integral permanent part in the working of God for the believers is given to those that overcome.

     Seven: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne…(Revelation 3:21).”  This last and final promise is ruling with the Lord Jesus Christ in His throne.

     Are you an overcomer?  Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, all seven of these promises are yours!

Pergamum, a city of the Roman province of Asia, in the west of what is now Asiatic Turkey, occupied a commanding position near the seaward end of the broad valley of the Caicus. It was probably the site of a settlement from a very early date. Pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of Asia, located in the western part of Asia-Minor, about 45 miles north of Smyrna and about 20 miles from the Aegean Sea. The modern village of Bergama, Turkey, now covers part of the ancient site.

The first temple of the imperial cult was built in Pergamum (c. 29 B.C.) in honor of Rome and Augustus. The city thus boasted a religious primacy in the province, though Ephesus became its main commercial center. Pergamum is listed third of the ‘seven churches of Asia’ (Rev. 1:11) and forms the third letter, an order which suits its position in geographical sequence.

Pergamum was very wealthy, the center of emperor worship with many temples devoted to idolatry. This was the place ‘where Satan’s throne is’ (Rev. 2:13). The phrase has been applied to the complex of pagan cults, of Zeus, Athena, Dionysus and Asclepius (Esculapius), established by the Attalid kings, that of Asclepius Soter (the ‘saviour,’ ‘healer’) being of special importance. These cults are illustrative of the religious history of Pergamum, but “Satan’s throne” could be an allusion to emperor worship. This was where the worship of the divine emperor had been made the touchstone of civic loyalty under Domitian. 

Here was the magnificent temple of Esculapius, a pagan god whose idol was in the form of a serpent. The inhabitants were known as the chief temple keepers of Asia. When the Babylonian cult of the Magians was driven out of Babylon, they found a haven in Pergamum. 

It marked a crisis for the church in Asia. Antipas who is called, “My witness, My faithful one” (v. 13), is probably cited as a representative (probably the first to be put to death by the Roman state) of those who were brought to judgment and executed there for their faith. 

Pergamum was a university town with a large library of 200,000 volumes given as a gift from Anthony to Cleopatra. 

The title of the Magian high priest was “Chief Bridge Builder” meaning the one who spans the gap between mortals and Satan and his hosts. In Latin this title was written “Pontifex Maximus,” the title now used by the Pope. This title goes all the way back to Babylon and the beginnings of the mother-child cult under Nimrod of Genesis 10 and his wife Sumerimus. Later, Julius Caesar was elected Pontifex Maximus and when he became Emperor, he became the supreme civil and religious ruler and head of Rome politically and religiously with all the power and functions of the Babylonian pontiff.

Today a small village called Bergama is located here with a Christian testimony which continued into modern times. This church may depict the history of the church from the time of Constantine until the rise of the papacy from the time of Constantine forward.

The Christ, the Author 
(2:12b)

Again, as in each of the seven messages, the message is related to the picture of the glorified Savior in chapter one. This serves to stress His sufficiency and our need to live in the light of His person and work, past, present, and future.

“Sword” is r%omfaia, a long spear-like sword, but here it is seen with two edges to emphasize the double-edged, sharp, penetrating character of the Word of God or God’s truth as it is found in the person and work of Christ and God’s holy Word as it reveals Him. 

The word “sword” is mentioned a total of nine times in Revelation. R%omfaia is mentioned five times and makaira, the short Roman two edged sword, is mentioned four times. The r%omfaiawas the long and heavy, broad sword used by the Thracians and other barbarous nations who often marched irresistibly over one country after another as God’s instruments of judgment. First of all, then, it symbolizes the irresistible authority and devastating force of our Lord’s judgment (cf. 19:15). 

In Revelation 1:16 and 19:15 the r%omfaia is described as proceeding out of the mouth of Christ. The mouth, an instrument of speech, portrays this as the Word of Christ. In Revelation 19:13 Christ is called the Word of God and then, in verse 15, we have the statement about the sword that proceeds out of His mouth and by which He will slay the wicked.

Interestingly, John 5:24f and 12:48 teaches us that Christ’s acts of judgment will be carried out on the basis of His Word. It seems clear the sword coming out of Christ’s mouth is a reference to the Word and is a symbol of its truth, penetrating power and authority, severity, and the fact that Christ judges men on the basis of the Word.

The sword is the symbol of the Word of Christ which separates believers from condemnation and from conformity with the world (Rom. 12:2; 8:1; 1 Pet. 1:23; Heb. 4:12). But this same sword, the Word of Christ, also guarantees judgment to the world on the basis of its absolute truth.

Here again we see the sufficiency of Christ in His capacity to meet our needs and deal with our failures. Pergamum was a church that was married to the world. They were in compromise with the world, but it is the Word of Christ which transforms us from the world.

Romans 12:1-2. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The Commendation and Approval 
(2:13)

Again, as in each of the letters, we have the statement made about our Lord’s knowledge of our affairs. This repetition is not without significance. Here the Lord assures them He knows of their steadfastness in the midst of Satan’s headquarters or dominion. Satanic activity was rampant here spreading to all parts of the world because of the extreme amount of pagan idolatry and emperor worship carried on in this city.

“Where you dwell” is the Greek katoikew from kata, “down,” and oikew“to dwell.” It means, “to settle down, dwell permanently, be at home.” Another word group used of believers is the paroikos group (paroikia, paroikew) “to be a stranger, sojourner in a place, or a visitor,” (1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11; Heb. 11:9; [cf. Luke 24:18; Acts 13:17; 7:6, 29; Eph. 2:19]). Similarly, we might also compare parepidhmos, “stranger, resident in a strange place, alien” (Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11).

First, there may be here a note of warning regarding their attitude toward this life and the world. This is especially true for the book of Revelation because of the use of what practically becomes a technical term for those who have settled down in the world as “earth dwellers” (cf. Rev. 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; and 17:8). Believers are to view themselves and live: (a) as sojourners, (b) as aliens, and (c) as ambassadors with their citizenship in heaven. We are never to be at home in the world in the same way that unbelievers are (cf. Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:19-20 with Rev. 3:10). The story of Abraham and Lot provide us with a good illustration of this truth. Abraham dwelt in tents by faith (Heb. 11:8-10), but Lot lived by sight, he became wedded to the world and wanted to settle down there (Gen. 13:9-13).

Second, there is also a note ofexhortation here as well as comfort. It reminds us that God not only knows our pressures, our temptations, and the problems we face, but that He is always there to help us if we want it. He noted they had remained steadfast regardless of the Satanic depths and atrocities of their environment and was there for them to enable them to overcome if they would only continue to walk by faith in dependence on Him. 

The principle of the Christian life is not escape, but endurance and conquest by faith. It may be much easier to live somewhere else in easier circumstances, but our duty is generally to stay and become a testimony for the Lord and overcome the world in which we live. We should always remember that the grass usually looks greener somewhere else, but until we are with the Lord or in the millennium, life will be full of trials of some sort and to some degree. The call is for strength with all power, according to His glorious might, for attaining of all steadfastness and patience, joyously giving thanks … (cf. Col. 1:11-12a).

The mention of the fact they had held fast to Christ’s name, and the death of Antipas would suggest persecution and attack by Satan to destroy this church. Since this was unsuccessful, Satan turned to other methods as we will see in what follows.

“Where Satan’s throne is,” not simply seat. This statement stems from the fact of the extreme idolatry and demonic nature of the religious activity connected with the worship of the serpent god of Esculapius, the worship of the Emperor of Rome, and the persecution these Christians faced as a result. 

The situation at Pergamum reminds us of the reality of the angelic conflict or the spiritual warfare of this present form of the world (Eph. 6:10). In the past, because of its godly heritage, America has been sheltered from some of the more obvious forms of demonic conflict that we have only read and heard about from missionaries. But Satan, though a defeated foe, is still alive and well and, as a roaring lion, is carrying on his havoc in the world which is now rampant in America. We are now facing Satan’s activities as never before and many believe this is in part preparing the world for the Tribulation. Satanism, devil worship, ritual murders, sacrifices to Satan, and gross immorality are no longer unheard of, but are occurring in our cities all across America. The New Age movement with its mysticism, channeling, belief in mystical forces, etc. is rampant in book stores, in schools, in our government, on TV, in the movies, in politics; it is literally everywhere. For an excellent resource regarding our present world scene as it pertains to culture, current issues, cults, and the occult, see Probe Ministries web site at http://www.probe.org.

As mentioned above, the reference here in verse 13 is a reference to Satanic power manifested in the particular religious, political, and idolatrous character of Pergamum. It became the seat of emperor worship and, according to Hyslop who wrote The Two Babylons, it also became the new home of the mother-child cult of Babylon which was moved from Babylon after the death of Belshazzar. It was later moved to Rome. 

One of the prominent features we find in Revelation is a prophetic picture of the revival of ancient Babylonianism (Rev. 17-18). This means that one of the things that will occur in preparation for the events of the coming Tribulation will be a rise, not only in Satanic activity, but of his activity in the various forms of ancient eastern mysticism and occult activity that was so much a part of this cult. We are seeing it today in the New Age Movement.

The Condemnation and Admonition 
(2:14-15)

After approving what He could, the Lord proceeded to admonish. Like them, most believers have things in their lives that are good, but there is always room for improvement. There are things that are wrong! Do we have ears to hear?

The Doctrine of Balaam (14)

Balaamism, as we might call it, was a compromise in the realm of morals. For people in this city to eat things sacrificed to idols meant to engage in the feasting and orgies of the various idolatrous temples. It meant to commit fornication. The teaching or doctrine of Balaam was a perversion of the Christian doctrine of liberty (see 1 Cor. 8-10; Rom. 14-15:3; Gal. 5:13). Let’s compare the following three ways we can look at the subject of Balaam.

The Way of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15)

The way of Balaam is really the way of covetousness and refers to one who hires himself out to do religious work merely for personal gain; it’s the merchandising of one’s spiritual gifts for personal gain out of covetousness.

The Error of Balaam (Jude 11)

This refers to Balaam’s error in thinking that he could get God to curse His covenant people and bypass His covenant promises because of their evil. Seeing their evil, Balaam supposed that a righteous God must curse Israel. But he was blind to God’s faithfulness to His promises which was based on the higher morality of the cross and God’s grace though the sacrifices that pointed to the cross. 

The Doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14)

Since Balaam found out he could not curse Israel, he realized he would be able corrupt them by getting them to marry the beautiful women of Moab. So he taught or advised Balak to tempt Israel in marrying the daughters of Moab. This would defile their separation and cause them to abandon their pilgrim character. It was a teaching that promoted a breakdown in separation from the world. Note that Pergamum comes from two words, per, which has the idea of “completely, thoroughly,” and gamos, “marriage.” The church at Pergamum began to lose their pilgrim character and was becoming thoroughly married to the world (cf. Jam 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:18; 2:11).

The Teaching of the Nicolaitans (15) 

The reference to the Nicolaitans identifies the group who were teaching Balaamism. Note the words “thus … in the same way” of verse 15. As mentioned earlier, some think this refers to the followers of Nicolas (so say some of the church fathers), while others believe the word comes from nikaw, “to rule,” plus laos meaning “people.” Scholars are divided on the precise problem here, but it seems clear that they were subjugating the people to Satan’s authority by teaching compromise with the world which always neutralizes the church by compromise. The church loses its pilgrim perspective and adopts the viewpoint, values, priorities, and pursuits of the world.

Christians often reject the overt acts of what they think of as worldliness defined by a list of prohibitions or obligations both negative and positive, while retaining the viewpoint or attitude of worldliness. But worldliness is found more in attitudes and values than in acts because what we do is really the product of our thinking or belief system. Millions of people go through all the motions of worship each week but maintain a heart that is completely out of touch with God and end up, in reality, worshiping themselves. We can meticulously avoid all overt acts of worldliness as we might define them, and still have a heart full of hypocrisy, criticism of others, jealousy, bitterness, envy, and preoccupation with the details of life rather than eternal treasures. There are many examples we might mention of worldliness, but one example that comes to mind is the Madison Avenue gimmickry which so often goes on in the name of evangelism or church growth. See Appendix 4, on the subtle snares of worldliness. 

Whoever the Nicolaitans were, they were conquering the people by bringing them under Satan’s authority through influential teachers who were tolerating or even promoting evil or license. In our study of the messages to the seven churches, we have gone, then, from “murder” to “mixture.” Martyrdom tends to purify the church, but mixture, a breakdown in biblical separation into worldliness, putrefies the church.

The Counsel and Appeal 
(2:16)

In verse 16, the Lord called this church to repentance with a sharp warning of judgment with the sword out of His mouth, suggesting that the judgment is based on the truth of His Word. Remember, the sword symbolically represents the two-fold ability of the Word of God to separate believers from the world while at the same time to condemn the world for its sin. It was the sword of salvation and deliverance as well as the sword of death.

Worldly thinking must be dealt with positively and quickly or it eats into our lives individually and corporately (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7-9). Like cancer, worldliness eats deeply into our viewpoint of life and what we expect from it. This impacts our values, and then our priorities and pursuits. And while we may begin to recognize much of its presence and seek to root it out, some of its remnants often remain below the surface, hidden like barnacles below the waterline on a ship. 

The Lord counsels the church to repent. The verb “repent” is here an aorist imperative in the Greek text which carries with it an element of urgency. It calls for an immediate response, one designed to arrest the direction in which the church was going. “Repent” is metanoew, “to change the mind.” Here is one of those generic terms that must be understood within the context in which it is found just as with the word salvation (cf. in Phil. 1:19 the Greek swthria, “salvation, deliverance, preservation”). “In both the New and Old Testaments, repentance means ‘to change one’s mind.’ But the question must be asked, about what do you change your mind? Answering that question will focus the basic meaning on the particular change involved… . Biblical repentance also involves changing one’s mind in a way that affects some change in the person. Repentance is not merely an intellectual assent to something; it also includes a resultant change, usually in actions.”⁴⁵ Repentance is used in Scripture in at least three ways:

(1) A repentance that is merely a change of mind about something in a context that does not deal with salvation (Matt. 21:28-32). It is a real repentance, a change of mind, with a real result, but it has nothing to do with salvation.

(2) A repentance that is unto salvation. In a context dealing with salvation or eternal life, etc., it has to do with changing one’s mind about one’s condition in sin and need of the saving work of God in Christ. It is equivalent to faith or a part of faith like two sides of a coin (cf. Acts 2:38 with 11:17; Acts 5:31with Eph. 1:7, and Acts 19:14). First, we acknowledge our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves, and then (the other side of the coin) we turn to Christ in faith as the only means of salvation.

(3) Then there is a repentance that deals with some spiritual issue in the Christian life in which repentance is a change of mind concerning the path we are following and is equivalent to confession of specific sins with a view to spiritual change, pursuing the path of godliness. This is the usage in these letters. 

The Issue: Either we repent of our worldliness, acknowledge its presence and evil and commit to moving in a godly direction, or we face divine discipline and the loss of our light bearing capacity—our very purpose for existence as a church. It appears they did. A Christian church has continued into modern times in the modern city of Bergama.

The Solution: The Christian needs to live in the Word, the two-edged sword, which penetrates and transforms us by the renewing of the mind with the mind of Christ (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:16). This includes keeping our focus on eternal treasures (Matt. 6:19f; 1 Pet. 1:12f). The alternative is divine discipline on the basis of that same Word, which, if neglected, results in our discipline according to the warnings and principles of Scripture (John 15:1f; Heb. 12:5f). 

This warning is immediately followed by a special exhortation and assurance.

The Challenge and Assurance 
(2:17)

The Challenge

“He who has an ear …” is again an appeal to the individual for spiritual change. Spiritual change in a church has to begin with the individual.

“To him who overcomes …” Here is God’s challenge to believers to overcome by faith in the Savior’s victory and provision. Specifically, overcoming in this context meant to refuse to eat of things sacrificed to idols and to remain sexually pure, to avoid fornication, and remain distinct and separate from the world. While initial faith that is genuine brings one into union with Christ, it is the continuation of an active faith from living in the Word, feeding on the things of Christ, that overcomes and leads us into the abundance and sufficiency of Christ’s life with great reward both now and in the future.

The Assurance

The Hidden Manna

“The hidden manna” is literally, “of the manna, the hidden.” It is a restrictive attributive which defines the distinctive identity of the manna. With this construction, there is some emphasis on the hidden character of the manna. In the Old Testament, the manna stood for God’s faithfulness to provide and sustain His people through the wilderness wanderings in place of the leeks, melons, garlic, and onions of their old life in Egypt, an apt picture for the world system. As a memorial to God’s faithfulness, a portion of the manna was placed and thus hidden in the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 16:32-34; Heb. 9:4). Trench calls our attention to the fact that it was after this manna was laid up in the Ark that it obtained the name, “hidden.”⁴⁶

Manna was also called, “food from heaven” (Ps. 78:24). In John 6:48-51, the Lord spoke of Himself as the true bread from heaven that gives eternal life in contrast with the manna in the Old Testament. He said, “your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died” (John 6:49). While the manna sustained their physical life for a time, it was only a picture of the one who would come and who would give life and life abundant (John 10:10). 

From the use of manna in Scripture and from the nature of the promises to the overcomer, I would suggest there is a two-fold meaning and application here:

(1) It has a present meaning or application. It refers to the sufficiency of the person and work of Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Word which the world does not know or see since the natural man does not see or discern the things of Christ (1 Cor. 2:14). Therefore, believers need to daily feed upon His life in the Word for daily sustenance and blessing (cf. Heb. 3:7f). This and this alone can make us fruitful believers, and provide true happiness and stability of life, something which the allurements of the world simply cannot give.

(2) It has a future meaning. The promise of manna looked forward to a greater capacity to enjoy all the manifold blessings and glories of the kingdom in the presence of Christ that would come to the overcomer who refused to eat of the things sacrificed to idols.

A White Stone

By repeating “I will give,” there is an emphasis on the grace of the Savior and the second gift is highlighted as distinct from the first. Though rewards are promised for faithfulness, they are still a matter of the grace of God for it is by His grace and strength that we experience the capacity for faithfulness. 

“A white stone.” This is perhaps the most difficult to interpret of all the rewards mentioned in chapters 2 and 3 because of the various uses of white stones and because no other passage tells us anything about white stones. 

Stones were used in the secret societies as amulets of protection and by judges who determined a verdict by placing a white and black stone in an urn. If the white one came out it meant acquittal of all charges. But, since there will be no need of protection in eternity and because I believe these are rewards to believers who already stand acquitted, justified in Christ, neither of these seem to fit with what John had in mind.

“Stone” is pshfos and may be used to designate a precious stone, like a diamond. This idea is supported in this verse by the word leukos which may mean more than just white, and can be equivalent to “splendid, shining,” or even, “glistening.” Compare the following verses which support this interpretation (Matt. 17:2; Rev. 3:4, 5; 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:14). Some seek to connect it in some way to the promise of the hidden manna, the Ark of the Covenant, and the priesthood. They see it as a diamond which corresponds to the Urim and Thummim worn by the high priest and would speak of special priestly prerogatives and access into the very presence of God. Others see an analogy to the stone awarded to victorious gladiators or warriors when they returned from battle. It would be much like a ‘well done’ for service rendered.

There was also a custom in John’s day in which special stones were given which entitled the bearer to special hospitality and friendship. As you can see, there were many customs and several possibilities for the meaning of the stone. Whatever, it clearly symbolized special blessing and privilege that will be given to those believers who overcomer the influx of the world on their lives.

A New Name

“A new name which no one knows …” Here the Lord promises us a special name. Why? It could show intimacy and God’s personal love and concern for each one of us, but as a special reward for believers who overcome, it probably has a different significance. 

It undoubtedly demonstrates something of the character of the overcomer or something of his new responsibilities or both. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham to portray the fact that he was to become the father of a multitude. Jacob, which means supplanter, was changed to Israel, the one over whom God would henceforth rule. Unstable Simon became Peter the little rock. Similarly, the overcoming believer is promised a new name which may show something of what God has accomplished in his or her life through a walk of faith in faithfulness. 

The custom of giving a new name to mark a new status was known in the heathen world as well. The name of the first of the Roman Emperors was Octavius; but when he became the first of the Emperors he was given the name Augustus. This very name marked his new status; he was now unique and superhuman and more than man.⁴⁷

The significance of a new name, then, would not be lost on readers living in John’s day since only recently the title of the Roman emperor had been changed. Thus, the new name to be awarded faithful believers was an assurance that they would one day be elevated to a position superior even to that of Augustus. The gift of this new name marks the believer’s entrance to a new and higher stage of responsibility symbolizing new and greater authority. Regardless of the meaning, for our day when we are often identified by an impersonal number, it highlights the fact we are not just impersonal numbers, but those who are personally known and loved by God.

---

45 Charles C. Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1989, p. 92.

46 Trench, Epistles to the Seven Churches.

47 William Barclay, The Revelation of John, Vol. 1, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, p. 122.

Here is a breakdown of how the word “yakol” is used in Scripture.

From the use of the word, we learn that to overcome is to have victory, be able to prevail, to be bold and to have understanding. We can be overcomers every day of unrighteousness, sin, fear and many more. However, we will study this in the eternal context to see what we are to do to be overcomers at the end. Looking at overcoming from this perspective, necessitates us looking at the book of Revelation. The word “overcome” is used a few times in Revelation and every time a promise is given to those who overcome. Let’s look at what was said to the seven assemblies to see how we can apply this in our lives.

Promises to overcomers

Each of the seven assemblies in Revelation is facing some kind of challenge. We can learn a great deal from this. I believe this was not just written as a historical account of what was happening in Asia Minor, it was written for each of us. YHVH said “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” I believe YHVH is speaking to us here. We are the ones who have to have an ear to hear. Each of the assemblies was also given a promise of what they will receive if they overcome. Let us break it down per assembly to see what we can learn from this.

Ephesus

The assembly of Ephesus was commended on a number of things, yet it is said that they have left their first love (Rev 2:4.)

What or who is this first love?

You have lost the love you had at first—not the strong emotions, which cannot be expected to last, but the zeal for God, which can be renewed by repentance and rededication. 

Stern, D. H. (1996). Jewish New Testament Commentary : a companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed., Re 2:4). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.

To him who wins the victory (or: “to him who overcomes”). The victory is over evil, temptation and apathy. According to 3:21&N Yeshua himself is our role-model. ³

Matthew 24:12 confirms this interpretation.

Matthew 24:12–13
¹² â€œBecause lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. ¹³ â€œBut the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

To love YHVH is to place Him first, not just part of a routine or lip service. We can each ask ourselves this question: do we place YHVH first or has our relationship with YHVH become part of a routine or dead religion?

There is still hope. We can overcome this.

Revelation 2:5
⁵ â€˜Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repentand do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

We are to remember what YHVH has done for us, repent and have the zeal we had when we first became believers.

The promise if we overcome.

Revelation 2:7
⁷ â€˜He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of Elohim.’

To eat from the Tree of Life means to have eternal life. Genesis 2:9; 3:22, 24 shows that this was true in the original Gan-Eden (“Garden of Eden” or “Paradise,” Lk 23:43N). It is also true in God’s Gan-Eden, which is the New Jerusalem (21:2; 22:2, 14, 19). In the Tanakh the term “tree of life” is used at Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12 and 15:4 to describe wisdom, the fruit of the righteous, desire fulfilled, and a wholesome tongue—all of which may be seen as aspects of eternal life. ³

The next assembly is Smyrna.

Smyrna

Smyrna did not receive a rebuke. They were being persecuted.

How are they to overcome this?

Revelation 2:10
¹⁰ â€˜Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

When we carefully read the book of Revelation, we learn that there will be persecution of believers in the end times. In fact, when you follow what is going on in the world, you would understand that it has started. Persecution is a test and when persecuted, we must remain faithful.

We often suffer a form of persecution because we are different. People want to categorize us as fanatical, just because we choose to be obedient to YHVH’s Word. Those who think that we are fanatical extrimists are so far removed from YHVH’s truth and his ways that those of us who do His ways seem strange or fanatical. They may even feel threatened by our dedication.

We are to remain faithful when this happens. It seems easier in such circumstances to laugh with the scoffer, or make as if we agree with them. This is wrong, we are to be faithful and bold. To overcome means to be bold. He who denies Y’shua before people will be denied before the Father.

Matthew 10:33
³³ â€œBut whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

The promise to the one who overcomes.

Revelation 2:11
¹¹ â€˜He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

The next assembly is Pergamum.

Pergamum

Perganum was a center of pagan worship. It is written that Satan dwelled there. Pergamum was rebuked for holding to the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. In order to understand this, we need to know what this means. Balaam was sent to curse Israel, when he could not succeed and stood to lose the reward, he told Balak of a way to conquer Israel. The men of Israel were led astray by the women of Moab.

The Nicolaitans, on the other hand, is said to have originated from the deacon Nicolas spoken of in Acts 6:5. He was a proselyte from Antioch. It is said that he converted to Judaism from paganism and became a deacon as written in Acts 6. Some historical manuscripts describe Nicolas as a heretic who did not find fault in compromise. ⁴

Looking at what is said about Pergamum, being a center of pagan worship, it is understandable that people could easily compromise. We also live in a world that has chosen to reject YHVH and His ways and are daily confronted with immorality and many forms of idolatry and pagan practices. Yoga is a good example. Yoga originated as a religious practice within Buddhism and Hinduism. It has been popularized to such an extend that it now forms part of many people’s religious practice in the form of Torah-yoga. There are many other such practices that has infiltrated. YHVH commanded Do not learn the way of the nations nor do what they do. YHVH knows that it will lead us astray. Compromise always leads to more compromise. It is defined as follows:

· a way of reaching agreement in which each person or group gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute

· something that combines the qualities of two different things

· a change that makes something worse and that is not done for a good reason⁵

YHVH does not want us to mix the set apart and the profane (Lev 10:10) and when we compromise, we do. He also said in Revelation 2:6 that he hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans.

This can be remedied by repentance, asking YHVH’s forgiveness and turning away from evil. If we succeed in overcoming this, this is what is promised:

Revelation 2:17
¹⁷ â€˜He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

Thyatira

Thiatira was rebuked because they tolerated Jezebel. Jezebel does openly what Balaam indirectly did. In her case she has personally led YHVH’s bond servants astray. She is called a prophetess, which means she may have been in a position of authority. She used this position to lead people into idolatry, sexual immorality and sorcery. Here is David Stern’s commentary about this passage.

That Izevel woman, that is, someone who resembles King Ahab’s queen, Izevel (Jezebel). She supported idolatry and came dangerously close to eliminating true worship of God (1 Kings 16:30–33; 18:4, 13, 22; 2 Kings 9:22). Evidently the “Izevel woman” injects occultism and other demonic practices into the Messianic community. ³

Often, when we tolerate certain things, we may be drawn into it. None of us can claim that we will not fall. It would otherwise not be necessary for YHVH to give a promise to those who overcome.

So, these people are rebuked for their tolerance. Jezebel, because of her leading the people astray, will be cast upon a sickbed and her children (or followers) will be killed with pestilence. This sin described here, obviously goes deeper than openly committing sexual immorality. YHVH said here that He searches the minds and the hearts and will give to each according to their deeds. It means that even if these sins of sexual immorality and sorcery are not physically committed, but remains in our mind and heart, it will be seen by YHVH and punished accordingly.

Y’shua also said that whoever looks upon a woman with lust, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:28
²⁸ but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Job said that he made a covenant with his eyes not to let them lust after any girl. Good advice, I would say.

Job 31:1
¹ â€œI made a covenant with my eyes not to let them lust after any girl. (Complete Jewish Bible)

You wouldn’t think that someone as righteous as Job would even mention this… He may have said this because he knew that anybody can fall. Job had it easy compared to what we face with all the advertising and modern technology available to us. You don’t have to go out to buy pornography, you can easily have access to it and nobody would ever know. It is so easy to get trapped in this.

The problem starts with tolerance. We may tolerate the scenes shown to us in movies, television on the internet. It may seem interesting and we may click through to see what it is about and very soon you find yourself totally entrapped by it. There is no such thing as soft or safe porn. Pornography destroys marriages, it destroys people’s lives. The same is true for any form of witchcraft, whether black or white. It is from satan and YHVH hates it.

Even if you don’t participate in this yourself, make sure your children are protected against both. They usually get ensnared at a very young age. Usually, when we think they many not even notice it, or we may think it is harmless fantasy in the case of books about witchcraft. That is when it all begins. Be careful even of the books you read to your children or allow them to read. Many people think Harry Potter and similar books are harmless fantasy, but children get enticed by sorcery when they read this. You, being the person of authority in their lives becomes Jezebel to them if you give them this to read or allow it. You cause them to be ensnared in sorcery. These are harsh words, but think about it. We as parents have a responsibility towards our children. We are to raise them for YHVH’s kingdom, not introduce them to sorcery or immorality.

This includes films, the internet and even music. Children can be exposed to porn at a magazine stand and believe me this is not harmless. Pornography is addictive and being involved in the occult has a similar effect. You get drawn into this and it is difficult to escape. You as a believer may want to stop, knowing that it is wrong, but your self-restraint may often fail you. It is a secret sin and causes guilt and self-hatred. This constant guilt and self-hatred will lead to auto-immune diseases. We will write more on this in a future series of articles about sickness and healing.

Vigilantly protect them from this as it can eventually destroy them or render them ineffective for YHVH’s kingdom. Music is another medium that is used by satan. Just listen to the words of the songs. How often don’t we find modern love songs being about adulterous relationships and the like.

This is so dangerous that this assembly is rebuked for even tolerating this. Not tolerating any of this will remove the temptation. You can learn more about this is the article Self-discipline and Self-control.

The only way out is repentance.

To those who overcome authority will be given over the nations.

Revelation 2:26
²⁶ â€˜He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;

Sardis

Of Sardis is is said that they have a name that they are alive but are dead. Here is David Stern’s commentary on this passage. Quite sobering…

You have a reputation for being alive, but in fact you are dead! Today this statement about hypocrites describes people (Jews, Christians, other) who support charitable works but have no spiritual connection with the living God (Isaiah 64:5(6)); people who feel close to God or have correct theological doctrine but produce no evangelistic or social action fruit (Ya 2:17); people whose lack of faith in God and ignorance or rejection of Yeshua produce dead religious formalism, social clubbiness, fortress mentality defensiveness, and/or pride in self-accomplishment; and people who try to fill their spiritual vacuum with sensual gratification. ³

Are we not all guilty of this in some way or form? The question is what is the fruit we produce like? Are we full of knowledge, but empty on deeds? Or do we fulfill the two most important commandments, loving YHVH with all our heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves? If we don’t, we are those dead people referred to here. Having a reputation that we are alive, but dead inside. If we are like this, we are backslidden and asleep like the five virgins who were not ready. The coming of the bridegroom will take us by surprise, like a thief in the night. We are to be prepared and being prepared means living those two greatest commandments to the full. Loving YHVH and our neighbor.

Repentance is the only way back and he who overcomes will be clothed in white garments and his/her name will not be erased from the book of life and Y’shua will confess his/her name before the Father and His angels.

Revelation 3:5
⁵ â€˜He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Philadelphia

The assembly of Philadelphia is not rebuked in any way, they are commended for keeping YHVH’s Word and not denying His name. There is another reference in Revelation about keeping the commandments and having faith in Y’shua.

Revelation 14:12
¹² Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of Elohim and their faith in Y’shua.

Here is the promise to those who do this.

Revelation 3:12
¹² â€˜He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My Elohim, and the name of the city of My Elohim, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim, and My new name.

Laodicea

The assembly of Laodicea was rebuked because they were lukewarm. They were not cold or hot. It was going well with them, they were wealthy and in need of nothing, or so they thought. YHVH saw them differently, He said that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. When you look at each of these words in the lexicon, you can see how this refers to their spiritual state. They are miserable, pitiable, poor in spirit, not able to understand and poorly clothed. Clothing often refers to righteousness, so being poorly clothed means not living righteously. That is why Y’shua advises them to buy gold from Him, and white garments of righteousness and eye salve to give them understanding.

It is so typical of us humans, when it goes well with us, we tend to forget about YHVH. We don’t work on our relationship with Him. We focus more on ourselves and what we have. We then slowly drift away from Him. We become miserable, poor in spirit, we lose understanding and do unrighteousness.

YHVH said if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

James 4:8
⁸ Draw near to Elohim and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

He does not just leave us in this state, He is standing at the door knocking. He is calling us to return to Him. We can repent and be overcomers. This is the promise to him who overcomes.

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

There are a few other, more general, references in Scripture about overcoming.

Overcome the world

There are two references about overcoming the world. We read in 1 John 5:4 that we are to overcome the world and in John 16:33 we learn that Y’shua has overcome the world.

1 John 5:4–5
⁴ For whatever is born of Elohim overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of Elohim?

John 16:33
³³ â€œThese things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

What does this mean? We need to understand what is meant by “the world”, before we can really understand this. 1 John 5:19 explains it well.

1 John 5:19
¹⁹ We know that we are of Elohim, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

“ The world” is used metaphorically for evil or the kingdom of satan. In the epistle to the Corinthians, satan is called the god of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:4
⁴ in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of Elohim.

So, when we overcome the world, it means we overcome evil or the evil one, satan. The following passage gives us a bit more detail and explanation.

1 John 2:15–16
¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

From these passages we understand that overcoming the world means to overcome evil or the evil one.

1 John 2:13–14
¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. ¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of Elohim abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

The young men in 1 John 2:34-14 are commended for overcoming the evil one. In verse 14 we learn how they overcame, they are strong and the word of YHVH abides in them. Being strong may refer to their faith in Y’shua.

How do we do this?

How do we do this? When we read through these Scriptures carefully, we find the answers. In 1 John 5:4, it is written “whatever is born of Elohim overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” We are to be born of Elohim and our victory is in our faith. To be born of Elohim means the following.

1 John 2:29
²⁹ If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

To practice righteousness is to keep YHVH’s commandments. This, and our faith in Y’shua Messiah is how we overcome.

At the end

Revelation 21:2-7
² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Elohim, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself will be among them, ⁴ and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” ⁵ And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” ⁶ Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. ⁷“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his Elohim and he will be My son.

As opposed to the unrighteous who will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8
⁸ â€œBut for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable, and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Conclusion

From this study, we have learned what is required of us to be called overcomers. Each of the assemblies in Revelation teaches us something that we need to overcome. With each of these a special promise is given. Here are the promises:

• We will eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of YHVH
• We shall not be hurt by the second death
• We will receive hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name on it
• We will have authority over nations
• We will be clothed in white garments and our name will not be erased from the book of life and Y’shua will confess our name before the Father and His angels
• We will be made a pillar in the temple of YHVH and He will write His name, the name of the new Jerusalem and Y’shua’s new name on us
• We will be granted to sit down with Y’shua on His throne
• We will be called children of YHVH and will receive the reward of inheritance (Rev 21:2-7)

Revelation 21:7
⁷ â€œHe who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his Elohim and he will be My son.

We have a choice and how we spend eternity will depend on this choice. We can chose YHVH and have all these or we can choose the world and the things of the world and experience the second death or the lake of fire. We can still repent of all our unrighteousness and do the will of our Father. We may be persecuted for doing so. We may be called extremists and cast out by society, but we will spend eternity with our Heavenly Father. We only live on earth for a short while compared to eternity. We are to choose wisely…

Remember what Caleb said in the first verse we quoted “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”

Faith and obedience is what is required of us, then we too, will be overcomers and we will inherit the land.

References

1. All quoted passages are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. We have substituted YHVH for LORD and Y’shua for Jesus.
2. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
3. Stern, D. H. (1996). Jewish New Testament Commentary : a companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed., Re 2:7). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.
4. http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/refuel-with-rick/articles/who-were-the-nicolaitans-and-what-was-their-doctrine-and-deeds–14510.html
5. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compromise

The promises to the overcomer in Revelation 2 and 3 present us with some important, but difficult questions that need to be answered in order to properly interpret and apply these promises. But as is so often the case with difficult passages, students of the Word are divided on the answers. The main questions as I see it are simply, who is the overcomer and what is the nature of the promises? 

(1) Are these warnings against the loss of salvation as some have advocated?

(2) Is “overcomer” a title for all believers because of initial faith in Christ? In other words, does 1 John 5:5define the overcomers of Revelation 2and 3?

(3) Or is the overcomer equivalent to a special name for genuine believers because of the ultimate triumph of their faith? 

(4) Is this a warning against false profession or is it a challenge and motivation to all believers to faithfulness for rewards? 

These seven passages are not the only passages that touch on the issue of overcoming or victory over the conflicts and adversaries that we face in this life. Obviously, then, to get a better picture, it would be helpful to integrate these verses in Revelation with other portions of Scripture that speak of overcoming or similar terms such as “triumph” or “conquer” and that deal with issues that might shed light on the subject of victory. Even though we might not be able to agree on all the details, there will be certain truths that are self evident and very practical, exhorting and challenging to us in our Christian walk.

The Principle of Conflict 

The Principle Declared 

The term “overcomer” comes from the Greek nikaw, “to conquer, prevail, triumph, overcome.” This verb is found 28 times in 24 verses in the New Testament. This presupposes and calls attention to the presence of war, contests, battles, and conflicts in man’s struggle with evil. The New Testament clearly teaches us, as does life itself, that we are in a conflict, indeed, a holy war, with specific adversaries. Even after salvation, the conflict still rages in and against the life of the Christian. This is everywhere evident in Scripture and so obvious in life that one has to deny reality to ignore or disclaim it. Two key passages that illustrate the nature of our conflict with evil are Ephesians 2:1-2 and 6:12: 

Eph. 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The Adversaries Defined

(1) Satan, our chief adversary, the devil: 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Eph. 6:12; John 16:11; Col. 2:15; but note 1 John 2:13-14.

(2) The world, a system and arrangement of the affairs of men and government under the control of the evil one and opposed to God and His purposes for man: John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Eph. 2:2.

(3) Indwelling sin or the flesh and all its corrupting power and life dominating patterns: Rom. 7:15; 8:4-8, 13; Gal. 5:16-26.

(4) Other forms stemming from the above three: darkness (Col. 1:13), blindness (2 Cor. 4:3-4), death (Rom. 8:4f; Rev. 2:11), evil (Eph. 5:16), disobedience (Eph. 2:1), rebellion in every conceivable form (2 Tim. 3:1f).

The Provision of Victory

The Means 

(1) The Person and Work of Jesus Christ: That Christ is the Overcomer, that is, the ultimate source and means of victory is the great message of Scripture and everywhere evident in its pages. Note the following passages:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Rev. 3:21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (emphasis mine)

Rev. 5:5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.

Rev. 17:14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him {are the} called and chosen and faithful.

Rom. 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

2 Cor. 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Col. 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Closely related to Christ’s victory through His person and work on the cross is another aspect of the means of our victory, the work of the Spirit in regeneration and indwelling.

(2) The Ministry of the Spirit in Regeneration and Indwelling.Compare the following verses:

John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (cf. 4:2).

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

We should note the emphasis here. The text does not say, “He that overcomes,” as the NIV translates (the participle is neuter), but “everything or whatever is born of God.” Overcoming is specifically non-personalized in order to stress a point: it is never the man that overcomes, but his birth from God and what that brings into his life; this is that which overcomes or gives capacity to overcome the world. 

So, 1 John 5:4-5 gives us some insightful principles regarding those who overcome the world, namely: (a) the source of victory is the new birth and the new life that it brings, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world”; (b) the method for appropriating victory is faith, “and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith”; (c) the object of faithmust be Jesus Christ because He is the real victor, “And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

The Method

This too is clearly marked out for us in the Bible. 

(1) Faith (1 John 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20; 5:5; Eph. 3:17). 1 John 5:5 makes it abundantly clear. “And this is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” Since victory was accomplished by Christ and not by what we have done, victory always comes by faith in the work of God through Christ. Our victory is not a victory to be won, by one to be claimed by faith.

(2) The Filling of the Spirit:Appropriating the Manifold Ministries of the Spirit (John 14:16f; 1 John 4:2-4; Eph. 3:16; 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Rom. 8:1f; Gal. 5:16f). Though saved and identified with Christ in His life and death, all believers would be helpless to overcome because of the presence of the flesh without the Holy Spirit who is God’s provision for strength and victory.

(3) Biblical Insight Through the Knowledge of the Word (Ps. 119:9, 11, 45; John 8:32; 17:17; Rom. 10:17; Eph. 6:17; 1 John 2:13-14; Heb. 4:12; Col. 1:9-12). Obviously, if I am going to believe God’s message of grace, trust God with my life, and deal with my inner man, I must know the Word. Faith and the ministries of the Spirit do not exist independently of God’s precious Word. They are directly tied to knowing the Word. The Word builds my faith, directs it, and the Spirit speaks to us through the Word.

But there is another element of victory and one that is vital for victory and fruitfulness; it’s human responsibility as the next point shows.

(4) Diligence, Discipline (Rom. 13:14[put on]; 1 Tim. 4:7 [discipline yourself]; 2 Pet. 1:3-10 [applying all diligence]; Gal. 5:16 [walk]; Eph. 5:18 [be filled]). There is a fine balance that must be observed in Scripture. Salvation and victory is completely of the Lord. We are to put no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3). We do not overcome by our works, by the energy of the flesh, or by our sincerity, or by our effort, or by our will power because we are powerless. Nevertheless, victory requires our cooperation with God’s operation. It means discipline, diligence, commitment to draw near to God and to act on His promises and provision by faith. Note also 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:12-13.

The Meaning of the Overcomer Passages 

Lexical Considerations

There are five Greek words that should be considered: “Overcomer” and “conquer” are translations of nikaw, “to overcome, to conquer, prevail, come through victoriously.” “Victory” is nikh, the noun form of nikaw. “Overwhelmingly conquer” is %upernikaw (Rom. 8:37), a compound of nikaw and the preposition %uper, “over, beyond, above.” “Triumph” is qriambeuw, “to triumph over, to lead in triumphant procession” and hence to make a public spectacle of a conquered enemy (Col. 2:15). One other word, %httaomai, is translated “overcome” in the NASB and KJV. This word means “be defeated by, or succumb to a person or thing” (2 Pet. 2:19-20). The only other occurrence is 2 Corinthians 12:13 where it means to be treated as an inferior. 

Interpretational Considerations

It appears that there are four primary views of the overcomer passages of Revelation 2 and 3:

(1) The loss of salvation view:According to this interpretation, the promises are written to believers to encourage them to overcome lest they lose their salvation. To fail to overcome is to lose salvation. 
But the loss of salvation view contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture that believers are kept secure by the finished work of Christ. It is His record that keeps us not ours. A large portion of the New Testament demonstrates such a view to be wrong. The following passages illustrate this truth: concerning believers, Jesus said, “and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29), they “shall not come into judgment” (John 5:24), and “have [already] passed from death into life” (John 5:24). The apostle Paul declared that “neither death nor life … nor things present nor things to come … shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9). He even told the believers at Thessalonica that “whether we wake or sleep [i.e., whether we are morally alert or spiritually slothful], we should live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10).

(2) The perseverance or ultimate triumph of the saints view: According to this view all genuine believers persevere and overcome the world by living godly and obedient lives. Overcoming is equivalent to faithfulness or obedience which proves the genuineness of salvation. MacArthur is a proponent of this view. He writes: “John was so confident of the ultimate triumph of faith over sin that he had a special name for the believer: ‘the one who overcomes’ (1 John 5:5; Rev 2:7, 11, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7).”⁸ MacArthur is interpreting these passages according to what has come to be called the ‘Reformed Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints’ which states that all true believers will persevere in a life of godly obedience. They admit that there may be temporary setbacks and bouts with sin, but that ultimately, true believers live victorious, holy lives to the end. 

Concerning this view, Bob Wilkin writes:

There is a major problem with this interpretation. The Bible does notpromise that all true believers will live victorious, holy lives. Believers may have more than temporary setbacks and bouts with sin. It is sadly possible for believers to backslide terribly and to remain in that backslidden state until death. Certainly the church at Corinth was hardly a picture of believers experiencing ultimate victory over sin in their lives (cf. 1 Cor 3:1-3; 11:30; see also Gal 6:1-5; Jas 5:19-20; and 1 John 5:16)! 

I’m not saying that eternal security is not true… What I am saying is that there is no guarantee in Scripture that eternally secure people will live overcoming, victorious lives here and now. Believers can fail.⁹

It should be noted that some of the Christians at Corinth had died in a state of carnality as a direct result of God’s judgment which Paul carefully defined as God’s disciplinary action. This shows God was dealing with them as His children (cf. 1 Cor. 11:29-32 with Heb. 13:5-11).

(3) The view that all believers are overcomers: According to this view, all believers become overcomers the moment they believe in Jesus Christ. The very act of believing overcomes the world: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5). Faith, not faithfulness is the primary focus point in this position. 

Ryrie writes:

An overcomer is not someone who has some special power in the Christian life or someone who has learned some secret of victory. John himself defined an overcomer as a believer in Christ (I John 5:4-5). Thus every Christian is an overcomer, though the various promises in these seven letters are addressed particularly to each local believing group, and tailored to the special circumstances found in each church.¹⁰

Walvoord agrees and writes: “This promise should not be construed as reward for only a special group of Christians but a normal expectation for all Christians.”¹¹

Wiersbe also agrees:

Note that a special word is spoken to the “overcomers” in each church (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). These “overcomers” are not the “super-saints” in each church, a special group that will receive special privileges from Christ, but the true believers in each of these churches. We dare not assume that every member of every local church in every period of history is a true child of God. Those who truly belong to Christ are “overcomers” (1 John 5:4-5). In every period of history, there have been true saints in the professing church (often called “the invisible church”). Christ speaks a special word of encouragement to them, and certainly we may apply these words to ourselves today.¹²

I appreciate and highly respect the views of each of the above writers, and while this view appeals to me and I wish I could hold to it, there are certain problems with this interpretation that I have not been able to reconcile in my own thinking. Does John’s use of the overcomer expression in 1 John 5:4-5dictate its meaning in Revelation 2 and 3?

It is true that 1 John 5:5 teaches that our faith overcomes the world. It is a mistake, however, to conclude that because John so used that expression in one place, he must have used it the same way in all other places. The contexts in which the expression is found in Revelation 2-3 are greatly different than the context of 1 John 5:5.¹³

The messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 present very different contexts than that of 1 John 5. 1 John 5:4 teaches us that the means of victory over the world is “our faith.” Then verse 5 declares that the only ones who can overcome the world by faith are those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Why? Because only these have experienced the new birth of God in spiritual regeneration and it is that regeneration that gives the power for victory (vs. 4a). But the context of the seven letters suggests that John is there admonishing believers to overcome specific trials and temptations by faithful obedience through faith in their new life in Christ. Consider the following examples from each of these messages:

• Revelation 2:7b reads, “To him who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” But the context for this is the admonition in 2:5 which reads, “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first …” 
• The admonitions “Do not fear …” and “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (2:10) form the immediate context for the promise, “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” (2:11). 
• The call to repent in 2:16 precedes the promise to the overcomer in 2:17. 
• “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him i will give authority over the nations” (2:25-26). Again, the promise is in a context of two admonitions for faithfulness. While some versions leave out the “and” that begins verse 26, the Greek text contains this connecting particle and shows a relationship exists between the promise and the admonition. 
• The promise of 3:5 is directly connected to the concept of faithfulness described in 3:4. “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; …” 
• Again, an admonition, “Hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (3:11) forms the context for the promise of 3:12, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, …” 
• Finally, the last promise to the one who overcomes (3:21) is set against the context of the Savior’s invitation for fellowship (3:20). Believers cannot overcome without dining intimately with the Savior in daily fellowship. 

(4) The rewards view: According to this view, the overcomer passages are promises of rewards given to believers to encourage them to overcome the trials of life through faithfulness.

This view is held by some very outstanding expositors of the Word. For instance, J. Sidlow Baxter writes:

But the promise is to “the overcomer.” Are all believers “overcomers”? Let him think twice who would answer a dogmatic “Yes” to this question. The letters to the seven churches, at least, suggested otherwise to an unprejudiced reader. Our standing in Christ is no artificial position of immunity. As there are degrees of punishment [in hell] so there are degrees of reward [in heaven]. One is made ruler over ten cities, another over five. “One star differeth from another star in glory.”¹⁴

Barnhouse has a similar view which sees the promises to the overcomer as promises of rewards for faithfulness and writes:

Some have said that eating from the tree of life was the equivalent of receiving eternal life, but this is most evidently a false interpretation. Eternal life is the prerequisite for membership in the true Church. Eating of the tree of life is a reward that shall be given to the overcomer in addition to his salvation. His work, built upon the foundation that is Christ Jesus, abides the test of the Lord’s appearing, and he receives over and above his entrance into eternal life, a place in the Heavens in the midst of the paradise of God.¹⁵

These men, along with others, would heartily agree that all believers are overcomers in one sense, in the sense they have become children of God, have been translated out of darkness into the glorious light of Christ, have been taken out of Adam and placed into Christ. In this glorious position, they have become identified with Him as to His person and work, etc., and enjoy many other marvelous blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3; Col. 2:10). Every believer is an overcomer in that sense (1 John 5:4-5). But these expositors would also insist that all believers do not overcome absolutely. Christians can fail to live for the Lord and overcome the desires of the flesh (1 Cor. 11:28f; 1 John 5:16-17). Furthermore, while the failure to overcome may be an indication of false profession, the fact a believer does not overcome the struggles of life, does not automatically prove they are not true Christians. If they have truly believed in Christ, they cannot lose their salvation, but they will lose rewards as the Lord warns in Revelation 3:11 and the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Those holding to the rewards view would say the overcomer passages are promises given to believers to encourage and kindle love and obedience in view of who they are in Christ and what they posses in Him. These are not warnings against the loss of salvation, nor necessarily warnings against false profession, though that could be one application of these promises. Furthermore, they are not statements affirming the preservation of the saints. Instead, they are guarantees of special blessings or rewards for faithful service and lives of faith.

The Problem Discussed

Does 1 John 5:4-5 define who the overcomers are in Revelation 2 and 3? In other words, do the overcomer promises apply to all believers regardless of the kind of lives they live? At this stage in my study of the issues here, I have become convinced that 1 John 5:4-5 is not synonymous with the statements of Revelation 2 and 3. 

They occur in different books, with different contexts that contain a number of differences and the differences are such that they suggest that the references to overcoming in Revelation 2 and 3 are not defined by 1 John 5.

In 1 John the apostle affirms that through believing in Jesus Christ there is a permanent victory over the world in one sense. When a believer exercises faith in Christ, he does overcome the world in the sense that the world system is intrinsically hostile to God’s commands, to faith in Christ, and is satanically blinded to the truth and under his dominion of control and death (2 Cor. 4:3, 4; Eph. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:14), but through faith in Christ, the believer has overcome that condition in that he is made a child of God, has been rescued from the domain of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col. 1:12-13). 

In Revelation, however, the overcomer concept is restrictive within the realm of the daily conflicts and battles of the Christian life according to the context of each of the seven letters. Here are illustrations of the battles that believers must overcome and for which rewards are promised for overcoming. “But this is a long way from saying that all Christians live ultimately victorious lives. In fact, that is something the New Testament does NOT say.”¹⁶Regardless, as demonstrated above, many use 1 John 5:4-5 to interpret the overcomer promises of Revelation 2and 3 because of the similarity of terms. 

Overcoming and the promises of these passages find their root in the Lord’s statement in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” The Christian life is full of conflict, tribulation, but victory awaits all believers through the victory accomplished by the Savior, but it is a victory that must be appropriated by an active faith that is fed though fellowship with the Lord.

While all believers have overcome the world in the sense of 1 John 5, conflicts and trials come to the believer in a variety of different shapes and degrees. When we turn to Revelation 2and 3, we find each church with its own particular conflict and problems with specific rewards that are in keeping with or somehow related to the problem faced. No two Christian’s lives are the same in terms of their struggles and triumphs. The basis of victory is the same, faith in the person and work of Christ and our blessings in Him, but the struggles are different and it seems that God tailors the rewards accordingly.

These letters do not present victory as a certainty, but rather as an aspirationwhich each individual should pursue. The Savior’s words are never to themwho overcome, but to him who overcomes. Victory is not a collective right, but an individual attainment … Clearly, the promises to the overcomers are rewards for obedience to the commands of the Lord of the Church.¹⁷

The problems that most have with this view come in the nature of the rewards mentioned in these promises and admittedly, these are difficult. The rewards in Revelation 2 and 3 are usually viewed as blessings all believers will automatically receive as, for instance, the right to the tree of life. This is associated with possessing eternal life, but as we will see, this is probably not the case.

An investigation of the promises in Revelation 2 and 3 will seek to show that these are not promises all believers experience because every believer is an overcomer, but that these promises are special rewards to believers who overcome specific conflicts in the Christian life through faith and obedience in their daily walk.

The Proof or Evidence

The Exegetical Evidence

There is exegetical evidence within the letters themselves which restrict the meaning of the overcomer.

(1) In Revelation 2:26 the Greek text contains the conjunction “and” (kai) at the beginning of this verse. It reads, “And he who overcomes, …” This links the promise to the overcomer back to verse 25 and the statement, “Nevertheless what you have, hold fast (kratew, a strong word meaning ‘to hold firmly to something so that it is not lost’) until I come.” This both connects overcoming to the preceding admonition and makes it dependent on holding fast.

(2) In Revelation 2:26 overcoming is also connected to what follows or to keeping Christ’s works until the end. The Lord says, “And he who overcomes and (italics mine) he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him i will give authority over the nations.” This clearly shows that the overcomer here is not only a believer, but one who keeps the Lord’s deeds in contrast to the evil deeds promoted by the Jezebel like false prophetess being tolerated in the church at Thyatira.

(3) In Revelation 3:5, the promise to the overcomer is tied into verse 4 by the word “thus,” the Greek adverb, %outws. It may look at what follows, or it may draw an inference to what precedes as here. This shows us that the overcomer is restricted to those who have not defiled their garments in their earthly walk and are thus worthy of reward—the reward of being clothed in white garments. This is not the garment of salvation or the imputed righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.

In support of this, let’s compare Revelation 19:8. This verse shows that the wedding garment mentioned in this verse consists of the “righteous acts of the saints.” The Greek word here is dikaiwma. Instead of imputed righteousness, this Greek word refers to the state or virtue of righteous character. In this context, it refers to the acts or deeds or works of righteousness for which rewards are given, i.e., the wedding garments. Two different Greek words, dikaiwsis and dikaiosunh respectively are used in the New Testament to refer to imputed righteousness. It should be evident, then, that the white garment in 3:5 is a reward for works of righteousness that occur after salvation.

(4) In Revelation 3:12 the promise to the overcomer is again connected to a crown of reward for holding fast (kratew) at least by implication or location. And this fits with the thrust of 2:25-26 where the overcomer reward is specifically linked to holding fast by the word “and” in the Greek text.

(5) In Revelation 21:6-7 we find an important contrast. The waters of life are free. All believers partake of this, but eating of the tree is for overcomers in the broader sense. Compare 22:14 with 15. In the light of Revelation 3:4-5and 19:8, access to the tree of life through the New Jerusalem is restricted for those who cleanse their lives through fellowship with Christ.

In 22:14 John pronounces a blessing on those who wash their robes, who lead the clean and pure Christ life, for they thereby have the right and privilege of entering into the gates of the city and partaking of the tree of life. This means not only immortal existence, but such relations with Jesus Christ and the Church that each has unrestricted access to all that is good in the universe of God.¹⁸

The Contextual Evidence

The context of the letters restricts the meaning of the overcomer from all believers to rewards to faithful believers who overcome in the specific conflicts of their lives. Each letter without exception moves from an address to the church as a whole, of the church corporate and individual groups in each church, to the individual aspect with a personal appeal to the one who has an ear and to the one who overcomes.

The Applicational Evidence

To apply these promises to all believers seems to rob them of their force as promises. As Hodges points out, “a command that everyone keeps is superfluous, and a reward that everyone receives is nonsense.”¹⁹

The Analogical Evidence 

Evidence from the analogy of Scripture is consistent with the teaching of the New Testament in other places; a Christian may lose or gain rewards according to what he does with the stewardship God has given him (1 Cor. 3:11f; 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Luke 19:11-26). In fact, if the promises of Revelation 2and 3 are not restrictive, then we have what appears to be a contradiction between Luke 19:11f and Revelation 2:26 and 3:21. Many believe there is a difference in the New Testament between entrance into heaven and being an heir of the kingdom (cf. Rom. 8:16-17).

True, some of the promises are hard to explain and understand as rewards and not as general gifts that go with eternal life, but because of the above evidence we should give strong consideration to the view that these are promises that pertain to rewards. In the exposition of the messages to the seven churches of Revelation I will cover each of the overcomer promises in their contexts.

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8 John F. MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, Revised and Expanded Edition, Zondervan Publishing House, 1988, p. 253.

9 Bob Wilkin, “Grace Evangelical Newsletter,” March 1995. (See the Grace Evangelical Society home page for more on this and other grace-oriented subjects at http://www.faithalone.org

10 Charles C. Ryrie, Revelation, Moody Press, Chicago, 1968, pp. 22-23.

11 John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, “Revelation,” Scripture Press, Wheaton, IL, 1983, 1985, electronic media.

12 Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines On the New Testament, electronic media.

13 Bob Wilkin, Grace Evangelical Society Newsletter, March 1995.

14 J. Sidlow Baxter, Awake My Heart,Zondervan, p. 323.

15 Donald Grey Barnhouse, Revelation, An Expository Commentary, “God’s Last Word,” Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1971, pp. 43-44.

16 Zane C. DHodges, The Gospel Under Siege, Redencion Viva, Dallas, TX, 1982, pp. 118-119.

17 Zane C. Hodges, Grace in Eclipse, Redencion Viva, Dallas, TX, 1987, p. 108-109.

18 The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, V, James Orr Reeve, general editor, 3010.

19 Hodges, Grace in Eclipse, p. 109.