The Overcomers

Rev 2-3

The book of Revelation is not primarily about telling us the future. It is a book of encouragement for the "Overcomers" or "The one who conquers."--

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

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.’

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.’

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Our task together as a church is to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying and act in obedient. I find the phrase "the one who conquers" or "the one who overcomes" rather cryptic. What are we supposed to overcome?

I can think of a few things. The parable of the seed and the soil gave us one outline of the obstacles that we have to overcome.

1) Inattentive ears. The devil snatches the word out. We overcome this by keeping the Sabbath-- making sure our ears are attentive to the Holy Spirit.

2) The hard place. Rocks are hard and will kill tender shoots. This we must endure.

3) Th distractions. Worries and the Deceitfulness of Wealth. These we must remove.

Another obstacle we must overcome may be found in Ephesian 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

4) Rulers, authorities, kings, Governments, Corporations, societies, nations. These are powers we constantly struggle with and we need to recognize as an obstacle. Against these, we have no earthly power to fight. Only by Jesus who's the King of kings and Lord of lords, do we have any chance. As the rest of Eph 6 says--

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

May we overcome all these and find ourselves faithful before Jesus. Help us, Lord.